Kinnelon, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kinnelon, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Borough
|
||
Tripod Rock in Pyramid Mountain County Park
|
||
|
||
Location of Kinnelon in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
|
||
Census Bureau map of Kinnelon, New Jersey
|
||
 Kinnelon, New Jersey
Location in Morris County, New Jersey
Kinnelon, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Kinnelon, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County |  Morris |
|
| Incorporated | March 21, 1922 | |
| Named for | Francis S. Kinney | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 19.25 sq mi (49.86 km2) | |
| • Land | 18.04 sq mi (46.73 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.21 sq mi (3.13 km2) 6.27% | |
| Area rank | 146th of 565 in state 10th of 39 in county |
|
| Elevation | 699 ft (213 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 9,966 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
10,009 | |
| • Rank | 246th of 565 in state 20th of 39 in county |
|
| • Density | 552.8/sq mi (213.4/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 437th of 565 in state 33rd of 39 in county |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07405
|
|
| Area code(s) | 201 and 973 | |
| FIPS code | 3402737110 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885269 | |
Kinnelon is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey. It is located about 33 miles west of New York City. In 2020, about 9,966 people lived there. Kinnelon is known for its open spaces, many parks, and walking trails. It is a suburban community with a lot of nature.
Kinnelon was officially formed as a borough on February 20, 1922. It was created from parts of Pequannock Township. The borough is named after Francis S. Kinney. He bought a large area of land in the 1880s and built an estate that included Lake Kinnelon. He also built St. Hubert's Chapel in 1886.
Kinnelon is home to Smoke Rise, a private community with gates. It is one of the oldest gated communities in the United States. Smoke Rise has over 900 unique homes on 3,500 acres, including Lake Kinnelon and Kitty Ann Mountain. Kinnelon is also known as one of New Jersey's communities with higher incomes.
Contents
History of Kinnelon
Kinnelon was once part of Pequannock Township and was called Charlotteburg. This name came from Charlotte, the wife of King George III. Early settlements in the area began in the late 1600s. People first came here to work in iron forges and furnaces. Mining and cutting down trees were the main jobs for the first settlers.
In the early 1900s, many wealthy people were drawn to the area. They liked the quiet and natural beauty. Francis S. Kinney, who started the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, was one of these people. He built a large estate called Smoke Rise starting in 1883. Smoke Rise is a name from the Pequannock Native Americans, meaning a place where mist often rises at sunset. Francis Kinney bought over 5,000 acres of land. His son, Morris Kinney, lived most of his life on the estate. The borough of Kinnelon was named after Morris Kinney 41 years later.
On February 20, 1922, Kinnelon officially became a borough. It was separated from Pequannock Township. At that time, only about 400 people lived in Kinnelon.
After World War I, more homes were built in the borough. In 1925, a real estate developer named Frank Fay Jr. and his son, Frank Fay III, bought 240 acres of farmland. They created a summer lake community called Fayson Lakes. They advertised Fayson Lakes as a great place for summer vacations, close to New York City.
Later, in 1931, another lake was added to the community, called East Lake. By the 1950s, a third lake, South Lake, was created. Most homes in Fayson Lakes were summer homes until after World War II. Today, Fayson Lakes is the most densely populated area in Kinnelon.
After Morris Kinney passed away in 1945, he left his estate to his friend, John Talbot Sr. John Talbot Sr. was a former mayor of Kinnelon. He decided to create The Smoke Rise Club in November 1946. This was one of the first community club plans in the United States. Talbot wanted to keep the land as natural as possible. He planned a community where people could build beautiful homes and enjoy country living.
By 1951, over 100 families lived in Smoke Rise. The development of Smoke Rise helped Kinnelon grow a lot in the 1950s. It made Kinnelon a popular place to live for people working in the city. Today, Kinnelon has three main areas: Kinnelon proper, Fayson Lakes, and Smoke Rise.
Geography and Nature
Kinnelon covers about 19.24 square miles (49.82 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with some water from lakes and reservoirs.
The borough is home to several beautiful natural areas:
- Silas Condict County Park is a large park covering 1,000 acres. It was created in 1964.
- Tripod Rock is a famous large rock formation. It is located in Kinnelon's Pyramid Mountain Natural Historical Area.
- Lake Kinnelon is the largest lake in the borough. It is located within the private community of Smoke Rise.
- Splitrock Reservoir is a 625-acre wilderness area. It is located on the borders of Kinnelon and Rockaway Township.
- Kitty Ann Mountain is the highest mountain in Kinnelon. It is 1,140 feet high and offers great views of northern New Jersey.
Kinnelon shares borders with several other towns. These include Boonton Township, Butler, Lincoln Park, Montville, Pequannock Township, Riverdale, and Rockaway Township in Morris County. It also borders West Milford in Passaic County.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 428 | — | |
| 1940 | 745 | 74.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,350 | 81.2% | |
| 1960 | 4,431 | 228.2% | |
| 1970 | 7,600 | 71.5% | |
| 1980 | 7,770 | 2.2% | |
| 1990 | 8,470 | 9.0% | |
| 2000 | 9,365 | 10.6% | |
| 2010 | 10,248 | 9.4% | |
| 2020 | 9,966 | −2.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 10,009 | −2.3% | |
| Population sources:1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
|||
In 2010, Kinnelon had 10,248 people living there. Most residents were White (93.05%). There were also people of Asian (4.26%), Black or African American (0.91%), and other backgrounds. About 4.08% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household in Kinnelon had about 2.95 people. Many families had children under 18 (41.8%). The median age of people in Kinnelon was 43.5 years old.
Club Communities
Kinnelon is home to two special club communities: Smoke Rise and Fayson Lakes. In 2005, about 42% of all homes in the borough were in these two communities.
Smoke Rise
Smoke Rise is a private community with gates that started in 1946. It is one of the oldest gated communities in the United States. It has over 900 unique homes spread across 3,500 acres. Lake Kinnelon and Kitty Ann Mountain are also part of Smoke Rise.
Fayson Lakes
Fayson Lakes was founded in 1925. It is built around three lakes in the southeastern part of Kinnelon. The community is named after its founders, Frank Fay Jr. and his son Frank Fay III. Fayson Lakes has many different types of homes, from small cabins to large custom-built houses.
Parks and Recreation
Kinnelon offers several places for outdoor fun:
- Silas Condict County Park was created in 1963. It has picnic areas, sports fields, and hiking trails. There's an old house called the Casino, which was once a secret bar during the Prohibition era. Today, it's used for parties and events. The park also has a large lake for fishing and paddle boating.
- Stony Brook Park has recreational areas and playgrounds. It is surrounded by a lake, making it a nice spot for families.
Economy and Shopping
Kinnelon has the Meadtown Shopping Center. It is located on Route 23. This shopping center has many stores and restaurants for residents.
Education
The Kinnelon Public Schools district serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has four schools:
- Kiel Elementary School (Pre-K–2)
- Stonybrook Elementary School (grades 3–5)
- Pearl R. Miller Middle School (grades 6–8)
- Kinnelon High School (grades 9–12)
In 2016, New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Kinnelon High School as the 3rd best high school in the state. Newsweek also listed it as one of the top 500 high schools.
Our Lady of the Magnificat School, a Catholic school, closed in 2010.
Transportation
Roads and Highways
Kinnelon has many roads. Route 23 runs along the northern edge of the borough. Interstate 287 also passes through the southeastern part of Kinnelon. The closest exit for I-287 is in the nearby town of Riverdale.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service from Kinnelon. You can take the 194 bus route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
Famous People from Kinnelon
Many notable people have lived in or are connected to Kinnelon:
- Juan Agudelo (born 1992), a professional soccer player.
- Laura Benanti (born 1979), a musical theatre actress who has been in many Broadway theatre shows.
- Missy Elliott (born 1971), a famous rapper, singer, and record producer.
- DJ Envy (born 1977), a popular DJ for the radio show The Breakfast Club.
- Erik Hanson (born 1965), a former Major League baseball pitcher.
- Brett Hearn (born 1958), a modified stock car driver.
- Roman Oben (born 1972), a former NFL football player.
- William A. Pailes (born 1952), an astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
- Elise Testone (born 1983), a singer and American Idol contestant.
Images for kids
-
I-287 southbound in Kinnelon
See also
In Spanish: Kinnelon para niños
