Location of Denville Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Located at the center of the county, Denville's access to major transportation routes has made it known as the Hub of Morris County.[1] The township's location in Morris County has contributed to the growth of its "eclectic downtown", along with four membership lake communities developed a century ago as summer colonies.[23]
LenapeNative 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 conclude that the name "Denville" derives from Denton.[26][27]
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.
An alternative explanation for the derivation of the township's name came from a letter from early Denville settler John Hinchman in the year 1800, in which he recounted 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 wrote, was the basis for the name of Denville and the Denbrook.[23][28]
Geography
Broadway, Denville's main street
The township had a total area of 12.74 square miles (32.99 km2), including 11.99 square miles (31.06 km2) of land and 0.75 square miles (1.94 km2) of water (5.86%).[2][3]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cedar Lake, Cooks Pond, Cooper Lake, Franklin, Indian Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Estling, Lake Openaka, Openaka Lake, Rock Ridge, Snake Hill, and Union Hill.[29]
Denville has 11 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. The three minor lakes are Cooper Lake, Hollstein Lake, and Openaki Lake. The town also has Cooks Pond, a recreational lake available for public use by membership.
Most residents of Denville live in the non-lake communities in the township, including Bald Hill, Beacon Hill and Union Hill.[citation needed]
Of the 6,432 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18; 59.8% were married couples living together; 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.9% were non-families. Of all households, 25.6% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.[20]
23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.9 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $103,435 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,379) and the median family income was $122,600 (+/− $7,473). Males had a median income of $85,571 (+/− $9,730) versus $61,382 (+/− $2,135) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $49,990 (+/− $3,235). About none of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 15,824 people, 5,990 households, and 4,312 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,307.1 inhabitants per square mile (504.7/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 people of any race were 2.64% of the population.[36][37]
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.[36][37]
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.[36][37]
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.[36][37]
Denville's town clock with sign for Route 53 visible
Denville Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under Mayor-Council plan F, as implemented as of January 1, 1972, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission.[44] The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.[45] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the seven-member township council, all elected to four-year terms of office on a partisan basis in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. Four members are elected together, one council member from each of four wards, and two years later, the three at-large and the mayoral seats are up for election at the same time.[8][46][47]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Denville Township is Republican Thomas W. Andes, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.[4] Members of the Denville Township Council are Gary Borowiec (2025; Ward 4), Glenn R. Buie (R, 2025; Ward 3), Angela Coté (R, 2027; at-large), Christopher Golinski (R, 2025; Ward 2), Chrissy Kovacs (R, 2025; Ward 1), Louis R. Maffei (R, 2027; at-large) and Robbie Simpson (R, 2027; at-large).[46][48][49][50][51][52]
In February 2020, the township council selected former councilmember Christopher Golinski to fill the Second Ward seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Brian Bergen until he resigned from office in November 2019 after being elected to a seat in the General Assembly.[53] Golinski served on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[54]
Federal, state and county representation
Denville is located in the 11th Congressional District[55] and is part of New Jersey's 26th state legislative district.[56]
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.[62] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[63]: 8 As of 2024[update], Morris County's Commissioners are:
The county's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[71][72]
Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[73][74] and
Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2024).[75][76]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 11,789 registered voters in Denville Township, of which 2,288 (19.4%) were registered as Democrats, 4,951 (42.0%) were registered as Republicans and 4,542 (38.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[77]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.5% of the vote (4,898 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.1% (3,805 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (116 votes), among the 8,863 ballots cast by the township's 12,128 registered voters (44 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.1%.[78][79] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 54.5% of the vote (5,266 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.7% (4,230 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (118 votes), among the 9,670 ballots cast by the township's 12,226 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.1%.[80] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58.5% of the vote (5,214 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 40.5% (3,606 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (68 votes), among the 8,914 ballots cast by the township's 11,605 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.8.[81]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.9% of the vote (3,758 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.7% (1,489 votes), and other candidates with 2.5% (132 votes), among the 5,462 ballots cast by the township's 12,145 registered voters (83 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.0%.[82][83] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.3% of the vote (4,092 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.0% (1,934 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.3% (554 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (31 votes), among the 6,673 ballots cast by the township's 12,070 registered voters, yielding a 55.3% turnout.[84]
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.
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 94.01 miles (151.29 km) of roadways, of which 83.83 miles (134.91 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.60 miles (4.18 km) by Morris County and 7.58 miles (12.20 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[102]
NJ Transit offers local bus service on the 875 and 880 routes,[105][106] which replaced service that had been offered on the MCM2 and MCM10 routes until June 2010, when NJ Transit pulled the subsidy.[107][108]
Our Hometown: Celebrating Denville's Centennial, a feature-length documentary about the history of the township, was released in June 2013, in conjunction with Denville's centennial celebration. It features audio interviews with local historians, business leaders, and politicians.[114]
Climate
The lowest recorded temperature in Denville is −20 °F (−32 °C), and the highest recorded temperature is 102 °F (39 °C).[115]
^ abDenville profile[permanent dead link], Daily Record. 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."
^ abLevin, Jay. "Denville, N.J.: Lakefront Living with an Eclectic Downtown", The New York Times, May 26, 2021. Accessed March 30, 2022. "Iron forges along the Rockaway River and Den Brook put Denville on the map. Den refers either to Daniel Denton, a 17th-century Englishman who explored interior northern New Jersey, or to the 'den' of wild animals prevalent near the waterways."
^"Honoring The Centennial Of The Township Of Denvill - Hon. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen of New Jersey in the House of Representatives Friday, April 12, 2013, Congressional Record, Volume 159, Number 49 (Friday, April 12, 2013). Accessed March 8, 2015. "As early as 1664, however, Dutch and English settlers began arriving on the shores of the Eastern Coast of the United States. Daniel Denton, a wealthy landowner, is believed to have led an expedition into the interior of Northern New Jersey, specifically the region of Morris County. His discoveries and descriptions of the area, along with its bountiful land and resources led people to populate the area as early as 1690. It is believed that The Great Daniel Denton's influence on the area gave Denville its name."
^"What's in our name?", Daily Record, September 12, 2007. Accessed March 30, 2022, via Newspapers.com. " OK: Show of hands. Who knows how Denville got its name?.... In fact, as John Hinchman tells us, Denville was named for the den of wild animals who inhabited the swamps along the Rockaway and Denbrook rivers the latter of which was also named for the den."
^Martin, Antoinette. "Commercial Property/New Jersey; Strip Mall in Denville Looks to Barns for Its Design", The New York Times, December 2, 2001. Accessed July 12, 2023. "After years of debate and adjustment, a revised plan for the Shoppes at Union Hill has been unanimously approved by the township's authorities. A strip mall, or 'lifestyle center,' as the Stanbery Development Company terms the project, will be built on an 18-acre parcel that was previously part of the town's Ayres-Knuth Historic Farm. The shopping center will be situated on Route 10, which formed one boundary of the original farm."
^Vera, Vanessa. "Rugby tourney poised to set world record", Daily Record, July 26, 2009. Accessed April 16, 2012. "Morris Youth Rugby, a division of Morris Rugby Corp., was founded 11 years ago by KJ Feury's husband Tom Feury, 48, of Denville."
^Tourne County Park, Morris County Park Commission. Accessed April 30, 2017.
^ abTownship Council Members, Township of Denville. Accessed May 5, 2024. "Seven member Council. Four year terms. Four representatives elected by ward. Three representatives elected at-large. Staggered terms: At-large members run with the mayor; Ward members run two years later."
^Lusardi, Anthony M. "Christopher Golinski Appointed to Fill Ward 2 Councilman Vacancy", TAP into Denville, February 10, 2020. Accessed March 27, 2020. "In a unanimous vote, the Denville Town Council selected Christopher Golinski to fill the Ward 2 council seat left vacant by former Councilman Brian Bergen, who stepped down from the position after winning his bid for the New Jersey Assembly last November. Golinski previously served two four-year terms on the township council from 2009 to 2017. He took the oath of office on Feb. 4 during the council's meeting."
^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."
^Denville Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Denville Township School District. Accessed May 15, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through Eighth in the Denville Township School District. Composition: The Denville Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Denville Township."
^About Us, Denville Township School District, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 16, 2018. Accessed May 15, 2020. "The Denville Township Public School district is comprised of Lakeview and Riverview K-5 elementary schools, and Valleyview Middle School."
^Clark, Adam. "9 N.J. schools just won a huge national honor", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 24, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020. "Nine New Jersey public schools have been awarded the national Blue Ribbon designation, one of the highest honors in education. The schools were recognized Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education for high student achievement."
^Program of Studies 2017-2018 - About Our School District, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed January 2, 2017. "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."
^Westhoven, William. "NJ's smallest college moving to Denville", Daily Record, November 3, 2014. Accessed June 4, 2018. "The Assumption College for Sisters is moving operations — and many of its students — to the unoccupied convent at Morris Catholic Regional High School in Denville. The only 'sister-formation' college of its kind still operating in the United States and the smallest degree-granting institution in New Jersey, Assumption is moving from the 112-acre campus in the middle of the borough as part of a reorganization and consolidation of the properties owned by Sisters of Christian Charity."
^Bianco, Vito. Denville, p. 62. Arcadia Publishing, 2001. ISBN0-7385-0907-8. Accessed April 16, 2012. "The Ayers-Knuth Farm is Denville's only national historic site.... This building served as a backdrop farmhouse in the movie Torch Song Trilogy."
^Moss, Linda. "Never Say 'Ciao,' Tony", Multichannel News, June 10, 2007. Accessed April 16, 2012. "Family Health Care: After Tony and Christopher have their car accident, Tony is supposedly taken to St. Clare's Hospital in Denville, N.J. Several of my family members have had surgery at that facility. And Federico Castelluccio, the actor who played Furio Giunta, lives in Denville."
^ abHyman, Vicki. "'Married to Jonas': Kevin and Danielle Jonas make room for Daddy", The Star-Ledger, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 28, 2012. "Two minutes into Sunday's premiere of the new E! reality show, set in and around Denville, Kevin Jonas and his wife Danielle are snuggling in their king-size four-poster bed when they hear Danielle's father Bucky call 'Dani!' from downstairs."
^Smolensky, Connor Ryan. "Denville Featured In Documentary Celebrating The Last 100 Years"Archived August 11, 2013, at archive.today, Daily Record, June 3, 2013. Accessed August 10, 2013. "For the first time, the town's history will be told in the feature-length documentary Our Hometown: Celebrating Denville's Centennial. The idea... was to make a film that would be extremely educational and bring back lots of memories, make people laugh and cry, and just do 100 years of Denville."
^Sciaretta, Brian. "Cardoso aiming high after making debuts for Internacional and U.S. U-23s", American Soccer Now, October 30, 2019. Accessed March 10, 2020. "Born in Denville, New Jersey, Cardoso has spent only limited time in the United States. He returned to Brazil before his first birthday and his visits to the United States have been rare – although he made a recent trip to see his uncle in Ft. Lauderdale earlier in the year."
^Nutt, Bill. "Chris Robinson Brotherhood playing Newton Theatre", Daily Record, July 27, 2016. Accessed June 4, 2018. "Music has, indeed, been a long strange trip for Neal Casal. As a music fan growing up Denville in the late 1970s and 1980s, Casal would sometimes make it a point to see the granddaddy of all jam bands, the Grateful Dead."
^Staudter, Thomas. "The Professor Who Teaches By Doing", The New York Times, February 5, 2006. Accessed June 4, 2018. "Jazz bassists usually don't rate an entourage. But when Todd Coolman pushed his bulky acoustic bass through the New York Hilton at the International Association of Jazz Education conference a few weeks ago, three of his students from Purchase College's jazz studies program trailed behind him carrying his equipment and bags, causing a stir as conventioneers stopped to see who the man with the posse was.... The couple has lived in Denville, N.J., since 1984.."
^Staff. "Denville Native Poised to Be a 2017 NFL Draftee", Tap Into Denville, April 25, 2017. Accessed April 30, 2017. "Former Morris Knolls High School offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor's unique approach to learning American football is about to pay off in a big way.... The Denville native stands at 6'4", 332 pounds."
^Young, Alyssa. "Express-Times reporter's services set", The Patriot-News, February 7, 2008. Accessed June 4, 2018. "Flanagan, 33, is fondly remembered by family, co-workers and community members for his professionalism and his personality. Born in Denville, Flanagan had lived in Rockaway Township most of his life before moving to Whitehall Township five years ago."
^Izzo, Michael. "Goosebumps cover artist living in Budd Lake", Daily Record, October 26, 2015. Accessed September 25, 2024. "Jacobus, 56, has been a Morris County resident his whole life, living in Denville and Lake Hopatcong before settling in Budd Lake."
^Vickie Paynter-Finney, TexasSports.com. Accessed September 15, 2018. "Hometown: Denville, N.J."
^Chu, Kar-Hai, et al. "Kidsday Talking With Lisa Rieffel"[dead link], Newsday, September 15, 1991. Accessed April 16, 2012. "Born in Denville, NJ, her acting career has taken her to regular roles on The Cosby Show,Saturday Night Live and The Ann Jillian Show."
^Rosman, Mark. "Salkind, Walsh served towns as suburbia was developing"[permanent dead link], News Transcript, November 20, 2014. Accessed June 4, 2018. "According to an obituary published in the Nov. 4 edition of the New Jersey Jewish News, Morton Salkind, 82, of Denville, who in the early 1970s served as the mayor of Marlboro and as a state Assemblyman representing Monmouth County, died on Oct. 4."
^Staff. "ITT Taps Division Chief", The Morning Call, November 3, 1986. Accessed June 4, 2018. "Dr. Marvin R. Sambur, vice president of operations for ITT Defense Communications Division, Nutley, N.J., has been named president and general manager of the ITT Electron Division of Easton.... He lives in Denville, N.J."
^Biese, Alex. "Exploring Old Crow Medicine Show's New Jersey roots", Daily Record, September 15, 2016. Accessed April 13, 2024. "You may not know it from the deep and easy Southern drawl in his speaking voice, but Ketch Secor is a Jersey boy. Secor — the singer/songwriter who handles fiddle, banjo and harmonica duties for acclaimed Americana roots ensemble Old Crow Medicine Show — was born in the Morris County town of Denville."
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