History:

New Amsterdam resident Jan Peeck made the first recorded contact with the native tribal people of this area, then identified as "Sachoes". The date is not certain, (possibly early 1640s), but agreements and merchant transactions took place, formalized into the Ryck's Patent Deed of 1684. Peeck's Kil (from "stream" in Dutch thus became the recognized name for this locale.

European style settlement took place slowly in the early 1700s. By the time of the American Revolution, the tiny community was an important manufacturing center from its various mills along the several creeks and streams. These industrial activities were attractive to the Continental Army in establishing its headquarters here in 1776.