Parsippany Troy Hills, New Jersey

History

After the Wisconsin Glacier melted around 13,000 BC, half of Parsippany was filled with water as this was Lake Passaic. Around the area grasses grew, as the area was tundra and then turned into a taiga/boreal forest as the area warmed. Paleo-Indians moved in small groups into the area around 12,500 years ago, attracted by the diversity of plant and animal life. Native Americans settled into the area several thousand years ago, dwelling in the highlands and along the Rockaway River and the Whippany River, where they hunted and fished for the various game that lived in the area and migrated through the area in autumn. Paintings in a rock cave were found in the late 1970s in western Parsippany in the highlands.

From 1611 to 1614, the Dutch established the colony of New Netherland, which claimed territory between the 40th and 45th parallel north, a zone which included northern New Jersey. The Native Americans traded furs and food with the Dutch for various goods. In return the Dutch gave the Native Americans metal pots, knives, guns, axes, and blankets. Trading with the Native Americans occurred until 1643 when a series of wars broke out between the Dutch and Native Americans. There were hostile relations between the Dutch and Native Americans between 1643 and 1660. This prevented colonization by the Dutch of the Morris County region which was technically included in their claimed "New Netherland."

On August 27, 1664, three English ships approached Fort Amsterdam and the fort was surrendered to the English. The English now controlled New Netherland and Morris County was now under control of the colony of New York. Relations with the Native Americans improved for a while.

There was a war with the Dutch ten years later. The Dutch re-took control of New Amsterdam but after a year returned it to the English. Relations with the Native Americans and English improved for a while. English settlers started to move into the area around 1700. The Parsippany area had flat land and fertile soil, and a fresh water supply, allowing them to succeed at farming. All types of game, especially waterfowl, provided colonists a chance to succeed.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 25.394 square miles (65.771 km²), including 23.563 square miles (61.029 km²) of land and 1.831 square miles (4.742 km²) of water (7.21%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Greystone Park, Lake Hiawatha, Lake Intervale, Lake Parsippany, Mount Tabor, Parsippany, Powder Mill, Rainbow Lakes, Rockaway Neck, Tabor and Troy Hills.

Lake Hiawatha and Mount Tabor are neighborhoods with their own ZIP codes. In 2000, 55% of Parsippany residents had a 07054 ZIP code. In 2011, Parsippany residents could live in one of 12 ZIP codes. Until 2000, there was a 13th ZIP code within Parsippany, eliminated with changes at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.

Climate

The township has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and very warm-to-hot summers. It is usually cooler than Manhattan at night and in the early morning. The record low temperature is −26 °F (−32 °C), and the record high is 104 °F (40 °C).

Geology

Parsippany-Troy Hills lies in the Newark Piedmont Basin. Around 500 million years ago, a chain of volcanic islands crashed into proto North America, riding over the North American Plate and creating the New Jersey Highlands, which start in the western portion of the township. This strike also created land formations in the rest of eastern New Jersey. Around 450 million years ago, a small continent, long and thin, collided with North America, creating folding and faulting in western New Jersey and southern Appalachia.

The swamps and meadows of Parsippany were created when the North American Plate separated from the African Plate. An aborted rift system or half gruben was created. The land area lowered between the Ramapo Fault in western Parsippany and a fault west of Paterson. The Ramapo Fault goes though western part of the township.

The Wisconsin Glacier came into the area around 21,000 BC and left around 13,000 BC due to a warming in climate. As the glacier slowly melted, this created rivers, streams and lakes, leaving most of the township under Lake Passaic, which was the biggest lake in New Jersey at that time, stretching from the edge of the Ramapo Fault in western Parsippany eastward to almost Paterson.

The area was first tundra when the Wisconsin Glacier melted and then as the area warmed formed taiga/boreal forests, along with vast meadows. Slowly, Lake Passaic drained and formed swamps in the township; Troy Meadows and Lee Meadows (on the old Alderney Farm tract) are perfect examples. Swamps and meadows next to oak forests created a diverse flora and fauna spectrum.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 53,238 people, 20,279 households, and 14,094 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,259.3 per square mile (872.3/km²). The township contained 21,274 housing units at an average density of 902.8 per square mile (348.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 62.37% (33,204) White, 3.52% (1,874) Black or African American, 0.17% (92) Native American, 29.09% (15,487) Asian, 0.02% (8) Pacific Islander, 2.03% (1,082) from other races, and 2.80% (1,491) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.32% (4,430) of the population. As of 2010, 17.4% of the township's population self-identified as being Indian American, making them the largest minority group in the township; 6.6% of residents identified as being Chinese-American, which is the highest of any Morris County municipality.

Out of a total of 20,279 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% 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 3.14.

In the township, 20.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 97.1 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 95.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,760 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,882) and the median family income was $102,601 (+/- $4,650). Males had a median income of $67,109 (+/- $3,242) versus $50,415 (+/- $2,595) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,965 (+/- $1,434). About 1.8% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 50,649 people, 19,624 households, and 13,167 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,115.5 people per square mile (816.9/km²). There were 20,066 housing units at an average density of 838.1 per square mile (323.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 74.28% White, 3.11% African American, 0.12% Native American, 18.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.98% of the population.

There were 19,624 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the township the age distribution of the population shows 21.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,133, and the median income for a family was $81,041. Males had a median income of $51,175 versus $38,641 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,220. About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Parsippany-Troy Hills has a large Indian American community, with 8.39% of Parsippany-Troy Hills' residents having identified themselves as being of Indian American ancestry in the 2000 Census, which was the eighth-highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

Economy

From 1967 through 2015 the Vince Lombardi Trophy has been exclusively handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. in Parsippany each year for the winning team of the Super Bowl, as is the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy granted to the winner of the NBA Finals.

Allergan, Kings Food Markets, Lexus and Toyota Financial Services, American Financial Resources, Wyndham Worldwide and PNY Technologies, a manufacturer of computer memory devices, are in Parsippany-Troy Hills.

The U.S. operations of Cadbury Adams, Reckitt Benckiser, Ricola and Safilo are located here.

Cendant Corporation moved its headquarters to Parsippany-Troy Hills in 2001; in 2006 Cendant separated into several different companies, including Avis Budget Group, parent company of Avis Rent a Car System and Budget Rent a Car.

Sports

Parsippany SC is a soccer club that hosts teams in both the Super Y-League and the Super-20 League.

Par-Troy Little League East, one of Parsippany's two township Little League teams, competed in the 2012 Little League World Series, losing in the third round of play at South Williamsport, Pennsylvania to a team from Petaluma, California.

Local government

The township is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government (Plan E), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1966. The government consists of a mayor and a five-member Township Council, all elected to four-year terms of office on an at-large basis in partisan elections held every other year as part of the November general election. Either two or three council seats are up for vote each election, with the mayoral seat up for vote at the same time that two seats are up for vote. The Mayor and Council are separately elected, with the Mayor, serving as the chief executive officer, and the Council serving in the capacity of a legislative body.

Some responsibilities of the Mayor include preparation of the budget, enforcement of the ordinances, supervision of municipal departments and property, execution of Council decisions, and oversight of other functions of the municipality. Some of the responsibilities of the Council include adopting ordinances, approval of contracts presented by the Mayor, scheduling times and places for council meetings and designation of the official newspapers of the municipality.

As of 2016, the mayor of Parsippany-Troy Hills is Republican James R. Barberio, whose term of office ends December 31, 2017. Parsippany-Troy Hills's Township Council consists of Council President Dr. Louis A. Valori (R, 2017), Council Vice President Robert J. Peluso (R, 2017), Paul Carifi Jr. (R, 2019), Michael J. dePierro (R, 2019) and Loretta Gragnani (R, 2019).

Barberio unseated incumbent Mayor Michael Luther by a margin of 8% in 2009, in an election in which Republicans took hold of all of the township's elected offices.

In November 2012, Jonathan Nelson became the first Democrat elected to the Township Council in 26 years after upsetting Mayor James R. Barberio's candidate, Republican Judy Tiedemann.

List of Mayors

1. Jack Walsh (D) 1966 (died)
2. Henry Luther (D) 1966–1974 (retired)
3. Jack Fahy (D) 1974–1982 (lost reelection)
4. Frank Priore (R) 1982–1994 (resigned)
5. Mimi Letts (D) 1994–2005 (retired)
6. Michael Luther (D) 2006–2010 (lost reelection)
7. Jamie Barberio (R) 2010–present

Federal, state and county representation

Parsippany-Troy Hills Township 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 30,393 registered voters in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, of which 7,022 (23.1%) were registered as Democrats, 10,046 (33.1%) were registered as Republicans and 13,310 (43.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 15 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.7% of the vote (11,324 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 46.3% (9,948 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (233 votes), among the 21,673 ballots cast by the township's 32,187 registered voters (168 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.7% of the vote (12,219 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.9% (11,091 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (225 votes), among the 23,635 ballots cast by the township's 31,458 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51.8% of the vote (11,433 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.1% (10,397 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (168 votes), among the 22,061 ballots cast by the township's 30,505 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.3.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.5% of the vote (9,083 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.8% (4,547 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (228 votes), among the 14,280 ballots cast by the township's 32,046 registered voters (422 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 53.3% of the vote (8,384 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 36.8% (5,794 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.5% (1,176 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (114 votes), among the 15,742 ballots cast by the township's 30,870 registered voters, yielding a 51.0% turnout.

Fire protection

Parsippany Troy-Hills Township is protected by six different fire districts serving out of ten fire houses throughout the township. Each district operates as their own fire department with each having its own Chief and other line officers. Every district is 100% volunteer and are on call around the clock, with dispatching for all fire districts provided by the township police department.

Public schools

The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2012–13 school year, the district's 14 schools had an enrollment of 7,166 students and 609.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.76:1. Schools in the district (with 2012–13 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Eastlake Elementary School (Grades PreK-5; 352 students), Intervale Elementary School (K-5; 285), Knollwood Elementary School (K-5; 313), Lake Hiawatha Elementary School (PreK-5; 434), Lake Parsippany Elementary School (K-5; 338), Littleton Elementary School (K-5; 370), Mt. Tabor Elementary School (K-5; 419), Northvail Elementary School (K-5; 368), Rockaway Meadow Elementary School (PreK-5; 247) and Troy Hills Elementary School (K-5; 286) for elementary school; Brooklawn Middle School (863) and Central Middle School (797) for grades 6-8; and Parsippany High School (1,096) and Parsippany Hills High School (1,095) for grades 9-12.

Private schools

Parsippany Christian School, established in 1970, serves students in preschool through twelfth grade as a ministry of Parsippany Baptist Church.

All Saints' Academy serves preschool though eighth grade, as the result of a 2009 merger of Saint Christopher Parochial school and Saint Peter the Apostle School. St. Elizabeth School, founded in 1970, offers Montessori education to children in preschool through sixth grade. Both are Catholic schools operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 208.45 miles (335.47 km) of roadways, the most of any municipality in the county, of which 173.78 miles (279.67 km) are maintained by Parsippany-Troy Hills, 11.30 miles (18.19 km) by Morris County and 23.37 miles (37.61 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Parsippany lies at the crossroads of many major roadways including Interstates 80, 280 (including its western terminus) and 287, U.S. Routes 46 and 202, New Jersey Routes 10 and 53, as well as County Route 511. In 2013, Route 53 was renamed as the "Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway" in honor of Alex DeCroce, a township resident who was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1989 until his death in 2012.

Public transportation

The Mount Tabor station in neighboring Denville Twp. offers train service on the NJ Transit Morristown Line, with service to and from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and Hoboken Terminal.

NJ Transit provides bus service on the 79 route to and from Newark, with local service on the 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 880, 29 and 79 routes.

The Taiwanese airline China Airlines provides private bus service to John F. Kennedy International Airport from Parsippany to feed its flight to Taipei, Taiwan.

Parsippany runs a two-route bus system known as Parsippany Transit that offers bus service free to all residents and operates six days a week.

Bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan is provided by Lakeland Bus Lines along Route 46 and Interstate 80.

Morristown Municipal Airport, a general aviation airport, is located 6.7 miles (10.8 km) from the township.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Parsippany-Troy Hills include: