Far Hills, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Far Hills, New Jersey
Borough
Alexander and James Linn Homestead, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Seal
Location of Far Hills in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Far Hills, New Jersey
Far Hills, New Jersey Location in Somerset County, New Jersey Show map of Somerset County, New Jersey Far Hills, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Far Hills, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Somerset
Incorporated	May 12, 1921
Government
• Type	Borough
• Body	Borough Council
Area
• Total	4.90 sq mi (12.69 km2)
• Land	4.85 sq mi (12.55 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)  1.12%
Area rank	280th of 565 in state 12th of 21 in county
Elevation	213 ft (65 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	924
• Estimate  (2023)	914
• Rank	536th of 565 in state 19th of 21 in county
• Density	190.6/sq mi (73.6/km2)
• Density rank	508th of 565 in state 21st of 21 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07931
Area code(s)	908 exchange: 443
FIPS code	3403522890
GNIS feature ID	0885217

Far Hills is a small town, called a borough, located in northern Somerset County, New Jersey. It is part of an area known as the Somerset Hills. In 2020, about 924 people lived here. This was a small increase from 919 people in 2010.

Far Hills became an official borough on May 12, 1921. It was formed from parts of Bernards Township. An interesting fact about Far Hills is that it is a "dry town." This means that, by law, stores and restaurants are not allowed to sell alcohol. The town is also known for being one of the more expensive places to live in New Jersey.

The Far Hills ZIP Code (07931) covers more than just the borough itself. It also includes parts of other nearby towns in Somerset and Morris counties. These include Bernardsville, Peapack-Gladstone, Bedminster, Bernards, Chester, and Mendham.

Far Hills: A Look at Its Past

Far Hills covers about 5 square miles in Somerset County. It is surrounded by other towns like Bedminster, Bernardsville, Bernards Township, and Peapack-Gladstone.

The borough shares many services with its neighbors. For example, it has a community pool and athletic programs with Bernardsville. It also shares a public library, fire department, and first aid squad with Bedminster Township.

How Far Hills Got Its Name

In the late 1800s, a rich businessman from New York bought a lot of land in this area. His name was Evander H. Schley. In 1887, Evander's brother, Grant, and his wife, Elizabeth, visited the farms. Elizabeth looked out at the beautiful view and said something about the "far hills." This is how the area got its name, even before a village was built there.

The town keeps its special feel with large properties and homes. These surround a small village area. This design was created by the wealthy New York businessman. Train service started in nearby Bernardsville in 1870. This made the area popular for city people who wanted to escape the busy city life.

Geography and Climate of Far Hills

Far Hills has a total area of about 4.90 square miles. Most of this is land (4.85 square miles), with a small amount of water (0.06 square miles).

The borough shares borders with several other towns in Somerset County. These include Bedminster Township to the west, Bernards Township to the east, Bernardsville to the northeast, and Peapack-Gladstone to the northwest.

Weather in Far Hills

The weather in Far Hills usually has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally cold. This type of weather is known as a humid continental climate.

Population of Far Hills

Far Hills is a small community. Here's how its population has changed over the years:

In 2010, there were 919 people living in Far Hills. Most of the people were White (95.32%). There were also smaller numbers of Black or African American, Asian, and people of two or more races. About 9.58% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Far Hills in 2010 was 45.5 years old. About 24% of the population was under 18 years old.

Sports and Recreation in Far Hills

Far Hills is home to some interesting sports and outdoor activities.

Golf History and Events

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has a Far Hills mailing address. However, its main location is actually in Bernards Township. The United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is located there. It's a great place to learn about golf's past.

Far Hills is also famous for the Far Hills Races. This event includes horse races called steeplechases. The Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase, a very important race, used to be held here. It offered a large prize money and attracted many spectators. Several races are held each year in late October. It's a big social event, drawing up to 75,000 people annually.

Parks and Gardens to Explore

• The Leonard J. Buck Garden is a beautiful public garden. It covers 33 acres and is run by the Somerset County Park Commission. You can visit it daily, and there's a small fee to enter.
• Moggy Hollow Natural Area is next to the Buck Garden. It's a special natural landmark.
• Natirar is a large estate that spans 491 acres. It includes parts of Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone, and Bedminster. The King of Morocco once owned this estate. In 2003, it was sold to the Somerset County Park Commission.

Education in Far Hills

Students in Far Hills attend public schools through the Somerset Hills Regional School District. This district serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It includes students from Bernardsville, Far Hills, and Peapack-Gladstone. Students from Bedminster Township also attend the high school.

Schools in the District

The district has three schools:

• Marion T. Bedwell Elementary School: For students in PreK–4th grade.
• Bernardsville Middle School: For students in 5th–8th grade.
• Bernards High School: For students in 9th–12th grade.

The school district is managed by a board of education. This board has nine elected members. One of these members represents Far Hills.

Private School Option

Far Hills Country Day School is a private school in Far Hills. It is for both boys and girls. The school serves students from nursery school through eighth grade. It opened in 1929 and is located on a 55-acre campus.

Transportation in Far Hills

Interstate 287 southbound in Far Hills

Far Hills has several roads and highways that help people get around.

Major Roads

The main highway serving Far Hills is Interstate 287. U.S. Route 202 also runs through the borough.

Public Transit Options

NJ Transit provides train service at the Far Hills train station. This station is on the Gladstone Branch of the Morristown Line. You can take a train from here to Secaucus Junction and then to New York Penn Station. You can also go to Hoboken Terminal. The train station building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lakeland Bus Lines also offers bus service during rush hour. This service goes from Bedminster to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Notable People from Far Hills

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Far Hills. Here are a few:

• Nicholas F. Brady (born 1930): A former United States Secretary of the Treasury.
• P. J. Chesson (born 1978): An IndyCar race car driver.
• Malcolm Forbes (1919–1990): The former editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine.
• Steve Forbes (born 1947): The current editor-in-chief of Forbes.
• J. Geils (1946–2017): A blues-rock guitarist and founder of The J. Geils Band.
• Jack H. Jacobs (born 1945): A retired United States Army colonel and a Medal of Honor recipient.
• Aileen Quinn (born 1971): An actress known for playing Annie in the 1982 film Annie.
• Christine Todd Whitman (born 1946): A former Governor of New Jersey.

See also

In Spanish: Far Hills para niños