Plot of land donated in 1754 to the College of New Jersey
Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.
Source: Princeton University Archives
Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.
Source: Princeton University Archives
The short answer is that the citizens of Princeton did a better job selling their town to the Trustees of the College than did those of New Brunswick, the other town considered. In the end, Princeton prevailed on the strength of the promise by Nathaniel FitzRandolph to donate four and a half acres in the center of town for the College to use.