Denville Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denville Township, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Township
|
||
|
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
"Hub of Morris County"
|
||
Location of Denville Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
|
||
Census Bureau map of Denville, New Jersey
<mapframe text="Interactive map of Denville, New Jersey" zoom="8" width="250" height="250"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geoshape", "ids": "Q3016777" } </mapframe> |
||
 Denville Township, New Jersey
Location in Morris County, New Jersey
Denville Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Denville Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County |  Morris |
|
| Incorporated | April 14, 1913 | |
| Named for | Daniel Denton | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 12.74 sq mi (32.99 km2) | |
| • Land | 11.99 sq mi (31.06 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.75 sq mi (1.94 km2) 5.86% | |
| Area rank | 185th of 565 in state 14th of 39 in county |
|
| Elevation | 505 ft (154 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 17,107 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
17,148 | |
| • Rank | 156th of 565 in state 12th of 39 in county |
|
| • Density | 1,426.5/sq mi (550.8/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 343rd of 565 in state 20th of 39 in county |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07834
|
|
| Area code(s) | 973 | |
| FIPS code | 3402717650 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882204 | |
Denville Township is a town in Morris County, New Jersey. It's known as the "Hub of Morris County" because of its central location. Denville is a commuter town for people who work in New York City. It is about 35 miles west of Manhattan.
In 2020, Denville had a population of 17,107 people. This was the highest number of residents ever recorded for the town. Denville is also home to four lake communities. These communities started about a century ago as places where people would spend their summers.
You can travel to Denville by train using NJ Transit. The Denville station has trains that go to Hoboken Terminal or to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
Denville became an official township on April 14, 1913. It was formed from parts of Rockaway Township.
Contents
- Denville's Past: A Look at Its History
- Exploring Denville: Geography and Lakes
- Denville's Population
- Economy and Business
- Sports and Fun
- Parks and Outdoor Activities
- Local News and Community Spirit
- Education: Schools in Denville
- Getting Around: Transportation in Denville
- Community Life
- Climate in Denville
- Famous People from Denville
Denville's Past: A Look at Its History
Early Days: Native Americans and First Settlers
Long before Europeans arrived, Lenape Native Americans traveled through this area. They used a path called the Minisink Trail. Part of this trail went right through what is now southern Denville. Some historians believe there was a Lenape campsite near Route 10.
In the early 1600s, Dutch and English settlers came to the New World. They likely used the Minisink Trail to explore inland. Daniel Denton was one of the first people to buy land in this area in 1664. He wrote the first English description of northern New Jersey in 1670. Some people think Denville got its name from Daniel Denton.
Settlers may have started arriving in Denville as early as 1690. These early residents were mostly Dutch, English, Quakers, and Germans. Around 1715, people like William Penn began to survey land in Denville. These surveys are the first written records of the area.
Growing Communities and the Name "Denville"
Between 1730 and 1760, many ironworks and mills were built along the Rockaway River and the Denbrook. Small communities grew up around these businesses. For example, the Denville village formed around the Job Allen Iron Works. Early developers like the Hussa family helped shape the town and its lake communities.
There's another idea about how Denville got its name. In 1800, an early settler named John Hinchman wrote a letter. He said that older residents told him the name came from a "den" of wild animals. This den was in the swampy areas near the Denbrook and Rockaway River. The animals would rest on a small hill, and the Lenape hunted them there. Hinchman believed this "den" gave Denville and the Denbrook their names.
Exploring Denville: Geography and Lakes
Denville Township covers about 12.74 square miles (32.99 square kilometers). Most of this is land, about 11.99 square miles (31.06 square kilometers). The rest is water, about 0.75 square miles (1.94 square kilometers).
Several small communities and places are located within Denville. These include Cedar Lake, Cooks Pond, Franklin, Indian Lake, and Rock Ridge.
Denville shares borders with several other towns in Morris County. These include Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris Township, Randolph, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, and Boonton Township.
Denville has 11 named bodies of water. The four main lake communities where people live are Cedar Lake, Indian Lake, Rock Ridge, and Lake Arrowhead. Estling Lake is a private summer community. There are also smaller lakes like Cooper Lake and Openaki Lake. Cooks Pond is a recreational lake that people can use if they are members. Most Denville residents live in areas outside of these lake communities.
Denville's Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,205 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,162 | 79.4% | |
| 1940 | 3,117 | 44.2% | |
| 1950 | 6,055 | 94.3% | |
| 1960 | 10,632 | 75.6% | |
| 1970 | 14,045 | 32.1% | |
| 1980 | 14,380 | 2.4% | |
| 1990 | 13,812 | −3.9% | |
| 2000 | 15,824 | 14.6% | |
| 2010 | 16,635 | 5.1% | |
| 2020 | 17,107 | 2.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 17,148 | 3.1% | |
| Population sources: 1920 1920–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
|||
In 2010, Denville Township had 16,635 people living there. By 2020, the population grew to 17,107. This shows that more people are choosing to live in Denville.
Economy and Business
In 2003, a shopping center called the Shoppes at Union Hill opened. It is an outdoor shopping area along Route 10.
Sports and Fun
The game of American flag rugby was first played in Denville. It was brought to the town by a resident named Tom Feury.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
The Tourne is a large county park that is partly in Denville. It covers over 540 acres of natural land. From its highest point, which is 897 feet tall, you can see the New York City skyline.
Local News and Community Spirit
Denville Now is a local news source for Denville. It covers community events, local government, schools, and businesses.
The local Chamber of Commerce works to make Denville a great place for businesses, residents, and visitors. Each year, two teenagers are chosen as Mr. and Miss Denville. They are picked for their volunteer work in the community. They also take part in a winter holiday parade and celebration.
Education: Schools in Denville
The Denville Township School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The district has three schools and about 1,700 students.
- Lakeview Elementary School (PreK–5)
- Riverview Elementary School (K–5)
- Valleyview Middle School (6–8)
Riverview Elementary School was recognized in 2020 as a "National Blue Ribbon School." This award is given for high student achievement.
Most high school students in Denville attend Morris Knolls High School. This school is located in Denville but has a Rockaway address. It is part of the Morris Hills Regional High School District. This district also serves students from Rockaway Borough and Wharton.
Morris Catholic High School is a private Catholic high school in Denville. It was founded in 1957.
Assumption College for Sisters is a two-year Catholic college for women. It was started in 1953. This college helps prepare women for religious vocations, like becoming nuns. It is the last college in the United States mainly for educating nuns. In 2014, it moved to the campus of Morris Catholic High School.
Getting Around: Transportation in Denville
_in_Denville_Township,_Morris_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Denville has many roads, totaling about 94 miles. Major roads like Route 10, Route 53, U.S. Route 46, and Interstate 80 all pass through the town.
Public Transportation Options
The Denville station offers train service. You can take a train to Hoboken Terminal or to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. This service is provided by NJ Transit on the Morristown Line and Montclair-Boonton Line. Denville actually has two train stations on the same property.
NJ Transit also offers local bus service on routes 875 and 880. You can also take Lakeland Bus Lines from Denville to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
For air travel, Newark Liberty International Airport is about 27.5 miles southeast of Denville. Other nearby airports include LaGuardia Airport (43 miles away) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (54 miles away), both in Queens, New York City.
Community Life
In June 2013, a documentary called Our Hometown: Celebrating Denville's Centennial was released. It was made to celebrate Denville's 100th birthday. The film shares stories from local historians and community leaders.
Climate in Denville
Denville has a range of temperatures throughout the year. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −20 °F (−32 °C). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 102 °F (39 °C).
| Climate data for Denville Township, New Jersey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
74 (23) |
85 (29) |
93 (34) |
98 (37) |
99 (37) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
87 (31) |
82 (28) |
74 (23) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38 (3) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
61 (16) |
71 (22) |
80 (27) |
85 (29) |
83 (28) |
75 (24) |
65 (18) |
54 (12) |
43 (6) |
62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
19 (−7) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
46 (8) |
54 (12) |
59 (15) |
58 (14) |
51 (11) |
39 (4) |
32 (0) |
23 (−5) |
39 (4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−10 (−23) |
−4 (−20) |
12 (−11) |
27 (−3) |
32 (0) |
40 (4) |
36 (2) |
27 (−3) |
18 (−8) |
5 (−15) |
−7 (−22) |
−16 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.50 (114) |
3.12 (79) |
4.41 (112) |
4.64 (118) |
5.09 (129) |
4.40 (112) |
5.29 (134) |
4.37 (111) |
5.33 (135) |
4.17 (106) |
4.37 (111) |
4.10 (104) |
53.79 (1,365) |
Famous People from Denville
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Denville. Here are a few:
- Pete Abrams (born 1970), a cartoonist who created Sluggy Freelance.
- Marthina Aguirre (born 2001), a soccer player for Ecuador's national team.
- Frank Stephen Baldwin (1838–1925), who designed calculating machines.
- Trevor Baptiste (born 1996), a professional lacrosse player.
- Brian Bergen (born 1979), a politician in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Bill Bradley (born 1943), a former professional basketball player and U.S. Senator.
- Johnny Cardoso (born 2001), a soccer player for Internacional.
- Neal Casal (1968–2019), a guitarist, singer, and photographer.
- Todd Coolman (born 1954), a jazz bassist and music professor.
- Jerome Corsi (born 1946), an author.
- Jermaine Eluemunor (born 1994), an offensive tackle in the NFL.
- Russ Flanagan (1974–2008), a journalist.
- Lexie Fyfe (born 1969), a professional wrestler.
- Janice Huff (born 1960), a meteorologist on WNBC Channel 4 in New York City.
- Tim Jacobus (born 1959), an artist famous for illustrating Goosebumps book covers.
- Danielle Jonas (born 1986), a reality TV star from Married to Jonas.
- Kevin Jonas (born 1987), an actor and musician from the Jonas Brothers.
- Robert Lazzarini (born 1965), an artist.
- John Lees (born 1943), an expressionist artist and professor.
- Shea Morenz (born 1974), a former football and baseball player.
- Vickie Paynter (born 1971), a former professional tennis player.
- Lisa Rieffel (born 1975), an actress known for Empty Nest.
- Babe Ruth (1895–1948), the famous baseball player, used to vacation at Cedar Lake.
- Morton Salkind (1932–2014), a politician and former Mayor of Marlboro Township.
- Marvin R. Sambur (born 1946), a former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
- Laura San Giacomo (born 1962), an actress who played Maya Gallo on Just Shoot Me!.
- Ketch Secor (born 1978), the frontman of Old Crow Medicine Show.
- Tom Verlaine (1949-2023), a singer and guitarist from the band Television.
- Kevin Walker (born 1965), a linebacker who played in the NFL.
