Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey
Township
Rainbow Lake Bowlsby–Degelleke House Stephen Condit House Mount Tabor Craftsman Farms Swaminarayan Hindu temple Benjamin Howell Homestead
Seal
Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey Location in Morris County, New Jersey Show map of Morris County, New Jersey Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Morris
Incorporated	May 9, 1928
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act (mayor–council)
• Body	Township Council
Area
• Total	25.35 sq mi (65.65 km2)
• Land	23.63 sq mi (61.20 km2)
• Water	1.72 sq mi (4.45 km2)  6.79%
Area rank	105th of 565 in state 6th of 39 in county
Elevation	302 ft (92 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	56,162
• Estimate  (2023)	56,289
• Rank	30th of 565 in state 1st of 39 in county
• Density	2,376.5/sq mi (917.6/km2)
• Density rank	261st of 565 in state 13th of 39 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07054
Area code(s)	973
FIPS code	3402756460
GNIS feature ID	0882206

Parsippany–Troy Hills, often called Parsippany, is a township in Morris County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 56,162 people lived here. This was an increase of over 2,900 people since 2010.

The name Parsippany comes from the Lenape Native American tribe. It means "the place where the river winds through the valley." Troy Hills was added to avoid confusion with Troy, New York.

Parsippany–Troy Hills became a township on March 12, 1928. It was formed from parts of Hanover Township.

Money magazine has often listed Parsippany–Troy Hills as one of the "Best Places to Live in the United States." It ranked 15th best in 2022.

History of Parsippany

After the Wisconsin Glacier melted about 13,000 years ago, half of Parsippany was covered by Lake Passaic. The area was first a cold, treeless land (tundra). As it warmed, it became a forest with many trees.

Early Native American Life

Paleo-Indians first came to this area about 12,500 years ago. They moved in small groups, drawn by the many plants and animals. Later, other Native Americans settled here. They lived in the higher areas and along the Rockaway River and Whippany River. They hunted and fished for food. In the late 1970s, paintings were found in a rock cave in western Parsippany.

Dutch and English Settlement

From 1611 to 1614, the Netherlands created the colony of New Netherland. This colony included all of northern New Jersey. Native Americans traded furs and food with the Dutch. They received items like metal pots, knives, and blankets. Trading stopped in 1643 when wars broke out between the groups. These conflicts prevented the Dutch from settling in what is now Morris County.

In 1664, English ships took control of New Netherland. Morris County became part of the English Province of New York. Relations with Native Americans improved for a short time. Later, the Dutch briefly took back control, but the English regained it a year later.

Around 1700, settlers from England began moving to the Parsippany area. The land was flat and fertile, with plenty of fresh water. This made it a great place for farming.

Slavery in Parsippany's Past

From the 1730s to the early 1800s, part of Parsippany was a large plantation. This area was known as Lake Hiawatha. Many African people were forced to work on this plantation.

One enslaved person born there was Phebe Ann Jacobs. She was born in 1785. Later, she gained her freedom in Maine. Her life story, published after her death, inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, a famous book against slavery. Important guests like George Washington also visited the plantation.

Geography and Climate

Parsippany–Troy Hills covers about 25.35 square miles (65.65 km²). Most of this is land, with some water.

Several smaller communities are located within the township. These include Greystone Park, Lake Hiawatha, Lake Parsippany, and Mount Tabor.

Parsippany borders several other towns. These include Boonton, Denville, and Montville.

Weather in Parsippany

The township has a climate with cold winters and warm to hot summers. It is often cooler than Manhattan at night. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −26°F (−32°C). The highest temperature was 104°F (40°C).

How Parsippany's Land Was Formed

Parsippany–Troy Hills is in the Newark Piedmont Basin. About 500 million years ago, volcanic islands crashed into North America. This created the New York – New Jersey Highlands. These highlands start in the western part of the township.

Later, the North American Plate moved away from the African Plate. This created low-lying areas, including the swamps and meadows of Parsippany. The Ramapo Fault runs through the western part of the township.

The Wisconsin Glacier covered the area around 21,000 BCE. It melted around 13,000 BCE as the climate warmed. As the glacier melted, it formed rivers, streams, and lakes. Most of the township was under Lake Passaic, the biggest lake in New Jersey at that time.

After Lake Passaic drained, it left behind swamps like Troy Meadows. These swamps and meadows, next to oak forests, created a rich variety of plants and animals.

Population and People

In 2022, about 47.8% of Parsippany-Troy Hills residents were White. About 37.2% were Asian, and 2.7% were African American. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 8.4% of the population.

Many different groups live in Parsippany. The largest Asian groups are from India (25.6%), China (6.3%), and the Philippines (1.6%). Among Hispanic and Latino residents, the largest groups are from Colombia (1.6%), Puerto Rico (1%), and Mexico (0.9%).

Population Changes (2020 Census)

In 2010, about 30.9% of homes had children under 18. Most homes (58.3%) were married couples. About 25.0% of homes had people living alone. The average household size was 2.58 people.

Economy and Businesses

Parsippany is home to many important companies. From 1967 to 2015, the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the Super Bowl was made here. The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy for the NBA Finals is also handcrafted in Parsippany.

Companies like Allergan, B&G Foods, GAF Materials Corporation, and Zoetis have offices here. Kings Food Markets, Lexus, and Toyota Financial Services are also in Parsippany. PNY Technologies, which makes computer memory, is located here too.

Several international companies have their U.S. operations in Parsippany. These include Cadbury Adams, Ferrero, Reckitt Benckiser, Ricola, and Safilo.

Sports in Parsippany

Parsippany has a soccer club called Parsippany SC. They have teams in the Super Y-League and Super-20 League.

One of Parsippany's Little League teams, Par–Troy Little League East, played in the 2012 Little League World Series. They lost in the third round to a team from California.

Fire Protection Services

Parsippany–Troy Hills has six different volunteer fire districts. They operate out of ten fire houses. Each district has its own chief and officers. All firefighters are volunteers and are on call 24/7. The township police department dispatches them.

• District 1: Mount Tabor Fire Department (founded 1910)
• District 2: Rainbow Lakes Fire Department
• District 3: Lake Parsippany Fire Department (founded 1935)
• District 4: Lake Hiawatha Fire Department (established 1935)
• District 5: Rockaway Neck Fire Department
• District 6: Parsippany – Troy Hills Fire District 6 (founded 1929). This district covers many areas, including shopping centers and highways.

Education in Parsippany

Public Schools

The Parsippany–Troy Hills School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has ten elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. It also has an adult education center. The community is very diverse, with students from many different backgrounds.

In the 2021–22 school year, the district had 14 schools and 7,082 students. There were 634.8 teachers, meaning about 11 students per teacher.

The schools are:

• Eastlake Elementary School (PreK–5)
• Intervale Elementary School (K–5)
• Knollwood Elementary School (K–5)
• Lake Hiawatha Elementary School (PreK–5)
• Lake Parsippany Elementary School (K–5)
• Littleton Elementary School (K–5)
• Mount Tabor Elementary School (K–5)
• Northvail Elementary School (K–5)
• Rockaway Meadow Elementary School (K–5)
• Troy Hills Elementary School (K–5)
• Brooklawn Middle School (6–8)
• Central Middle School (6–8)
• Parsippany High School (9–12)
• Parsippany Hills High School (9–12)

Private Schools

Parsippany Christian School used to serve students from preschool through twelfth grade. It closed in 2019.

All Saints' Academy serves students from preschool through eighth grade. This school was formed in 2009 by combining two other schools. St. Elizabeth School offers Montessori education for children up to sixth grade. Both All Saints' Academy and St. Elizabeth School are Catholic schools. They are run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.

Transportation Options

Interstate 80 eastbound between Interstate 287 and Interstate 280 in Parsippany–Troy Hills

Roads and Highways

Parsippany is a major crossroads for many important roads. These include Interstates 80, 280, and 287. U.S. Routes 46 and 202 also pass through. New Jersey Routes 10 and 53 are here too.

In 2013, Route 53 was renamed the "Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway." This was done to honor Alex DeCroce, a local resident and politician.

Public Transportation

The Mount Tabor station in nearby Denville offers train service. You can take trains on the NJ Transit Morris & Essex Lines to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan or Hoboken Terminal.

NJ Transit also provides bus service to and from Newark. There are also local bus routes within the township.

Parsippany has its own free bus system called Parsippany Transit. It runs on weekdays for all residents.

You can also take a bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. This service is provided by Lakeland Bus Lines.

The Morristown Municipal Airport, a smaller airport, is about 6.7 miles (10.8 km) away.

Notable People from Parsippany

See also

In Spanish: Parsippany-Troy Hills para niños