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Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 18,411,[7][8][9] reflecting a decline of 133 (-0.7%) from the 18,544 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,355 (+14.5%) from the 16,189 counted in the 1990 Census.[17] It is the county seat of Morris County.[18][19] Morristown has been called "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the war for independence from Great Britain.[20][21] Today this history is visible in a variety of locations throughout the town that collectively make up Morristown National Historical Park.
According to British colonial records, the first permanent European settlement at Morristown occurred in 1715, when a settlement was founded as New Hanover by migrants from New York and Connecticut. Morris County was created on March 15, 1739, from portions of Hunterdon County. The county, and ultimately Morristown itself, was named for the popular Governor of the Province, Lewis Morris, who championed benefits for the colonists.[22][23]
Morristown was incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1865, within Morris Township, and it was formally set off from the township in 1895.[24]
The area was inhabited by the Province of New Jersey.
Morristown was settled around 1715 by English Presbyterians from Southold, New York on Long Island and New Haven, Connecticut as the village of New Hanover.[26][27] The town's central location and road connections led to its selection as the seat of the new Morris County shortly after its separation from Hunterdon County on March 15, 1739.[28] The village and county were named for Lewis Morris, the first and then sitting royal governor of a united colony of New Jersey.[26]
By the middle of the 18th century, Morristown had 250 residents, with two churches, a courthouse, two taverns, two schools, several stores, and numerous mills and farms nearby.
George Washington first came to Morristown in May 1773, two years before the Revolutionary War broke out, and traveled from there to New York City together with John Parke Custis (his stepson) and Lord Stirling.[29]
In 1777, General Continental Army marched from the victories at Trenton and Princeton to encamp near Morristown from January to May. Washington had his headquarters during that first encampment at Jacob Arnold's Tavern located at the Morristown Green in the center of the town.[30] Morristown was selected for its extremely strategic location.[31] It was between Philadelphia and New York and near New England. It also was chosen for the skills and trades of the residents, local industries and natural resources to provide arms, and what was thought to be the ability of the community to provide enough food to support the army.
The churches were used for inoculations for smallpox. That first headquarters, Arnold's Tavern, was eventually moved .5 miles (800 m) south of the green onto Mount Kemble Avenue to become All Souls Hospital in the late 19th century. It suffered a fire in 1918, and the original structure was demolished, but new buildings for the hospital were built directly across the street.[32][33]
From December 1779 to June 1780 the Continental Army's second encampment at Morristown was at Jockey Hollow. Then, Washington's headquarters in Morristown was located at the Ford Mansion, a large mansion near what was then the 'edge of town.' Ford's widow and children shared the house with Martha Washington and officers of the Continental Army.[34] "
The winter of 1780 was the worst winter of the Revolutionary War. The starvation was complicated by extreme inflation of money and lack of pay for the army. The entire Pennsylvania contingent successfully mutinied and later, 200 New Jersey soldiers attempted to emulate them (unsuccessfully).[35]
During Washington's second stay, in March 1780, he declared St. Patrick's Day a holiday to honor his many Irish troops.[36] Martha Washington traveled from Virginia and remained with her husband each winter throughout the war. The Marquis de Lafayette came to Washington in Morristown to inform him that France would be sending ships and trained soldiers to aid the Continental Army.[37]
The Ford Mansion, Jockey Hollow, and Fort Nonsense are all preserved as part of Morristown National Historical Park managed by the National Park Service, which has the distinction among historic preservationists of being the first National Historical Park established in the United States.[38][39]
During Washington's stay, Benedict Arnold was court-martialed at Dickerson's Tavern, on Spring Street, for charges related to profiteering from military supplies at Philadelphia. His admonishment was made public, but Washington quietly promised the hero, Arnold, to make it up to him.[40]
Alexander Hamilton courted and wed Betsy Schuyler at a residence where Washington's personal physician was billeted. Locally known as the Schuyler-Hamilton House, the Dr. Jabez Campfield House is listed on both the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places.[41][42]
The Morristown Green has a statue commemorating the meeting of George Washington, the young Marquis de LaFayette, and young Alexander Hamilton depicting them discussing forthcoming aid of French tall ships and troops being sent by King Louis XVI of France to aid the Continental Army.[43]
Morristown's Burnham Park has a statue of the "Father of the American Revolution",
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Morristown include:
Hometown Tales, a Public-access television show and podcast chronicling stories and urban legends from around the world, is loosely based in Morristown.
The Morristown Daily Record is published locally, as is New Jersey Monthly magazine.
WJSV radio (90.5 FM) is the nonprofit radio station of Morristown High School, which also has a television show which airs, Colonial Corner.
WMTR is an AM radio station at 1250 kHz is licensed to Morristown. The station features an oldies format.
The Whippany Line of the Morristown and Erie Railway, a small freight line, traverses the township. Established in 1895, the line runs from Morristown and runs through East Hanover Township and Hanover Township to Roseland.[140]
The town's Department of Public Works operates "Colonial Coach", which provides free transportation within Morristown.[139]
NJ Transit local bus service is offered from the Morristown rail station, Morristown Medical Center and Headquarters Plaza on the 871, 872, 873, 874, 875 and 880 bus routes,[136] replacing service that had been offered on the MCM1, MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, MCM8 and MCM10 routes until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.[137][138]
New Jersey Transit offers rail service at the Morristown station[134] which offers service on the Morristown Line to Newark Broad Street, Secaucus Junction, New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.[135] The town benefited from shortened commuting times to New York City due to the "Midtown Direct" service New Jersey Transit instituted in the 1990s.
Morristown has attempted to implement transit-oriented development. Morristown was designated in 1999 as of one of New Jersey's first five "transit villages".[132] In 1999, Morristown changed its zoning code to designate the area around the train station as a “Transit Village Core” for mixed-use. The designation was at least partly responsible for development plans for several mixed-use condominium developments.[133]
As of May 2010, the town had a total of 39.98 miles (64.34 km) of roadways, of which 29.73 miles (47.85 km) were maintained by the municipality, 5.03 miles (8.10 km) by Morris County and 5.22 miles (8.40 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[131]
The Rabbinical College of America, one of the largest Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic yeshivas in the world is located in Morristown. The Rabbinical College of America has a Baal Teshuva yeshiva for students of diverse Jewish backgrounds, named Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim.[130] The New Jersey Regional Headquarters for the worldwide Chabad Lubavitch movement is located on the campus.
The Academy of Saint Elizabeth was founded at Morristown in 1860 by the Sisters of Charity, however when municipal boundaries were redrawn in 1895,[24] the Academy found itself in the Convent Station section of the adjacent Morris Township.
In addition to a public school system, Morristown has several private schools. Primary and elementary schools include The Red Oaks School, a Montessori school serving students from pre-school through grade eight. Assumption Roman Catholic is a grade school (K-8) that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson[123] and was one of 11 schools in the state recognized in 2014 by the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.[124][125] The Peck School, a private day school which serves approximately 300 students in kindergarten through grade eight, dates back to 1893 when it was originally established as Miss Sutphen's School.[126] The Delbarton School is an all-boys Roman Catholic school with approximately 540 students in grades seven through twelve, that began serving resident students in 1939 after having previously served as a seminary.[127] The Morristown-Beard School, a private co-ed school formed from the merger of two previously existing institutions, Morristown Preparatory School and Miss Beard's School, serves grades 6 through 12.[128] In addition, Villa Walsh Academy, a private Catholic college preparatory school conducted by the Religious Teachers Filippini, is located in Morristown.[129]
As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's 10 schools had an enrollment of 4,153 students and 403.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.31:1.[109] Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[110]) are Lafayette Learning Center[111] (PreK; 80 students), Hillcrest School[112] (K-2; 187), Alfred Vail School[113] (K-2; 193), Woodland School[114] (K-2; 210), Alexander Hamilton School[115] (3-5; 259), Thomas Jefferson School[116] (3-5; 277), Sussex Avenue School[117] (3-5; 308), Normandy Park School[118] (K-5; 317), Frelinghuysen Middle School[119] (6-8; 971) and Morristown High School[120] (9-12; 1,351).[121][122]
The Morris School District is a regional public school district that serves the communities of Morristown and Morris Township, and high school students (grades 9-12) from Morris Plains who attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Morris Plains Schools.[107][108]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 52.7% of the vote (1,871 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 45.2% (1,602 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (75 votes), among the 3,780 ballots cast by the town's 10,124 registered voters (232 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.3%.[104][105] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 52.1% of the vote (2,263 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 37.4% (1,623 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.1% (350 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (16 votes), among the 4,340 ballots cast by the town's 9,393 registered voters, yielding a 46.2% turnout.[106]
[103] In the
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 9,259 registered voters in Morristown, of which 3,905 (42.2%) were registered as Democrats, 1,648 (17.8%) were registered as Republicans and 3,698 (39.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered to other parties.[99]
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.[87] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator, John Bonanni.[5] As of 2014, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Thomas Mastrangelo (Montville, term ends December 31, 2016),[88] Deputy Freeholder Director David Scapicchio (Mount Olive Township, 2015),[89] Douglas Cabana (Boonton Township, 2016),[90] John Cesaro (Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, 2015),[91] Kathryn A. DeFillippo (Roxbury Township, 2016),[92] John Krickus (Washington Township, 2015)[93] and William "Hank" Lyon (Montville, 2014).[94][5][95] Constitutional officers are County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, 2018),[96] Sheriff Edward V. Rochford (Morris Plains, 2016)[97] and Surrogate John Pecoraro (Mendham Borough, 2014).[5][98]
For the 2014-2015 Session, the 25th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Anthony Bucco (R, Boonton Town) and in the General Assembly by Tony Bucco (R, Boonton Township) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R, Morris Township).[83][84] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township).[85] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[86]
New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township).[79] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021)[80] and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).[81][82]
Morristown is located in the 11th Congressional District[76] and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.[8][77][78]
As of 2015, the Mayor of Morristown is Democrat Timothy Dougherty, whose term of office end December 31, 2017.[68] Members of the Morristown Town Council are Council President Rebecca Feldman (I, Ward I, 2015), Council Vice President Stefan Armington (D, Ward III, 2015), Alison Deeb (R; Ward IV, 2015), Michael Elms (At Large, 2017), Toshiba Foster (D; At Large, 2017), Michelle Dupree Harris (D; At Large, 2017) and Raline Smith-Reid (Ward II, 2015).[69][70][71][72][73][74][75]
Morristown is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under a Plan F Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government, which went into effect on January 1, 1974.[3][67] The Morristown Town Council consists of seven members: three members elected at-large representing the entire town; and four members representing each of the town's four wards. Members are elected to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis; there is an election every two years, either for the four ward seats or for the at-large and mayoral seats. As the legislative arm of the government, the council is responsible for making and setting policy for the town.
The Morristown 1776 Association Football Club is a Soccer club that competes in the North Jersey Soccer League and MCSSA
Morristown has a cricketing club, the first in North America.[66]
The United 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.
The New Jersey Minutemen are a professional inline hockey team that competes in the Eastern Conference of the Professional Inline Hockey Association.
Morristown is home to the Morris Museum.
Morristown Medical Center is a major employer in Morristown.
Companies based in Morristown include Bayer, Honeywell, Covanta Energy, Schindler Group and the Morristown & Erie Railway, a local short-line freight railway.
The median income for a household in the town was $57,563, and the median income for a family was $66,419. Males had a median income of $42,363 versus $37,045 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,086. About 7.1% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.[61][62]
In the town the population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 40.4% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.[61][62]
There were 7,252 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.19.[61][62]
9.8% of Morristown residents identified themselves as being of Colombian American ancestry in the 2000 Census, the eighth- highest percentage of the population of any municipality in the United States.[64] 4.5% of Morristown residents identified themselves as being of Honduran American ancestry in the 2000 Census, the sixth-highest percentage of the population of any municipality in the United States.[65]
As of the 2000 United States Census[14] there were 18,544 people, 7,252 households, and 3,698 families residing in the town. The population density was 6,303.9 people per square mile (2,435.3/km2). There were 7,615 housing units at an average density of 2,588.7 per square mile (1,000.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 67.63% White, 16.95% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 3.77% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 8.48% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.15% of the population.[61][62]
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $64,279 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,628) and the median family income was $66,070 (+/- $3,638). Males had a median income of $51,242 (+/- $6,106) versus $44,315 (+/- $5,443) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,573 (+/- $2,286). About 10.2% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.[63]
In the town, 17.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 38.4% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.1 males.[7]
There were 7,417 households, of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.1% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.8% were non-families. 38.8% of all households 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 2.40 and the average family size was 3.13.[7]
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 18,411 people, 7,417 households, and 3,649 families residing in the town. The population density was 6,284.9 per square mile (2,426.6/km2). There were 8,172 housing units at an average density of 2,789.6 per square mile (1,077.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 62.50% (11,507) White, 13.97% (2,572) Black or African American, 0.64% (117) Native American, 4.34% (799) Asian, 0.06% (11) Pacific Islander, 14.84% (2,732) from other races, and 3.66% (673) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 34.09% (6,277) of the population.[7]
Morristown has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa/Dfb).
The downtown shopping and business district of Morristown is centered around a square park, known as the Morristown Green. It is a former market square from Morristown's colonial days.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Morristown had a total area of 3.026 square miles (7.839 km2), including 2.929 square miles (7.587 km2) of land and 0.097 square miles (0.252 km2) of water (3.22%).[1][2]
On January 5, 2009, five red lights were spotted in the Morristown area night skies. The event was a staged hoax using helium balloons and flares, but became nationally known as the Morristown UFO hoax.[53]
On December 18, 1843, the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated. This was the first congregation established by African-Americans in Morris County. It is still active. The first site of the Church was located at 13 Spring Street and served as the only schoolhouse for colored children until 1870. The Church relocated to its present site at 59 Spring Street in 1874.[51][52]
Jacob Arnold's Tavern, the first headquarters for Washington in Morristown, was purchased by the Colles family to save it from demolition in 1886. It was moved by horse-power in the winter of 1887 from "the green" (after being stuck on Bank Street for about six weeks) to a site 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south on Mount Kemble Avenue at what is now a parking lot for the Atlantic RIMM Rehabilitation Hospital. It became a boarding house for four years until it was converted by the U.S. Route 202, to a newly built brick hospital building. All Souls' was set to close because of financial difficulties in the late 1960s. In 1973, it became Community Medical Center. In 1977, the center became bankrupt and was purchased by the then new and larger Morristown Memorial Hospital, which is now the Morristown Medical Center.[50]
Samuel F. B. Morse and Alfred Vail built the first telegraph at the Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown on January 6, 1838. The first telegraph message was A patient waiter is no loser. The first public demonstration of the invention occurred five days later as an early step toward the information age.[47]
Antoine le Blanc, a French immigrant laborer murdered the Sayre family and their servant (or possibly slave), Phoebe. He was tried and convicted of murder of the Sayres (but not of Phoebe) on August 13, 1833. On September 6, 1833, Le Blanc became the last person hanged on the Morristown Green. Until late 2006, the house where the murders were committed was known as "Jimmy's Haunt," which is purported to be haunted by Phoebe's ghost because her murder never saw justice. In 2007 Jimmy's Haunt was torn down to make way for a bank.
The Marquis de Lafayette returned to Morristown in July 1825 on his return tour of the United States, where a ball was held in his honor at the 1807 Sansay House on DeHart Street, which still stands.[46]
The idea for constructing the Governor of New Jersey Isaac Halstead Williamson, which led to approval of the proposal by the New Jersey Legislature later that year. The canal was used for a century.[45]
[44]
New Jersey Legislature, Republican Party (United States), Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau, Morristown, New Jersey
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Morristown, New Jersey, Madison, New Jersey, Boonton, New Jersey, National Register of Historic Places, Montville, New Jersey