Alloway Township

Welcome to a sprawling, rural community defined by its quiet farmlands and the calm waters of Alloway Lake and Alloway Creek. Long before it became a modern agricultural haven, the region cemented its place in American history as the 1739 site of Wistarburg, the nation’s first successful glass factory. Today, it remains a tranquil township where deep multi-generational roots and wide-open spaces endure.

Nestled in the middle of Salem County, Alloway serves as a junction of two integral roadways Rt. 540 and Rt. 581. The area’s original importance came from the natural waterway now named Alloway Creek which served as the backbone for the township‘s growth as a community, center of industry, plus much more.

First mentioned in official records as Alloways Creek Township (Monmouth Precinct) in 1701, the defunct township survived until June 17, 1767, when the Legislature “empowered the inhabitants of Alloway’s Creek” to split into Lower Alloways Creek Township (34,000 acres) and Upper Alloways Creek Township (30,000 acres) according to the Alloway Remembers Book.

Upper Alloways Creek Township was formally incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798 as one of the original 104 original townships of the State. On February 18, 1873 Quinton Twp. was formed from portions of Upper Alloway’s Creek Township. In 1884, the township name officially was changed to Alloway Township.

Alloway Lake serves as the scenic heart of the community, offering a peaceful destination for fishing and local gatherings. The lake is a part of Alloway Creek, a 23.2-mile-long (37.3 km) tributary of the Delaware River, which also has been a historical cornerstone of industry and outdoorsman activities in the area.

The township remains a quintessential agricultural hub where the rhythm of the seasons still dictates the pace of local life.