Country United States County Morris Incorporated February 21, 1798 Area 40.82 km² Local time Sunday 1:14 AM | State New Jersey Formed March 25, 1740 Named for Lewis Morris Population 21,796 (2000) | |
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Weather -1°C, Wind NE at 13 km/h, 83% Humidity Colleges and Universities College of Saint Elizabeth, Rabbinical College of America | ||
Morris Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 22,306, reflecting an increase of 510 (+2.3%) from the 21,796 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,844 (+9.2%) from the 19,952 counted in the 1990 Census. It is known as the "doughnut" around Morristown since it completely encapsulates it, and has at least five times the area, though near Morris Plains the width of Morris Township is less than a mile.
Contents
- Map of Morris Twp NJ USA
- Incorporation
- Arthur Seale
- Geography
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Economy
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Roads and highways
- Public transportation
- Notable people
- References
Map of Morris Twp, NJ, USA
Incorporation
Morris Township was originally formed as of March 25, 1740. Portions of the township were taken on December 24, 1740, to form Roxbury Township and on March 29, 1749, to form Mendham Township. Morris Township was incorporated as a township by the Township Act of 1798 by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as part of the state's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to create Chatham Township (February 12, 1806), Morristown (April 6, 1865, fully independent in 1895) and Passaic Township (on March 23, 1866, now Long Hill Township). The township was named for Lewis Morris, colonial governor of New Jersey.
Arthur Seale
In 1992, Arthur Seale and his wife kidnapped Exxon executive Sidney Reso, a township resident, from his home. The Seals sought a ransom of $18.5 million, but Reso died in captivity. The case received nationwide attention.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.762 square miles (40.823 km2), including 15.618 square miles (40.449 km2) of land and 0.144 square miles (0.374 km2) of water (0.92%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Convent Station, Gillespie Hill, Loantaka Terrace, Normandy Heights, Normandy Park and Washington Valley.
Morris Township completely surrounds Morristown, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders the Morris County municipalities of Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, Morris Plains and Hanover Township to the north, Harding Township to the south, Mendham Township and Randolph to the west and Florham Park and Madison to the east.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 22,306 people, 8,128 households, and 5,771 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,428.3 per square mile (551.5/km2). The township contained 8,502 housing units at an average density of 544.4 per square mile (210.2/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 85.28% (19,022) White, 5.65% (1,261) Black or African American, 0.10% (23) Native American, 5.12% (1,141) Asian, 0.03% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.99% (444) from other races, and 1.83% (409) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 7.55% (1,683) of the population.
Out of a total of 8,128 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township, 22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females the census counted 97.0 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 94.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $132,191 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,204) and the median family income was $154,265 (+/- $8,489). Males had a median income of $108,448 (+/- $5,932) versus $64,753 (+/- $12,368) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $65,335 (+/- $4,396). About 1.0% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 21,796 people, 8,116 households, and 5,949 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,383.0 people per square mile (534.0/km²). There were 8,298 housing units at an average density of 526.5 per square mile (203.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.63% White, 5.46% African American, 0.15% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.
There were 8,116 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 64.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $101,902, and the median income for a family was $116,866. Males had a median income of $80,946 versus $50,864 for females. The per capita income for the township was $54,782. About 2.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Honeywell had been headquartered in Morris Township.
Companies with offices and facilities in Morris Township include the Louis Berger Group and The Seeing Eye, a guide dog school.
Local government
Morris Township is governed 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. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are selected by the Township Committee from among its members at a reorganization held in the first week of January each year.
As of 2016, members of the Morris Township Council are Mayor Daniel W. Caffrey (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Peter V. Mancuso (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2016), Louise T. Johnson (R, 2017), Matheu D. Nunn (R, 2018) and Bruce D. Sisler (R, 2018).
In March 2015, the Township Committee selected Municipal Prosecutor Matheu D. Nunn from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2015 of H. Scott Rosenbluth, who resigned earlier that month as he was moving outside the township.
Federal, state, and county representation
Morris 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 March 23, 2011, there were a total of 15,578 registered voters in Morris Township, of which 4,388 (28.2%) were registered as Democrats, 5,415 (34.8%) were registered as Republicans and 5,766 (37.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 51.4% of the vote (6,133 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.6% (5,679 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (113 votes), among the 11,990 ballots cast by the township's 16,497 registered voters (65 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 72.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.9% of the vote (6,509 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 47.9% (6,129 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (81 votes), among the 12,797 ballots cast by the township's 16,201 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51.9% of the vote (6,488 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.1% (5,884 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (88 votes), among the 12,503 ballots cast by the township's 16,466 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.9.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.7% of the vote (5,033 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.5% (2,380 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (135 votes), among the 7,674 ballots cast by the township's 16,239 registered voters (126 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.1% of the vote (5,059 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 36.0% (3,309 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.9% (730 votes) and other candidates with 0.3% (30 votes), among the 9,185 ballots cast by the township's 15,846 registered voters, yielding a 58.0% turnout.
Education
Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the schools of the Morris School District, which also serves public school students in the communities of Morristown (K-12) and Morris Plains (9-12). As of the 2013-14 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,595 students and 120.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.3:1.
As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's 10 schools had an enrollment of 4,153 students and 403.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.31:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Lafayette Learning Center (PreK; 80 students), Hillcrest School (K-2; 187), Alfred Vail School (K-2; 193), Woodland School (K-2; 210), Alexander Hamilton School (3-5; 259), Thomas Jefferson School (3-5; 277), Sussex Avenue School (3-5; 308), Normandy Park School (K-5; 317), Frelinghuysen Middle School (6-8; 971) and Morristown High School (9-12; 1,351).
The Academy of St. Elizabeth is a Catholic school for girls that admitted its first students in 1860, located in the Convent Station area, and operated independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. The school has an enrollment of 230 students and is the oldest school for girls in New Jersey.
The College of Saint Elizabeth is a private Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts college for women, located in Convent Station. The college was founded in 1899 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth of New Jersey.
The Rabbinical College of America, one of the largest Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic yeshivas in the world is located in Morristown. The Rabbinical College of America has a Baal Teshuva yeshiva for students of diverse Jewish backgrounds, named Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim. The New Jersey Regional Headquarters for the worldwide Chabad Lubavitch movement is located on the campus.
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 126.51 miles (203.60 km) of roadways, of which 106.11 miles (170.77 km) were maintained by the municipality, 13.96 miles (22.47 km) by Morris County and 6.44 miles (10.36 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
A few major roads pass through the community. Those include Route 124, Route 24, CR 510, U.S. Route 202, and Interstate 287.
Public transportation
Convent Station is a NJ Transit rail station located on the grounds of the College of Saint Elizabeth, offering service on the Morristown Line to Newark Broad Street Station, Secaucus Junction, Penn Station New York and Hoboken Terminal.
NJ Transit offers local bus service on the 872, 873, 875 and 880 routes, replacing service that had been offered on the MCM1, MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, MCM8 and MCM10 routes until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.
The Morris County Traction Company began trolley service in downtown Dover in July 1904, and expanded over the years until the system was completed in 1914 all the way to Newark, via Morristown and Summit, including service in Morris Township. The trolleys were replaced with buses in 1928.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Morris Township include: