Montville, New Jersey

History

The area now known as Montville Township was first settled by Dutch farmers from New Amsterdam (now part of New York City) in the very early 18th century. Part of New Netherland, the town was originally called "Uyle-Kill" (the Dutch spelling of "Owl-Kill"), a name given to the creek and valley, which ran through the area. By the 1740s, the settlement had grown in size and construction of the first road was begun. The early road, now known as U.S. Route 202, connected various farms with Montville's first gristmill, sawmill and tanneries. The Dutch Reformed Church was founded in Old Boonton in 1756 and moved to Montville in the early 1800s after land was purchased here for a parsonage.

During the American Revolutionary War, Montville was on a major military route from Morristown to the Hudson River. General George Washington's troops often took this route and Washington stayed in the Towaco section of what is now Montville Township in June 1780. The French troops under the leadership of General Rochambeau spent four days passing through Montville Township on their way to the War's final victory at Yorktown, Virginia, as part of a group of 5,000 soldiers, 2,000 horses, 500 oxen, possibly 900 cattle, artillery, boats and followers.

Montville was officially named with specific boundaries April 1800. The name came from the Mandeville Inn, which was established around 1770 and was pronounced "Mondeveil" by the Dutch, which in turn was corrupted to Montville. The Montville Inn was, up until July 2006, located at the site of the pre-Revolutionary War Mandeville Inn, which burned down in the early Twentieth Century. Other sources attribute the township's name to its location in the mountains of Northern New Jersey.

The construction of the Morris Canal in this area was completed in 1828, bringing commercial navigation to the Montville/Towaco area. The mid-19th century saw the development of two smaller village centers set apart from Montville: Pine Brook, a fertile agricultural area in the Township's southern end, and Towaco, situated on the Morris Canal.

In 2009, Money magazine named Montville the 21st best place to live in the United States; the 2nd highest ranked community in New Jersey.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.056 square miles (49.354 km²), including 18.480 square miles (47.862 km²) of land and 0.576 square miles (1.492 km²) of water (3.02%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Horse Neck Bridge, Lake Valhalla, Lower Montville, Pine Brook, Taylortown, Towaco and White Hall.

The lowest recorded temperature in Montville is −25 °F (−32 °C), set in February 1943, and the highest recorded temperature is 105 °F (41 °C), set in July 1936 and 2011.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 21,528 people, 7,485 households, and 5,988 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,165.0 per square mile (449.8/km²). The township contained 7,823 housing units at an average density of 423.3 per square mile (163.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 78.04% (16,800) White, 1.28% (275) Black or African American, 0.10% (22) Native American, 18.07% (3,890) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.86% (186) from other races, and 1.64% (353) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.18% (900) of the population.

Out of a total of 7,485 households, 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township, 25.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.0 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 90.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $119,493 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,959) and the median family income was $143,811 (+/- $17,082). Males had a median income of $102,178 (+/- $5,041) versus $66,933 (+/- $6,419) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $54,618 (+/- $3,849). About 2.6% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Montville has had a growing influx of Asian-Americans In 2010, 7.1% of Montville's residents self-identified as Indian-American, while 6.4% identified as Chinese-American and 2.7% of residents were Korean-American.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 20,839 people, 7,380 households, and 5,867 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,104.3 people per square mile (426.4/km²). There were 7,541 housing units at an average density of 399.6 per square mile (154.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.95% White, 0.93% African American, 0.04% Native American, 12.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.55% of the population.

There were 7,380 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.0% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $94,557, and the median income for a family was $105,394. Males had a median income of $71,356 versus $45,427 for females. The per capita income for the township was $43,341. About 2.6% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Montville is one of 12 municipalities statewide governed under a Special Charter, which granted by an act of the New Jersey Legislature in 1867 and retains many characteristics of the Township form of 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, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor. The Township Administrator serves as the chief administrative and executive officer for the organization and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all municipal departments.

As of 2016, Montville's Township Committee consists of Mayor James Sandham Jr. (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy mayor Richard Conklin (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2016), Frank W. Cooney (R, 2018), Scott Gallopo (R, 2016) and Deborah Nielson (R, 2017).

A Charter Study Commission was approved by the voters on November 8, 2005, to investigate possible changes to Montville's form of government. The commission voted 4-1 against making any modifications.

Federal, state and county representation

Montville is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 26th 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 26th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Pennacchio (R, Montville) and in the General Assembly by BettyLou DeCroce (R, Parsippany-Troy Hills) and Jay Webber (R, Morris Plains). 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 March 23, 2011, there were a total of 14,170 registered voters in Montville Township, of which 2,708 (19.1%) were registered as Democrats, 5,372 (37.9%) were registered as Republicans and 6,083 (42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.4% of the vote (6,460 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 38.3% (4,101 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (142 votes), among the 10,749 ballots cast by the township's 15,001 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.8% of the vote (6,720 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.0% (4,761 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (84 votes), among the 11,623 ballots cast by the township's 14,890 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 59.0% of the vote (6,605 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 40.0% (4,483 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (77 votes), among the 11,203 ballots cast by the township's 14,582 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.8.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.7% of the vote (4,703 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.1% (1,515 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (74 votes), among the 6,389 ballots cast by the township's 14,958 registered voters (97 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.6% of the vote (4,679 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 30.0% (2,278 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.8% (513 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (69 votes), among the 7,593 ballots cast by the township's 14,526 registered voters, yielding a 52.3% turnout.

Education

The Montville Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's seven schools had an enrollment of 4,026 students and 362.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.11:1.

Schools in the district (with 2012-13 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are five elementary schools — Cedar Hill Elementary School (grades K-5; 358 students), Hilldale Elementary School (K-5; 369), William H. Mason Jr. Elementary School (K-5; 281), Valley View Elementary School (PreK-5; 372) and Woodmont Elementary School (K-5; 329) — along with Robert R. Lazar Middle School for grades 6-8 (969) and Montville Township High School for grades 9-12 (1,348). Montville Extended Day Learning Center is an after-school program available at all the elementary schools in the district. In 2016, Cedar Hill Elementary School was one of ten schools in New Jersey recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.

Private schools include Trinity Christian School, a Christian day school founded in 1986 that serves students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. St. Pius X School is a K-8 Catholic school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 121.75 miles (195.94 km) of roadways, of which 100.98 miles (162.51 km) were maintained by the municipality, 13.91 miles (22.39 km) by Morris County and 6.86 miles (11.04 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Major routes that pass through include Interstate 287 and U.S. Route 202 in the north, and both Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 46 in the south. Both interstates houses interchanges in the township.

Public transportation

As part of its Midtown Direct expansion program, NJ Transit, with supplemental funding from the Township of Montville, renovated the Towaco train station using a design hearkening back to the early 1900s. Service is provided on the Montclair-Boonton Line from Towaco to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan via a transfer in Montclair through Newark to Manhattan.

NJ Transit offers bus service to and from Newark on the 29 route, with local service available on the 871 and 874 routes, replacing service that had been offered on the MCM1 route until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.

Lakeland Bus Lines offers service along Route 46 between Dover and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and along Route 80 between Newton and New York City.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Montville include: