About Far Hills, NJ
Far Hills, NJ is an upscale borough five square miles in size, yet home to less than 1,000 residents.
It’s nonetheless known by many in the state due to the fact there is an NJ Transit Station there, as well as the annual Far Hills Hunt.
Far Hills, New Jersey
Far Hills is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 919, reflecting an increase of 60 (+7.0%) from the 859 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 202 (+30.7%) from the 657 counted in the 1990 Census.
Far Hills was incorporated as a borough based on an Act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 7, 1921, from portions of Bernards Township, subject to the results of a referendum held on May 12, 1921. Far Hills is a dry town where alcohol cannot be sold.
History
Far Hills encompasses nearly 5 square miles (13 km) in Somerset County, encircled by the equally upscale communities of Bedminster Township, Peapack-Gladstone, Bernards Township, and Bernardsville. It shares a community pool, athletic programs, civic organizations, and a school system with Bernardsville. It shares a public library, a fire department and a first aid squad with neighboring Bedminster Township
The borough maintains the character through 10-acre (40,000 m) minimum zoning laws whereby large private properties and homes surround a small village which was the creation of a wealthy New York businessman in the late 1800s. The beginning of rail service to nearby Bernardsville in 1870, opened the area to city people seeking a respite from the heat and hurry of urban life.
Evander H. Schley, a land developer and real estate broker from New York, purchased thousands of acres in Bedminster and Bernards townships in the 1880s. One day in 1887, Schley’s brother, Grant, and his wife, Elizabeth, arrived by horse-drawn carriage to see Evander’s farms. Elizabeth is said to have remarked on the beautiful vista of the “far hills,” thus giving the name to the place before a village was built.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Far Hills borough had a total area of 4.881 square miles (12.641 km), including 4.797 square miles (12.424 km) of land and 0.084 square miles (0.217 km) of water (1.72%).
The borough borders the Somerset County municipalities of Bedminster Township to the west, Bernards Township to the east, Bernardsville to the northeast and Peapack-Gladstone to the northwest. All neighboring communities lie within Somerset County.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 560 | — | |
| 1940 | 574 | 2.5% | |
| 1950 | 600 | 4.5% | |
| 1960 | 702 | 17.0% | |
| 1970 | 780 | 11.1% | |
| 1980 | 677 | −13.2% | |
| 1990 | 657 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 859 | 30.7% | |
| 2010 | 919 | 7.0% | |
| Est. 2014 | 926 | 0.8% | |
| Population sources:1930 1930-1990 2000 2010 |
|||
Census 2010
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 919 people, 376 households, and 259.1 families residing in the borough. The population density was 191.6 per square mile (74.0/km). There were 418 housing units at an average density of 87.1 per square mile (33.6/km). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.32% (876) White, 0.65% (6) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.85% (17) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.54% (5) from other races, and 1.63% (15) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 9.58% (88) of the population.
There were 376 households, of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the borough, 24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The Census Bureau’s 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $125,833 (with a margin of error of +/- $29,841) and the median family income was $202,083 (+/- $85,006). Males had a median income of $177,083 (+/- $60,611) versus $76,250 (+/- $38,263) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $93,495 (+/- $19,515). About 3.6% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Sports
The United States Golf Association is headquartered in Far Hills. The United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is located on the premises.
From 2000 through 2005 the Breeders’ Cup Grand National Steeplechase returned to the Far Hills Races after a hiatus of six years. Known for the highest prize money of a steeplechase in America, the purse for the Breeders’ Cup winner has been as large as $250,000 and has attracted up to 100,000 spectators. Several races are scheduled by Far Hills Race Meeting Association in late October of each year. Considered one of the premier social events of the year in the tri-state area, it is attended by as many as 75,000 people annually.
Parks and recreation
- The Leonard J. Buck Garden, 33 acres (130,000 m), is a public botanical garden operated by the Somerset County Park Commission, and located at 11 Layton Road. It is open daily; a small fee is requested.
- Moggy Hollow Natural Area is a National Natural Landmark adjacent to the Buck Garden.
- Natirar is an estate spanning 491 acres (1.99 km) in Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone and Bedminster that was sold in 2003 by Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, to the Somerset County Parks Commission.
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 15.28 miles (24.59 km) of roadways, of which 9.70 miles (15.61 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.59 miles (4.17 km) by Somerset County and 2.99 miles (4.81 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Public transportation
New Jersey Transit provides service at the Far Hills train station on the Gladstone Branch of the Morristown Line; the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located at U.S. Route 202, near the intersection of Far Hills Road, one half mile east of U.S. Route 206, offering service via Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station or to Hoboken Terminal.
Lakeland Bus Lines provides Route 78 rush-hour service from Bedminster to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Far Hills include:
- Nicholas F. Brady (born 1930), former United States Secretary of the Treasury who represented New Jersey in the United States Senate.
- James Chesson (born 1980), race car driver.
- P. J. Chesson (born 1978), IndyCar driver who raced in the 2006 Indianapolis 500.
- Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. (1917–1971), businessman who controlled an international mining and metals conglomerate and was a major owner of thoroughbred race horses.
- Malcolm Forbes (1919–1990), former editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine.
- Steve Forbes (born 1947), editor-in-chief of Forbes.
- Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, Jr. (1912-2005), author of Passages to Freedom, about his escape from a prison camp in Italy during World War II.
- J. Geils (born 1946), blues-rock lead guitarist, singer, and founder of The J. Geils Band.
- Jack H. Jacobs (born 1945), retired colonel in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the Vietnam War.
- Joe J. Plumeri, (born 1944), Chairman & CEO of Willis Group and owner of the Trenton Thunder.
- Michael F. Price (born 1951), value investor and fund manager.
- Andrew Schlafly, (born 1961), founder of Conservapedia, son of Phyllis Schlafly.
- Christine Todd Whitman (born 1946), former Governor of New Jersey.
