Pine Brook, Morris County, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pine Brook, New Jersey
Census-designated place
Simon Van Duyne House, built c. 1750
Pine Brook, New Jersey Location in Morris County, New Jersey Show map of Morris County, New Jersey Pine Brook, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Pine Brook, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Morris
Township	Montville
Elevation	197 ft (60 m)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	5,675
• Density	1,793.6/sq mi (692.5/km2)
ZIP Code	07058
FIPS code	34-58650
GNIS feature ID	0879292

Pine Brook, sometimes spelled Pinebrook, is a community in Morris County, New Jersey. It is a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's an area the government counts for population. Pine Brook is part of Montville Township. In 2020, about 5,675 people lived here. The area uses United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07058.

History of Pine Brook

Native American Settlement

More than 10,000 years ago, the Lenape people lived in the area now known as Pine Brook. This land was part of their larger home, called Lenapehoking. The Lenape tribes lived peacefully, and no major battles were recorded in what is now Montville Township.

Dutch and English Settlers Arrive

Around the 1710s, farmers from the Netherlands (Dutch settlers) who had moved from New Amsterdam (which is now New York City) began to settle in Pine Brook. This area became a farming community. People here produced dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. For many years, there was a big business in making cider and cider brandy at nearby cider mills.

In 1760, Pine Brook had the very first schoolhouse in Montville Township. It was built from logs and was located on a road that led to Boonton.

During the American Revolutionary War, both British and American soldiers traveled through Pine Brook because it was close to Morristown, an important location during the war.

Growth in America

More schools were built in Pine Brook in 1785, 1816, and 1852 as the community grew.

In 1809, a company built a road that started in Pine Brook. This road connected the port city of Newark with farms and mines in western New Jersey. It helped people transport goods like flour, grain, butter, and pork.

On April 11, 1867, the New Jersey Legislature officially joined the three areas of White Hall, Montville, and Pine Brook. This created what we know today as Montville Township.

A local resident named John Kanouse wrote in 1881 that Pine Brook was mostly flat land with sandy soil. This soil was very good for farming. Farmers grew grass, grain, vegetables, and fruit. They also produced a lot of milk for the Newark market. Many farmers also raised poultry (like chickens), pork, and beef, and grew hay and straw to sell. Some farmers focused on planting special fruit trees, especially for apples and pears, which brought good profits.

For over 80 years, there was a tavern (like an inn or restaurant) in Pine Brook. It was a busy place where travelers and traders would stop. These travelers, often called "Sussex Teams," would bring loads of farm products from other parts of New Jersey to sell in Newark.

Pine Brook Speedway

The Pine Brook Speedway was a famous race track that operated from July 1962 to October 1989. It was designed for midget car racing and was one of the first places for microstock racing. Famous race car driver Mario Andretti even raced there and had some of his first successes at this speedway.

Geography

Pine Brook is located at the southern end of the Hook Mountain Range. It is surrounded by the Pine Brook Flats, which is a flat, fertile area. This area was created by the nearby Rockaway River and Passaic River.

Pine Brook is bordered by:

• Montville and Towaco to the north.
• The Passaic River to the east, across from Fairfield and West Caldwell.
• The Rockaway River to the south, across from East Hanover Township.
• The Rockaway River to the west, across from Parsippany and Lake Hiawatha.

Population Information

According to the 2010 United States Census, the population for the area with ZIP Code Tabulation Area 07058 was 5,372 people. By the 2020 United States census, the population grew to 5,675 people.

Notable People

Here are some people who have lived in or are connected to Pine Brook:

• Alan Sepinwall (born 1973), a television reviewer and writer.
• Travis Warech (born 1991), a basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. in the Israeli Premier League.