Once known as Charlotteburg, Kinnelon was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1922, from portions of Pequannock Township, based on the results of a referendum passed on March 21, 1922.[23][24][25] The borough's name comes from Francis S. Kinney, who purchased 5,000 acres (20 km2) of land in the 1880s for an estate that included Lake Kinnelon, and built St. Hubert's Chapel in 1886 on an island in the lake.[26][27]
Kinnelon is home to Smoke Rise, a private gated community that describes itself as one of the oldest gated communities in the United States.[28] It includes more than 900 unique homes located on 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) in addition to Lake Kinnelon and Kitty Ann Mountain.[26]
In 2012, Forbes.com listed Kinnelon as 462nd in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $630,414.[29]
The borough is one of the state's highest-income communities.[30] Based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS) for 2014–2018, Kinnelon residents had a median household income of $156,048, almost double the statewide median of $79,363.[31][32][33]
History
Once known as Charlotteburg (named after Charlotte, wife of King George III of Great Britain), Kinnelon was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1922, from portions of Pequannock Township, based on the results of a referendum passed on March 21, 1922.[23][24][25]
By the 1880s Francis Kinney, a 19th-century industrialist who founded Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company built an estate that dates back to 1884. Kinney purchased upwards of 5,000 acres (20 km2) of land and built a colossal "summer cottage" known as Smoke Rise, which is a translation of the Pequannock Native American name for the mountainous area, where a heavy mist often rises at sunset. His son, Morris Kinney, for whom the borough of Kinnelon was named 41 years later, lived most of his life on the estate.
Upon Morris Kinney's death in 1945, he left the estate to longtime friend John Talbot Sr., former mayor of the borough, and a founder of the Chilton Memorial Hospital, Pompton Plains (John Talbot Sr. was a real estate developer in New York City and a patron of the arts and was credited with the revival of ballet as a major art form in the United States in the 1930s), as a tribute to their lifetime friendship and mutually shared love of Smoke Rise.
Following the Second World War, the need for suburban housing became evident, John Talbot Sr. went on to create The Smoke Rise Club, one of the earliest community club plans in the United States. Unlike so many developers, he insisted that the land be kept in its natural state as far as possible.[34] When friends asked to purchase land on the estate to build homes, Talbot decided to develop a planned community designed primarily to serve New York corporation executives. The Smoke Rise Club was the result in November 1946.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 19.24 square miles (49.82 km2), including 18.03 square miles (46.70 km2) of land and 1.21 square miles (3.13 km2) of water (6.27%).[1][2]
The borough is home to Silas Condict County Park, which covers 1,000 acres (400 ha) and was dedicated in 1964.[35]Tripod Rock is located in Kinnelon's Pyramid Mountain Natural Historical Area, portions of which are located in the borough.[36] Its largest lake is Lake Kinnelon, which is within Smoke Rise, a private gated community of 900 homes located on 3,500 acres (1,400 ha).[26]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bald Hill, Brook Valley, Charlottesburg, Fayson Lakes, Ideal Lake, Jacksonville, Saw Mill Pond, Smoke Rise, Stickle Pond, Sun Tan Lake, Surprise Lake and Untermeyer Lake.[37]
The highest mountain in Kinnelon is Kitty Ann Mountain. Located in Smoke Rise, the mountain offers views of northern New Jersey at an elevation of 1,140 feet (350 m) from the Smoke Rise Tower.[39]
Of the 3,472 households, 41.8% had children under the age of 18; 74.4% were married couples living together; 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.7% were non-families. Of all households, 12.8% were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.24.[20]
27.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 35.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.8 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $129,664 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,416) and the median family income was $144,318 (+/− $7,698). Males had a median income of $98,094 (+/− $7,382) versus $71,886 (+/− $9,897) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $56,826 (+/− $3,939). About 1.4% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.[49]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 9,365 people, 3,062 households, and 2,685 families residing in the borough. The population density was 523.5 inhabitants per square mile (202.1/km2). There were 3,123 housing units at an average density of 174.6 per square mile (67.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.60% White, 0.58% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.84% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.33% of the population.[47][48]
There were 3,062 households, out of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.6% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.3% were non-families. 9.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.27.[47][48]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.[47][48]
The median income for a household in the borough was $105,991, and the median income for a family was $110,593. Males had a median income of $88,870 versus $65,069 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,796. About 2.3% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.[47][48]
Club communities
Smoke Rise East Gate Entrance
Kinnelon is home to two club communities: Smoke Rise and Fayson Lakes. About 42% of the borough's total households reside between these two communities.[50]
Smoke Rise is a private gated residential community established in 1948. It is one of the oldest gated communities in the United States, boasting over 900 unique homes located on 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) in addition to Lake Kinnelon and Kitty Ann Mountain.[26][28]
Fayson Lakes was founded in 1925 around three lakes located in the southeastern corner of the borough. It is named for the developers who started the community, Frank Fay Jr. and his son Frank Fay III. It has a variety of homes of different sizes and styles ranging from rustic winterized cabins to opulent custom-built homes.[26]
Parks and recreation
The Kittatinny Valley on top of frozen Lake Kinnelon, next to Kitty Ann Mountain, which reaches 1,152 feet (351 m) in height
Silas Condict County Park was established in 1963 and includes picnic areas, athletic fields, hiking trails, and the Casino, an old house that was used as a speakeasy in the Prohibition era. The Casino is used for parties, rentals, and other events. Home to a large lake for fishing and paddle boating, paddle boats are available to rent. The park is operated by the Morris County Park Commission.[35]
Stony Brook Park features recreational areas and playgrounds surrounded by a lake.[51]
Economy
Meadtown Shopping Center – a shopping center located on Route 23 in Kinnelon. It features numerous stores and restaurants.
Government
Local government
Kinnelon is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[52] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The borough form of government used by Kinnelon is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[53][54]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Kinnelon is Republican James J. Freda, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.[3] Members of the Borough Council are Council President Sean Mabey (R, 2023), Randall I. Charles (R, 2023), Anthony Chirdo (R, 2025), Eric Harriz (R, 2025), Vincent Russo (R, 2024) and William Yago (R, 2024).[55][56][57][58][59][60][61]
Vincent Russo was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that had been held by Carol M. Sventy. In January 2018, James Lorkowski was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by James Freda.
In January 2017, Glenn Sisco was selected from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee and appointed to fill the council seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Adam N. Barish; Sisco, served on an interim basis until the November 2017 general election.[62] Sisco served as the mayor of Kinnelon for 42 years, making him one of the longest-serving mayors in the state of New Jersey.[63]
In March 2016, the Borough Council unanimously selected William Neely from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Stephen Cobell until his resignation the previous month after nearly 12 years in office; Neely will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.[64]
Selected by a 3–2 majority of the borough council from among three potential candidates, Clifford Giantonio was sworn into office in April 2014 to fill the vacant seat of Ronald Mondello, who had resigned in the previous month citing personal and work conflicts.[65]
Federal, state and county representation
Kinnelon is located in the 11th Congressional District[66] and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.[67]
Morris County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised 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.[73] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[74]: 8 As of 2024[update], Morris County's Commissioners are:
The county's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[82][83]
Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[84][85] and
Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2024).[86][87]
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 7,122 registered voters in Kinnelon, of which 1,117 (15.7%) were registered as Democrats, 3,310 (46.5%) were registered as Republicans and 2,694 (37.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[88]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 65.5% of the vote (3,497 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 33.2% (1,772 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (68 votes), among the 5,354 ballots cast by the borough's 7,463 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.7%.[89][90] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 62.4% of the vote (3,638 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 36.1% (2,105 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (55 votes), among the 5,829 ballots cast by the borough's 7,334 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.5%.[91] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 64.4% of the vote (3,517 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 34.7% (1,895 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (35 votes), among the 5,463 ballots cast by the borough's 6,955 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.5.[92]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.3% of the vote (2,419 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.5% (754 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (41 votes), among the 3,260 ballots cast by the borough's 7,424 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.9%.[93][94] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.2% of the vote (2,669 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 25.6% (1,032 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.9% (237 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (61 votes), among the 4,034 ballots cast by the borough's 7,167 registered voters, yielding a 56.3% turnout.[95]
Education
The Kinnelon Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[96] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,670 students and 165.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1.[97] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[98]) are
Kiel Elementary School[99] with 312 students in grades Pre-K–2,
Stonybrook Elementary School[100] with 346 students in grades 3–5,
Pearl R. Miller Middle School[101] with 427 students in grades 6–8 and
Kinnelon High School[102] with 570 students in grades 9–12.[103][104][105] In 2016, Kinnelon High School was named #3 in the state by New Jersey Monthly magazine, the school's highest ranking ever in the magazine's biannual rankings, and was listed as a top 500 high school by Newsweek.[106]
Our Lady of the Magnificat School, a Catholic school that had been operated since 1964 under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, closed after the 2009–10 school year in the face of declining enrollment and increasing deficits that the parish could no longer sustain.[107]
Transportation
I-287 southbound in Kinnelon
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 54.41 miles (87.56 km) of roadways, of which 44.94 miles (72.32 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.42 miles (11.94 km) by Morris County and 2.05 miles (3.30 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[108]
Route 23 runs along the northern border of the borough.[109]Interstate 287 passes through in the southeastern area, but the closest exit is along Route 23 in neighboring Riverdale.[110]
Rene Joyeuse (1920-2012), World War II operative, spy and saboteur with the OSS, who was a physician, professor and researcher, co-founder of the American Trauma Society and the first person born in Switzerland to be honored with a burial in Arlington National Cemetery[127]
Stearns Matthews (born 1984), cabaret singer, recording artist, director, teacher, and pianist[128]
^ abcdeCheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Kinnelon, N.J.; Residential Life Amid Natural Beauty", The New York Times, June 1, 2003. Accessed February 15, 2020. "Ms. Dunner Parker knew the area through a brother who lived in Kinnelon's Smoke Rise section, a 3,500-acre, 900-home gated community that describes itself in its promotional literature as 'one of America's most prestigious club communities' and 'elite, yet affordable.' Covering the borough's northwestern quadrant, Smoke Rise's lots are heavily wooded and range in area from 1 to 10 acres, with the most valuable properties fronting on the 19-acre Lake Kinnelon."
^Open Space and Recreation Plan, Borough of Kinnelon, March 2005. Accessed February 25, 2018. "The lowest point in Kinnelon is just south of the fault zone in the Piedmont Valley at 240 feet.Conversely, the high point is Kitty Ann Mountain at 1,140 feet in the Smoke Rise section of town. Kitty Ann Mountain is where the historic Smoke Rise Tower can be seen."
^Primerano, Jane. "Newark appealing watershed taxes against Jefferson"Archived 2015-09-25 at the Wayback Machine, AIM Jefferson, May 8, 2015. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Besides West Milford and Jefferson, Newark owns watershed land in Hardyston, Vernon, and Rockaway Townships and Kinnelon Borough, Leach said."
^City of Newark v. Vernon Tp., Leagle from Tax Court of New Jersey, April 1, 1980. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Generally, the lands are part of the 35,000-acre Pequannock Watershed (approximately two times the size of Newark), which was purchased by Newark at the turn of the century to provide a water supply. The watershed, which contains five major bodies of water, is located in Vernon and Hardyston in Sussex County, Jefferson, Rockaway and Kinnelon in Morris County, and West Milford in Passaic County."
^Open Space and Recreation Plan, Borough of Kinnelon, March 2005. Accessed May 18, 2023. "Fayson Lakes and Smoke Rise comprise about 42% of the total households in the Borough of Kinnelon."
^Fagan, Matt. "Former mayor appointed to vacant Kinnelon Council seat", The Record, January 4, 2017. Accessed May 7, 2017. "The Kinnelon Borough Council appointed former Mayor Glenn Sisco to fill the seat vacated when Adam Barish stepped down last month during Tuesday night's reorganization meeting. Sisco, 87, had been one of New Jersey's longest serving mayors. He was elected in 1969 and his last term ended in 2010."
^Walsh, Deborah. "Glenn Sisco gets a big send-off upon his retirement as Kinnelon's long-time mayor", Suburban Trends, November 29, 2010. Accessed August 7, 2015. "As a tribute to a man who gave so much to this borough in his 42 years as mayor and three years as a councilman, a sold-out crowd attended Mayor Glenn Sisco's retirement dinner at The Brownstone in Paterson on Nov. 21."
^Walsh, Deborah. "Kinnelon selects attorney as new councilman", Suburban Trends, April 7, 2014. Accessed September 3, 2014. "Pleased with the quality of all three nominees presented to them, the Borough Council selected Clifford Giantonio, an attorney, to replace Councilman Ronald Mondello, who is also an attorney. Mondello resigned last month because of increased personal and professional responsibilities."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^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."
^Kinnelon Public Schools District Policy 0110 – Identification, Kinnelon Public Schools. Accessed February 25, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Kinnelon School District. Composition: The Kinnelon School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Kinnelon."
^Walsh, Deborah. "Kinnelon High School named No. 3 in state", Suburban Trends, August 26, 2016. Accessed January 2, 2017. "Although the Kinnelon school district was happy to receive word that Kinnelon High School (KHS) made Newsweek's Top 500 high schools in the nation, it received more good news that might even trump that accolade. KHS was named No. 3 on New Jersey Monthly's 2016 Top High School's list. The third berth is Kinnelon's best ever showing on the magazine's biennial list."
^Lewis, Brian. "Chatting with Red Bull prospect and U.S. Under-20 striker Juan Agudelo", New York Post, March 4, 2010. Accessed June 3, 2015. "The young striker _ who was raised in Barnegat, NJ but has been living with his godmother in somewhat-closer Kinnelon _ has been receptive to whatever advice Angel has been willing to give, hungry for a mentor that can help take him take his game to the next level."
^Lowry, Tom. "At Garden, he's the boss", New York Daily News, June 18, 1995. Accessed May 10, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "He and his wife, Jessie, divide their time between their Park Ave. duplex, a spread in Smoke Rise, N J., and a house in the Hamptons."
^David, Mark. "Missy Elliot Dumps Florida Condo", Variety, May 6, 2014. Accessed February 25, 2020. "As far as we can tell for a search of public property records, Miss Elliot still owns a fairly well secluded, approximately 6,300 square foot residence in Kinnelon, NJ. (That’s about 30 or 35 miles north and west of Midtown Manhattan.) on almost 8 acres that she picked up in October 2000 for $1,190,000."
^Hyman, Vicki. "DJ Envy's Kinnelon mansion on market for $2M, bedazzled bathroom and all", NJ Advance Medis for NJ.com, March 16, 2016, updated January 26, 2019. Accessed February 19, 2020. "Nationally syndicated hip-hop DJ RaaShaun Casey, who goes by DJ Envy on Power 105.1 FM's morning show The Breakfast Club and also hosts a Sirius XM show, is looking to leave his lavish Colonial on seven gated acres in Kinnelon."
^"Herbert O. Fisher, 81, Test Pilot and Official", The New York Times, August 3, 1990. Accessed February 19, 1990. Accessed February 19, 2020. "Herbert O. Fisher, a test pilot and a retired aviation executive of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, died on Sunday at Chilton Memorial Hospital in Kinnelon, N.J. He was 81 years old and lived in Kinnelon."
^Havsy, Jane. "Kinnelon's Bryan Gallego latest Morris soccer player on the move", Daily Record, August 1, 2014. Accessed August 6, 2015. "Gallego, a defender from Kinnelon, has only been training for a week after surgery on a broken foot. But there it was, a message from U.S. Soccer asking if he was available to join the under-23 national team in training camp in Nassau, Bahamas."
^"Anne Steele Wins First Prize At MetroStar Talent Challenge", BroadwayWorld, August 20, 2008. Accessed January 27, 2020. "Steele, who beat out her co-finalists Stearns Matthews and Nesha Ward, proved to be the most consistent of the finalists, earning high marks week after week.... Matthews, who is 24, made his professional stage debut in MetroStar. The Kinnelon, New Jersey, native recently graduated from the Westminster Choir College in Princeton."
^William A. Pailes, NASA. Accessed August 28, 2012. "Born June 26, 1952, in Hackensack, New Jersey, but considers Kinnelon, New Jersey, to be his hometown.... Graduated from Kinnelon High School, Kinnelon, New Jersey, 1970."
^Kolton, Tara. "Kinnelon grad singing her way to the top", Suburban Trends, February 20, 2012. Accessed April 3, 2012. "Kinnelon native Elise Testone has made it to the top 40 finalists of American Idol's season 11.Testone, a 2001 graduate of Kinnelon High School (KHS), endured several tough rounds of cuts in Hollywood to make it to Idol's top 40 during the Las Vegas round, which aired on Thursday night on FOX."
United States
New Jersey
Morris
