Country United States County Morris Incorporated February 21, 1798 Area 46.88 km² | State New Jersey Formed March 29, 1749 Elevation 167 m Local time Saturday 7:39 PM | |
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Area rank 156th of 566 in state
12th of 39 in county Weather 0°C, Wind NE at 14 km/h, 96% Humidity Neighborhoods Ralston, Brookside, Pleasant Valley Points of interest Buttermilk Falls, Dismal Harmony Natural A, Ralston Cider Mill, Ralston General Store Mu, Mendham Water Company | ||
Mendham Township is a township in Morris County, in the central portion of northern New Jersey, United States, located more than 30 miles (48 km) due west of New York City. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 5,869, reflecting an increase of 469 (+8.7%) from the 5,400 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 863 (+19.0%) from the 4,537 counted in the 1990 Census.
Contents
- Map of Mendham NJ USA
- History
- Geography
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Roads and highways
- Public transportation
- Notable people
- References
Map of Mendham, NJ, USA
History
The township was originally formed on March 29, 1749, from portions of Hanover Township, Morris Township and Roxbury Township. After the Revolutionary War, on February 21, 1798, the township was incorporated by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to create Randolph Township on January 1, 1806. Mendham Borough became an independent municipality when it was formed on May 15, 1906.
The township may be named for Mendham, Suffolk, England, or the name may derive from the Native American word mendom (meaning "raspberry") or for an Earl of Mendham.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.100 square miles (46.881 km2), including 17.871 square miles (46.287 km2) of land and 0.229 square miles (0.594 km2) of water (1.27%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Braddocks Mill, Christopher Mills, Cross Roads, Fairview, Kirbys Mill, Medford Lakes in the Pines, Melrose, Oak Knoll, Oakanickon, Oliphants Mills, Pipers Corners, Reeves, Taunton, Taunton Lake and Wilkins.
The township borders Morris Township to the east, Harding Township to the southeast, Randolph to the north and Chester Township to the west all of which are located in Morris County. Bernardsville lies to the south and Peapack-Gladstone lies to the southwest, both located in Somerset County.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 5,869 people, 1,952 households, and 1,659 families residing in the township. The population density was 328.4 per square mile (126.8/km2). The township contained 2,062 housing units at an average density of 115.4 per square mile (44.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 93.32% (5,477) White, 1.29% (76) Black or African American, 0.05% (3) Native American, 3.41% (200) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.56% (33) from other races, and 1.36% (80) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.60% (211) of the population.
Out of a total of 1,952 households, 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.0% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% were non-families. 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the township, 30.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 15.4% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females the census counted 97.5 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 94.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $162,125 (with a margin of error of +/- $44,498) and the median family income was $194,028 (+/- $20,875). Males had a median income of $163,594 (+/- $46,204) versus $76,136 (+/- $53,301) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $93,011 (+/- $10,203). About 0.6% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,400 people, 1,788 households, and 1,539 families residing in the township. The population density was 302.4 people per square mile (116.7/km²). There were 1,849 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.91% White, 0.93% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.
There were 1,788 households out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.2% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 11.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the township the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $136,174, and the median income for a family was $146,254. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $57,946 for females. The per capita income for the township was $61,460. About 1.4% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.
Mendham Township was ranked in 2000 as the 17th wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey, after having been ranked tenth a decade earlier. Per capita income increased by 30.4% from the previous census, with income growth ranked 473rd among the state's 566 municipalities.
Local government
Mendham Township operates under the township form of New Jersey municipal government. The five-member Township Committee is elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting held on the first Monday after January 1, the newly reconstituted township committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor.
As of 2017, members of the Mendham Township Committee are Mayor Diana Orban Brown . (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2017), Deputy Mayor Richard Diegnan (R, term on committee ends 2019; term as deputy mayor ends 2017), Chris Baumann (R, 2018), Frank Cioppettini,Jr.(R, 2018) and Warren Gisser (R, 2019).
Former township committeeman Brian Phelan was inducted into the New Jersey State Elected Officials Hall of Fame in 2011.
Federal, state and county representation
Mendham Township is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.
New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).
For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 25th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Anthony Bucco (R, Boonton Town) and in the General Assembly by Tony Bucco (R, Boonton Township) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R, Morris Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of six super-departments, more than 30 divisions plus authorities, commissions, boards and study committees. Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator, John Bonanni. As of 2016, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Kathryn A. DeFillippo (Roxbury Township, term ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Freeholder William "Hank" Lyon (Montville, 2017), Douglas Cabana (Boonton Township, 2016), John Cesaro (Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, 2018), Thomas J. Mastrangelo (Montville, 2016) Christine Myers (Mendham Township, 2018), and Deborah Smith (Denville, 2018). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, 2018), Sheriff Edward V. Rochford (Morris Plains, 2016) and Surrogate John Pecoraro (Mendham Borough, 2019).
Politics
As of November 8, 2016, there were a total of 4,995 registered voters in Mendham Township, of which 960 (19.2%) were registered as Democrats, 2,224 (44.5%) were registered as Republicans and 1,799 (36.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 64.5% of the vote (2,108 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 34.6% (1,130 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (28 votes), among the 3,279 ballots cast by the township's 4,691 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.1% of the vote (2,080 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.8% (1,461 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (21 votes), among the 3,581 ballots cast by the township's 4,608 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62.4% of the vote (2,203 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.7% (1,296 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (20 votes), among the 3,532 ballots cast by the township's 4,529 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.0.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 80.9% of the vote (1,795 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 18.0% (400 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (25 votes), among the 2,242 ballots cast by the township's 4,624 registered voters (22 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.4% of the vote (1,914 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 23.5% (666 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.0% (227 votes) and other candidates with 0.1% (3 votes), among the 2,838 ballots cast by the township's 4,547 registered voters, yielding a 62.4% turnout.
Education
Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Mendham Township Public Schools. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 792 students and 75.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.45:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Mendham Township Elementary School with 377 students in grades PreK-4 and Mendham Township Middle School with 415 students in grades 5-8.
Mendham Township Middle School was one of 11 in the state to be recognized in 2014 by the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
Students in ninth through twelfth grades for public school attend West Morris Mendham High School as part of the West Morris Regional High School District, which also serves students from the surrounding communities of Chester Borough, Chester Township and Mendham Borough, along with students from Washington Township (who attend West Morris Central High School). As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,386 students and 105.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.1:1.
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 70.70 miles (113.78 km) of roadways, of which 63.51 miles (102.21 km) were maintained by the municipality and 7.19 miles (11.57 km) by Morris County.
No Interstate, US or New Jersey state highway runs through or near Mendham Township. For those heading to points outside the township, Interstate 287, County Route 510, Interstate 80, and Interstate 78, are all accessible nearby.
Public transportation
NJ Transit offered service on the MCM4 and MCM5 routes until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.
Commuters traveling via public transportation can drive to the Morristown station to access New Jersey Transit Midtown Direct express train line into Midtown Manhattan.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Mendham Township include: