Pequannocks

The Pequannocks were a Native American tribe who historically inhabited the Pequannock River valley in what is now Morris and Passaic Counties, New Jersey. They were part of the Lenape (also known as the Delaware) people, a larger Algonquian-speaking group. The Pequannocks, like other Lenape bands, were known for their agricultural practices, cultivating crops such as corn, beans, and squash, and supplementing their diet with hunting and fishing. Their territory was rich in natural resources, supporting their way of life.

The Pequannocks had established villages and settlements within their territory. Their social structure was organized around kinship and community. Early European colonial expansion, particularly by the Dutch and later the English, led to increasing interaction and conflict. As European settlements grew, pressure on Native American lands intensified, leading to displacement and the erosion of traditional ways of life.

By the 18th century, the Pequannock tribe, like many other Lenape bands, had largely dispersed or assimilated due to disease, warfare, and land acquisition. Some members may have migrated westward, joining other tribes, while others likely integrated into colonial society. While the Pequannock name is no longer associated with a distinct, unified tribe today, their historical presence is remembered through place names and historical accounts of the region. The Pequannock River itself bears their name, serving as a lasting reminder of their ancestral home.