Rockaway Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockaway Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Ford-Faesch House
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 Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Location in Morris County, New Jersey
Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Morris |
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| Incorporated | April 8, 1844 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 45.89 sq mi (118.85 km2) | |
| • Land | 41.73 sq mi (108.09 km2) | |
| • Water | 4.16 sq mi (10.77 km2) 9.06% | |
| Area rank | 39th of 565 in state 1st of 39 in county |
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| Elevation | 673 ft (205 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 25,341 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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26,368 | |
| • Rank | 103rd of 565 in state 4th of 39 in county |
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| • Density | 607.2/sq mi (234.4/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 429th of 565 in state 32nd of 39 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07866(Rockaway)
07435 (Newfoundland) 07842 (Hibernia) |
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| Area code(s) | 973 | |
| FIPS code | 3402764080 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882209 | |
| Website | ||
Rockaway Township is a community in Morris County, New Jersey. It is called a township. In 2020, about 25,341 people lived here. This was a small increase from 2010.
Rockaway Township was officially created on April 8, 1844. This happened when the New Jersey Legislature decided to form it from parts of Hanover Township and Pequannock Township. Over time, some parts of Rockaway Township became other towns. These include Rockaway Borough (in 1894), Wharton (in 1895), and Denville Township (in 1913).
The township gets its name from the Rockaway River and the nearby Rockaway Borough. The name comes from a Native American word. It might mean "place of sands," "creek between two hills," or "bushy" and "difficult to cross."
A big part of the township is Picatinny Arsenal. This is a United States Army base that covers about 6,500 acres. It is mainly used to develop new weapons, especially for fighting terrorism.
Contents
Exploring Rockaway Township's Geography
Rockaway Township covers about 45.89 square miles. Most of this area is land, with about 4.16 square miles of water.
Natural Beauty and Parks
Rockaway Township and its nearby community, Rockaway Borough, have many beautiful natural areas. You can find lakes, rivers, and large mountains covered with trees. These areas are home to lots of wildlife. There are also many hiking trails to explore. Some popular spots include Farny State Park, Wildcat Ridge WMA, Mount Hope Historical Park, and Splitrock Reservoir.
Water Resources and Historic Sites
Some parts of the township are owned by the City of Newark. This land is part of their Pequannock River Watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a specific river or lake. This watershed provides water to Newark. It covers about 35,000 acres and includes parts of other townships too.
Rockaway Township also has two important historic sites. These are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Split Rock Furnace: This is an iron ore furnace from the time of the American Civil War. It is still standing today.
- Ford-Faesch Manor House: This stone house was built in 1768. It played a big role during the American Revolutionary War. It also shows the 250-year history of the iron industry in Morris County.
Communities and Lakes
Several communities are located within Rockaway Township. Some of these are:
- Lake Telemark
- White Meadow Lake
Other smaller communities and places in the township include Beach Glen, Denmark, Green Pond, and Hibernia. Hibernia is known for its old mines.
Splitrock Reservoir is a large wilderness area of about 625 acres. It sits on the border between Rockaway Township and Kinnelon. In 2015, the state bought 1,500 acres around the reservoir to protect it.
Neighboring Towns
Rockaway Township shares its borders with several other towns. These include:
- Boonton Township
- Denville Township
- Dover
- Jefferson Township
- Kinnelon
- Randolph Township
- Rockaway
- Wharton
- West Milford
Understanding Rockaway Township's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 3,139 | — | |
| 1860 | 3,551 | 13.1% | |
| 1870 | 6,445 | 81.5% | |
| 1880 | 7,366 | 14.3% | |
| 1890 | 6,033 | −18.1% | |
| 1900 | 4,528 | * | −24.9% |
| 1910 | 4,835 | 6.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,505 | * | −27.5% |
| 1930 | 3,178 | −9.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,423 | −23.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,418 | 82.3% | |
| 1960 | 10,356 | 134.4% | |
| 1970 | 18,955 | 83.0% | |
| 1980 | 19,850 | 4.7% | |
| 1990 | 19,572 | −1.4% | |
| 2000 | 22,930 | 17.2% | |
| 2010 | 24,156 | 5.3% | |
| 2020 | 25,341 | 4.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 26,368 | 9.2% | |
| Population sources: 1850–1920 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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Population Changes in 2020
The 2020 United States census showed that Rockaway Township had 25,341 people. The population is made up of people from many different backgrounds.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 18,919 | 17,804 | 78.32% | 70.26% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 552 | 731 | 2.29% | 2.88% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 12 | 10 | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,605 | 1,918 | 6.64% | 7.57% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 10 | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 42 | 83 | 0.17% | 0.33% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 317 | 790 | 1.31% | 3.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,705 | 3,995 | 11.20% | 15.76% |
| Total | 24,156 | 25,341 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Snapshot of 2010 Population
In 2010, there were 24,156 people living in the township. There were about 8,983 households. Many families, about 62.9%, were married couples.
About 23.8% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, there were about 95 males.
Economy and Shopping in Rockaway Township
Shopping and Retail
Rockaway Townsquare is a very large shopping mall. It has major stores like Macy's, JCPenney, and Raymour & Flanigan. It is one of the biggest shopping malls in New Jersey.
Military Base and Jobs
Picatinny Arsenal is a military base that started in 1880. It was first called the Dover Powder Depot. Today, it is a key center for developing weapons and ammunition for the United States Armed Forces. About 5,000 people work there. It covers 6,500 acres.
Education in Rockaway Township
Elementary and Middle Schools
The Rockaway Township Public Schools serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The district has six schools. In the 2022–23 school year, about 2,386 students were enrolled.
- Birchwood Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Catherine A. Dwyer Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Katherine D. Malone Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Dennis B. O'Brien Elementary School (Grades PreK-5)
- Stony Brook Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Copeland Middle School (Grades 6-8)
High Schools for Teens
Students in grades nine through twelve attend one of two high schools:
- Morris Hills High School: This school is for students living in the White Meadow Lake area and other southern parts of the township. It is located in Rockaway Borough.
- Morris Knolls High School: This school serves the rest of the township. It is located in Denville.
These two high schools are part of the Morris Hills Regional High School District. There is also a special program called The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering. This program is for students interested in math, science, and engineering. It is located on the Morris Hills campus.
Getting Around Rockaway Township
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Major Roads and Highways
Rockaway Township has many miles of roads.
- Interstate 80 goes through the township.
- U.S. Route 46 runs through the southern part.
- Route 15 touches the southwestern part.
- County Route 513 travels north to south across the township.
Public Transportation Options
While there are no train stops directly in Rockaway Township, you can catch a train at the Denville station. This station serves both the Morris & Essex Lines and the Montclair-Boonton Line.
NJ Transit also provides bus service on the 880 local route. You can also find bus service from the Rockaway Townsquare Mall to Midtown Manhattan in New York City. This service is provided by Lakeland Bus Lines.
Rockaway Township's Fire Department
The Rockaway Township Fire Department is made up of five volunteer companies. This means that the firefighters are volunteers who help their community. They provide both fire protection and emergency medical services. The five stations are:
- Hibernia Company #1
- Mount Hope Company #2
- Marcella Company #3 (covers the northern part of the township)
- Birchwood Company #4 (covers the area around the Rockaway Townsquare Mall)
- White Meadow Lake Company #5 (covers the southern part of the township)
Famous People from Rockaway Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Rockaway Township. Here are a few:
- Lou Benfatti (born 1971), a former professional football player.
- Neal Casal (1968–2019), a talented musician and photographer.
- Silas Duncan (1788–1834), a naval officer known for his service in the War of 1812.
- Harry L. Ettlinger (1926–2018), one of the "Monuments Men" during World War II. Their efforts to save art were shown in a movie.
- Lawrence Low (1920–1996), an Olympic sailor who won a gold medal in 1956.
- Raymond T. Odierno (1954–2021), a high-ranking general in the United States Army.
- Robert A. Roe (1924–2014), a politician who represented New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Images for kids
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Ford-Faesch House
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Rockaway Township Seal
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Rockaway Townsquare
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Interstate 80 eastbound in Rockaway Township
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Rockaway para niños
