Location of Butler in Morris County highlighted and circled in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
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 1871, 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 community was given the name "Butler" in 1881 after Richard Butler, who had taken ownership of the Hard Rubber Company.[25] A Post Office was established and a larger railroad station was built. This station has been the Borough Museum since 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 borough 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 on Main Street) was destroyed by a blaze estimated to have caused a loss of as much as $3 million (equivalent to $32.5 million in 2023). The mill occupied the site on upper Main Street, an irregular shaped complex 600 feet by 300 feet and three to four 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 3 am at a distance of a mile. The glow reportedly was visible for 100 miles, mutual aid response was required by volunteer fire companies from a dozen nearby fire companies.[26]
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.[27]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.06 square miles (5.34 km2), including 2.03 square miles (5.27 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2) of water (1.31%).[1][2]
Of the 3,031 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18; 50.8% were married couples living together; 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.8% were non-families. Of all households, 28.3% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.[20]
20.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.6 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,614 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,375) and the median family income was $102,435 (+/− $7,072). Males had a median income of $69,407 (+/− $4,399) versus $46,286 (+/− $4,815) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,678 (+/− $3,263). About 3.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 7,420 people, 2,868 households, and 2,024 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,568.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,378.0/km2). There were 2,923 housing units at an average density of 1,405.9 per square mile (542.8/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.[36][37]
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.[36][37]
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.[36][37]
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.[36][37]
Government
Local government
Butler is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[39] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The borough form of government used by Butler is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[40][41]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Butler is Republican Ryan Martinez (R, 2026). Members of the Borough Council are Council President Raymond Verdonik (R, 2026), Alexander Calvi (R, 2024), Robert Fox (R, 2024), Robert H. Meier (R, 2024), Britni Morley (R, 2025), and Marc Piccirillo (R, 2026).[3][42][43][44][45][46][47]
Federal, state and county representation
Butler is located in the 11th Congressional District[48] and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.[49]
Morris County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either one or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[54] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[55]: 8 As of 2025[update], Morris County's Commissioners are:
The county's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[63][64]
Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[65][66] and
Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2029).[67][68]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,551 registered voters in Butler, of which 863 (19.0%) were registered as Democrats, 1,458 (32.0%) were registered as Republicans and 2,224 (48.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[69]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.1% of the vote (1,811 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.5% (1,430 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (44 votes), among the 3,302 ballots cast by the borough's 4,774 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.2%.[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.1% of the vote (1,968 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.7% (1,561 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (32 votes), among the 3,573 ballots cast by the borough's 4,759 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.1%.[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.4% of the vote (1,986 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 41.4% (1,430 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (26 votes), among the 3,458 ballots cast by the borough's 4,822 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.7.[73]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.9% of the vote (1,320 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.8% (571 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (25 votes), among the 1,949 ballots cast by the borough's 4,723 registered voters (33 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.3%.[74][75] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.9% of the vote (1,286 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 33.4% (755 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.0% (159 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (33 votes), among the 2,260 ballots cast by the borough's 4,615 registered voters, yielding a 49.0% turnout.[76]
St. Anthony of Padua School was a Catholic school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson that was closed in June 2012 in the face of declining enrollment, after having served the community for 130 years.[87]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 27.84 miles (44.80 km) of roadways, of which 23.29 miles (37.48 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.40 miles (3.86 km) by Morris County and 2.15 miles (3.46 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[88]
Gary Wehrkamp (born 1970), musician, songwriter and producer best known a member of the progressive rock band Shadow Gallery[96]
Points of interest
The Butler Museum is located on Main Street in the former NYS&W railroad station, across from 234 Main Street. The museum houses exhibits that reflects on the town's history.[97]
^ abTown Council, Butler Borough. Accessed May 5, 2024. "The Borough of Butler is governed by a Borough Council which has both Legislative and Executive powers, and is comprised of six councilmen and a Mayor, all positions elected at large. The executive powers are implemented through a professional staff comprised of a Borough Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, Borough Clerk, Tax Collector, Utility Collector, Superintendent of Public Works, Superintendent of Water and a Chief of Police." As of date accessed, term-end dates for Piccirillo and Verdonik have not been updated.
^Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022. "Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners, who serve three-year terms."
^Butler Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Butler Public Schools. Accessed January 4, 2023. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Butler School District. Composition: The Butler School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Butler."
^Lee, Michelle. "Proposal to merge Butler, Bloomingdale school chiefs snagged on state pay-cap", The Record, February 20, 2011. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Lauren Grecco, Bloomingdale school board president, said the trustees came up with the shared superintendent idea last fall with the goals of saving money and better-aligning curriculum. Bloomingdale students attend Butler High School, and the districts share a librarian and a buildings-and-grounds supervisor."
^Staff. "Controversy rises over St. Anthony's closure in Butler", Suburban Trends, June 28, 2012. Accessed July 25, 2013. "With the St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School having reportedly closed its doors forever with the end of this school year, a fight is brewing between the priest who, in light of falling enrollment, made the decision to end the school's 130-year run, and various parents and parishioners who say that he abandoned the school too soon."
^McLeod, Don. "First sub-Arctic type: Marine lab opens in May", Leader-Post, September 29, 1966. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Dr. Aldrich, 39-year-old native of Butler, N.J., who came to Memorial five years ago from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, expects to have a staff of eventually 100, probably 48 of them senior researchers."
^Frederick A. Aldrich, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Frederick Allen Aldrich, AB, M.Sc., PhD, was born in Butler, New Jersey, on May 1, 1927. Following the award of his doctorate in marine biology and physiology from Rutgers University, he served for seven years as curator of invertebrates at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia."
^Martin, Douglas. "Harry L. Sears, 82, Politician And Courier for Vesco Cash", The New York Times, May 21, 2002. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Harry Lloyd Sears Jr. was born on Jan. 16, 1920, in Butler, N.J. He graduated from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., and Rutgers University Law School. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1961 and was re-elected every two years until he ran successfully for the Senate in 1967."
^Duggan, Dan. "Tennessee Titans sign Rutgers receiver Andrew Turzilli as undrafted free agent", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2, 2015. Accessed May 27, 2017. "Turzilli transferred to Rutgers for his final season of eligibility after spending four years at Kansas. The Butler, N.J., native only had 10 catches last season, but he gained 347 yards and scored four touchdowns."
^Gary Wehrkamp, Shadow Gallery, October 10, 2009. Accessed October 20, 2014. "Gary Wehrkamp was born May 11, 1970 in Butler, New Jersey. Gary made his foray into music as a self-taught drummer and vocalist at the age of ten."
