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Morris Plains, New Jersey facts for kids

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Morris Plains, New Jersey
Borough
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Official seal of Morris Plains, New Jersey
Seal
Motto(s): 
"The Community of Caring"
Location of Morris Plains in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Location of Morris Plains in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Morris Plains, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey is located in Morris County, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Location in Morris County, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey is located in the United States
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Morris
Incorporated April 15, 1926
Named for Lewis Morris
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 2.59 sq mi (6.71 km2)
 • Land 2.55 sq mi (6.61 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)  1.35%
Area rank 369th of 565 in state
30th of 39 in county
Elevation
430 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,153
 • Estimate 
(2023)
6,538
 • Rank 341st of 565 in state
28th of 39 in county
 • Density 2,409.6/sq mi (930.4/km2)
 • Density rank 258th of 565 in state
12th of 39 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07950
Area code(s) 973
FIPS code 3402748210
GNIS feature ID 0885308
Website

Morris Plains is a small town, called a borough, in Morris County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 6,153 people lived there. This was more than in 2010, showing the town is growing!

Morris Plains became a borough on March 15, 1926. It was formed from parts of Hanover Township. The town is named after Lewis Morris, who was a colonial governor of New Jersey.

Many people who live in Morris Plains travel to work in New York City. This is why it's sometimes called a "bedroom community." The Morristown Line of NJ Transit helps people get to places like New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.

Geography and Climate

Morris Plains covers about 2.59 square miles (6.71 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

A small area called Littleton is also located within the borough. Morris Plains shares borders with other towns in Morris County, including Hanover Township, Morris Township, and Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Weather in Morris Plains

The weather in Morris Plains usually has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. The area has a climate known as a "humid subtropical climate."

Climate data for Morris Plains, New Jersey
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 72
(22)
77
(25)
84
(29)
93
(34)
98
(37)
99
(37)
100
(38)
101
(38)
102
(39)
88
(31)
83
(28)
74
(23)
102
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 38
(3)
40
(4)
48
(9)
61
(16)
71
(22)
80
(27)
85
(29)
83
(28)
77
(25)
64
(18)
53
(12)
42
(6)
62
(17)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 20
(−7)
21
(−6)
30
(−1)
39
(4)
49
(9)
59
(15)
63
(17)
61
(16)
53
(12)
42
(6)
33
(1)
25
(−4)
41
(5)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27)
−10
(−23)
−4
(−20)
12
(−11)
26
(−3)
32
(0)
39
(4)
36
(2)
27
(−3)
17
(−8)
5
(−15)
−8
(−22)
−16
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.55
(90)
3.06
(78)
4.18
(106)
4.47
(114)
4.98
(126)
4.00
(102)
4.87
(124)
4.86
(123)
4.32
(110)
3.72
(94)
4.57
(116)
4.04
(103)
50.62
(1,286)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 9.4
(24)
10.0
(25)
5.7
(14)
1.0
(2.5)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1.0
(2.5)
6.9
(18)
34
(86)
Source: NOAA

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1930 1,713
1940 2,018 17.8%
1950 2,707 34.1%
1960 4,703 73.7%
1970 5,540 17.8%
1980 5,305 −4.2%
1990 5,219 −1.6%
2000 5,236 0.3%
2010 5,532 5.7%
2020 6,153 11.2%
2023 (est.) 6,538 18.2%
Population sources: 1930
1940–2000 2000
2010 2020

In 2010, there were 5,532 people living in Morris Plains. Most residents were White (about 89%). There were also Black or African American, Asian, and other racial groups. About 5.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households were families, with about 61% being married couples. About 32% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Morris Plains was about 42 years old.

Economy and Businesses

Morris Plains is home to some big companies. Pfizer, a large pharmaceutical company, has a major office here. They used to be the headquarters for Warner-Lambert. Pfizer has supported local education and events, like a 5k race.

A property owned by Pfizer is being redeveloped. It will include new homes and shops. In 2015, Honeywell, another big company, moved its headquarters to Morris Plains. They have a large campus in the borough.

Education in Morris Plains

The Morris Plains Schools teach students from pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade. The school district has two schools. Mountain Way School serves students in Pre-K to 2nd grade. Morris Plains Borough School is for students in grades 3 to 8.

After eighth grade, students go to Morristown High School. This high school also serves students from Morristown and Morris Township.

There used to be a Catholic school called St. Virgil Academy. It closed in 2016 because fewer students were enrolling and costs were rising.

Transportation and Travel

2021-07-24 11 21 59 View south along U.S. Route 202 (Littleton Road) from the overpass for the rail line between Speedwell Avenue and New Jersey State Route 53 (Tabor Road) in Morris Plains, Morris County, New Jersey
U.S. Route 202 southbound in Morris Plains

Morris Plains has several main roads, including U.S. Route 202, New Jersey Route 10, and New Jersey Route 53. Larger highways like Interstate 80 and Interstate 287 are close by in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township.

Public Transport Options

NJ Transit offers train service at the Morris Plains station. You can take trains on the Morristown Line to places like Newark Broad Street Station, Secaucus Junction, New York Penn Station, and Hoboken Terminal. The train station building itself is quite old, built in 1915, and is listed as a historic place.

NJ Transit also provides local bus services. These buses help people travel around the area.

Morris Plains in Pop Culture

  • In the TV show The Sopranos, a scene in the episode "Made in America" takes place at a gas station in Morris Plains.

Famous People from Morris Plains

See also (related category): People from Morris Plains, New Jersey

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Morris Plains:

  • Darron Collins (born 1970), an expert in human ecology and plants, who became president of the College of the Atlantic.
  • Michael Dogbe (born 1996), a professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals.
  • William Perry Fogg (1826–1909), an author and adventurer.
  • Robert Martin (born 1947), a State Senator for New Jersey.
  • Edward Mosberg (1926-2022), a Holocaust survivor, teacher, and generous giver.
    Edward Mosberg
    Edward Mosberg
  • Suzanne Scott (born 1965/66), the CEO of Fox News.
  • Gustav Stickley (1858–1942), a famous furniture maker and designer.
  • Ben Weinman (born 1975), a musician from the band The Dillinger Escape Plan.
    The Dillinger Escape Plan - Wacken Open Air 2017 11
    Ben Weinman
  • Paul Zimmerman (born 1932), a sportswriter for Sports Illustrated.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Morris Plains para niños

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