Morris Township is a township in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 22,974, an increase of 668 (+3.0%) from the 2010 census count of 22,306, which in turn reflected an increase of 510 (+2.3%) from the 21,796 counted in the 2000 census.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. The township was named for Lewis Morris, colonial governor of New Jersey.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 8, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 215. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 8, 2015.

Located along the Morris and Essex Lines, the township is a wealthy bedroom community, with many residents traveling to work in nearby New York City on NJ Transit which provides commuters with direct access to New York Penn Station and to Hoboken Terminal.Making School Integration Work, p.32. Teachers College Press, 2020. . Accessed January 16, 2023.

The township is the "doughnut" around Morristown and completely surrounds it, with at least five times the area, though near Morris Plains the width of Morris Township is less than a mile. For 115 years, Morristown was part of Morris Township. The initial separation of Morristown from Morris Township occurred on April 6, 1865. A confusing state of affairs followed for nearly thirty years. On February 18, 1895, the separation was officiated.

Morris Township is home to the Morris County Golf Club and the Morris Museum, which is the second largest museum in New Jersey and has been in operation since 1913. The township is also home to the Morristown National Historical Park which in 1933 became the country's first National Historical Park.National Park Service Cultural Landscapes Inventory Jockey Hollow Morristown National Historical Park 1999, National Park Service. Accessed September 5, 2020. "This culminated in the establishment of the Morristown National Historical Park in 1933, the first national historical park in the United States."

History

Incorporation Morris Township was originally formed as of March 25, 1740. The township was named for Lewis Morris, colonial governor of New Jersey.

Portions of the township were taken on December 24, 1740, to form Roxbury Township and on March 29, 1749, to form Mendham Township. Morris Township was incorporated as a township by the Township Act of 1798 by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as part of the state's initial group of 104 townships.

Portions of the township were later taken to create Chatham Township (February 12, 1806), Morristown (April 6, 1865, fully independent in 1895) and Passaic Township (on March 23, 1866, now Long Hill Township).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 194. Accessed May 30, 2024.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1740, March 25. Morris County is established. Morris County includes Morris Township, Pequannock (also referred to as Poquanick or Peqannoc), Hanover Township, and 'Morris Town.' From the Court of Common Pleas."

On September 22, 1860, the Jerseyman reported:The total population of Morris Township is 6,024, being an increase of 1,032 since 1850 and of 348 since 1855. Number of families 1,147; Dwellings 1,124; Farms 256; Churches 11, viz., 3 Presbyterian, 3 Methodist, 2 Episcopalian, 1 Baptist, 1 Roman Catholic, 1 African. Deaths during the year 67. Raised last year 9,191 bushels of Wheat, 5,649 of Rye, 64,808 of Oats, 118,245 of Corn, 7,262 tons of Hay and 8,730 lbs. of Tobacco; and 92,366 lbs. of Butter were made. There are in the Township 1,642 Horses, 36 Mules, 1500 Cows, 200 Oxen, 1100 Young Cattle, 1262 Sheep and 1600 Swine.

Washington Valley Historic District

Many historic properties are in the encompassing Washington Valley Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 1992. Notable sites located in Washington Valley include the Washington Valley Schoolhouse and the John Smith House. Parts of the district are within neighboring Mendham Township.

Convent Station The community of Convent Station is named after the Convent Station railroad station that was constructed there during the 1870s to serve the complex of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, a Catholic school operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.Morris County, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson Catholic Schools Office. Accessed June 7, 2016.

Notable neighborhoods include Bradwahl, Cromwell Hills, and the Normandy Park Historic District. The Morris Township Municipal Building and the Morris Township Police Headquarters are located in Convent Station. The community is home to the Morris County Golf Club and the Morris Museum.Scheireik, Susan. "If You're Thinking of Living in: Convent Station", The New York Times, March 14, 1993. Accessed May 17, 2023. "Convent Station owes its name to the nuns who provided funds in the 1870s for a train station next to St. Elizabeth's Academy for girls, a forerunner of one of the first women's colleges in New Jersey."

Sidney Reso kidnapping In 1992, Arthur Seale and his wife kidnapped Exxon executive Sidney Reso, a township resident, from his home. The Seales' sought a ransom of $18.5 million, but Reso died in captivity. The case received nationwide attention.Nieves, Evelyn. "Portrait of 2 Accused of Kidnapping: Ardent, Hapless Pursuit of Affluence", The New York Times, June 28, 1992. Accessed November 5, 2018. "Mr. Seale, an ex-police officer and Exxon security manager, and Mrs. Seale, known as Jackie, are charged with kidnapping the president of Exxon International, Sidney J. Reso, from the driveway of his Morris Township home on April 29 and demanding $18.5 million in ransom."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.81 square miles (40.96 km2), including 15.68 square miles (40.62 km2) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.34 km2) of water (0.83%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Convent Station, Gillespie Hill, Loantaka Terrace, Normandy Heights, Normandy Park and Washington Valley.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Morris Township completely surrounds Morristown, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.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. The township borders the Morris County municipalities of Denville Township, Parsippany–Troy Hills, Morris Plains and Hanover Township to the north, Harding Township to the south, Mendham Township and Randolph to the west and Florham Park and Madison to the east.Areas touching Morris Township, MapIt. Accessed February 28, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed February 28, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census The 2020 United States census counted 22,974 people, 8,172 households, and 6,111 families in Morris Township. The population density was 1,465.2 per square mile (565.6/km). There were 8,498 housing units at an average density of 542.0 per square mile (209.2/km). The racial makeup was 76.82% (17,648) white, 4.64% (1,066) black or African-American, 0.21% (49) Native American or Alaska Native, 5.98% (1,373) Asian, 0.04% (10) Pacific Islander, 3.63% (833) from other races, and 8.68% (1,995) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 8.0% (1,793) of the population.

Of the 8,172 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18; 64.4% were married couples living together; 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 21.4% comprised individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.0.

19.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 91.2 males.

The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $160,611 (with a margin of error of +/- $15,788) and the median family income was $191,722 (+/- $15,040). Males had a median income of $90,208 (+/- $20,972) versus $60,833 (+/- $8,436) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $70,712 (+/- $6,520). Approximately, 2.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 22,306 people, 8,128 households, and 5,771 families in the township. The population density was 1,428.3 per square mile (551.5/km2). There were 8,502 housing units at an average density of 544.4 per square mile (210.2/km2). The racial makeup was 85.28% (19,022) White, 5.65% (1,261) Black or African American, 0.10% (23) Native American, 5.12% (1,141) Asian, 0.03% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.99% (444) from other races, and 1.83% (409) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.55% (1,683) of the population.

Of the 8,128 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18; 61.3% were married couples living together; 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.0% were non-families. Of all households, 23.9% were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $132,191 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,204) and the median family income was $154,265 (+/− $8,489). Males had a median income of $108,448 (+/− $5,932) versus $64,753 (+/− $12,368) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $65,335 (+/− $4,396). About 1.0% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Morris township, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 19, 2012.