Hanover Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hanover Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Tuttle House
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Location of Hanover Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
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Census Bureau map of Hanover Township, New Jersey
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 Hanover Township, New Jersey
Location in Morris County, New Jersey
Hanover Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Hanover Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Morris | |
| European settlement | 1676 | |
| Formed | December 7, 1720 | |
| Incorporated | March 25, 1740 | |
| Named for | House of Hanover | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.75 sq mi (27.83 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.52 sq mi (27.23 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.59 km2) 2.14% | |
| Area rank | 204th of 565 in state 16th of 39 in county |
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| Elevation | 279 ft (85 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,677 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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14,648 | |
| • Rank | 180th of 565 in state 15th of 39 in county |
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| • Density | 1,396.1/sq mi (539.0/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 346th of 565 in state 22nd of 39 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes | ||
| Area code(s) | 862/973 | |
| FIPS code | 3402729550 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882187 | |
| Website | ||
Hanover Township is a community in Morris County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 14,677 people lived here. This was the highest number ever recorded for the township.
Hanover Township includes the areas of Whippany and Cedar Knolls. It is located just north of Morristown. The Morristown Municipal Airport is also nearby.
The township has many fun places to visit. These include the Whippany Railway Museum and the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. The Morris County Library is also here. A long walking and biking trail called Patriots' Path goes through the township. It follows the Whippany River.
Contents
History of Hanover Township
Hanover Township was one of the first places in northwest New Jersey where Europeans settled. In 1685, people from New England started a community along the Whippany River. This was near where the old Whippany Cemetery is today.
The land was bought from the local Lenape Native Americans. Later, Morris County was created. It included all of what is now Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties. The first area in Morris County was called 'Whippenny'.
How Hanover Township Got Its Name
The name "Hanover" comes from the House of Hanover in Germany. This name was given to the township on December 7, 1720. It was a way to show respect to George I of Great Britain. He was from the House of Hanover and ruled the American colonies at that time.
Hanover Township was much larger when it was first formed in 1720. It was officially made a township on March 25, 1740. Over time, as more people moved to the area, the township became smaller. Many new towns were created from its original land. This made it easier to manage local services.
Changes to Township Borders
Many parts of Hanover Township were used to form other towns. For example, Mendham Township was formed in 1749. The New Jersey Legislature officially established Hanover Township on February 21, 1798.
More towns were created later. These include Chatham Township (1806) and Rockaway Township (1844). Also, Boonton Town (1866), Mountain Lakes (1924), and Morris Plains (1926) were formed. Finally, East Hanover Township and Parsippany-Troy Hills Township both split off in 1928.
Revolutionary War and Local Names
During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington and his soldiers often camped in Hanover Township. They also marched through the area.
The name Whippany comes from a Native American word, Whippanong. It means "place of the arrow wood."
The old communities of Monroe and Malapardis grew into other areas. Today, Whippany and Cedar Knolls are the two main communities. They are mostly separated by Interstate 287.
The Malapardis area of Cedar Knolls is mainly around Malapardis Road. Some parts of Malapardis have a Morris Plains mailing ZIP Code. Another part of Cedar Knolls is called Trailwood. It also has some land in a Morris Plains ZIP code.
The Monroe area of Whippany is located around Whippany Road and Cedar Knolls Road. A building called Monroe Hall marks this intersection.
From Industry to Suburbs
Before World War II, Hanover Township was a quiet industrial town. It was known for its iron works and paper mills. The Whippany River provided power for these industries. After the war, the township became a suburban area.
Lucent Technologies had a large building in Whippany. In 1927, the first long-distance TV broadcast in the U.S. happened here. It went from Washington, D.C., to New York by wire. Then, it went from Whippany to New York using radio.
The Seeing Eye, the first guide dog school for the blind in the U.S., was in Whippany. It was here from 1931 to 1966. Then, it moved to Morris Township.
Geography and Location
Hanover Township covers about 10.75 square miles (27.83 km2). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
Communities and Neighboring Towns
Some communities and places within the township include Balls Mills, Black Meadows, Cedar Knolls, and Whippany.
Hanover Township shares borders with several other towns in Morris County. These are East Hanover Township, Florham Park, Morris Plains, Morris Township, and Parsippany-Troy Hills Township.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 3,843 | * | — |
| 1820 | 3,503 | −8.8% | |
| 1830 | 3,718 | 6.1% | |
| 1840 | 3,909 | 5.1% | |
| 1850 | 3,614 | * | −7.5% |
| 1860 | 3,476 | −3.8% | |
| 1870 | 3,623 | * | 4.2% |
| 1880 | 4,138 | 14.2% | |
| 1890 | 4,481 | 8.3% | |
| 1900 | 5,366 | 19.8% | |
| 1910 | 6,228 | 16.1% | |
| 1920 | 8,531 | 37.0% | |
| 1930 | 2,516 | * | −70.5% |
| 1940 | 2,812 | 11.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,756 | 33.6% | |
| 1960 | 9,329 | 148.4% | |
| 1970 | 10,700 | 14.7% | |
| 1980 | 11,846 | 10.7% | |
| 1990 | 11,538 | −2.6% | |
| 2000 | 12,898 | 11.8% | |
| 2010 | 13,712 | 6.3% | |
| 2020 | 14,677 | 7.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 14,648 | 6.8% | |
| Population sources: 1810–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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In 2010, there were 13,712 people living in Hanover Township. There were 5,308 households and 3,790 families. The population density was about 1,303 people per square mile.
Most of the people (85.5%) were White. About 10.8% were Asian, and 1% were Black or African American. About 4.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, about 22.2% of the people were under 18 years old. About 18.1% were 65 years or older. The average age was 43.9 years.
Arts and Culture
The Hanover Wind Symphony is based in Whippany. It was started in 1985.
Sports and Recreation
Hanover Township is home to the 2017 Junior Pee Wee Division Youth Football National Champions. This team is sponsored by the NFL Hall of Fame.
The New York Red Bulls U23 team plays at their training facility here. This is a development team for the New York Red Bulls.
Parks and Facilities
The township has many parks and recreation spots. These include:
- Bee Meadow Park / Brickyard Field
- Bee Meadow Pool
- Blackbrook Park
- Central Park
- Malapardis Park
- Monroe Hall and Park
- Township Community Center
- New York Red Bulls training facility
Education in Hanover Township
Public Schools
Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Hanover Township Public Schools. In the 2021–22 school year, about 1,260 students were in the district. There are four schools:
- Bee Meadow School (grades K-5)
- Mountview Road School (grades K-5)
- Salem Drive School (grades K-5)
- Memorial Junior School (grades 6-8)
For ninth through twelfth grades, students go to Whippany Park High School. This school is in the Whippany section of Hanover Township. It is part of the Hanover Park Regional High School District. Students from East Hanover Township and Florham Park also attend high schools in this district.
Private Schools
There are also three private schools for special education. These are The Allegro School, The Calais School, and P.G. Chambers School.
Transportation Options
Hanover Township has many roads. In 2010, there were about 77.54 miles of roadways.
Major Roads
Interstate 287, Route 10, and Route 24 all go through the township. Other major roads like Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, and U.S. Route 202 are nearby.
Public Transit
NJ Transit offers local bus services. Routes 871, 872, and 874 serve the township. Route 73 provides service between the township and Newark.
The Whippany Line of the Morristown and Erie Railway is a small freight train line. It runs through the township from Morristown to Roseland.
Airports
Morristown Municipal Airport is located in Hanover Township. It is used for general aviation.
Newark Liberty International Airport is the closest airport with passenger flights. It is about 20 minutes away.
Local Media
Radio stations WMTR and WDHA have their studios and offices in Cedar Knolls.
Economy and Jobs
Some major companies that employ people in Hanover Township include:
- In Whippany: Bayer, Suburban Propane, Omnicare, Halo Pharma, Drew Marine, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
- In Cedar Knolls: Edgewell Personal Care and ShopRite
Understanding Place Names
It can be a bit confusing to understand the place names in Hanover Township.
Whippany and Cedar Knolls are names for communities that are not officially separate towns. They each have their own ZIP Code and fire department. However, they are just neighborhood names within Hanover Township.
Next to Hanover Township is East Hanover Township. This town has a neighborhood called 'Hanover'. There are also other "Hanover Townships" in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Because of this, street signs and maps often show Whippany or Cedar Knolls instead of Hanover Township. People who live there often say they live in Whippany or Cedar Knolls. This is because the ZIP Code areas don't always match the township borders. Whippany's ZIP code is 07981 and Cedar Knolls' is 07927.
Notable Events
On January 5, 2009, five red lights were seen in the night sky over Hanover Township. This event became known as the Morristown UFO hoax. Later, two residents admitted they used road flares attached to balloons to create the lights.
Famous People from Hanover Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Hanover Township:
- Arthur R. Albohn (1921–2008), a member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
- George Hammell Cook (1818–1889), a State Geologist and the namesake of Cook College at Rutgers University.
- Damon Daunno (born 1984), an actor who starred in the Broadway show Oklahoma!.
- Rosemarie DeWitt (born 1974), an actress.
- Mahlon Dickerson (1770–1853), a Governor of New Jersey and U.S. Senator.
- Smith Ely Jr. (1825–1911), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Mayor of New York City.
- Harry Fanok (born 1940), a former baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Dan Frischman (born 1959), an actor known for playing "geeks" and "nerds."
- Ashbel Green (1762–1848), a Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives and President of Princeton University.
- Aaron Kitchell (1744–1820), a politician who represented New Jersey in the U.S. House and Senate.
- Othniel Looker (1757–1845), the fifth Governor of Ohio.
- Thomas Millidge (c. 1735–1816), a loyalist during the Revolutionary War who became a wealthy landowner in Canada.
- William W. Phelps (1792–1892), known for his LDS hymns.
- Brian Saxton (born 1972), a tight end who played in the NFL for the New York Giants.
- Linda Tripp (born 1949-2020), a former U.S. civil servant involved in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
- Enoch Cobb Wines (1806–1879), a minister and advocate for prison reform.
Images for kids
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Interstate 287 northbound in Hanover Township
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Hanover (Nueva Jersey) para niños
