Butler, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Butler, New Jersey
settlement_type = Borough
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Butler highlighted in Morris County. Inset



mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Morris
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Joseph P. Heywang (2010)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = March 13, 1901

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.4
area_land_km2 = 5.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.1
area_land_sq_mi = 2.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 8074
population_density_km2 = 1377.9
population_density_sq_mi = 3568.9

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|885175|Borough of Butler, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 133
elevation_ft = 436
latd = 40 |latm = 59 |lats = 58 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 20 |longs = 47 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07405
area_code = 973
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-09040GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0885175GR|3
website = http://www.butlerborough.com
footnotes =

Butler is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 7,420.

Butler was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of Pequannock Township."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 191.]

Geography

Butler is located at coor dms|40|59|58|N|74|20|47|W|city (40.999497, -74.346326)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.96%) is water.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=3392
1940=3351
1950=4050
1960=5414
1970=7051
1980=7616
1990=7392
2000=7420
estimate= 8074
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3440290&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3440290&_street=&_county=butler&_cityTown=butler&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Butler borough] , United States Census Bureau, accessed September 16, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,420 people, 2,868 households, and 2,024 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,568.9 people per square mile (1,377.3/km²). There were 2,923 housing units at an average density of 1,405.9/sq mi (542.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.89% White, 0.62% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.

There were 2,868 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% 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 3.09.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $57,455, and the median income for a family was $66,199. Males had a median income of $45,975 versus $35,815 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,113. About 2.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

The area now known as Butler was originally called "West Bloomingdale" and was sparsely populated. Water power brought manufacturing entities to the area. In 1857, The Pequannock Valley Paper Company moved from Bergen County and in 1868 the Newbrough Hard Rubber Company built a factory, both based along the Pequannock River. These were two significant economic entities that contributed to the growth of the Borough. In 1869, the New Jersey Midland Railroad extended track through Butler from Paterson, making an important transportation connection for both passengers and freight. The northern terminus for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's passenger service was located at Butler until 1966. The railroad still carries freight through Butler.

The growing town was given the name "Butler" in 1881 after Richard Butler, who had taken ownership of the Hard Rubber Company. A Post Office was established and a larger railroad station was built. This station has been the Borough Museum since about 1977. The Hard Rubber Company eventually merged with other businesses and became the American Hard Rubber Company in 1898. A "Soft" Rubber Company built a factory just along Main Street. The town continued to grow as other factories and supporting businesses were established. The population in 1920 was 2,265 people. By 1950, it was 4,063.

Butler's largest fire began just after midnight, February 26, 1957, when one of the nation's largest rubber reclaiming mills (Pequanoc Rubber Company, Main Street) was destroyed by a $17 million blaze (a loss of about $100 million in today's dollars when adjusted for inflation). The mill occupied the site on upper Main Street, an irregular shaped complex 600 feet by 300 feet and 3 to 4 stories high; it produced over 100 tons of reusable sheet rubber daily from 200 tons of scrap. One Butler Heights resident remembers the fire being so bright she could read a newspaper in her yard at 3am at a distance of 1 mile. The glow reportedly was visible for 100 miles, mutual aid response was required by volunteer fire companies from 55 municipalities during the initial hours and then in shifts over the next week. New York City Fire Department, 30 miles away, offered help when observing the bright glow.

Numerous organizations exist in town and, along with the neighboring towns of Kinnelon and Bloomingdale, many "Tri-Boro" organizations serve the area, including the local Little League & Volunteer First Aid Squad.

Butler was the location of a Health Resort run by Benedict Lust called "Yungborn" that opened on September 15, 1896.

Government

Local government

Butler is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 121.]

As of 2008, the Mayor of Butler is [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/TownCouncil/?CID=96&TID=19 Joseph P. Heywang] , whose four-year term of office ends on December 31, 2010. Members of the Butler Borough Council are [ [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=19&TPID=3570 Town Council] , Butler Borough. Accessed February 26, 2008.] :
*Council President [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/TownCouncil/?CID=97&TID=19 Stephen Regis] (2007)
* [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/TownCouncil/?CID=110&TID=19 Robert Alviene] (2008)
* [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/TownCouncil/?CID=98&TID=19 Roger Elliott] (2007)
* [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/TownCouncil/?CID=100&TID=19 Robert Fox] (2009)
* [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/TownCouncil/?CID=109&TID=19 Raymond Verdonik] (2009)
* [http://www.butlerborough.com/Cit-e-Access/TownCouncil/?CID=101&TID=19 Judith Woop] (2008)

Federal, state and county representation

Butler is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 26th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Butler Public Schools serves students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. [http://pegasus.butlerboe.org/ads/index.html Aaron Decker School] serves grades K-4, [http://pegasus.butlerboe.org/rbs/index.html Richard Butler School] serves grades 5-8, with high school students attending Butler High School. Students from Bloomingdale attend Butler High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Bloomingdale School District. [ [http://pegasus.butlerboe.org/bhs/documents/BHSProfile.pdf BHS District Profile] , Butler High School. Accessed January 30, 2008. "Butler High School is a public high school servicing the students of the Boro of Butler and the Boro of Bloomingdale."]

[http://www.stanthonyschool.com/ St. Anthony of Padua School] is a Catholic school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. [ [http://www.patersondiocese.org/moreinfo.cfm?Web_ID=43 Morris County Elementary / Secondary Schools] , Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Accessed July 26, 2008.]

Transportation

New Jersey Transit bus service is provided on the 194 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and on the 75 to Newark. [ [http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tp_rc_morris.shtml Morris County Bus/Rail Connections] , New Jersey Transit. Accessed June 21, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.butlerborough.com/ Butler Borough website]
* [http://www.morris.k12.nj.us/butler/ Butler Public Schools]
*NJReportCard|27|0630|0|Butler Public Schools
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3402520 Data for the Butler Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.dailyrecord.com Regional area newspaper]