Morris County, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
 TheMorristown Green, a historic park, serves as a gathering place and a center of culture withinMorristown, thecounty seat of Morris County. | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNew Jersey | |
| Coordinates:40°52′N74°33′W / 40.87°N 74.55°W /40.87; -74.55 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| Founded | March 15, 1739[1] |
| Named after | Colonial governorLewis Morris |
| Seat | Morristown |
| Largest township | Parsippany-Troy Hills (population) Rockaway Township (area) |
| Government | |
| • Director of the Board of Commissioners | Stephen Shaw (R, term ends December 31, 2026) |
| Area | |
• Total | 481.52 sq mi (1,247.1 km2) |
| • Land | 460.97 sq mi (1,193.9 km2) |
| • Water | 20.55 sq mi (53.2 km2) 4.3% |
| Population | |
• Total | 509,285 |
523,053 | |
| • Density | 1,104.8/sq mi (426.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 7th,11th |
| Website | morriscountynj |
Morris County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNew Jersey, about 30 mi (48 km) west ofNew York City. According to the2020 census, the county was the state'stenth-most populous county,[6] with a population of 509,285,[3][4] its highestdecennial count ever and an increase of 17,009 (+3.5%) from the2010 census count of 492,276,[7] which in turn reflected an increase of 22,064 (+11.6%) from the 470,212 counted in the2000 census.[8] Morris County is part of theNew York metropolitan area and is divided into 39 municipalities, with manycommuter towns but no large cities. Itscounty seat isMorristown, in the southeast.[9] The most populous place wasParsippany-Troy Hills, with 56,162 residents at the time of the 2020 census,[4] whileRockaway Township covered 45.55 square miles (118.0 km2), the largest total area of any municipality.[10] The county is part of theNorth Jersey region of the state.[11][12]
In 2021, the county had aper capita personal income of $61,915, the highest in New Jersey and ranked 16th of 3,113 counties in the United States.[13] Morris County, as of the 2020 Census, was thefourteenth-wealthiest county in the United States bymedian household income at $117,298 (second in New Jersey behindHunterdon County at $117,858).
In 2017, Morris County was ranked second among the state's 21 counties in healthiness, according to an annual report by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.[14]
Morris County was named after ColonelLewis Morris, governor of New Jersey in 1738–39, the year the county was named.[15]
TheWisconsin Glacier covered the northern section of Morris County from about 23,000 BC to 13,000 BC.
After the Wisconsin Glacier melted around 13,000 BC,Paleo-Indians settled the area from the south in search of big and small game as well as plants. The area was first tundra with grasses growing. Rabbits and fox moved into the area from the south.
Around the year 1000, the area of Morris County was inhabited by theLenapeNative Americans prior to the arrival of European settlers. They came from the Mississippi River area. They lived along the rivers, hunted game, and fished in addition to collecting plants and nuts.
Henry Hudson explored theHudson River area in 1609, and later the Dutch did surveys of the area.
From 1611 to 1614, the Dutch established the colony ofNew Netherland, which claimed territory between the40th and45th parallel north, a zone which included northern New Jersey. Dutch forts were established along the Hudson River beginning in 1613. As the years went by, more forts were established to trade with Native Americans.
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 awar 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.[16]
European settlements began in the early 18th century while the area was known as Hunterdon County. Native Americans were still in the area at that time. Land was purchased from the Native Americans for various things such as blankets, shirts, rum, guns, knives, pots and gunpowder. European colonization began along the Atlantic coast moving inland.
The first European settlement in the area today known as Morris County occurred in Pompton Plains by the Dutch in 1695.[17] From 1710 to 1730, various iron mines and forges were established. The first was in Whippany in 1710 and then in Succasunna in 1713.
By 1750, nearly all Native Americans had left New Jersey. This was due to land purchases from the Native Americans, diseases that the Native Americans contracted from Europeans, and due to starvation from theLittle Ice Age, during which Native American corn crops failed and rivers froze, preventing fishing. Snow storms sent game into semi-hibernation or made them difficult to find. Nut crops such as oak, hickory, beech, walnut, chestnut and butternut failed some years due to late frosts in spring. Many of the Morris County Native Americans went to eastern Canada and others went to the Ohio Valley. TheWalking Purchase in September 1737, prevented Native Americans from going to eastern Pennsylvania. At that time, European settlement grew swiftly as there was now land to be farmed and settled.
Morris County was originally part ofBurlington County which had been established in 1694. It then became part of Hunterdon County, which separated from Burlington County in 1714.[1]
Morris County was created on March 15, 1739 [O.S. 1738], from portions ofHunterdon County.[1] The county was named for the Governor of theProvince of New Jersey, ColonelLewis Morris.[18] In later yearsSussex County (on June 8, 1753) and, after the revolution,Warren County (on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County) were carved out of what had been the original area of Morris County under English rule.[1]
The county was the site of the winter camp of theContinental Army after the Battles of Trenton and Princeton during the winter of 1777, as well as another winter camp atJockey Hollow during an extremely cold winter of 1779–80.[19]
In the 1880s, Dover was the center ofiron ore mining with the 132 mines producing 700,000 tons of ore annually. The mines were mostly worked byCornish miners, with the bulk of the population in Dover and Port Oram ofCornish extraction. At that time the Cornish had kept their customs and dialect, were deeply religious and predominantlyMethodists.[20]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 481.52 square miles (1,247.1 km2), of which 460.97 square miles (1,193.9 km2) was land (95.7%) and 20.55 square miles (53.2 km2) was water (4.3%).[2]
The county rises in elevation and relief from east to west, with only the more developed eastern suburbs in thePassaic River valley being relatively level. The highest point is at 1,395 feet (425 m) above sea level on a mountain south of Pine Swamp in westernJefferson Township.[21] The second-highest point is on a mountain just north of Riker Lake at 1,358 feet (414 m). The lowest point is about 160 feet (49 m) in elevation, at Two Bridges, theconfluence of the Passaic andPompton rivers.
The county is drained by several rivers. TheRockaway River drains 125 square miles (320 km2), of the northern section of the county. TheWhippany River drains 69 square miles (180 km2) of the middle of the county. TheSouth Branch of the Raritan River and theBlack River drain the western area.
Most of the county's borders are rivers. ThePequannock River drains the northern boundary area. The Pompton River drains the eastern section. ThePassaic River also drains the eastern border area. The western border is drained by theMusconetcong River. There are several large lakes in Morris County; among them are the state's largest lake,Lake Hopatcong,Budd Lake, Lake Parsippany, and theBoonton Reservoir, also known as the Jersey City Reservoir.
Morris has ahumid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and thehardiness zones are 6a and 6b.
| Climate data for Morristown | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38 (3) | 41 (5) | 50 (10) | 61 (16) | 71 (22) | 80 (27) | 85 (29) | 83 (28) | 75 (24) | 65 (18) | 54 (12) | 43 (6) | 62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) | 19 (−7) | 27 (−3) | 36 (2) | 46 (8) | 54 (12) | 59 (15) | 58 (14) | 51 (11) | 39 (4) | 32 (0) | 23 (−5) | 39 (4) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.50 (114) | 3.00 (76) | 4.41 (112) | 4.64 (118) | 5.09 (129) | 4.40 (112) | 5.29 (134) | 4.37 (111) | 5.33 (135) | 4.17 (106) | 4.37 (111) | 4.10 (104) | 53.67 (1,363) |
| Source:[22] | |||||||||||||
| Morristown, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Morristown have ranged from a low of 18 to 23 °F (−8 to −5 °C) in January to a high of 83 to 85 °F (28 to 29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 2001. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.12 inches (79 mm) in February to 5.33 inches (135 mm) in September.[23]
Around 500 million years ago, a chain of volcanic islands shaped like an arc collided with proto-North America. The islands rode over top of the North American plate. This created the highlands in western Morris County and the eastern section of Morris County.[24]
Around 400 million years ago, a small continent long and narrow collided with proto-North America. This created folding and faulting, as compression occurred. Then around 350 million years ago, theAfrican Plate collided with North America creating the folding and faulting in the Appalachians. But when the African plate pulled away from North America, an aborted rift valley was created. This halfgraben, starts east of Boonton and goes through the middle of Parsippany, south to Morristown, to the south end of Great Swamp. From Parsippany and the Boonton area the half graben goes east to the western side of Paterson, where there was another fault by the lava flows. East of theRamapo Fault is where there is this aborted rift valley.[24]
The Ramapo fault goes through the county on a northeast–southwest axis. The fault separates the Highlands from the Piedmont, also known as the Newark Basin. This is anactive fault. The last major earthquake occurred in 1884, with a strength measured at 5.3 on the Richter scale.[25]
Around 21,000 BCE., theWisconsin Glacier covered about half of Morris County. The terminal moraine went from Hackettstown east to north of Budd Lake, east to Rockaway and Denville, then southeast to Morristown then south to the south end of Great Swamp. When the glacier melted around 13,000 B.C. the melt water createdGlacial Lake Passaic. The lake extended from what is nowPompton Lakes through Parsippany south to the south end of Great Swamp. From Parsippany the lake went east to the lava flows of western Paterson. This lake was 30 miles (48 km) long and 10 miles (16 km) miles wide and the depth was about 200 feet (61 m). When the Wisconsin glacier covered Morris County, the ice sheet was about 300 metres (980 ft) deep. Due to debris from the glacier, the lake was unable to drain through theWatchung Mountains nearShort Hills. Instead, it drained through Moggy Hollow at the southwestern end of the lake. But when the glacier melted and receded to the New York State line, the lake drained though the Little Falls area, as this was lower in elevation than Moggy Hollow. And thus the Passaic River formed.
The swamps of the Great Piece Meadows, Hatfield Swamp,Troy Meadows, Lee Meadows and Great Swamp were all under the Lake Passaic until it drained, and then these areas were created.[26]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 16,216 | — | |
| 1800 | 17,750 | 9.5% | |
| 1810 | 21,828 | 23.0% | |
| 1820 | 21,368 | −2.1% | |
| 1830 | 23,666 | 10.8% | |
| 1840 | 25,844 | 9.2% | |
| 1850 | 30,158 | 16.7% | |
| 1860 | 34,677 | 15.0% | |
| 1870 | 43,137 | 24.4% | |
| 1880 | 50,861 | 17.9% | |
| 1890 | 54,101 | 6.4% | |
| 1900 | 65,156 | 20.4% | |
| 1910 | 74,704 | 14.7% | |
| 1920 | 82,694 | 10.7% | |
| 1930 | 110,445 | 33.6% | |
| 1940 | 125,732 | 13.8% | |
| 1950 | 164,371 | 30.7% | |
| 1960 | 261,620 | 59.2% | |
| 1970 | 383,454 | 46.6% | |
| 1980 | 407,630 | 6.3% | |
| 1990 | 421,353 | 3.4% | |
| 2000 | 470,212 | 11.6% | |
| 2010 | 492,276 | 4.7% | |
| 2020 | 509,285 | 3.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 523,053 | [3][5] | 2.7% |
| Historical sources: 1790–1990[27] 1970–2010[10] 2000[8] 2010[7] 2000–2010[28] 2010[7] 2020[3][4] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had 509,285 people, 188,496 households, and 129,707 families. Thepopulation density was 1,106.7 inhabitants per square mile (427.3/km2). There were 197,722 housing units at an average density of 429.67 per square mile (165.9/km2).[29]
The racial makeup of the county was 69.7%White, 3.3%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 11.4%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 6.1% from some other race, and 9.2% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 15.1% of the population.[30]
The median age was 42.6 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.3 males age 18 and over.[29]
Of the 188,496 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.5% were married-couple households, 14.4% were households with a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 23.0% were households with a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.17.[29]
There were 197,722 housing units, of which 4.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.[29]
91.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.6% lived in rural areas.[31]
The county's median household income was $116,283, and the median family income was $141,633. About 5.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.[32]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[33] | Pop 1990[34] | Pop 2000[35] | Pop 2010[36] | Pop 2020[37] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 378,857 | 372,418 | 385,582 | 369,551 | 341,175 | 92.94% | 88.39% | 82.00% | 75.07% | 66.99% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 9,811 | 11,931 | 12,506 | 14,134 | 15,586 | 2.41% | 2.83% | 2.66% | 2.87% | 3.06% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 222 | 378 | 379 | 369 | 373 | 0.05% | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 6,782 | 16,556 | 29,310 | 43,862 | 57,700 | 1.66% | 3.93% | 6.23% | 8.91% | 11.33% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[38] | x[39] | 148 | 70 | 93 | x | x | 0.03% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1,006 | 256 | 646 | 806 | 2,337 | 0.25% | 0.06% | 0.14% | 0.16% | 0.46% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[40] | x[41] | 5,015 | 7,002 | 15,360 | x | x | 1.07% | 1.42% | 3.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10,952 | 19,814 | 36,626 | 56,482 | 76,661 | 2.69% | 4.70% | 7.79% | 11.47% | 15.05% |
| Total | 407,630 | 421,353 | 470,212 | 492,276 | 509,285 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The2010 United States census counted 492,276 people, 180,534 households, and 129,262 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 1,069.8 per square mile (413.1/km2). There were 189,842 housing units at an average density of 412.5 per square mile (159.3/km2). The racial makeup was 82.61% (406,683)White, 3.12% (15,360)Black or African American, 0.16% (805)Native American, 8.95% (44,069)Asian, 0.02% (106)Pacific Islander, 3.03% (14,910) fromother races, and 2.10% (10,343) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 11.47% (56,482) of the population.[7]
Of the 180,534 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18; 59.6% weremarried couples living together; 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.4% were non-families. Of all households, 23.5% were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.19.[7]
23.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 30% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.2 males.[7]
Morris County is governed by aBoard of County Commissioners comprised of seven members who are electedat-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either one or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[42] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[43]
As of 2026[update], Morris County's Commissioners (with all terms ending December 31) are Director Stephen H. Shaw (R,Mountain Lakes, 2027)[44], Deputy Director John Krickus (R,Washington Township, 2027)[45], Douglas Cabana (R,Boonton Township, 2025),[46], Thomas J. Mastrangelo (R,Montville, 2028)[47], Christine Myers (R,Harding Township, 2028)[48], Tayfun Selen (R,Chatham Township, 2026)[49] and Deborah Smith (R,Denville Township, 2027).[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]
In 2016, freeholders were paid $24,375 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $25,350.[58]
No Democrat has been elected to county-wide office since 1973; the longest Democratic drought in any New Jersey county. Former county commissioners include:[59]
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of theNew Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as constitutional officers. These officers are theCounty Clerk andCounty Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and theCounty Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[60] As of 2026[update], they are County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R,Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028)[61], Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2028)[62] and Surrogate Heather Darling (R,Roxbury, 2029)[63].
The County Prosecutor is Robert J. Carroll, who was sworn into the position in October 2020 following the retirement of Frederic M. Knapp.[64][65] Morris County is a part of Vicinage 10 of theNew Jersey Superior Court (along withSussex County), which is seated at the Morris County Courthouse inMorristown; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 10 is Stuart A. Minkowitz.[66] Law enforcement at the county level is the Morris County Sheriff's Office. The Morris County Park Police was disbanded and merged into the Sheriff's Office on January 1, 2022.[67] The County law enforcement organization includes the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.
The 7th and 11thCongressional Districts cover the county.[68][69] For the119th United States Congress,New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented byThomas Kean Jr. (R,Westfield).[70] For the119th United States Congress,New Jersey's 11th congressional district is currently vacant, following the resignationMikie Sherrill (D,Montclair), who was electedGovernor of New Jersey in2025. Aspecial election to replace Sherrill will be held on April 16, 2026.[71][72][73]
The 39 municipalities of Morris County are represented by four legislative districts.
The Morris Automated Information Network, which supplies Internet service to area libraries, turned down $10,000 per year in federal funding, starting in 2004. Acceptance of the grants would have required the network to install anti-porn content filters to comply with theChildren's Internet Protection Act. As these filters excluded legitimate information—such as pages with the word "breast" in online searches regarding "breast cancer"—the network declined to accept these grants.[75]
Another organization having the power to affect the county budget without county governmental control is the Morris County Board of Taxation,[76] (also called the Morris County Tax Board). "[T]he freeholders, and county government in general, do not have control over tax board spending. ... [T]he tax board is an entity of state government, even though it submits expense vouchers to county government."[77]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 8,190 | 58.71% | 4,936 | 35.38% | 825 | 5.91% |
| 1900 | 7,743 | 54.48% | 5,793 | 40.76% | 676 | 4.76% |
| 1904 | 8,201 | 57.73% | 4,768 | 33.56% | 1,237 | 8.71% |
| 1908 | 9,089 | 61.16% | 5,026 | 33.82% | 747 | 5.03% |
| 1912 | 3,329 | 23.70% | 5,628 | 40.07% | 5,089 | 36.23% |
| 1916 | 8,530 | 54.23% | 6,798 | 43.22% | 400 | 2.54% |
| 1920 | 20,686 | 71.50% | 7,256 | 25.08% | 989 | 3.42% |
| 1924 | 24,812 | 69.59% | 8,042 | 22.56% | 2,801 | 7.86% |
| 1928 | 33,189 | 68.35% | 15,188 | 31.28% | 182 | 0.37% |
| 1932 | 31,481 | 59.17% | 20,117 | 37.81% | 1,604 | 3.01% |
| 1936 | 32,365 | 55.86% | 24,978 | 43.11% | 600 | 1.04% |
| 1940 | 39,720 | 61.47% | 24,698 | 38.23% | 194 | 0.30% |
| 1944 | 39,732 | 64.74% | 21,454 | 34.96% | 186 | 0.30% |
| 1948 | 42,558 | 68.01% | 18,864 | 30.15% | 1,152 | 1.84% |
| 1952 | 62,847 | 72.55% | 23,662 | 27.31% | 120 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 76,571 | 79.37% | 19,503 | 20.22% | 395 | 0.41% |
| 1960 | 75,039 | 63.66% | 42,698 | 36.22% | 146 | 0.12% |
| 1964 | 55,024 | 42.68% | 73,684 | 57.16% | 205 | 0.16% |
| 1968 | 85,512 | 57.75% | 52,398 | 35.39% | 10,152 | 6.86% |
| 1972 | 113,469 | 68.18% | 50,937 | 30.60% | 2,028 | 1.22% |
| 1976 | 105,921 | 61.45% | 63,749 | 36.98% | 2,703 | 1.57% |
| 1980 | 105,260 | 60.63% | 48,965 | 28.20% | 19,379 | 11.16% |
| 1984 | 137,719 | 71.91% | 53,201 | 27.78% | 584 | 0.30% |
| 1988 | 127,420 | 68.05% | 58,721 | 31.36% | 1,108 | 0.59% |
| 1992 | 108,431 | 51.82% | 67,593 | 32.31% | 33,208 | 15.87% |
| 1996 | 95,830 | 48.96% | 81,092 | 41.43% | 18,823 | 9.62% |
| 2000 | 111,066 | 53.78% | 88,039 | 42.63% | 7,403 | 3.58% |
| 2004 | 135,241 | 57.51% | 98,066 | 41.70% | 1,847 | 0.79% |
| 2008 | 132,331 | 53.46% | 112,275 | 45.36% | 2,913 | 1.18% |
| 2012 | 125,279 | 54.79% | 100,563 | 43.98% | 2,805 | 1.23% |
| 2016 | 126,071 | 49.72% | 115,249 | 45.46% | 12,217 | 4.82% |
| 2020 | 141,134 | 46.90% | 153,881 | 51.14% | 5,902 | 1.96% |
| 2024 | 143,439 | 50.14% | 135,672 | 47.43% | 6,955 | 2.43% |
Though New Jersey is mainly aDemocratic state, Morris County has generally leaned towards theRepublican Party. The GOP has carried the county in all but three presidential elections starting in 1896: in1912,1964, and2020. Republicans hold every countywide elected office and all of the county's seats in the state legislature. The last Democrat to win a county office was Commissioner Douglas Romaine in 1973.Cory Booker in 2020 became the first Democrat to win the county in a Senate election sinceBill Bradley in1984.
In2024, Donald Trump flipped the county back to the Republican presidential column, and RepublicanCurtis Bashaw carried the county againstAndy Kim in theconcurrent Senate election.[79] In the2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election, DemocratMikie Sherrill won the county, for the first time since1973.[80]
As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 397,571 registered voters in Morris County, of whom 136,127 (34.2%) were registered asRepublicans, 117,323 (29.5%) were registered asDemocrats and 140,145 (35.3%) were registered asunaffiliated. There were 3,976 voters (1.0%) registered to other parties.[81]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 135,636 | 50.45% | 127,727 | 47.50% | 5,508 | 2.05% |
| 2018 | 114,783 | 53.38% | 93,763 | 43.60% | 6,492 | 3.02% |
| 2012 | 114,078 | 54.36% | 93,209 | 44.42% | 2,561 | 1.22% |
| 2006 | 85,656 | 57.17% | 61,431 | 41.00% | 2,738 | 1.83% |
| 2000 | 118,283 | 60.97% | 69,889 | 36.03% | 5,817 | 3.00% |
| 1994 | 75,717 | 59.53% | 49,241 | 38.71% | 2,237 | 1.76% |
| 1988 | 103,843 | 56.39% | 79,237 | 43.03% | 1,057 | 0.57% |
| 1982 | 82,251 | 66.11% | 41,134 | 33.06% | 1,031 | 0.83% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 141,373 | 48.54% | 146,148 | 50.18% | 3,710 | 1.27% |
| 2014 | 64,688 | 55.57% | 49,920 | 42.88% | 1,807 | 1.55% |
| 2013 | 54,665 | 56.43% | 41,317 | 42.65% | 889 | 0.92% |
| 2008 | 124,198 | 55.85% | 94,558 | 42.52% | 3,620 | 1.63% |
| 2002 | 79,984 | 57.97% | 55,592 | 40.29% | 2,406 | 1.74% |
| 1996 | 103,283 | 54.77% | 73,921 | 39.20% | 11,378 | 6.03% |
| 1990 | 66,369 | 57.57% | 46,928 | 40.71% | 1,983 | 1.72% |
| 1984 | 77,683 | 41.87% | 106,678 | 57.50% | 1,154 | 0.62% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2025 | 111,422 | 48.67% | 116,488 | 50.89% | 1,006 | 0.44% |
| 2021 | 102,769 | 55.28% | 81,915 | 44.06% | 1,239 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | 77,203 | 53.12% | 65,507 | 45.08% | 2,617 | 1.80% |
| 2013 | 98,888 | 70.09% | 39,824 | 28.23% | 2,382 | 1.69% |
| 2009 | 99,085 | 60.04% | 51,586 | 31.26% | 14,352 | 8.70% |
| 2005 | 82,550 | 55.95% | 60,986 | 41.34% | 3,997 | 2.71% |
| 2001 | 79,350 | 55.79% | 60,948 | 42.85% | 1,942 | 1.37% |
| 1997 | 97,414 | 65.40% | 41,296 | 27.72% | 10,252 | 6.88% |
| 1993 | 98,715 | 61.88% | 58,028 | 36.37% | 2,789 | 1.75% |
| 1989 | 67,592 | 51.66% | 61,678 | 47.14% | 1,567 | 1.20% |
| 1985 | 85,189 | 78.44% | 22,847 | 21.04% | 566 | 0.52% |
| 1981 | 86,882 | 67.06% | 41,310 | 31.89% | 1,362 | 1.05% |
| 1977 | 66,288 | 53.68% | 55,033 | 44.57% | 2,160 | 1.75% |
| 1973 | 40,524 | 35.37% | 72,539 | 63.32% | 1,495 | 1.31% |
| 1969 | 84,144 | 67.53% | 38,613 | 30.99% | 1,843 | 1.48% |
| 1965 | 54,306 | 53.14% | 46,174 | 45.18% | 1,709 | 1.67% |
| 1961 | 54,564 | 64.72% | 29,216 | 34.65% | 531 | 0.63% |
| 1957 | 43,110 | 55.65% | 34,040 | 43.95% | 310 | 0.40% |
| 1953 | 36,100 | 56.51% | 26,899 | 42.11% | 884 | 1.38% |
The 39 municipalities in Morris County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area) are:[4]
| Municipality (with map key) | Municipal type | Population | Housing Units | Total Area | Water Area | Land Area | Pop. Density | Housing Density | School District | Communities[85] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boonton Town | 15 | town | 8,815 | 3,398 | 2.51 | 0.17 | 2.34 | 3,574.6 | 1,455.2 | Boonton | |
| Boonton Township | 22 | township | 4,380 | 1,647 | 8.63 | 0.39 | 8.24 | 517.2 | 199.8 | Mountain Lakes (9-12) (S/R) Boonton Township (PK-8) | |
| Butler | 18 | borough | 8,047 | 3,169 | 2.09 | 0.05 | 2.04 | 3,703.2 | 1,556.6 | Butler | |
| Chatham Borough | 1 | borough | 9,212 | 3,210 | 2.42 | 0.05 | 2.37 | 3,776.1 | 1,352.5 | The Chathams | |
| Chatham Township | 38 | township | 10,983 | 4,128 | 9.36 | 0.38 | 8.98 | 1,164.2 | 459.8 | The Chathams | Green Village CDP (part; 1,103) |
| Chester Borough | 7 | borough | 1,681 | 647 | 1.60 | 0.00 | 1.59 | 1,034.8 | 406.0 | West Morris (9-12) Chester (PK-8) | |
| Chester Township | 29 | township | 7,713 | 2,697 | 29.46 | 0.09 | 29.38 | 266.8 | 91.8 | West Morris (9-12) Chester (PK-8) | |
| Denville | 31 | township | 17,107 | 6,734 | 12.64 | 0.77 | 11.87 | 1,401.8 | 567.4 | Morris Hills (9-12) Denville Township (PK-8) | Cedar Lake Estling Lake Indian Lake Lake Arrowhead Mount Tabor CDP (part; 1,244) Union Hill |
| Dover | 11 | town | 18,460 | 5,783 | 2.73 | 0.05 | 2.68 | 6,765.5 | 2,154.8 | Dover | |
| East Hanover | 33 | township | 11,105 | 3,976 | 8.14 | 0.24 | 7.89 | 1,413.7 | 503.8 | Hanover Park (9-12) East Hanover (PK-8) | |
| Florham Park | 3 | borough | 12,585 | 4,201 | 7.54 | 0.25 | 7.29 | 1,604.9 | 576.4 | Hanover Park (9-12) Florham Park (PK-8) | |
| Hanover | 34 | township | 14,677 | 5,526 | 10.73 | 0.20 | 10.52 | 1,302.8 | 525.0 | Hanover Park (9-12) Hanover Township (PK-8) | Cedar Knolls CDP (4,082) Whippany CDP (8,863) |
| Harding | 37 | township | 3,871 | 1,610 | 20.44 | 0.53 | 19.92 | 192.7 | 80.8 | Madison (9-12) (S/R) Harding Township (PK-8) | Green Village CDP (part; 1,103) New Vernon CDP (825) |
| Jefferson | 24 | township | 20,538 | 8,597 | 43.11 | 3.98 | 39.13 | 544.7 | 219.7 | Jefferson Township | Lake Hopatcong CDP (10,232) Lake Swannanoa Lower Berkshire Valley CDP (part; 617) Newfoundland CDP (part; 1,145) Oak Ridge CDP (part; 10,996) Picatinny Arsenal Russia |
| Kinnelon | 17 | borough | 9,966 | 3,600 | 19.19 | 1.20 | 17.99 | 569.7 | 200.1 | Kinnelon | Jacksonville Smoke Rise |
| Lincoln Park | 16 | borough | 10,915 | 4,145 | 6.91 | 0.53 | 6.38 | 1,649.0 | 649.7 | Boonton (9-12) (S/R) Lincoln Park (PK-8) | Jacksonville |
| Long Hill | 39 | township | 8,629 | 3,226 | 12.14 | 0.29 | 11.85 | 734.3 | 272.2 | Watchung Hills (9-12) Long Hill Township (PK-8) | Gillette CDP (2,956) Millington CDP (3,038) Stirling CDP (2,555) |
| Madison | 2 | borough | 16,937 | 5,775 | 4.22 | 0.01 | 4.21 | 3,767.9 | 1,373.3 | Madison | |
| Mendham Borough | 6 | borough | 4,981 | 1,798 | 6.00 | 0.05 | 5.95 | 837.1 | 302.2 | West Morris (9-12) Mendham Borough (PK-8) | |
| Mendham Township | 36 | township | 5,869 | 2,062 | 18.10 | 0.23 | 17.87 | 328.4 | 115.4 | West Morris (9-12) Mendham Township (PK-8) | Brookside CDP (1,737) |
| Mine Hill | 25 | township | 4,015 | 1,380 | 3.03 | 0.09 | 2.94 | 1,241.6 | 469.3 | Dover (7-12) (S/R) Mine Hill (PK-6) | |
| Montville | 21 | township | 22,450 | 7,823 | 19.06 | 0.58 | 18.48 | 1,165.0 | 423.3 | Montville Township | Jacksonville Pine Brook CDP (5,675) Towaco CDP (5,624) |
| Morris Plains | 5 | borough | 6,153 | 2,197 | 2.59 | 0.04 | 2.56 | 2,163.5 | 859.2 | Morris (9-12) (S/R) Morris Plains (PK-8) | |
| Morris Township | 35 | township | 22,974 | 8,502 | 15.76 | 0.14 | 15.62 | 1,428.3 | 544.4 | Morris | Convent Station Washington Valley |
| Morristown | 4 | town | 20,180 | 8,172 | 3.03 | 0.10 | 2.93 | 6,284.9 | 2,789.6 | Morris | |
| Mount Arlington | 9 | borough | 5,909 | 2,545 | 2.92 | 0.75 | 2.17 | 2,325.2 | 1,171.8 | Roxbury (9-12) (S/R) Mount Arlington (K-8) | |
| Mount Olive | 27 | township | 28,886 | 11,244 | 31.08 | 1.67 | 29.41 | 956.1 | 382.4 | Mount Olive Township | Budd Lake CDP (9,784) Flanders CDP (9,832) |
| Mountain Lakes | 14 | borough | 4,472 | 1,363 | 2.89 | 0.27 | 2.62 | 1,590.3 | 521.1 | Mountain Lakes | |
| Netcong | 8 | borough | 3,375 | 1,449 | 0.92 | 0.07 | 0.84 | 3,828.4 | 1,716.4 | Lenape Valley (9-12) Netcong (PK-8) | |
| Parsippany-Troy Hills | 32 | township | 56,162 | 21,274 | 25.39 | 1.83 | 23.56 | 2,259.3 | 902.8 | Parsippany-Troy Hills | Greystone Park Lake Hiawatha CDP (10,194) Mount Tabor CDP (part; 1,244) Parsippany CDP (22,778) Rainbow Lakes CDP (1,255) Troy Hills CDP (5,081) |
| Pequannock | 20 | township | 15,571 | 6,794 | 7.17 | 0.42 | 6.75 | 2,302.7 | 1,006.7 | Pequannock Township | Jacksonville Pompton Plains CDP (11,144) |
| Randolph | 30 | township | 26,504 | 9,343 | 21.07 | 0.25 | 20.82 | 1,235.9 | 448.7 | Randolph Township | Ironia Mount Freedom Shongum |
| Riverdale | 19 | borough | 4,107 | 1,657 | 2.09 | 0.07 | 2.01 | 1,766.5 | 822.5 | Pompton Lakes (9-12) (S/R) Riverdale (PK-8) | |
| Rockaway Borough | 13 | borough | 6,598 | 2,521 | 2.12 | 0.05 | 2.07 | 3,106.7 | 1,216.5 | Morris Hills (9-12) Rockaway Borough (PK-8) | |
| Rockaway Township | 23 | township | 25,341 | 9,587 | 45.55 | 4.14 | 41.40 | 583.4 | 231.6 | Morris Hills (9-12) Rockaway Township (K-8) | Green Pond Hibernia CDP (208) Lake Telemark CDP (1,172) Mount Hope CDP (2,930) |
| Roxbury | 26 | township | 22,950 | 8,582 | 21.89 | 1.06 | 20.83 | 1,119.9 | 412.1 | Roxbury | Kenvil CDP (1,806) Landing CDP (4,296) Ledgewood CDP (4,903) Lower Berkshire Valley CDP (part; 617) Port Morris CDP (754) Succasunna CDP (10,338) |
| Victory Gardens | 12 | borough | 1,582 | 566 | 0.15 | 0.00 | 0.15 | 10,419.2 | 3,879.8 | Dover | |
| Washington Township | 28 | township | 18,197 | 6,488 | 44.77 | 0.38 | 44.39 | 417.5 | 146.2 | West Morris (9-12) Washington Township (PK-8) | Long Valley CDP (1,827) Middle Valley Pottersville Schooley's Mountain Scrappy Corner |
| Wharton | 10 | borough | 7,241 | 2,426 | 2.22 | 0.07 | 2.15 | 3,039.0 | 1,130.4 | Morris Hills (9-12) Wharton Borough (K-8) | |
| Morris | county | 509,285 | 189,842 | 481.62 | 21.45 | 460.18 | 1,069.8 | 412.5 |
The municipalities ofwesternEssex County have discussed secession from the county, to create a new county or be annexed to Morris County, spurred mainly by a belief that tax policy benefits the poorer, urban, eastern portions of the county at the expense of the wealthier, more suburban municipalities in the western part of Essex County."[86]
Dating back to the 1960s, then-Livingston Mayor William Clark had urged the township to secede from Essex County to join neighboring Morris.[87][88] Additionally, from 2001 to 2003,Millburn,Montclair andRoseland all held nonbinding ballot referendums on the issue. Then-Montclair mayor Robert J. Russo gave a statement in 2003 about secession, "I've watched Essex County burden our people, with very little to show for it. We're fiscally conservative here and socially progressive – and we're finally rebelling."[89]
Morris County has the third-highestmedian household income in the United States ($77,340).[90]
TheBureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county'sgross domestic product was $51.2 billion in 2021, which was ranked third in the state and was a 5.0% increase from the prior year.[91]
Based onIRS data for the 2004 tax year, Morris County had the tenth-highest average federal income tax liability per return in the country. Average tax liability was $15,296, representing 16.3% ofadjusted gross income.[92] Mountain Lakes ranked among the highest annualproperty tax bills in New Jersey, and highest in Morris County, in 2018 of $20,471, compared to a statewide average of $8,767.[93]
Morris County is home to 33Fortune 500 businesses that have headquarters, offices or a major facility in Morris County. These includeAT&T,Honeywell,Colgate-Palmolive,Pfizer,Johnson & Johnson,ExxonMobil,Novartis,BASF,Verizon, andBayer, among others.[94] Major industries include finance, insurance, real estate, pharmaceuticals, health services, research and development, and technology. There are 13,000 acres (20 mi2) set aside for 28 county parks. Four county golf courses and 16 public and private courses are in Morris.
Major employers in the county include:[17]
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novartis | 5,000+ |
| 2 | Atlantic Health System | 2,500–4,999 |
| 3 | Louis Berger Group | 2,500–4,999 |
| 4 | Picatinny Arsenal | 2,500–4,999 |
| 5 | Saint Clare's Hospital Inc. | 2,500–4,999 |
| 6 | UPS Logistics | 1,000–2,499 |
| 7 | Avis Budget Group | 1,000–2,499 |
| 8 | BASF Chemicals | 1,000–2,499 |
| 9 | ADP Services | 1,000–2,499 |
| 10 | AT&T Info Tech | 1,000–2,499 |
In 2018, the median house price in Morris County was $469,900, the second highest in the state behindBergen County (with a median home price of $476,200).[95]
In theForbes magazine 2012 ranking of theMost Expensive ZIP Codes in the United States,New Vernon (located withinHarding Township) was ranked as the 32nd most expensive in the country, with a median home sale price of $2,701,885. There were a total of 6 Morris county zip codes listed in the top 500, which wereMountain Lakes (No. 288; $909,474),Mendham (includes bothMendham Borough andMendham Township) (No. 356; $800,672),Chatham (includes bothChatham Borough andChatham Township) (No. 375; $776,703),Florham Park (No. 440; $675,107), andKinnelon (No. 462; $630,414).[96]
In the magazine's 2006 listing,New Vernon (Harding Township) was ranked as the 23rd most expensive in the country, with its median home sale price in 2005 of $1,596,587 ranking as the state's 2nd highest behindAlpine located inBergen County. In all, 5 Morris County zip codes were represented on the list in addition toNew Vernon, includingMendham (includes bothMendham Borough andMendham Township) (ranked No. 209; median sale price of $835,000),Mountain Lakes (No. 217; $826,250),Green Village (located within portions of bothHarding Township andChatham Township) (No. 282; $777,465), andChester (includes bothChester Borough andChester Township) (No. 288; $775,000).[97]
As of 2018, 56.1 percent of Morris County residents were college graduates, the 2nd highest percentage in the state behind neighboringSomerset County with 58.0 percent.[95]
TheFlorham Park–Madison–Convent Station (Morris Township) area is home to three universities:
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TheUnited States Equestrian Team, the international equestrian team for the United States, was founded in 1950 at the Coates estate on Van Beuren Road in Morristown.[117]
Morristown has a cricketing club, the first in North America.[118][119]
TheMennen Arena inMorris Township, facilitated by The Morris County Park Commission, hosts various sporting events from ice hockey, figure skating, indoor football and outdoor rugby, to professional wrestling,MMA andShrine Circus.
The county's parks are under the administration of theMorris County Park Commission; established in 1956, it is the largest county park system in New Jersey with more than 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of land under its management for recreational, leisure, and educational use.[120][121] As of May 2022, it operates 38 facilities including outdoor parks, trails, amarina, anice skating arena, ahorse stable, a historical farm and an operating mill.[120][121]
In March 1958, theLewis Morris County Park inMorris Township became the first park dedicated by the MCPC, covering 350 acres (140 ha). As of 2021, it has expanded to 2,196 acres (889 ha) with 22.1 miles (35.6 km) of trails. The park was named forLewis Morris, the firstColonial Governor of New Jersey.[122][123] The second park acquisition was a donation in 1956 of 75 acres (30 ha) of land inRandolph now known as James Andrews Memorial Park, which has since been expanded to cover more than 580 acres (230 ha).[124] Notably,Morristown National Historical Park became the country's first National Historical Park in 1933.[125]
_in_Parsippany-Troy_Hills_Township%2c_Morris_County%2c_New_Jersey.jpg)
As of 2010[update], the county had a total of 2,527.39 miles (4,067.44 km) of roadways, of which 2,070.57 miles (3,332.26 km) are maintained by the local municipality, 295.54 miles (475.63 km) by Morris County and 161.28 miles (259.56 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[128]
Morris County is served by several major roadways including:
NJ Transit also provides rail service with Morris County via itsMorris & Essex Lines andMontclair-Boonton Line toHoboken Terminal and toNew York City via itsMidtown Direct service. Rail stations are located in the county providing electrified train service seven days a week from:Chatham,Madison,Convent Station,Morristown,Morris Plains,Denville, andDover on NJ Transit'sMorris & Essex Lines; electrified train service seven days a week fromGillette,Millington andStirling on theGladstone Branch; and diesel train service (weekdays only) fromMount Arlington,Lake Hopatcong,Netcong,Mount Olive,Mountain Lakes,Boonton,Towaco (Montville) andLincoln Park.[129][130]
Bus transportation is also offered by several carriers includingLakeland Bus Lines and NJ Transit.[131]
Morristown Municipal Airport is ageneral aviationreliever airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Morristown. Operated by DM Airports, Ltd, it is in the Whippany section of Hanover Township.[132]
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