Morris County, New Jersey
U.S. County |
county = Morris County |
state = New Jersey |
seal = Mcflag2.gif |
map = Map of New Jersey highlighting Morris County.svg |
map size = 100|
founded =
March 15,
1738 | seat =
Morristown | area = 1,247
km² (481
mi²) |
area land = 1,215 km² (469 mi²) |
area water = 32 km² (12 mi²) |
area percentage = 2.55% |
census yr = 2000 |
pop = 470,212 |
density = 387 |
web = www.co.morris.nj.us |}}
Morris County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
New Jersey, about 25 mi (40 km) west of
New York City. As of the
United States 2000 Census, the population was 470,212. It is part of the
New York Metropolitan Area. Its
county seat is
Morristown6. Morris County ranks 3rd among the
highest-income counties in the United States by median household income, and 10th by per capita income.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,247
km² (481
mi²). 1,215 km² (469 mi²) of it is land and 32 km² (12 mi²) of it (2.55%) is water.
The county rises in elevation and relief from east to west, with only the more developed eastern suburbs in the
Passaic River valley being relatively level. The highest point is at 1,395 feet (425 m) above sea level in the
Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson Township; the lowest point is about 140 feet (42.6 m) in elevation, at Two Bridges, the
confluence of the Passaic and
Pequannock rivers.
Morris County is governed by a seven-member
Board of Chosen Freeholders. The members are elected at large to serve three-year terms. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of six super-departments, more than 30 divisions plus authorities, commissions, boards and study committees. Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by the county administrator.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders has been granted broad powers by the state legislature to regulate county property, finances and affairs. The Freeholder Board's duties include Preparing and adopting the county budget; Authorizing expenditures and bonds; Appointing county officials and members to boards, commissions and authorities; Passing on all claims against the county; and, Supervising the administration of county government.
The Freeholders are the center of legislative and administrative responsibility in Morris County and, as such, perform a dual role. As legislators they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated. Many of these duties in Morris County have been delegated by the Board of Chosen Freeholders to the county administrator.
As of 2006, Morris County's
Freeholders are Margaret Nordstrom (Freeholder Director), John Inglesino (Freeholder Deputy Director), Douglas R. Cabana, Frank J. Druetzler, Cecilia G. Laureys,
John J. Murphy and Jack Schrier.
[Meet the Freeholders, accessed June 6, 2006]As of the
census² of 2000, there were 470,212 people, 169,711 households, and 124,907 families residing in the county. The
population density was 387/km² (1,003/mi²). There were 174,379 housing units at an average density of 144/km² (372/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.20%
White, 2.80%
Black or
African American, 0.12%
Native American, 6.26%
Asian, 0.04%
Pacific Islander, 2.01% from
other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 7.79% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 169,711 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.80% were
married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $77,340, and the median income for a family was $89,773. Males had a median income of $60,165 versus $40,065 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $36,964. About 2.40% of families and 3.90% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 3.70% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.
Morris County, New Jersey has a reputation of being one of New Jersey's whitest and wealthiest counties. While this is still true, there are large
Hispanic communities in
Dover and
Morristown;
Parsippany-Troy Hills has a large
Asian American population. In terms of white ethnicity, there are fairly equal numbers of
Italian American,
Irish American, and
German American residents. The
Jewish American community is strong in specific areas, such as
Randolph.
Lincoln Park (26.7%),
Montville (26.8%),
East Hanover (41.8%),
Pequannock Township (29.2%), and
Riverdale (33.5%) are dominated by
Italian American groups, along with other northern and eastern communities, while the rest of the county is more mixed with populations of Irish and German ancestries.
Wharton (20.8%),
Denville (25.1%), and
Mine Hill (23.5%) are particularly Irish American.
|
Index map of Morris County municipalities (click to see index key) |
The following is a list of the municipalities in Morris County. Other,
unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are
census-designated places that have been created by the
United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a
Township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked with an asterisk (*) next to the name.
The
County College of Morris is a two-year public
community college serving students from Morris County. The school's campus is in
Randolph and was founded in 1965. Another two-year college, the private
Roman Catholic women's college Assumption College for Sisters, is in
Mendham.
The
Florham Park-
Madison-
Convent Station area is also the home of three universities. The
College at Florham, a campus of
Fairleigh Dickinson University, is located on the border of these three towns.
Drew University is a small, private
university in Madison. The
College of Saint Elizabeth is a private
Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts
women's college located in Convent Station.
*
Morris County Home Page*
Morris County Visitors Center*
The Morris Museum*
Morris County's Newspaper (Daily Record)*
Morris County Chamber of Commerce*
Morris County Library*
History of Morris County, New Jersey*
Landing New Jersey Community Website*
Abandoned Mines, and mining history of Morris County New Jersey and the northeastern U.S.*
Abandoned Mines of Morris County New Jersey*
Historic 1758 Quaker meetinghouse*
Morris County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
