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Chester Township, New Jersey

Coordinates: 40°46′36″N 74°41′11″W / 40.776758°N 74.686512°W / 40.776758; -74.686512
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(Redirected from Chester, NJ)
For the municipality formerly called Chester Township in Burlington County, see Maple Shade Township, New Jersey.
See also: Chester Borough, New Jersey

Chester Township, New Jersey
Township
A Federal-style Colonial home in Chester
A Federal-style Colonial home in Chester
Official seal of Chester Township, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Chester Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Location of Chester Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Chester Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Chester Township, New Jersey
Chester Township is located in Morris County, New Jersey
Chester Township
Chester Township
Location in Morris County
Chester Township is located in New Jersey
Chester Township
Chester Township
Location in New Jersey
Chester Township is located in the United States
Chester Township
Chester Township
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°46′36″N 74°41′11″W / 40.776758°N 74.686512°W / 40.776758; -74.686512[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Morris
IncorporatedApril 1, 1799
Named forChestershire, England
Government
[4]
 • TypeFaulkner Act (small municipality)
 • BodyTownship Council
 • MayorTimothy Drag
 • Administrator / Municipal clerkRobin Collins[3]
Area
[1]
 • Total
29.22 sq mi (75.67 km2)
 • Land29.13 sq mi (75.45 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)  0.29%
 • Rank93rd of 565 in state
5th of 39 in county[1]
Elevation
[5]
787 ft (240 m)
Population
 (2020)[6][7]
 • Total
7,713
 • Estimate 
(2023)[6][8]
7,706
 • Rank303rd of 565 in state
25th of 39 in county[9]
 • Density264.8/sq mi (102.2/km2)
  • Rank487th of 565 in state
38th of 39 in county[9]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07930 – Chester[10]
07931 – Far Hills[11]
07934 – Gladstone
Area code908[12]
FIPS code3402712610[1][13][14]
GNIS feature ID0882199[1][15]
Websitewww.chestertownship.org

Chester Township is a township in southwestern Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[16] As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 7,713,[6][7] a decrease of 125 (−1.6%) from the 2010 census count of 7,838,[17][18] which in turn reflected an increase of 556 (+7.6%) from the 7,282 counted in the 2000 census.[19] The township's name is derived from Chestershire in England.[20]

Periodically recognized as part of the Somerset Hills,[21][22][23][24][25] Chester Township is located in the Raritan Valley region[26] within the New York Metropolitan area. It is known as the "doughnut" around Chester Borough since it completely surrounds it, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[27]

Located about 40 miles (64 km) west of New York City, Chester Township is a semi-rural residential community known for its agricultural and equestrian farms along with its country estates. The township is characterized by undeveloped, residentially zoned areas that largely contain vast amounts of open space comprised of farmland — much of which is preserved — in addition to public parks.[28][29]

The township has been one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the 2014–2018 American Community Survey, the township residents had a median household income of $160,625, more than double the statewide median of $79,363.[8] In 2010, Forbes ranked Chester Township at 321st in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes," with a median home price of $823,691.[30]

History

[edit]

The earliest records of individuals settling in the area date back to deeds dated in 1713, for properties located near a point where two Lenape Native American trails crossed at an area called Black River. With the arrival of the Rogerenes in 1730, the area developed as an agricultural community, producing applejack, flax and wool, as well as raising cattle. The Township was created from portions of Roxbury Township and Washington Township on April 1, 1799, following a local referendum.[31] A burst of economic activity occurred starting in 1875 with the discovery of iron ore in the area, which led to the construction of dozens of mines, a blast furnace and many of the commercial and residential structures in the township date to that era. The discovery of far more abundant and productive mining sites in Minnesota's Mesabi Range ended that boom after nearly 15 years. Chester returned to its farming roots in the 20th Century.[32][33]

It was established by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 1, 1799, from portions of both Roxbury and Washington Townships, based on the results of a referendum held that day.[34] Additional territories were acquired from Randolph Township (in 1806) and Washington Township (1840 and 1853). Portions of the township were taken on April 3, 1930, to form Chester Borough, a separate municipality surrounded entirely by Chester Township.[31]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 29.22 square miles (75.67 km2), including 29.13 square miles (75.45 km2) of land and 0.09 square miles (0.22 km2) of water (0.29%).[1][2]

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Hacklebarney, Horton, Milldale, Milltown, Mount Paul, Pleasant Hill and Upper Ironia.[35]

The township completely surrounds Chester Borough, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[27] The township borders Mendham Township to the east, Randolph and Roxbury to the northeast, Mount Olive to the northwest, and Washington Township to the west, all of which are located in Morris County, while the Somerset County municipalities of Bedminster and Peapack-Gladstone, located in the Somerset Hills lie to the south and Tewksbury Township in Hunterdon County to the southwest.[36][37][38]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18101,175—
18201,2123.1%
18301,33410.1%
18401,328−0.4%
18501,3340.5%
18601,55816.8%
18701,74311.9%
18802,33734.1%
18901,625−30.5%
19001,409−13.3%
19101,251−11.2%
19201,195−4.5%
19301,45321.6%
1940874*−39.8%
19501,29748.4%
19602,10762.5%
19704,265102.4%
19805,19821.9%
19905,95814.6%
20007,28222.2%
20107,8387.6%
20207,713−1.6%
2023 (est.)7,706[6][8]−0.1%
Population sources:1810–1920[39]
1850–1870[40] 1850[41]
1870[42] 1880–1890[43]
1890–1910[44] 1910–1930[45]
1940–2000[46] 2000[47][48]
2010[17][18] 2020[6][7]
* = Lost territory in previous decade.

2010 census

[edit]

The 2010 United States census counted 7,838 people, 2,592 households, and 2,201 families in the township. The population density was 266.8 per square mile (103.0/km2). There were 2,697 housing units at an average density of 91.8 per square mile (35.4/km2). The racial makeup was 93.31% (7,314) White, 1.05% (82) Black or African American, 0.03% (2) Native American, 3.50% (274) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.54% (42) from other races, and 1.57% (123) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.35% (341) of the population.[17]

Of the 2,592 households, 43.4% had children under the age of 18; 76.5% were married couples living together; 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.1% were non-families. Of all households, 11.6% were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.27.[17]

30.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 35.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.6 males.[17]

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $162,188 (with a margin of error of +/− $17,186) and the median family income was $168,942 (+/− $15,109). Males had a median income of $147,109 (+/− $13,523) versus $67,647 (+/− $9,800) for females. The per capita income for the township was $77,787 (+/− $8,389). About 3.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.[49]

Based on data from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey, Chester Township had a per capita income of $77,787 (ranked 16th in the state), compared to per capita income in Morris County of $47,342 and statewide of $34,858.[50]

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States census[13] there were 7,282 people, 2,323 households, and 2,014 families residing in the township. The population density was 248.3 inhabitants per square mile (95.9/km2). There were 2,377 housing units at an average density of 81.1 per square mile (31.3/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.12% white, 1.15% African American, 0.01% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.58% of the population.[47][48]

Of the 2,323 households, 46.0% feature children under the age of 18, 79.6% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.3% were non-families. 10.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.29.[47][48]

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.[47][48]

The median income for a household in the township was $117,298, and the median income for a family was $133,586. Males had a median income of $91,841 versus $52,076 for females. The per capita income for the township was $55,353. About 2.4% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.[47][48]

Parks and recreation

[edit]
Nathan Cooper Gristmill
Looking west at Cooper Gristmill at Black River County Park

Of the township's 29.8 square miles (77 km2), 42%, or about 12 square miles (31 km2), is permanently protected from development. There are nature reserves and parkland, but also agricultural property that is deed restricted under the state Farmland Preservation Program, which buys the development rights while allowing the farmer to retain title and continue working the land.[33]

Chester has been described as a rural environment that caters to "agritourism." The township has developed this reputation by preserving farmland through public investment in open spaces.[33]

The township's parks and preserves are free and open to the public. Parks include:

  • Chubb Park: An 85-acre (340,000 m2) area with playing fields, skating, ponds, and sledding.[51]
  • Tiger Brook Park: Purchased with the assistance of the New Jersey Green Acres Program in 1980, this 270-acre (1.1 km2) preserve contains a 10-acre (40,000 m2) reservoir.[51]
  • Hacklebarney State Park: This 890-acre (3.6 km2) park was established in 1924 with the donation of 32 acres (130,000 m2). The Black River, which bisects the park, is one of the premier trout fishing streams in New Jersey.[51]
  • Black River Fish and Wildlife Management Area: This area consists of 3,020 acres (12.2 km2) in the northern portion of the Township. It was purchased under the Green Acres Acquisition Program for recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, canoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking.[33]
  • Highlands Ridge Park: Former Bell Laboratories Outdoor Research Lab. Site of the 'Telephone Pole Farm' and current headquarters of the New Jersey Highlands Council, a 15-member appointed body tasked with implementation of the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act of 2004.

Development is highly constrained due to state and township ordinances. The entire township is located in the New Jersey Highlands with approximately 86% of the land area designated as part of the more highly constrained Highlands Preservation Area. This environmentally sensitive area supplies drinking water to two-thirds of the state's residents. In 2004, the state passed the Highlands Preservation Act to limit development. In 2005, 27 new homes were built and 16 in 2006.[33]

Government

[edit]

Local government

[edit]

In 1958, Chester Township changed its form of government from the Township form to a Faulkner Act form, Small Municipality, Plan C. The township is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available to municipalities with fewer than 12,000 residents at the time of adoption.[52] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and four councilmembers, all elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis as part of the November general election, with two seats coming up for election in consecutive years followed by the mayoral seat in the third year of the cycle.[4][53] The candidates run on a partisan basis at regular primary and general election times. Independent candidates, having declared their intentions at primary time, run only in the general election.

Chester Township's form of government features a strong mayor, who acts as the township's executive, overseeing the creation of a budget, preparing an annual financial report and the enforcement of state and local laws, and is responsible for hiring most township officials (with approval of the Council). The Council, which is the township's legislative body, selects one of its members to serve as president to preside when the mayor is not present. The mayor participates and votes in Council sessions and makes committee assignments to Councilmembers. The mayor and a member of the Council serve on the Planning Board.

As of 2024, the Mayor of Chester Township is Republican Timothy Drag[54] Members of the Chester Township Council are John Butkus (R, 2024), Joseph DiPaolo (R, 2023), Tara Schellhorn (R, 2023), and Timothy Russell (R, 2024).[55][56][57][58][59][60][61]

Merger discussion with Chester Borough

[edit]

In 2007, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine created incentives for municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants to combine with other communities. The goal was to reduce the overall cost of government and thereby offer some tax relief. "New Jersey has 21 counties, 566 municipalities and 616 school districts, and property taxes average $6,800 per homeowner, or twice the national average."[62][63]

Chester Borough split from Chester Township in 1930 over the creation of sewer and water infrastructure in the more densely settled center of the municipality. The residents of the rural portions of the Township did not wish to financially support the construction and maintenance of a public sewer or water utility. Since that time rural Chester Township has relied upon individual private wells for water and septic systems for wastewater treatment while the Borough is primarily, although not entirely, served by public sewer and water. Concerns over the extension of utilities into the more rural Township with the resultant potential for large scale growth served as an impediment to consolidation. The prohibition of utility extensions supported by the NJ State Plan and codified in the Highlands Water Protection Act, along with the development restrictions contained in the Highlands Act have lessened those concerns. Additionally, an aggressive land conservation program in the Township has resulted in over 40% of the 29-square-mile (75 km2) Township being placed into permanent preservation, further lessening worries about potential overdevelopment. The two municipalities currently share a common K–8 school district, volunteer fire department, library, first aid squad and other municipal services.

Governor Corzine's plan to reduce or eliminate state aid had residents considering recombining towns. The two mayors publicly endorsed a cost/benefit analysis of a merger.[62] However, a merger vote planned for November 2, 2010, was delayed until 2011 due to Governor Christie's elimination of equalization funds that would ensure some taxpayers do not pay more due to the merger, as an analysis by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs estimated that township residents would see an annual increase of $128 on their property taxes while those in the borough would see an average decline of $570 in their taxes.[64]

Federal, state and county representation

[edit]

Chester Township is located in the 7th Congressional District[65] and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[66]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).[67] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[68] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024).[69][70]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 24th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Parker Space (R, Wantage Township) and in the General Assembly by Dawn Fantasia (R, Franklin) and Mike Inganamort (R, Chester Township).[71]

Morris County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either one or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[72] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[73]: 8  As of 2024, Morris County's Commissioners are:

John Krickus (R, Chatham Township, 2024),[74] Director Christine Myers (R, Harding, 2025),[75] Douglas Cabana (R, Boonton Township, 2025),[76] Thomas J. Mastrangelo (R, Montville, 2025),[77] Deputy Director Stephen H. Shaw (R, Mountain Lakes, 2024),[78] Deborah Smith (R, Denville, 2024)[79] and Tayfun Selen (R, Chatham Township, 2026)[73]: 2 [80]

The county's constitutional officers are: Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[81][82] Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[83][84] and Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2024).[85][86]

Politics

[edit]

As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,435 registered voters in Chester Township, of which 807 (14.8%) were registered as Democrats, 2,608 (48.0%) were registered as Republicans and 2,018 (37.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.[87]

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 67.2% of the vote (2,579 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 32.2% (1,235 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (25 votes), among the 3,854 ballots cast by the township's 5,757 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.9%.[88][89] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 62.7% of the vote (2,821 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 36.1% (1,623 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (39 votes), among the 4,499 ballots cast by the township's 5,748 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.3%.[90] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 65.5% of the vote (2,840 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 33.3% (1,445 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (37 votes), among the 4,336 ballots cast by the township's 5,654 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.7.[91]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 81.2% of the vote (2,280 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 17.4% (488 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (41 votes), among the 2,848 ballots cast by the township's 5,714 registered voters (39 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.8%.[92][93] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.1% of the vote (2,381 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 19.0% (628 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.0% (264 votes) and other candidates with 0.3% (10 votes), among the 3,302 ballots cast by the township's 5,601 registered voters, yielding a 59.0% turnout.[94]

Education

[edit]

Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Chester School District, together with children from Chester Borough.[95] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,047 students and 106.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1.[96] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[97]) are Dickerson Elementary School[98] with 317 students in grades PreK-2, Bragg Elementary School[99] with 325 students in grades 3-5 and Black River Middle School[100] with 402 students in grades 6-8.[101][102][103] Dickerson and Bragg Schools are located on County Route 510, east of Chester Borough; Black River Middle School is on County Route 513 (North Road), north of Chester Borough.[95] As a consolidated school district, all residents in the two constituent municipalities vote for board of education members who represent the entire district, not just the municipality in which they reside.[104]

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades in both communities attend West Morris Mendham High School, which serves students from the surrounding Morris County school districts of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough and Mendham Township. The high school is part of the West Morris Regional High School District, which also serves students from Washington Township, who attend West Morris Central High School.[105][106] As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,142 students and 91.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1.[107] The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis.[108] The nine seats on the board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Chester Township.[109]

Gill St. Bernard's School, established in 1900, is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory day school, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located on a 200-acre (81 ha) campus along the Somerset-Morris county line between Peapack-Gladstone and Chester Township.[110]

Transportation

[edit]
U.S. Route 206 northbound in Chester Township

Roads and highways

[edit]

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 12.06 miles (19.41 km) of roadways, of which 8.37 miles (13.47 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.58 miles (4.15 km) by Morris County and 1.11 miles (1.79 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[111]

U.S. Route 206 and CR 513 (otherwise known as Old Route 24 or North Road depending on the area) are the main north–south roads through the township while CR 510 (usually referred to as Old Route 24) acts as the east–west road.

No limited access roads run through Chester, but they are accessible in neighboring communities, such as Interstate 80 in Roxbury and Mount Olive, and both Interstate 287 and Interstate 78 in Bedminster.

Public transportation

[edit]

NJ Transit local bus service was provided on the MCM4 and MCM5 routes[112] until June 2010, when NJ Transit pulled the subsidy.[113][114]

Notable people

[edit]
See also: Category:People from Chester Township, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Chester Township include:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Admin and Clerk's Office, Chester Township. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  4. ^ a b 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110.
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Chester, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e QuickFacts Chester township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 22, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023, United States Census Bureau, released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Chester, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  11. ^ ZIP Code 07931, United States ZIP Codes. Accessed July 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Chester, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed January 5, 2014.
  13. ^ a b U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  14. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  15. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Explore Southwestern Morris County, Morris County Tourism Authority. Accessed April 10, 2024. "Southwestern Morris County includes a multitude of farms, farmers markets and community-supported agriculture offering fresh produce and festivals throughout the growing season throughout its communities of Mount Olive, Washington Township (Long Valley), Roxbury, Chester, Chester Township, Mount Arlington, Mendham, Mendham Township, Randolph and Netcong."
  17. ^ a b c d e DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Chester township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Chester township Archived September 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  19. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  20. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.
  21. ^ Thomson, W. Barry. "New Municipal Proposals of 100 Years Ago", Inside the Brick Academy, June 2021. Accessed July 10, 2023.
  22. ^ "Review: New Jersey Country Homes The Somerset Hills." T3 Consortium, LLC, last modified September 2006, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2008. Accessed December 11, 2015.
  23. ^ Schapiro, Amy (2003). Millicent Fenwick: Her Way. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 9780813532318.
  24. ^ "Somerset County Historical Quarterly". 1917.
  25. ^ Turpin, John K.; Barry Thomson, W. (2004). The Somerset Hills. Mountain Colony Press. ISBN 9780974950402.
  26. ^ Raritan Basin Hydrology, New Jersey Water Supply Authority. Accessed July 10, 2023.
  27. ^ a b DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.
  28. ^ Ritter, George A. Planning Report; Master Plan Amendment - Housing Element, Chester Township, April 14, 2010. Accessed August 17, 2020. "Chester Township is characterized by large areas of public parkland, vast areas of undeveloped ground in its natural state or in agriculture, and residential development chiefly comprised of detached single-family homes on large lots."
  29. ^ About Our District, Chester School District. Accessed July 10, 2021. "The surrounding Chester Township is a 29.3 square mile residential community made up of farms, estates, and attractive housing developments."
  30. ^ Staff. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes: In these neighborhoods $4 million homes are the norm.", Forbes, September 27, 2010. Accessed July 29, 2011.
  31. ^ a b Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 192. Accessed October 25, 2012.
  32. ^ History, Chester Township. Accessed January 9, 2017.
  33. ^ a b c d e Cheslow, Jerry. "Don't Count on Running Into the Neighbors", The New York Times, June 24, 2007. Accessed January 19, 2015.
  34. ^ Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries Archived December 25, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1799, April 1. Chester Township is established from Roxbury and Washington Township."
  35. ^ Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
  36. ^ Areas touching Chester Township, MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.
  37. ^ Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 22, 2020.
  38. ^ New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
  39. ^ Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905, New Jersey Department of State, 1906. Accessed July 9, 2013.
  40. ^ Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 256, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed December 17, 2012. "Chester was formed in 1799, and in 1850 contained a population of 1,334 inhabitants; in 1860, 1,558; and in 1870, 1,743."
  41. ^ Debow, James Dunwoody Brownson. The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, p. 140. R. Armstrong, 1853. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  42. ^ Staff. A compendium of the ninth census, 1870, p. 260. United States Census Bureau, 1872. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  43. ^ Porter, Robert Percival. Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75, p. 98. United States Census Bureau, 1890. Accessed September 23, 2012.
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  45. ^ Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930 - Population Volume I, United States Census Bureau, p. 717. Accessed September 23, 2012.
  46. ^ Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  47. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Chester township, Morris County, New Jersey Archived May 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  48. ^ a b c d e DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Chester township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  49. ^ DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Chester township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  50. ^ Median Household, Family, Per-Capita Income: State, County, Municipality and Census Designated Place (CDP) With Municipalities Ranked by Per Capita Income; 2010 5-year ACS estimates, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed June 3, 2020.
  51. ^ a b c Township Parks, Chester Township. Accessed January 19, 2015.
  52. ^ Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.
  53. ^ "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
  54. ^ Mayor's Page, Chester Township. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  55. ^ Town Council, Chester Township. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  56. ^ 2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Chester Township. Accessed August 17, 2022.
  57. ^ Morris County Manual 2024, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed May 1, 2024.
  58. ^ Morris County Municipal Elected Officials For The Year 2024, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk, updated March 20, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.
  59. ^ General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
  60. ^ General Election Winners For November 2, 2021, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  61. ^ General Election November 5, 2019, Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 31, 2020.
  62. ^ a b Van Dyke, Meghan. "The Chesters look at forming one community", Daily Record, June 4, 2008.
  63. ^ Porter, David via Associated Press. "Strapped towns eye mergers, but few reach the altar", The News & Observer, May 17, 2009. Accessed January 15, 2015.
  64. ^ Goldberg, Dan. "Chester merger panel puts off meeting until next year", The Star-Ledger, October 5, 2010. Accessed July 27, 2015. "Progress toward merging the two Chesters has slowed to a crawl, and the consolidation commission charged with studying the feasibility of it has decided not to meet again until 2011.... A DCA report delivered in May showed that the merger, based on 2009 data, would reduce borough taxes by approximately $570 on a home assessed at the borough average of $528,000. It would increase township taxes $128 on a home assessed at $826,000, the township average."
  65. ^ Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.
  66. ^ Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.
  67. ^ "Congressman Malinowski Fights For The Corporate Transparency Act", Tom Malinowski, press release dated October 23, 2019. Accessed January 19, 2022. "My name, Tom Malinowski. My address, 86 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553."
  68. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  69. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
  70. ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  71. ^ Legislative Roster for District 24, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 18, 2024.
  72. ^ Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022. "Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners, who serve three-year terms."
  73. ^ a b Morris County Manual 2022, Morris County Clerk. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  74. ^ Tayfun Selen, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  75. ^ John Krickus, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  76. ^ Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  77. ^ Thomas J. Mastrangelo, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  78. ^ Stephen H. Shaw, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  79. ^ Deborah Smith, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  80. ^ Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  81. ^ Ann F. Grossi, Esq., Office of the Morris County Clerk. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  82. ^ Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  83. ^ About Us: Sheriff James M. Gannon, Morris County Sheriff's Office. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  84. ^ Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  85. ^ Surrogate Heather J. Darling, Esq., Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  86. ^ Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  87. ^ Voter Registration Summary - Morris, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  88. ^ "Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Morris County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  89. ^ "Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Morris County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  90. ^ 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  91. ^ 2004 Presidential Election: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  92. ^ "Governor - Morris County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  93. ^ "Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Morris County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  94. ^ 2009 Governor: Morris County Archived October 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  95. ^ a b About Our District, Chester School District. Accessed February 12, 2020. "Students in grades nine through twelve go to the West Morris Regional High School District. The district is composed of Dickerson Elementary School (K-2), Bragg Intermediate School (3-5), and Black River Middle School (6-8). Dickerson and Bragg Schools are located on Route 24, east of Chester Borough; Black River Middle School is on Route 513 (North Road), north of Chester Borough. The school district serves two municipalities, Chester Borough and Chester Township."
  96. ^ District information for Chester Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
  97. ^ School Data for the Chester School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
  98. ^ Dickerson Elementary School, Chester School District. Accessed August 18, 2022.
  99. ^ Bragg Elementary School, Chester School District. Accessed August 18, 2022.
  100. ^ Black River Middle School, Chester School District. Accessed August 18, 2022.
  101. ^ School Directory, Chester School District. Accessed August 18, 2022.
  102. ^ School Performance Reports for the Chester Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.
  103. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Chester School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  104. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Chester School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed March 1, 2020. "The District provides a full range of educational services appropriate to preschool through eighth grade for the students residing in Chester Township and Chester Borough and is considered a Consolidated School District."
  105. ^ About the Board, West Morris Regional High School District. Accessed August 17, 2020. "The West Morris Regional High School District (WMRHSD) Board of Education is comprised of nine members who represent five municipalities in western Morris County; Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Chester Borough, Chester Township, and Washington Township. Because Chester Borough and Chester Township have joined to form a consolidated K-8 school district, there are a total of four separate K-8 districts that send students to the WMRHSD."
  106. ^ West Morris Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 4, 2016. "Established in 1958, the West Morris Regional High School District operates two schools, West Morris Central High School and West Morris Mendham High School. The regional district serves the students of five Morris County communities: Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township and Washington Township. Students from Washington Township attend West Morris Central High School, and students from the Chesters and the Mendhams attend West Morris Mendham High School."
  107. ^ School data for West Morris Mendham High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
  108. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the West Morris Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed February 12, 2020. "The School District is administered by a nine-member Board of Education ('the Board'), with three members elected each year for three-year terms."
  109. ^ Board of Education, West Morris Regional High School District. Accessed February 12, 2020.
  110. ^ School History, Gill St. Bernard's School. Accessed July 9, 2023. "Today there are three divisions—a Lower, a Middle and an Upper School—located on 208 acres, which span the Somerset-Morris County line between the Borough of Peapack-Gladstone and Chester Township."
  111. ^ Morris County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.
  112. ^ Morris County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed August 6, 2015.
  113. ^ Private Carrier Bus Service reductions Archived January 12, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, NJ Transit. Accessed August 6, 2015.
  114. ^ Morris County System Map Archived June 19, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, NJ Transit. Accessed August 6, 2015.
  115. ^ Ralph Barkman, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed July 25, 2020. "Born: September 22, 1907 in Chester Township, NJ... High School: Roxbury (NJ)"
  116. ^ Keller, Joel. "In Person; Mr. Breuer's Neighborhood", The New York Times, October 16, 2005. Accessed February 28, 2008.
  117. ^ Former Hoya Football Standout Alex Buzbee Signs with Washington Redskins Archived January 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, CSTV, May 15, 2007. Accessed October 14, 2007. "Like most college seniors, Georgetown University senior Alex Buzbee (Chester, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) went through a series of job interviews."
  118. ^ Johnson, Brent. "Former N.J. Supreme Court Justice Robert Clifford dies at 89", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 1, 2014. Accessed May 12, 2017. "Clifford retired at age 70 — the mandatory retirement age for justices — in 1994. Most recently, the Chester Township resident was counsel to the Morristown law firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter."
  119. ^ Greenidge, Frances (1974). "Nathan A. Cooper". Chester, New Jersey: A Scrapbook of History. Chester, New Jersey: Chester Historical Society. pp. 52–3.
  120. ^ Staff. "Chester Township's Degnan awarded honorary doctorate degree", Observer-Tribune, May 18, 2016. Accessed May 12, 2017.
  121. ^ "Louise Fatio Duvoisin, children's book author", Courier News, July 28, 1993. Accessed April 8, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Louise Emma Fatio Duvoisin, 89, an award-winning author of children's books and stories, died Monday (July 26, 1993) at King James Convalescent Center in the Somerset section of Franklin.... She lived in Peapack-Gladstone before moving to Chester."
  122. ^ Netburn, Deborah. "Sopranos Suburb?", The New York Observer, April 29, 2002. Accessed June 19, 2014. "In January of last year, Mr. Gandolfini bought a historic farmhouse in Chester Township, N.J., for $1.14 million."
  123. ^ Goldberg, Dan. "Bamboo Brook garden returning to its glory of yesteryear", The Star-Ledger, June 2, 2010. Accessed September 26, 2018. "A restoration project is nearly complete and it has been decades since the once-famous garden in Chester Township looked this good. Martha Brookes Hutcheson, a pioneer for women in landscaping, designed the garden in 1911.... She consulted for wealthy northeastern families but her magnum opus and last surviving work is her home garden, which was donated to the Morris County Park Commission in 1972 by Hutcheson’s daughter, Martha Hutcheson Norton, along with the rest of the 100-acre property."
  124. ^ Manochio, Matt. "Chester native finalist on 'Hell's Kitchen' cooking show", Daily Record, October 5, 2009. Accessed July 27, 2015.
  125. ^ Ash, Lorraine. "Name dropping in Morris: Life in county shapes luminaries' successes", Daily Record, July 8, 2009. Accessed April 28, 2011. "Rick Porcello, 20 - Grew up in Chester Township, now lives in Detroit"
  126. ^ Jensen, Elizabeth. "The Man Who Captivated Ken Burns", The New York Times, July 29, 2010. Accessed December 1, 2017. "Three short and intimate films about William Segal, a painter and spiritual teacher, that Ken Burns and his colleagues made from 1992 to 2000 were mostly meant to be seen within Mr. Segal's personal and professional circles.... Even so, Mr. Burns agreed to the quick turnaround for what he now calls 'a labor of love,' and with colleagues who included Buddy Squires and Roger Sherman spent several days at the Segals' farm in Chester, N.J., filming Mr. Segal talking about his philosophy of painting and seeing."
  127. ^ Peter Stroud, Duke Blue Devils men's soccer. Accessed February 26, 2023. "Hometown Chester, N.J."
  128. ^ Garber, Phil. "After China, Yamashita returns home to Chester Township to help hopeful photographers; Chester Township photographer lends skills to Duke Farms", Observer-Tribune, March 20, 2015. Accessed November 10, 2020. "Chester Twp. – Michael Yamashita has photographed some of the most exotic places on earth but he’s coming home to share his photographic excellence at the expansive Duke Farms in Hillsborough."
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