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| Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey | |
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| Township | |
| Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills | |
Benjamin Howell Homestead
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 Location in Morris County and the state of New Jersey. |
|
 Census Bureau map of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Incorporated | March 12, 1928 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.394 sq mi (65.771 km2) |
| • Land | 23.563 sq mi (61.029 km2) |
| • Water | 1.831 sq mi (4.742 km2) 7.21% |
| Area rank | 104th of 566 in state 6th of 39 in county |
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Population (2010 Census) | |
| • Total | 53,238 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 53,641 |
| • 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 | Eastern (EST) (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC−4) |
| ZIP code | 07054 |
| Area code(s) | 973 |
| FIPS code | 3402756460 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882206 |
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, commonly called simply Parsippany (/pɑːrˈsɪpəni/), 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.
In 2006, Parsippany-Troy Hills was recognized by Money magazine as the 17th-ranked of the Best Places to Live in the United States, 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. It returned to the list in 2014, where it ranked 16 with Money citing its "Arts and leisure". Parsippany's ranking improved to the 5th-ranked position on the "Best Places" list in 2016.
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. 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.
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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 25.394 square miles (65.771 km2), including 23.563 square miles (61.029 km2) of land and 1.831 square miles (4.742 km2) of water (7.21%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Greystone Park, Lake Hiawatha, Lake Intervale, Lake Parsippany, Mount Tabor, Parsippany, Powder Mill, Rainbow Lakes, Rockaway Neck, Tabor 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.
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).
| Climate data for Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (22.8) |
76 (24.4) |
89 (31.7) |
96 (35.6) |
97 (36.1) |
102 (38.9) |
103 (39.4) |
104 (40) |
99 (37.2) |
93 (33.9) |
84 (28.9) |
76 (24.4) |
104 (40) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 39 (3.9) |
42 (5.6) |
51 (10.6) |
62 (16.7) |
73 (22.8) |
82 (27.8) |
86 (30) |
85 (29.4) |
78 (25.6) |
66 (18.9) |
55 (12.8) |
44 (6.7) |
63.6 (17.55) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 18 (-7.8) |
20 (-6.7) |
28 (-2.2) |
38 (3.3) |
47 (8.3) |
57 (13.9) |
63 (17.2) |
61 (16.1) |
53 (11.7) |
40 (4.4) |
32 (0) |
24 (-4.4) |
40.1 (4.49) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (-31.7) |
−26 (-32.2) |
−6 (-21.1) |
12 (-11.1) |
25 (-3.9) |
31 (-0.6) |
41 (5) |
35 (1.7) |
26 (-3.3) |
13 (-10.6) |
−5 (-20.6) |
−16 (-26.7) |
−26 (-32.2) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 3.54 (89.9) |
2.91 (73.9) |
4.20 (106.7) |
4.29 (109) |
4.38 (111.3) |
4.70 (119.4) |
4.73 (120.1) |
4.42 (112.3) |
4.89 (124.2) |
4.65 (118.1) |
4.06 (103.1) |
4.13 (104.9) |
50.9 (1,292.9) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
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 gruben was created. The land area lowered between the Ramapo Fault in western Parsippany and a fault west of Paterson. The Ramapo Fault goes though 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.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 6,631 | — | |
| 1940 | 10,976 | 65.5% | |
| 1950 | 15,290 | 39.3% | |
| 1960 | 25,557 | 67.1% | |
| 1970 | 55,112 | 115.6% | |
| 1980 | 49,868 | −9.5% | |
| 1990 | 48,478 | −2.8% | |
| 2000 | 50,649 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 53,238 | 5.1% | |
| Est. 2015 | 53,641 | 0.8% | |
| Population sources:1930 1930–1990 2000 2010 |
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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.
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' 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.
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.
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.
The Mount Tabor station in neighboring Denville Twp. 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 870, 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.
