Mendham Township, New Jersey

Mendham Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Mendham Township Farmers Market
Mendham Township highlighted in Morris County. Inset map: Morris County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Mendham Township, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°47′14″N 74°34′59″W / 40.78722°N 74.58306°W / 40.78722; -74.58306Coordinates: 40°47′14″N 74°34′59″W / 40.78722°N 74.58306°W / 40.78722; -74.58306
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Morris
Incorporated	February 21, 1798
Government[1]
– Type	Township (New Jersey)
– Mayor	Frank V. Cioppettini, Jr. (2011)[2]
– Administrator	Stephen Mountain[3]
Area
– Total	18.0 sq mi (46.6 km2)
– Land	17.9 sq mi (46.3 km2)
– Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation[4]	548 ft (167 m)
Population (2007)[5]
– Total	5,539
– Density	302.4/sq mi (116.7/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	07945
Area code(s)	862/973
FIPS code	34-45360[6][7]
GNIS feature ID	0882200[8]
Website	http://www.mendhamtownship.org

Mendham Township is an affluent township in Morris County, in the central portion of northern New Jersey, United States, located more than 30 miles (48 km) due west of New York City. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 5,400. It has slowly become suburbanized.

History

After the American War of Independence, the township was incorporated under the same name by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to create Randolph Township on January 1, 1806. The village of Mendham, adopted the newly created borough form of government on May 15, 1906 and withdrew from the governance of the township council.^[9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 17.9 square miles (46 km²), of which, 17.8 square miles (46 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (0.67%) is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	1,003		—
1940	1,079		7.6%
1950	1,380		27.9%
1960	2,256		63.5%
1970	3,697		63.9%
1980	4,488		21.4%
1990	4,537		1.1%
2000	5,400		19.0%
Est. 2007	5,539	[5]	2.6%
Population 1930 - 1990[10]

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 5,400 people, 1,788 households, and 1,539 families residing in the township. The population density was 302.4 people per square mile (116.7/km²). There were 1,849 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.91% White, 0.93% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 1,788 households out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.2% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 11.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $136,174, and the median income for a family was $146,254. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $57,946 for females. The per capita income for the township was $61,460. About 1.4% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.

Mendham Township is ranked as the 17th wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey, the wealthiest US State. It is located on the southern border of the 10th wealthiest US county, Morris County.

Mendham Township is also the current residence of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who chose to remain in his own home and not move his family to Drumthwacket, the New Jersey Governor's Mansion, situated in Princeton, New Jersey.

Government

Local government

Mendham Township operates under the township form of New Jersey municipal government. The township committee, which is the governing body, consists of five members elected at large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.^[1] At an annual reorganization meeting held on January 1, the newly reconstituted township committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor.^[11]

As of 2011^[update], members of the Mendham Township Committee are Mayor Frank V. Cioppettini Jr. (term ends December 31, 2012), Deputy Mayor Samuel K. Tolley (2013), Richard Krieg (2011) and Maribeth Thomas (2013), with Rick Merkt appointed to fill the seat expiring in 2012 vacated in January 2011 by Jack Schrier.^[12][13]

Federal, state and county representation

Mendham Township is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 25th Legislative District.^[14]

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).^[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).^[16] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).^[17]

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.^[18] As of 2011, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William J. Chegwidden (Wharton),^[19] Deputy Freeholder Director Douglas R. Cabana (Boonton Township),^[20] Gene F. Feyl (Denville),^[21] Ann F. Grassi (Parsippany-Troy Hills),^[22] Thomas J. Mastrangelo (Montville),^[23] John J. Murphy (Morris Township)^[24] and Margaret Nordstrom (Washington Township).^[25][26]

Politics

On the national and state levels, Mendham Township leans strongly toward the Republican Party.^[27] In the 2008 Presidential Election, Republican John McCain received 58% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received around 41%.^[28] In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 67% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 24%.^[27]

Education

Public school students in grades K-8 attend the Mendham Township Public Schools. Schools in Mendham (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[29]) are Mendham Township Elementary School with 443 students in grades K-4 and Mendham Township Middle School with 456 students in grades 5-8.

Students in grades 9-12 for public school attend West Morris Mendham High School, which is located in Mendham and is part of the West Morris Regional High School District. Students in the district come from the surrounding Morris County school districts of Chester, Chester Township, Mendham, Mendham Township, and from Washington Township.^[30]

The all-boys Delbarton School in neighboring Morris Township also draws a number of Mendham boys in grades 7-12.

Transportation

Given that no Interstate, US or New Jersey State Highway runs very near to Mendham Township, the township has not become so much of a New York City suburb as nearby communities with more accessible highway and commuter rail access. For those heading to points outside the township, Interstate 287, County Route 510, Interstate 80, and Interstate 78, are all accessible. Commuters can drive to nearby Morristown to access the New Jersey Transit Midtown Direct express train line into Midtown Manhattan.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Mendham Township include:

• Frank Cioppettini (born 1950), professional race car driver.^{[citation needed]}
• Chris Christie (born 1962), New Jersey Governor and former United States Attorney.^[31]
• Abner Doubleday (1819–93), Civil War general and purported inventor of baseball.^[32]
• Peter Dinklage (born 1969), actor who has appeared in The Station Agent, Elf and 30 Rock.^[33]
• Morris Frank, co-founder of The Seeing Eye.^[34]
• Whitney Houston (born 1963), singer.^[35]
• Richard A. Merkt (born 1949) represents the 25th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly.^[36]
• Brian Phelan (born 1942), NJ State Elected Officials Hall of Fame.^[37]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 116.
2. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed September 21, 2011.
3. ^ Township Administrator, Mendham Township. Accessed May 13, 2011.
4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Mendham, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
5. ^ ^{a b} Census data for Mendham township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2008.
6. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
7. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
8. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
9. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 194.
10. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
11. ^ How the Municipal Government Works, Mendham Township. Accessed July 12, 2006.
12. ^ Mendham Township Committee, Mendham Township. Accessed March 22, 2011.
13. ^ Garber, Phil. "After short break, Richard Merkt returns to Mendham Township political scene", Observer-Tribune, March 4, 2011. Accessed March 22, 2011. "Taking a lead from the former president, Richard Merkt also didn’t want to retire and was named on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to a seat on the Township Committee after serving for 12 years in the state Assembly and running unsuccessfully for governor."
14. ^ 2010 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 60. Accessed May 13, 2011.
15. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-09-07. 
16. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
17. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
18. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
19. ^ William J. Chegwidden, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
20. ^ Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
21. ^ Gene F. Feyl, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
22. ^ Ann F. Grossi, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
23. ^ Thomas J. Mastrangelo, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
24. ^ John J. Murphy, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
25. ^ Margaret Nordstrom, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
26. ^ Meet the Freeholders, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
27. ^ ^{a b} "Governor Morris County". State of New Jersey. 2009. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2009-governor_results-morris.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
28. ^ "Presidential Election Results Morris County". State of New Jersey. 2009. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/08-gen-elect-presidential-results-morris.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
29. ^ Mendham Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 21, 2011.
30. ^ West Morris Regional High School District 2010 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 22, 2011. "Established in 1958, the West Morris Regional High School District operates two schools, West Morris Central High School and West Morris Mendham High School. The district serves the students of five Morris County communities, Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township and Washington Township, in grades 9 through 12. Students from Washington Township attend West Morris Central High School, and students from the Chesters and the Mendhams attend West Morris Mendham High School."
31. ^ Goldberg, Dan. "Gov. Chris Christie won't say how he voted on Mendham Township school budget", The Star-Ledger, April 20, 2010. Accessed February 15, 2011.
32. ^ Staff. "DEATH OF GEN. DOUBLEDAY: His Services During Two Wars and Successive Promotions", The Baltimore Sun, January 28, 1893. Accessed February 15, 2011. "Gen. Abner Doubleday died last evening at his home in Mendham."
33. ^ Minauti, Dave. "Movie with Morris ties gets 3 Actors Guild nominations: Filmed in county, 'The Station Agent' also stars Mendham Twp. native", Daily Record (Morristown), January 16, 2004. Accessed February 15, 2011. "The star of the film, Mendham Township native Peter Dinklage, was nominated for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role."
34. ^ Staff. "MILLENNIUM MOMENTS", Daily Record (Morristown), September 20, 1999. Accessed February 15, 2011. "Morris Frank pioneer for blind. Morris S Frank lost his sight by age 16 but he became a man of tremendous vision. A longtime resident of Mendham Township, Frank was a pioneer of the Seeing Eye guide dog movement in the United States."
35. ^ Friedman, Roger. "Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown: 'Addicted to Each Other'", Fox News, September 14, 2006. Accessed August 14, 2007. "Houston owns an estate in Mendham, N.J., but it’s likely that it’s in her name only. Houston’s family uses the Mendham home as their headquarters, and Brown is rarely seen there. Whitney bought the Mendham estate in 1987 for about $2.2 million, according to public records, with a $1.4 million mortgage."
36. ^ Assembly Member Richard A. 'Rick' Merkt, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 17, 2007.
37. ^ Elected Officials Hall of Fame: 2011 Inductee List, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed September 21, 2011.

External links

• Mendham Township website
• Mendham Township Public Schools
• Mendham Township Public Schools's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Mendham Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• West Morris Mendham High School
• West Morris Regional High School District