About Long Hill, NJ

long hill nj map
Written by NJroute22

About Long Hill, NJ

Long Hill, NJ is a moderately-sized community which is low on major highways, but strong on NJ Transit Stations, making it ideal for non-vehicular commuters.

Long Hill Township, New Jersey

Long Hill Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 8,702, reflecting a decline of 75 (-0.9%) from the 8,777 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 951 (+12.2%) from the 7,826 counted in the 1990 Census.

Long Hill Township was incorporated as Passaic Township on March 23, 1866. On September 1, 1922, part of what was then Passaic Township was taken to form Harding Township. On November 3, 1992, by a 1,901-1,821 margin, the voters elected to change the name of the municipality to Long Hill Township, a change largely driven by the desire to avoid confusion with the City of Passaic, some 22 miles (35 km) away.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.136 square miles (31.432 km), including 11.851 square miles (30.693 km) of land and 0.285 square miles (0.739 km) of water (2.35%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include GilletteMillington, and Stirling, and the hamlet of Meyersville. Homestead Park is a subdivision that was first developed in the 1920s.

The township is located in the most southern part of Morris County. It is bounded by the Passaic River on the south and west and by the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge on the north. It borders both Union and Somerset counties.

The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge covers 7,455 acres (3,017 ha) of land overseen by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and includes portions east of New Vernon Road that is unmanaged and accessible by visitors, while areas west of New Vernon Road are managed intensively and are not available to the public.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 1,624
1880 1,896 16.7%
1890 1,821 −4.0%
1900 2,141 17.6%
1910 2,165 1.1%
1920 2,373 9.6%
1930 2,149 −9.4%
1940 2,664 24.0%
1950 3,429 28.7%
1960 5,537 61.5%
1970 7,393 33.5%
1980 7,275 −1.6%
1990 7,826 7.6%
2000 8,777 12.2%
2010 8,702 −0.9%
Est. 2014 8,791 1.0%

Census 2010

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,702 people, 3,105 households, and 2,434 families residing in the township. The population density was 734.3 per square mile (283.5/km). There were 3,226 housing units at an average density of 272.2 per square mile (105.1/km). The racial makeup of the township was 90.61% (7,885) White, 0.62% (54) Black or African American, 0.09% (8) Native American, 5.98% (520) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.06% (92) from other races, and 1.63% (142) from two or more racesHispanics or Latinos of any race were 7.06% (614) of the population.

There were 3,105 households, of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township, 25.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The Census Bureau’s 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $120,691 (with a margin of error of +/- $11,097) and the median family income was $142,059 (+/- $14,704). Males had a median income of $91,509 (+/- $24,098) versus $75,558 (+/- $11,204) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $54,508 (+/- $4,818). About 1.7% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Library

The Long Hill Township Library began about 1880 in what was then known as Passaic Township. At the time a group of women in Millington formed a reading club purchasing a small number of books to trade amongst themselves. A similar group was established in Meyersville. In 1920, when the Morris County Library was built, the groups joined the county system and books on loan from the county were housed in the homes of the associations’ members.

By the 1950s, the Millington Association’s Library had relocated to the Town Hall and the Meyersville group occupied one room in the town’s Central School. In 1956, however, the Township asked the Millington Association to find other quarters, and the Central School location had steadily become less than satisfactory due to increasing enrollment. A referendum in the amount of $25,000 for the construction of a new building was submitted to the community. The measure passed by two votes. The new library opened in 1958 on Central Avenue in Stirling as the Passaic Township Free Public Library with a paid director and several volunteers.

By 1968, the library’s collection had grown substantially and plans were made for a new addition to the building. Another $25,000 was raised and the addition was completed in 1972. A later addition followed in the 1980s. The library remained on Central Avenue until 2005 when an entirely new building was dedicated in April of that year. After the township formally changed its name to Long Hill Township in 1992, the Passaic Township Free Public Library was renamed as the Long Hill Township Free Public Library.

The Long Hill Township Library now occupies a site in Gillette, adjacent to Township Hall. The library contains 16,000 square feet (1,500 m) of space and has a capacity for 72,000 books. The library is a member of the Morris Automated Information Network consortium, which offers residents of Long Hill Township have access to library materials at 37 area libraries. It also hosts a professional concert series.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 59.57 miles (95.87 km) of roadways, of which 46.31 miles (74.53 km) were maintained by the municipality and 13.26 miles (21.34 km) by Morris County.

Public transportation

New Jersey Transit rail service is available at the GilletteMillington and Stirling stations, offering service on the Gladstone Branch to Newark Broad Street Station and Hoboken Terminal.

NJ Transit offered service on the MCM8 route until 2010, when subsidies offered to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.

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 Long Hill Township include:

long hill nj map

About the author

NJroute22

NJroute22 (site admin) is an avid traveler along NJ Route 22 (and almost all of central New Jersey!) Family man, pet lover, and property owner who has a natural curiosity for everything around.