Chatham, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chatham, New Jersey
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Main Street in Downtown Chatham
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 Chatham, New Jersey
Location in Morris County, New Jersey
Chatham, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Chatham, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Municipalities | Chatham Borough and Chatham Township |
| Named for | William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP code |
07928
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The Chathams is a name for two nearby towns in Morris County, New Jersey. These towns are Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. Even though they are separate, they work together like one big community.
Chatham Borough started as an English village in 1710. It was called "Chatham" in 1773. Chatham Township was formed later in 1806. It got its name from the village of Chatham.
Today, Chatham Borough and Chatham Township share many public services. These include their school district, library, court, emergency medical team, and recreation programs.
Chatham is known for being a wealthy area. In 2012, Forbes.com said it was one of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes." In 2018, Bloomberg ranked Chatham as the 64th wealthiest place in the United States. It was also the 8th wealthiest in New Jersey.
Contents
Chatham's History
After the American Revolutionary War, New Jersey changed how its local governments worked. Chatham Township used to include many villages. But between 1889 and 1899, most of these villages became independent. This included Chatham Borough, which was settled in 1710.
Only Green Village, another old town from colonial times, stayed part of Chatham Township.
In 1897, Chatham Village became a borough. This made it completely independent from Chatham Township.
During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington's army camped in the Lowantica Valley. This area is now part of Chatham Township. This happened from January to May 1777. Today, the Morris County Park Commission and the Chatham Township Historical Society are working to create trails and signs in this historic area.
Chatham Borough and Chatham Township work together on many important services. They share a school district, a library, a municipal court, a medical emergency squad, and a recreation program.
Public Schools in Chatham
In 1986, people in both Chatham Borough and Chatham Township voted to combine their school districts. This created the School District of the Chathams. Now, students from both towns go to the same schools.
Elementary Schools
- [Milton Avenue School]. This school teaches students from Pre-K to 3rd grade. In 2014-15, it won a Blue Ribbon School Award. This is a very high award for American schools.
- [Southern Boulevard School]. This school teaches students from Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
- [Washington Avenue School]. This school also teaches students from Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
- [Lafayette School]. This school is for 4th and 5th graders.
Middle School
- [Chatham Middle School]. This school teaches students from 6th to 8th grade.
High School
- Chatham High School. This school is for students from 9th to 12th grade.
Chatham High School also won a Blue Ribbon School Award in 2004-05. This is the highest award an American school can get. In 2012, New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked it as the 20th best public high school in New Jersey.
The Chathams Library
A library first opened in Chatham Borough in 1907. In 1924, a new brick building was built for the library. It was named the Chatham Public Library.
As more people moved to Chatham Township, the library started serving them too. In 1974, both towns voted to create one library for everyone. It was renamed the Library of The Chathams.
The library is managed by a group of trustees. These trustees are chosen by the councils and mayors of both towns. A representative from the school district also helps.
In 1985, the library joined a computer network called MAIN. This network connects all the public libraries in Morris County. The library was expanded in 2004. Both Chatham Borough and Chatham Township helped pay for the expansion.
The library also has a special memorial for the September 11 attacks. It has 7 doves to remember the 7 citizens who died.
Municipal Court
Chatham Township and Chatham Borough share a municipal court with Madison and Harding Township. This joint court started in 2010 and is located in Madison.
Emergency Services
The Chatham Emergency Squad helps people with medical emergencies. They also help seniors and people with disabilities. They provide ambulance rides to hospitals and nursing homes. All the squad members are volunteers. They are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
The squad started in 1936. At first, its members were from the Chatham Fire Department. In 1951, the squad became its own independent group. This allowed more people from both Chathams to join.
The Chatham Emergency Squad has two buildings. One is in Chatham Borough and the other is in Chatham Township.
Recreation Programs
The Chatham Recreation program is a joint effort between Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. It works with both town councils and the school district.
It offers many fun activities and sports. These take place in town buildings, parks, fields, gyms, and schools. Volunteers help supervise and referee these activities.
Where People Live in The Chathams
Both Chatham Borough and Chatham Township have many nice neighborhoods. They often have tree-lined streets and well-kept lawns. The 07928 ZIP code is very popular. Many people who live here are among the wealthiest in New Jersey.
In 2022, the average home value across "The Chathams" was about $976,200.
Chatham Borough has neighborhoods like Chatham Village, Haaside, and the Manor Section. In 2022, the average home value in Chatham Borough was about $944,600.
Chatham Township has neighborhoods like Chatham Heights, Floral Hill, and Rolling Hill. In 2022, the average home value in Chatham Township was about $1,025,300.
See also
In Spanish: Chatham (Nueva Jersey) para niños
