Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey
Township
Township of Parsippany–Troy Hills
Benjamin Howell Homestead
Location in Morris County and the state of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey
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  (2010 Census)
• Total	53,238
• Estimate  (2019)	51,561
• Rank	31st of 566 in state 1st of 39 in county
• Density	2,259.3/sq mi (872.3/km2)
• Density rank	269th of 566 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 Township, commonly known as Parsippany (/pɑːrˈsɪpəni/ PAR-sip-Ə-nee), is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 53,238, reflecting an increase of 2,589 (+5.1%) from the 50,649 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,171 (+4.5%) from the 48,478 counted in the 1990 Census.

The name Parsippany comes from the Lenape Native American sub-tribe, which comes from the word parsipanong, which means "the place where the river winds through the valley". Parsippany–Troy Hills is the most populous municipality in Morris County. The name Troy Hills was changed from Troy, to avoid confusion of mail being sent erroneously to Troy, New York.

Parsippany–Troy Hills was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1928, from portions of Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 9, 1928, that split off both East Hanover Township and Parsippany–Troy Hills from Hanover Township.

Since 2006, Parsippany–Troy Hills has been consistently recognized by Money magazine as one of the Best Places to Live in the United States. That year Parsippany was ranked 17th on the list, the highest-ranked location in New Jersey. In 2008, it moved up to 13th position. Parsippany returned to Money magazine's "Best Places" list in 2012, in the 15th position, and again in 2014, where it ranked 16th with Money citing its "Arts and leisure". Parsippany's ranking improved to the fifth-ranked position on the "Best Places" list in 2016, but in 2017 dropped to 33rd. In 2018, Parsippany again made the list, at the 23rd-ranked position.

History

Geographic

After the Wisconsin Glacier melted around 13,000 BC, half of Parsippany was filled with water as this was Lake Passaic. Around the area grasses grew, as the area was tundra and then turned into a taiga/boreal forest as the area warmed.

Native American settlement

Paleo-Indians moved in small groups into the area around 12,500 years ago, attracted by the diversity of plant and animal life.

Native Americans settled into the area several thousand years ago, dwelling in the highlands and along the Rockaway River and the Whippany River, where they hunted and fished for the various game that lived in the area and migrated through the area in autumn. Paintings in a rock cave were found in the late 1970s in western Parsippany in the highlands.

Dutch settlement

From 1611 to 1614, the Dutch established the colony of New Netherland, which claimed territory between the 40th and 45th parallel north, a zone which included northern New Jersey. The Native Americans traded furs and food with the Dutch for various goods. In return, the Dutch gave the Native Americans metal pots, knives, guns, axes, and blankets. Trading with the Native Americans occurred until 1643 when a series of wars broke out between the Dutch and Native Americans. There were hostile relations between the Dutch and Native Americans between 1643 and 1660. This prevented colonization by the Dutch of the Morris County region which was technically included in their claimed "New Netherland".

On August 27, 1664, three English ships approached Fort Amsterdam and the fort was surrendered to the English. The English now controlled New Netherland and Morris County was now under control of the colony of New York. Relations with the Native Americans improved for a while.

There was a war with the Dutch ten years later. The Dutch re-took control of New Amsterdam but after a year returned it to the English. Relations with the Native Americans and English improved for a while. English settlers started to move into the area around 1700. The Parsippany area had flat land and fertile soil, and a fresh water supply, allowing them to succeed at farming. All types of game, especially waterfowl, provided colonists a chance to succeed.

Slavery in Parsippany

From the 1730s to the early 1800s, the area of Parsippany known as Lake Hiawatha was a 2,000-acre (3.125 mile) slave plantation. The central street of Lake Hiawatha, Beverwyck Road, references the name of a Dutch enslaver and property manager Lucas Von Beverhoudt.

Generations of enslaved Africans were forced to labor on the Beverwyck property, including Phebe Ann Jacobs. Born enslaved in 1785 on the Beverwyck plantation, she later achieved freedom in Maine, laundering clothes for students of Bowdoin College. Her posthumously-published 1856 biography, Narrative of Phebe Ann Jacobs, was a source of inspiration to Harriet Beecher Stowe, famed author of anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Records include a 1768 newspaper advertisement for the property that mentioned a "Negro House," which was constructed to house over 20 enslaved workers, including a blacksmith, a shoemaker, and a mason. A 1780 newspaper notice includes a description to aid in re-capturing "Jack," an enslaved person who had escaped; this notice can be found at the Morristown National Historical Park.

Guests at the estate included George Washington, Nathaniel Greene, and Marquis de Lafayette.

21st century

In July 2021, Cinepolis Theaters announced that it permanently closed its theater on Route 46 at the Morris Hills Shopping Center.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 25.35 square miles (65.65 km²), including 23.63 square miles (61.20 km²) of land and 1.72 square miles (4.45 km²) of water (6.79%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Greystone Park, Lake Hiawatha, Lake Intervale, Lake Parsippany, Mount Tabor (also known as "Tabor"), Parsippany, Powder Mill, Rainbow Lakes, Rockaway Neck, and Troy Hills.

Lake Hiawatha and Mount Tabor are neighborhoods with their own ZIP codes. In 2000, 55% of Parsippany residents had a 07054 ZIP code. In 2011, Parsippany residents could live in one of 12 ZIP codes. Until 2000, there was a 13th ZIP code within Parsippany, eliminated with changes at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.

Parsippany–Troy Hills borders the municipalities of Boonton, Denville Township, East Hanover Township, Hanover Township, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Mountain Lakes and Randolph.

Climate

The township has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and very warm-to-hot summers. It is usually cooler than Manhattan at night and in the early morning. The record low temperature is −26 °F (−32 °C), and the record high is 104 °F (40 °C).

Geology

Parsippany–Troy Hills lies in the Newark Piedmont Basin. Around 500 million years ago, a chain of volcanic islands crashed into proto North America, riding over the North American Plate and creating the New Jersey Highlands, which start in the western portion of the township. This strike also created land formations in the rest of eastern New Jersey. Around 450 million years ago, a small continent, long and thin, collided with North America, creating folding and faulting in western New Jersey and southern Appalachia.

The swamps and meadows of Parsippany were created when the North American Plate separated from the African Plate. An aborted rift system or half-graben was created. The land area lowered between the Ramapo Fault in western Parsippany and a fault west of Paterson. The Ramapo Fault goes through the western part of the township.

The Wisconsin Glacier came into the area around 21,000 BC and left around 13,000 BC due to a warming in climate. As the glacier slowly melted, this created rivers, streams and lakes, leaving most of the township under Lake Passaic, which was the biggest lake in New Jersey at that time, stretching from the edge of the Ramapo Fault in western Parsippany eastward to almost Paterson.

The area was first tundra when the Wisconsin Glacier melted and then as the area warmed formed taiga/boreal forests, along with vast meadows. Slowly, Lake Passaic drained and formed swamps in the township; Troy Meadows and Lee Meadows (on the old Alderney Farm tract) are perfect examples. Swamps and meadows next to oak forests created a diverse flora and fauna spectrum.

Craftsman Farms

Demographics

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 53,238 people, 20,279 households, and 14,094 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,259.3 per square mile (872.3/km²). There were 21,274 housing units at an average density of 902.8 per square mile (348.6/km²)^*. The racial makeup of the township was 62.37% (33,204) White, 3.52% (1,874) Black or African American, 0.17% (92) Native American, 29.09% (15,487) Asian, 0.02% (8) Pacific Islander, 2.03% (1,082) from other races, and 2.80% (1,491) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.32% (4,430) of the population. As of 2010, 17.4% of the township's population self-identified as being Indian American, making them the largest minority group in the township; 6.6% of residents identified as being Chinese-American, which is the highest of any Morris County municipality.

There were 20,279 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township, the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 95.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,760 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,882) and the median family income was $102,601 (+/- $4,650). Males had a median income of $67,109 (+/- $3,242) versus $50,415 (+/- $2,595) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,965 (+/- $1,434). About 1.8% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 50,649 people, 19,624 households, and 13,167 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,115.5 people per square mile (816.9/km²). There were 20,066 housing units at an average density of 838.1 per square mile (323.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 74.28% White, 3.11% African American, 0.12% Native American, 18.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.98% of the population.

There were 19,624 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the township, the age distribution of the population shows 21.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,133 and the median income for a family was $81,041. Males had a median income of $51,175 versus $38,641 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,220. About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Parsippany–Troy Hills has a large Indian American community, with 8.39% of Parsippany–Troy Hills's residents having identified themselves as being of Indian American ancestry in the 2000 Census, which was the eighth-highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

Economy

From 1967 through 2015, the Vince Lombardi Trophy was exclusively handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. in Parsippany for the winning team of the Super Bowl, as is the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy granted to the winner of the NBA Finals.

Allergan, B&G Foods, GAF Materials Coproration, Sun Chemical, Zoetis, Kings Food Markets, Lexus and Toyota Financial Services, American Financial Resources, Wyndham Worldwide and PNY Technologies, a manufacturer of computer memory devices, are in Parsippany–Troy Hills.

The U.S. operations of Cadbury Adams, Reckitt Benckiser, Ricola and Safilo are located here.

Cendant Corporation moved its headquarters to Parsippany–Troy Hills in 2001; in 2006 Cendant separated into several different companies, including Avis Budget Group, parent company of Avis Rent a Car System and Budget Rent a Car.

Sports

Parsippany SC is a soccer club that hosts teams in both the Super Y-League and the Super-20 League.

Par–Troy Little League East, one of Parsippany's two township Little League teams, competed in the 2012 Little League World Series, losing in the third round of play at South Williamsport, Pennsylvania to a team from Petaluma, California.

Fire protection

Parsippany–Troy Hills Township is protected by six different fire districts serving out of ten fire houses throughout the township. Each district operates as their own fire department with each having its own Chief and other line officers. Every district is 100% volunteer and are on call around the clock, with dispatching for all fire districts provided by the township police department.

• District 1: Mount Tabor Fire Department (Mount Tabor / west side of town), founded in 1910.
• District 2: Rainbow Lakes Fire Department (Rainbow Lakes section)
• District 3: Lake Parsippany Fire Department (Lake Parsippany Section), founded in 1935.
• District 4: Lake Hiawatha Fire Department (Lake Hiawatha Section), established in 1935.
• District 5: Rockaway Neck Fire Department (East side of the township)
• District 6: Parsippany – Troy Hills Fire District 6 (Central part of the township), founded in 1929. Provides fire protection to Tivoli Gardens, Cambridge Village, Hills of Troy, Morris Hills Shopping Center, Green Hill Shopping Center, Hilton/Hampton Hotels, Sylvan way and Campus Drive Area, Jefferson Road Area, Lake Intervale, and Mazdabrook Housing and Senior centers, as well as sections of I-80, I-287, 46, 10, and 202, with stations at 60 Littleton Road (Main station) and Smith Road (sub-station).

Education

Public schools

The Parsippany–Troy Hills School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Parsippany–Troy Hills School District has students in ten elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and an adult education center. The community served by the district is ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of 14 schools, had an enrollment of 7,248 students and 643.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Eastlake Elementary School (350 students; in grades PreK-5), Intervale Elementary School (278; K-5), Knollwood Elementary School (414; K-5), Lake Hiawatha Elementary School (408; PreK-5), Lake Parsippany Elementary School (283; K-5), Littleton Elementary School (405; K-5), Mt. Tabor Elementary School (449; K-5), Northvail Elementary School (371; K-5), Rockaway Meadow Elementary School (257; K-5), Troy Hills Elementary School (260; K-5), Brooklawn Middle School (918; 6–8), Central Middle School (789; 6–8), Parsippany High School (913; 9–12) and Parsippany Hills High School (1,075; 9–12).

Private schools

Parsippany Christian School, established in 1970, serves students in preschool through twelfth grade as a ministry of Parsippany Baptist Church.

All Saints' Academy serves preschool though eighth grade, as the result of a 2009 merger of Saint Christopher Parochial school and Saint Peter the Apostle School. St. Elizabeth School, founded in 1970, offers Montessori education to children in preschool through sixth grade. Both are Catholic schools operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.

Transportation

I-80 eastbound between I-287 and I-280 in Parsippany–Troy Hills

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the township had a total of 208.45 miles (335.47 km) of roadways, the most of any municipality in the county, of which 173.78 miles (279.67 km) are maintained by Parsippany–Troy Hills, 11.30 miles (18.19 km) by Morris County and 23.37 miles (37.61 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Parsippany lies at the crossroads of many major roadways including Interstates 80, 280 (including its western terminus) and 287, U.S. Routes 46 and 202, New Jersey Routes 10 and 53, as well as County Route 511. In 2013, Route 53 was renamed as the "Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway" in honor of Alex DeCroce, a township resident who was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1989 until his death in 2012.

Public transportation

The Mount Tabor station in neighboring Denville Township offers train service on the NJ Transit Morristown Line, with service to and from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and Hoboken Terminal.

NJ Transit provides bus service on the 79 route to and from Newark, with local service on the 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 880, 29 and 79 routes.

The Taiwanese airline China Airlines provides private bus service to John F. Kennedy International Airport from Parsippany to feed its flight to Taipei, Taiwan.

Parsippany runs a two-route bus system known as Parsippany Transit that offers bus service free to all residents and operates six days a week.

Bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan is provided by Lakeland Bus Lines along Route 46 and Interstate 80.

Morristown Municipal Airport, a general aviation airport, is located 6.7 miles (10.8 km) from the township.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Parsippany–Troy Hills

• Charlie Ayers (born 1966), former executive chef for Google.
• Joe Bernard (born 1963), college football coach who was head coach of the Fairfield Stags football team in 2001 and 2002.
• Debbie Bramwell-Washington (born 1966), IFBB professional bodybuilder
• R. J. Cobbs (born 1982), defensive back who has played in the NFL for the New York Giants, person of interest in 2012 hit and run in Morristown, New Jersey.
• Darron Collins (born 1970), human ecologist and academic administrator specializing in ethnobotany, who became president of the College of the Atlantic in 2011.
• Clarence Curry (born 1981), defensive specialist who played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals.
• Bobby Darin (1936–1973), singer, songwriter and actor known for such songs as "Splish Splash", "Dream Lover", "Mack the Knife", and "Beyond the Sea".
• Alex DeCroce (1936–2012), member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1989 until his death in 2012, who was memorialized with the renaming of Route 53 as the "Alex DeCroce Memorial Highway".
• BettyLou DeCroce (born 1952), politician who was sworn into the General Assembly in 2012 to succeed her husband.
• Michael Dogbe (born 1996), defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals.
• Bobby Edwards (born 1995), soccer goalkeeper for FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer.
• Sherman Edwards (1919–1981), songwriter best known for writing the lyrics and music for the musical 1776.
• Keith Ferris (born 1929), artist/creator of the B-17 mural "Fortresses Under Fire", World War II wing, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
• Dean Gallo (1935–1994), represented NJ's 11th congressional district from 1985 until his death.
• Jessica Lee Goldyn (born 1985), Broadway actress.
• Bill Hands (1940-2017), Major League Baseball pitcher.
• James Jean (born 1979), award-winning artist and illustrator.
• Danielle Jonas (born 1986), wife of Kevin Jonas and reality star who appears in Married to Jonas.
• Jane Krakowski (born 1968), actress, best known for her roles on Ally McBeal and 30 Rock.
• Steve Krisiloff (born 1946), race car driver who started the Indianapolis 500 in 11 races.
• George Kurtz (born c. 1970), co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, who was the founder of Foundstone and chief technology officer of McAfee.
• Robert Lazzarini (born 1965), sculptor and installation artist.
• Fei-Fei Li (born 1976), professor of computer science at Stanford University, who is director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL) and the Stanford Vision Lab.
• Nelson Lyon (1939-2012), writer, actor, photographer and film director, known for his directorial debut The Telephone Book.
• Paul Mirabella (born 1954), pitcher who played for 13 seasons in Major League Baseball.
• Johnnie Morant (born 1981), wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders (2004–2006).
• Jeff Okudah (born 1999), cornerback for the Detroit Lions.
• Joe Orsulak (born 1962), major league baseball player.
• Garrett Reisman (born 1968), NASA astronaut.
• Zoogz Rift (1953–2011), musician, painter and professional wrestling personality.
• Joe Rigoli (born 1956), baseball scout for the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Angelo Savoldi (1914–2013), former professional wrestler.
• Herb Scherer (1929–2012), professional basketball player for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and New York Knicks.
• Chris Singleton (born 1967), linebacker for the New England Patriots (1990–1992, 1993) and Miami Dolphins (1993, 1994–1996).
• Tommy Vigh Jr. (born 1964), race car driver in the ARCA Menards Series.
• Richie Zisk (born 1949), former major league baseball player.

See also

In Spanish: Parsippany-Troy Hills para niños