Location of Mendham Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Along with Mendham Borough, the Mendhams have been described by The New York Times as "both affluent".[36] The township has been one of the highest-income small municipalities in the United States. Based on data from the 2012-2016 American Community Survey, NJ.com ranked the township as having the third-highest income in the state, with a median household income of $176,875.[37] Based on data from the ACS for 2014–2018, Mendham Township ranked fifth in the state with a median household income of $185,882.[38]
In 2010, Forbes.com listed Mendham as 224th in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $1,006,491.[39]
The first settlers were attracted to Mendham Township by the abundance of natural resources. Here they found water to power factories, trees for fuel, and rich deposits of ore. By 1748 the area housed iron forges, sawmills, and a gristmill along the North Branch of the Raritan River. This early settlement became known as Ralston, after the enterprising Ralston family. Northeast of Ralston is India Brook. On the eastern side of Mendham Township, brooks that formed the upper reaches of the Whippany River attracted settlers to the valley called Water Street or Waterville, later known as Brookside.
Following the Civil War, a trend of wealthy industrialists and financiers established country homes in the Morristown area and Bernardsville's "Mountain Colony", including in the Mendhams.[42] The community retains its early character through its carefully preserved homes, farm buildings, and villages. These are living remnants of the township's past. Here people worked where they lived in a natural setting, away from the "dark satanic mills" of the big city, "pursuing economic independence – a portrait of Americana", according to the town's website.[43]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.01 square miles (46.65 km2), including 17.78 square miles (46.06 km2) of land and 0.23 square miles (0.59 km2) of water (1.27%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brookside, Colemans Hollow, Days Mills, Pleasant Valley, Ralston and Washington Corner.[44]
Of the 1,952 households, 44.6% had children under the age of 18; 78.0% were married couples living together; 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.0% were non-families. Of all households, 12.7% were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.28.[19]
30.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 15.4% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.7 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $162,125 (with a margin of error of +/− $44,498) and the median family income was $194,028 (+/− $20,875). Males had a median income of $163,594 (+/− $46,204) versus $76,136 (+/− $53,301) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $93,011 (+/− $10,203). About 0.6% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[60]
Mendham Township is one of the highest-income small municipalities in the United States and was ranked 7th in New Jersey in per capita income as of the 2010 Census.[61] Based on data from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey, the township had a per capita income of $93,011 (ranked 7th in the state), compared to per capita income in Morris County of $47,342 and statewide of $34,858.[61]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 5,400 people, 1,788 households, and 1,539 families residing in the township. The population density was 302.4 inhabitants per square mile (116.8/km2). There were 1,849 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.91% White, 0.93% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.[58][59]
There were 1,788 households, out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.2% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 11.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.27.[58][59]
In the township the population was spread out, with 32.0% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.[58][59]
The median income for a household in the township was $136,174, and the median income for a family was $146,254. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $57,946 for females. The per capita income for the township was $61,460. About 1.4% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.[58][59]
Mendham Township was ranked in 2000 as the 17th-highest per capita income in the state of New Jersey, after having been ranked tenth a decade earlier. In 2000, the township's median household income ranked forth in the state and second highest in Morris County behind Mountain Lakes. Per capita income increased by 30.4% from the previous census, with income growth ranked 493rd among the state's 566 municipalities.[62]
Parks and recreation
Buttermilk Falls in India Brook Park
In addition to the several parks in the township, there are miles of hiking trails, including the Patriots' Path, created by the county.[63] India Brook Park, located off Ironia Road, has recreation fields and features a trail to Buttermilk Falls on the India Brook.[64][65] The Schiff Nature Preserve, located off Pleasant Valley Road, offers nature programs and has several hiking trails.[66]
Government
Local government
Mendham Township operates under the township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second most commonly used form of government in the state.[67] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[7][68] At an annual reorganization meeting held on the first Monday after January 1, the newly reconstituted township committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor, and another to serve as deputy mayor.
As of 2023[update], members of the Mendham Township Committee are Mayor Nick Monaghan (R, term on committee ends December 3, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Sarah Neibart (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Amalia Duarte (D, 2023), Tracy Moreen (R, 2025) and Lauren Spirig (D, 2025).[3][69][70][71][72][73][74]
In February 2023, Republicans dropped a challenge to the election of Democrat Lauren Spirig, who was awarded the second seat up for election, two votes ahead of incumbent Republican committee member Thomas Baio, who claimed that there had been 33 votes that had been cast by individuals who no longer resided in the township and were thus ineligible to vote.[75][76]
Former township committeeman Brian Phelan was inducted into the New Jersey State Elected Officials Hall of Fame in 2011.[77]
Presidential Election Results in Mendham Township[78]
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.[89] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[90]: 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),[98][99]
Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[100][101] and
Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2024).[102][103]
Politics
As of June 4, 2019, there were a total of 5,051 registered voters in Mendham Township, of which 1,114 (22.0%) were registered as Democrats, 2,119 (41.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,788 (35.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated.[104]
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 49.5% of the vote (1,776 cast), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 44.7% (1,603 votes), and other candidates with 5.8% (208 votes), among the 3,640 ballots cast by the township's 5,002 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8%.[105] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 64.5% of the vote (2,108 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 34.6% (1,130 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (28 votes), among the 3,279 ballots cast by the township's 4,691 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.9%.[106][107] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.1% of the vote (2,080 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.8% (1,461 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (21 votes), among the 3,581 ballots cast by the township's 4,608 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7%.[108] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62.4% of the vote (2,203 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.7% (1,296 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (20 votes), among the 3,532 ballots cast by the township's 4,529 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.0.[109]
In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 57.5% (1,305 votes), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 41.1% (932 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (31 votes), among the 2,292 ballots cast by the township's 4,982 registered voters, for a turnout of 46.0%.[110] In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie, a resident of the township, received 80.9% of the vote (1,795 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 18.0% (400 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (25 votes), among the 2,242 ballots cast by the township's 4,624 registered voters (22 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.5%.[111][112] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.4% of the vote (1,914 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 23.5% (666 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.0% (227 votes) and other candidates with 0.1% (3 votes), among the 2,838 ballots cast by the township's 4,547 registered voters, yielding a 62.4% turnout.[113]
Mendham Township Middle School was one of 11 in the state to be recognized in 2014 by the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.[122][123] Mendham Township Elementary School was honored by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2019, one of nine schools in the state recognized as Exemplary High Performing Schools.[124]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 70.70 miles (113.78 km) of roadways, of which 63.51 miles (102.21 km) were maintained by the municipality and 7.19 miles (11.57 km) by Morris County.[130]
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways pass directly through Mendham Township. The most significant roadway directly serving the township is County Route 510. For those heading to points outside the township, Interstate 287, Interstate 80, and Interstate 78, are all accessible nearby.
Public transportation
NJ Transit offered service on the MCM4 and MCM5 routes until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.[131][132]
^ abTownship Committee, Mendham Township. Accessed March 6, 2023. "The Township Committee is made up of five residents who are elected at large to serve three-year terms. Each January, the Township Committee reorganizes and votes on a Mayor and Deputy Mayor to serve for a one-year term."
^Thomson, W. Barry. "New Municipal Proposals of 100 Years Ago", Inside the Brick Academy, June 2021. Accessed July 9, 2023. "Over the years a number of efforts have been made to alter municipal boundaries and create new municipalities in the Somerset Hills region, with the goal of making local governments more responsive to the changing needs of residents.... The first of such efforts in the 20th century resulted in the creation of Mendham Borough out of Mendham Township in 1906, and the separation of the Borough of Peapack-Gladstone from Bedminster Township in 1912."
^Comprehensive Master Plan, Borough of Bernardsville, adopted September 28, 2000. Accessed July 11, 2023. "Bernardsville is geographically part of the Somerset Hills group of communities, as defined by their hills and steep slopes. These municipalities include Far Hills (named for these hills), PeapackGladstone (part), Bedminster (part), Bernards Township (part) in Somerset County and the Mendhams (part) in Morris County."
^Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 5, 2015. Spelled as "Myndham".
^Kelley, Tina. "An Outpost of New England", The New York Times, February 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2015. "The origin of the town's name — preserved on the sign of the Black Horse as 'I'll Mend 'Em' — has been the subject of animated debate. Did it come from the Indian word 'mendom,' for raspberry or huckleberry? Was it chosen to honor the British Earl of Mendham?"
^Petenko, Erin. "The 19 wealthiest towns in New Jersey, ranked", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 12, 2018, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed February 27, 2020. "A note about the data: The source of this data is median household income in the 2012-2016 American Community Survey snapshot, compared with the 2007-2011 ACS snapshot.... 3. Mendham township, Morris County Median income: $176,875"
^Cervenka, Susanne. "Rich in New Jersey: Here are the 50 wealthiest towns in the state. Is yours one of them?", Asbury Park Press, July 1, 2019. Accessed May 10, 2020. "The USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey took a look at U.S. Census data to find the 50th wealthiest towns in the state and ranked them by median household income.... 5. Mendham Township; County: Morris County; Median household income: $185,882; Percent making more than $200,000: 47.5%"
^Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1749, March 29.Mendham Township is established from Hanover, Morris, and Roxbury Township."
^Morel, Kyle. "Mendham Township swears in second Democrat as Republican court challenge looms",Daily Record, January 6, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2023. "Republican Tracey Moreen and Democrat Lauren Spirig were sworn in for three-year terms during Thursday's reorganization meeting at Mendham Township Middle School. Despite a legal case that has drawn national attention, the two newest committee members, in statements after taking their oaths of office, spoke of the need to work in the best interest of the community.... Certified election results from the Morris County Clerk's Office showed Spirig receiving 1,473 votes to Baio's 1,471 to secure the second open committee seat. Moreen led the field with 1,532 votes, while Democrat Martin Slayne received 1,397 votes."
^Westhoven, William. "Judge dismisses election challenge in Mendham Township; GOP's Baio concedes", Daily Record, February 7, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2023. "After a day of initial testimony at the Morris County Courthouse Tuesday, attorneys for former Mendham Township Committeeman Thomas Baio dropped a controversial lawsuit challenging his three-vote November election loss to Lauren Spirig due to alleged illegal vote-by-mail ballots.... The lawsuit identified 33 mostly late mail-in ballots that Baio claimed were cast by former or non-residents in a race he narrowly lost to Spirig, a Democrat. Baio's court challenge said he wanted to root out illegal votes in the interest of 'election integrity.'"
^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."
^Mendham Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Mendham Township Public Schools. Accessed July 21, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Mendham Township School District. Composition: The Mendham Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Mendham Township."
^Goldman, Jeff. "Which N.J. schools were named to national 'Blue Ribbon' list?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 2, 2014. Accessed December 31, 2014. "Eleven New Jersey schools have been named to the annual National Blue Ribbon list, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday."
^School Profile 2016-2017, West Morris Mendham High School. Accessed March 19, 2017. "West Morris Mendham High School, serving grades 9-12, is a college preparatory institution. Students reside in either Mendham or Chester, which are both semi-rural communities with a mix of upper-middle class to high-income families."
^West Morris Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 27, 2020. "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."
^"Dr. Cochran Dies at 81", Courier News, December 27, 1952. Accessed January 3, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Dr. Samuel Cochran, a retired Presbyterian medical missionary to China and brother of Miss Jean C. Cochran of 1003 Park Ave., died yesterday (Dec. 26, 1952) at Newport, R. I. He was 81. He was born in Mendham, a son of the late Rev. I. W. Cochran, pastor, of the First Presbyterian Church of Mendham, and the late Mrs. Annie Carter Cochran."
^Staff. "Millennium Moments", Daily Record, September 20, 1999. Accessed February 15, 2011. "Morris Frank pioneer for blind. Morris S Frank lost his sight by age 16 but he became a man of tremendous vision. A longtime resident of Mendham Township, Frank was a pioneer of the Seeing Eye guide dog movement in the United States."
^Friedman, Roger. "Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown: 'Addicted to Each Other'", Fox News, September 14, 2006. Accessed August 14, 2007. "Houston owns an estate in Mendham, N.J., but it's likely that it's in her name only. Houston's family uses the Mendham home as their headquarters, and Brown is rarely seen there. Whitney bought the Mendham estate in 1987 for about $2.2 million, according to public records, with a $1.4 million mortgage."
^Ragonese, Lawrence. "GOP Gov candidate Merkt finishes running tour of N.J. towns", The Star-Ledger, May 20, 2009. Accessed December 19, 2012. "Rick Merkt has ended his 'run' for governor. The 59-year-old Mendham Township Republican trotted 1.5 miles to the Morristown Green today at lunch hour, finishing a jogging tour that took him to all 566 municipalities in New Jersey in eight months."
^Kocieniewski, David. "Judge Leaving High Court After 20 Years as Unifier", The New York Times, February 26, 1999. Accessed June 14, 2016. "Judge Pollock was born in East Orange and raised in Brookside, back when it had only 1,300 residents and a four-room schoolhouse. He still lives there, although the suburban boom of the last half-century has expanded Brookside and made it one of wealthiest communities in central New Jersey."
United States
New Jersey
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