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Morris County NJ Area Guide

Morris County is located in New Jersey, about 25 miles west of New York City. As of 2000 Morris County’s population was approximately 470,000. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown. The county enjoys a highly diversified economy driven by powerful industry sectors. Businesses operating in Morris County enjoy a number of competitive advantages including some of the lowest corporate, small-business, and personal income taxes in the region.

Morris County was the sixth-wealthiest county in the United States by median household income, and ranked tenth by per capita income. It is the ninth-wealthiest county in the United States by personal per-capita income, the highest rank in New Jersey. The county ranked third in the New York Metropolitan area in terms of median income.

Quality of life in Morris County is far beyond anywhere else in the country. The suburban towns, rolling mountains and sophisticated downtowns all offer a diverse array of housing, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Morris County’s location offers nearby activities at the Jersey shore, Poconos and in New York City.

Randolph, NJ
Randolph was first inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Indians, was settled by Quakers, and served as a supply point for Washington’s army during its winter in nearby Jockey Hollow. The township’s historical landmarks include the Liberty Tree that began growing in 1720, the 1869 Bryant Distillery, and the 1924 Millbrook School, now rehabilitated and in use as offices. One of our oldest streets, Gristmill Road, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Randolph saw little growth and some decline in population during the early 20th century. In the 1940s, the population began rising sharply, a trend that continued for fifty years. Though Randolph’s landscape continued to change, especially during the 1990s when much development occurred, it still has many acres of open space and parkland. Throughout the municipality, old farmhouses, mills and other historic structures remind of us Randolph’s heritage as an agricultural and rural industrial community.

Roxberry, NJ
Roxberry was founded in 1740 and has a rich heritage. Originally a center for Iron Mining and forges that supplied George Washington and the Continental Army, Roxberry grew with the cutting of roads east and west and the building of the Morris Canal in 1827. By the 1880’s the Railroad would overtake the Canal for Commercial transportation and Roxbury exploded in growth with two major rail lines. By 1890 Roxbury was the gateway to the busy resorts of Lake Hopatcong, which remained one of the region’s most popular summer destinations for over 60 years.

For more information on Roxberry, NJ visit the official website by clicking here

Morristown, NJ
Morristown is a socially and ethnically diverse community offering a wide range of amenities to residents and visitors alike. Morristown is the County Seat of Morris County and the home of both Morristown Memorial Hospital and a wide range of cultural facilities.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Morristown one of its “Dozen Distinctive Destinations.” In and around Morristown are a wide number of historic attractions and museums– Washington’s Headquarters, the Morris Museum, MacCulloch Hall Museum and Gardens, the Morris County Historical Society’s Acorn Hall, Historic Speedwell Village, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, Frelinghuysen Arboretum and the Morris Museum.

New York City is easily accessible from Morristown, which has a train station on New Jersey Transit’s Morris and Essex line that provides service to Penn Station in Manhattan, approximately one hour away.

For more information on Morristown, NJ visit the official website by clicking here

For the Morristown Tourism website click here

Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township is located in Morris County. As of 2000, the township’s population was approximately 51,000. The name Parsippany comes from the Lenape Native American word parsipanong, which means “the place where the river winds through the valley”. Parsippany-Troy Hills is the most populous municipality in Morris County.

Parsippany-Troy Hills was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1928, from portions of Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 9, 1928.

In 2006, Parsippany-Troy Hills was recognized by Money magazine as the 17th-ranked of the Best Places to Live in the United States, the highest-ranked location in New Jersey. In 2008, it moved up to 13th position. The township was not on the 2007 list because that year's list included only municipalities with a population of 50,000 or less.

For more information on Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ visit the official website by clicking here

Morris County History

Morris County was created by an Act of the State Legislature on March 15, 1738/39 separating it from Hunterdon County, one of the state’s largest counties of the period. Named after Colonel Lewis Morris, then Governor of the Province of New Jersey, it originally included what are now the counties of Morris, Sussex and Warren.
During the Revolutionary War, Morris County was known as The Military Capital of the American Revolution, because of its strategic location, which prompted Gen. George Washington and his Continental Army to make their winter encampments near Morristown on two different winters. Much of the historic lore of these encampments is preserved today in Morristown National Historical Park.

In the years following the Revolution, Morris County was a leader in the iron ore industry, a fact made possible by the abundance of iron ore, timber to fuel the forges, and swiftly flowing streams to provide power. By 1880 Morris was the third county in the nation in the amount of iron ore mined, with 568,420 tons

The Morris iron dynasty faced ruin, when in 1882 the iron industry discovered that iron ore could almost literally be picked off the surface in the Meabi region near Lake Superior. The Dickerson mine became one of the most prominent of the 1880's after giving up more than one million tons of iron ore. Another famous mine, Hurdtown, closed down in 1898 after shafts had been sunk more than 2,600 feet into the earth in search of the elusive ore. Some of the last mines in Hibernia closed in 1913.

As the population grew and the methods of transportation improved, industries sprang up throughout the county. Boonton’s iron processors gained fame from nail production; Wharton attracted the tremendous foundry of the Replogle Steel Company, which closed in 1919; Kenvil, the giant Powder Company of California, later the Hercules Powder Company, and Dover, an extensive plant for making mine equipment.

In 1831 the Morris Canal, conceived and developed by a Morristown resident, George F. MacCulloch, was completed through the county. Crossing the state from Phillipsburg to Newark, a distance of 90 miles, it played a major role in movement of iron ore, coal and freight until, after many years of service, it fell into disuse and was dismantled in the 1920's.

By 1900 the nation’s business and financial leaders, seeking escape from New York City, the financial capital of the nation, discovered Morris County, its isolation, ideal climate and unspoiled countryside, and started the construction of large country estates. Within a few years it was claimed that more millionaires lived within a one mile radius of the Morristown Green than elsewhere in the world.

Within two years of Morris County’s creation, the Townships of Hanover, Pequannock and Morris were formed, followed in 1740 by Roxbury Township and in 1749 by Mendham Township. Several years after its founding the community of West Hanover was renamed “Morristown” and designated the county seat of government.
Since the turn of the century, the character of industry in Morris County has changed from iron mining to research, pharmaceuticals and light manufacturing. In the same period, the character of the land itself has changed from agricultural to residential. Beautiful homes and gardens predominate, both in housing developments, many of them located on the estates of former millionaires, to small country estates.

Today, Morris County is New Jersey's seventh largest county. Multi-million dollar shopping centers and highway merchandising malls have combined with construction of world headquarters of name brand firms, discount houses, chain stores and food markets.

Morris County Parks and Recreation

Much of Morris County’s beauty has been protected and preserved by the Board of Chosen Freeholders through its Park Commission, formed by referendum in 1955 to set aside and develop land for leisure time and recreational use. Nearly 11,000 acres make up the system; one of New Jersey’s finest. Included are outdoor education centers, a marina, golf courses, a riding stable, indoor ice skating arena, cultural center, arboretums, and numerous types of hiking, cycling, wildflower and nature trails.
James Andrews Memorial County Park http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/jamesandrewsmain.asp

Den Brook begins in wetlands above James Andrews Memorial County Park. Within James Andrews County Memorial Park, a small brook flowing into Shongum Lake contains a healthy population of brook trout, native to the stream.

Lewis Morris Park
Lewis Morris Park covers 1154 acres, which includes a lake recreation area, Parcourse Exercise Circuit, three ballfields, a group camping area and six distinct picnic areas. Lewis Morris Park, one of the first parks to benefit from the Interpretive Signage program, is also one of the sites where equestrian trails are designated and implemented.

Schooley’s Mountain County Park
Nestled among the hills of western Morris County, Schooley's Mountain Park offers visitors 797 acres of active and passive recreation facilities. The park is named for the Schooley family who owned a considerable amount of land in the area during the late 1700s. Here you will find picnic areas, play areas, trails, restrooms and more.

For a complete list of parks in Morris County click here

For more information on Parks and Recreation in Morris County visit the official website by clicking here

Morris County Events

Morris County is home to many spectacular local events that attract both residents and visitors to participate. From fine art to classic festivals, Morris County has something for everyone! Check out the links below to find events perfect for you and your family.

For a complete list of annual events, please click here

For a complete calendar of events, please click here

Morris County Attractions

Morris County is home to many great attractions that draw visitors and residents alike. Bring your family and friends to the Children’s Museum or Macculloch Hall and Gardens for a great time and lasting memories!

Community Children’s Museum
The Community Children’s Museum is a hands on museum for children featuring a full size replica of Van Gogh’s bedroom painting where you can sit on his bed and touch the textured walls and an Art Studio to create works in clay. Learn about electricity without the shock and be an astronaut in John Glenn’s space capsule or be an actor in the theater. Explore three different countries in the Homes Around the World exhibit.

Macculloch Hall and Gardens
A 20-room Federal-style mansion was built in 1810 by George Macculloch, known as the Father of the Morris Canal. Ten period rooms display 18th and 19th century furnishings, while four galleries offer changing exhibits year-round. There is also an impressive collection of prints and drawings by Thomas Nast, the famous political cartoonist who had once been a neighbor of Macculloch Hall.

Morris Museum
Morris Museum includes the gracious Georgian-style Frelinghuysen Mansion, designed by Stanford White, features galleries for both permanent and changing exhibitions which explore the arts, sciences and humanities. Among the Museum’s permanent collections are fine and decorative arts, costumes and textiles, dolls and toys and the new Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of music boxes, automatic musical instruments and mechanically activated figures dating from the late 16th century to the early 20th century.

Whippany Railway Museum
Contains exhibits related to railroad memorabilia and features full-size historical railroad equipment and rolling stock.

For a complete list of attractions in Morris County click here

For more information on Morris County, NJ visit the official website by clicking here

For the Morris County Chamber of Commerce website click here

For the Morris County Tourism Bureau website click here