Denville, New Jersey

Denville, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Denville Township highlighted in Morris County. Inset map: Morris County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Denville, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°53′10″N 74°29′18″W / 40.88611°N 74.48833°W / 40.88611; -74.48833
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Morris
Incorporated	April 14, 1913
Government
- Type	Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
- Mayor	Ted Hussa (2011)
- Administrator	Steven Ward[1]
Area
- Total	12.6 sq mi (32.7 km2)
- Land	12.1 sq mi (31.4 km2)
- Water	0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2)
Elevation[2]	505 ft (154 m)
Population (2010)
- Total	16,635
- Density	1,307.1/sq mi (504.7/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	07834[3]
Area code(s)	973
FIPS code	34-17650[4][5]
GNIS feature ID	0882204[6]
Website	http://denvillenj.org/

Denville is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,635.^[7] Denville is known as the "Hub of Morris County" for its location along major transportation routes at the center of the county.^[8] In 1988, as part of the town's 75th anniversary celebration, a time capsule was buried that contained "artifacts" from that era.

Denville was formed as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1913, from portions of Rockaway Township.^[9]

History

Native Lenape Native Americans were known to travel the Minisink Trail for centuries before Europeans arrived in New Jersey. Part of that trail cut across what is now southern Denville, roughly following the course of Route 10 and Mount Pleasant Turnpike. Some research has indicated that there was a Lenape campsite along the trail in Denville, on or near the Ayres / Knuth Farm Historic Site along Route 10.

When Dutch and English settlers began to arrive in the new world in the early 17th century, the Minisink Trail was the likely route they traveled to explore the interior. Daniel Denton, one of the purchasers of what is known as the Elizabethtown Tract in 1664, led an expedition into the interior of northern New Jersey. In 1670, he wrote the first English language description of the area. Some researchers would later conclude that it was Denton who lent his name to the naming of Denville.

Some researchers have suggested that European settlers began to come to the Denville area as early as 1690. These early settlers were primarily Dutch and English from Long Island, Quakers from Philadelphia, and Germans. William Penn and several other proprietors began to survey and stake out lands in the Denville area around 1715. These surveys are the first documentation of Denville. Between 1730 and 1760, several forges and mills were erected in Denville along the Rockaway River and the Denbrook. A number of communities associated with the forges and mills began to emerge. Ninkey and Franklin in southern Denville developed around the forges there of the same names. Denville village developed around the Job Allen Iron Works. Early developers of Denville, such as the Hussa family and A.B Crane & Co., were intrinsic in shaping the residential and lake communities.

A letter from early Denville settler John Hinchman in the year 1800, recounts some of the oral history of Denville from 50 years earlier, as stated to him by some of the elders of the time. Hinchman explains in his letter that the naming of Denville can be traced to a "den" of wild animals located in the swampy regions along the Denbrook and Rockaway River. The animals would bask on a knoll that juts out into the meadows where they were hunted by the native Lenape. This "den", Hinchman states, was the basis for the name of Denville and the Denbrook.

Geography

Broadway, Denville's main street.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 12.6 square miles (33 km²), of which, 12.1 square miles (31 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (4.12%) is water.

Part of the The Tourne county park is in Denville.

Community

Denville has eleven named bodies of water within township limits. The four major residential lake communities are Cedar Lake, Indian Lake, Rock Ridge, and Lake Arrowhead (including Great Bay and Bay of Deep Waters). Estling Lake is a private summer community, which has some full year residents. The three minor lakes are Cooper Lake, Hollstein Lake, and Openaki Lake. The town also has Cooks Pond, which is a recreational lake available for public use by membership.

Most residents of Denville live in the non-lake communities in town, including Bald Hill, Union Hill, Beacon Hill, Ivy Crest, and Denville Farms communities among others.

The game of American flag rugby was first played in Denville, introduced to the town by resident Tom Feury.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	2,162		—
1940	3,117		44.2%
1950	6,055		94.3%
1960	10,632		75.6%
1970	14,045		32.1%
1980	14,380		2.4%
1990	13,812		−3.9%
2000	15,824		14.6%
2010	16,635		5.1%
Population sources: 1930-1990[10] 2000[11] 2010[7][12]

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 15,824 people, 5,990 households, and 4,312 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,307.1 people per square mile (504.5/km²). (in the 2010 Census there are 16,635 people). There were 6,178 housing units at an average density of 510.3 per square mile (197.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.64% White, 1.14% African American, 0.08% Native American, 4.64% Asian, (in the 2010 Census it was 1,084 or 6.5%), 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64% of the population; In 2010, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity were 5.3% of the population.^[11][12]

There were 5,990 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11.^[11]

In the township, the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.^[11]

The median income for a household in the township was $76,778, and the median income for a family was $90,651. Males had a median income of $63,413 versus $42,392 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,607. About 1.7% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.^[11]

Surrounding communities

Government

Local government

Denville's town clock with sign for Route 53 visible.

Denville Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government, by a mayor and a seven-member Township Council, all elected to four-year terms of office. Four council members are elected from each of four wards. Two years later, the three at-large and the mayoral seats are up for election.^[13]

As of 2011^[update], the Mayor of Denville Township is Ted Hussa, whose term of office ends December 31, 2011.^[14] Members of the Denville Township Council are Howard Shaw (At-Large; 2011), Deborah Smith (At-Large; 2011), Nick Stecky (At-Large; 2011), Tom Andes (Ward 1; 2013), Chirstopher Golinski, (Ward 2; 2013), Gene Fitzpatrick (Ward 3; 2013) and Donald Kuser (Ward 4; 2013).^[15]

Federal, state and county representation

Denville Township is in the 11th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.^[16] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.^[7]

New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

25th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Anthony Bucco (R, Boonton) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Michael Patrick Carroll (R, Morris Plains) and Tony Bucco (R, Boonton).^[17] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).^[18] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).^[19]

Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.^[20] As of 2011, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William J. Chegwidden (Wharton),^[21] Deputy Freeholder Director Douglas R. Cabana (Boonton Township),^[22] Gene F. Feyl (Denville),^[23] Ann F. Grassi (Parsippany-Troy Hills),^[24] Thomas J. Mastrangelo (Montville),^[25] John J. Murphy (Morris Township)^[26] and Margaret Nordstrom (Washington Township).^[27][28]

Politics

On the national and state levels, Denville Township leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Republican John McCain received 55% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received around 44%.^[29] In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 61% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 29%.^[30]

Chamber of Commerce

Saint Clare's Hospital, Denville's largest employer.

The chamber is focused on making the community and business districts a better place for businesses, residents and visitors. Each year a pair of teenagers are crowned as Mr. and Miss Denville. They are participants in a winter holiday parade and weekend-long celebration. They are chosen for their volunteer work in Denville, and overall hard work.

Education

The Denville Township School District serve public school students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[31]) are Lakeview School (grades K-5; 764 students) Riverview School (K-5; 486) Valleyview Middle School (6-8; 652).

Students in public school for grades 9 - 12 attend Morris Knolls High School, which is located in Denville, but has a Rockaway address, along with residents of most of Rockaway Township.^[32] The high school is part of the Morris Hills Regional High School District, which also serves the residential communities of Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Wharton.^[33]

St. Mary’s Prep is an elementary school, and Morris Catholic High School is a four-year comprehensive Roman Catholic regional high school that was founded in 1957, both of which are operated as part of the Diocese of Paterson.^[34]

Transportation

The Denville Train Station on New Jersey Transit's Morristown Line and Montclair-Boonton Line, has service to Hoboken Terminal or to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan via Midtown Direct. Denville is actually two stations located within the same property. The Morristown Line station is two platforms located on a curve while the Montclair-Boonton Line station is a single platform next to the closed Denville Tower.

Denville is also served by Lakeland Bus Lines with frequent service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan.

Newark Liberty International Airport, is located 27.5 miles (44.3 km) southeast of Denville in Newark, New Jersey.^[35] Other nearby airports include LaGuardia Airport (43 miles from Denville) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (54 miles from Denville), both of which are in Queens, New York City.

Route 10, Route 53, U.S. Route 46 and Interstate 80 pass through the Township.

Popular culture

• As the hometown of Sluggy Freelance creator Pete Abrams, Denville is believed by many to be the setting of the popular webcomic.^{[citation needed]}
• The farm scene from the film version of Torch Song Trilogy was filmed at the Knuth Farm.^{[citation needed]}
• Saint Clare's Hospital was where Tony and Christopher were taken after their accident in episode 83 of The Sopranos, "Kennedy and Heidi".^{[citation needed]}

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Denville include:

• Pete Abrams (born 1970), cartoonist, writes and illustrates Sluggy Freelance.^[36]
• Frank Stephen Baldwin (1838–1925), calculating machine designer.^[37]
• Lexie Fyfe (born 1969 as MaryBeth Bentley), professional wrestler.^[38]
• Bill Bradley (born 1943), former pro basketball player and U.S. Senator.^[39]
• Janice Huff (born 1960), meteorologist on WNBC Channel 4 in New York City.^[40]
• John Lees (born 1943), contemporary expressionist artist and art professor.^[41]
• Ashley Rose Orr (born 1990), actress.^{[citation needed]}
• Lisa Rieffel (born 1975), actress, best known for her role as Emily Weston on Empty Nest.^{[citation needed]}
• Babe Ruth (1895–1948), baseball player, Cedar Lake vacation house owner.^{[citation needed]}
• Laura San Giacomo (born 1962), actress known for playing the role of Maya Gallo on Just Shoot Me!.^[42]

References

1. ^ Administration, Township of Denville. Accessed May 19, 2011.
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Denville, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
3. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code, United States Postal Service. Accessed September 5, 2011.
4. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
5. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
6. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 3. Accessed September 5, 2011.
8. ^ Denville profile, Daily Record (Morristown), accessed April 22, 2007. "Known as the "hub" of Morris County -- because of its central geographic location and spot along major transportation routes -- this township is home to one of the most traditional town centers in the county."
9. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 192.
10. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed September 5, 2011.
11. ^ ^{a b c d e} Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Denville township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 5, 2011.
12. ^ ^{a b} Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Denville township, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed September 5, 2011.
13. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 116.
14. ^ Mayor, Township of Denville. Accessed may 19, 2011.
15. ^ Township Council Members, Township of Denville. Accessed May 19, 2011.
16. ^ 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 56. Accessed September 5, 2011.
17. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-09-07. 
18. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
19. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
20. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
21. ^ William J. Chegwidden, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
22. ^ Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
23. ^ Gene F. Feyl, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
24. ^ Ann F. Grossi, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
25. ^ Thomas J. Mastrangelo, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
26. ^ John J. Murphy, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
27. ^ Margaret Nordstrom, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
28. ^ Meet the Freeholders, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
29. ^ 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State, December 23, 2008. Accessed September 5, 2011.
30. ^ 2009 Governor: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State, December 31, 2009. Accessed September 5, 2011.
31. ^ Data for the Denville Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 5, 2011.
32. ^ Program of Studies 2011-2012, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed May 19, 2011. "MORRIS KNOLLS HIGH SCHOOL receives students from Denville, all of Rockaway Township with the exception of White Meadow Lake and the area described above in the southern part of Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough south of Route #46 with the exception of the area of Rockaway Road and the Trailer Park behind the Boro Plaza (west of the railroad track) south of Route #46."
33. ^ Morris Hills Regional High School District 2010 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 19, 2011. "Our schools’ success is directly attributed to the support we receive from the residents of Denville, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Wharton – people who care about their children and who value education."
34. ^ Morris County Elementary / Secondary Schools, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Accessed July 26, 2008.
35. ^ Google Maps: Denville, NJ to EWR, Google Maps. Accessed October 27, 2007.
36. ^ Walker, Leslie. "Comics Looking to Spread A Little Laughter on the Web", The Washington Post, June 16, 2005. Accessed July 30, 2008. "Abrams, based in Denville, N.J., is among the dozen or more cartoonists who earn their living full time by creating Web comics."
37. ^ A Personal Story of Interest to Business Men and Accountants, Monroe Calculators. Accessed October 27, 2007. "Mr. Baldwin passed away at his home in Denville, New Jersey, April 8, 1925, within two days of reaching his 87th birthday."
38. ^ Seegers, Sandy. "Enjoying life inside ropes: Pro wrestling has provided Denville native rich experience", Daily Record (Morristown), August 27, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2008. "A co-worker, Brandi Wine, asked Fyfe, a native of Denville, if she'd like to train with her and become a professional wrestler. Soon, Fyfe, known as MaryBeth Bentley during her days at Morris Knolls High School, was in the ring."
39. ^ MOST JERSEY REPRESENTATIVES HAVE EDGE IN FUND RAISING, The New York Times abstract, August 12, 1984. Accessed May 7, 2007. "Senator Bill Bradley, a Democrat from Denville..."
40. ^ LaGorce, Tammy. "Wild About Weather: WNBC News meteorologist Janice Huff sits down for a Q&A about all things weather, and life in New Jersey.", New Jersey Monthly, March 15, 2010. Accessed May 19, 2011. "The longtime Denville resident, who says she’s in her 40s, attributes her sunny disposition to a love of weather in general. Even Jersey weather."
41. ^ Cathcart, Linda L. American still life, 1945-1983, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 1983. ISBN 0064301311. Accessed September 19, 2011. "John Lees: Born in Denville, New Jersey, in 1943, he received his B.F.A. and M.F.A. from Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, California in 1967."
42. ^ Laura San Giacomo interview by Chet Cooper, Ability Magazine, accessed December 20, 2006.

External links

• Homepage of Denville Township
• Denville Township School District
• Denville Township School District's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Denville Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• Regional area newspaper

Coordinates: 40°53′32″N 74°28′39″W / 40.89222°N 74.4775°W / 40.89222; -74.4775