Morris Plains, New Jersey


Morris Plains is a borough in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,153, an increase of 621 from the 2010 census count of 5,532, which in turn reflected an increase of 296 from the 5,236 counted in the 2000 census.
Morris Plains was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1926, from portions of Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 15, 1926. The borough's name comes from Lewis Morris, colonial governor of New Jersey.
Morris Plains serves as a bedroom community, with many residents traveling to work in New York City. The Morristown Line of NJ Transit provides commuters with direct access to New York Penn Station and to Hoboken Terminal.
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Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.59 square miles, including 2.55 square miles of land and 0.04 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Littleton.
The borough borders the Morris County municipalities of Hanover Township, Morris Township and Parsippany–Troy Hills.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Morris Plains has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,532 people, 2,131 households, and 1,485 families in the borough. The population density was 2,163.5 per square mile. There were 2,197 housing units at an average density of 859.2 per square mile. The racial makeup was 89.44% White, 2.73% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 4.97% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.68% of the population.
Of the 2,131 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18; 61.3% were married couples living together; 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.
24.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $103,688 and the median family income was $127,614. Males had a median income of $91,908 versus $67,232 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,165. About 0.4% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,236 people, 1,955 households, and 1,477 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 1,994 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 92.91% White, 1.34% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.32% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.69% of the population.
There were 1,955 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The average age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $84,806, and the median income for a family was $98,333. Males had a median income of $75,040 versus $44,554 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,553. About 1.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The borough has been a major base of operations for Pfizer, previously the headquarters for Warner-Lambert. Pfizer has sponsored the Health and Medical Science Academy at Morristown High School and an annual 5k race around Morris Plains. In 2012, a property owned by Pfizer on the west side of Route 53 was acquired by M&M Realty Partners, which plans to redevelop the site for a mixed use development that would include 500 housing units and for retail use.
In 2015, Honeywell moved into a headquarters on a campus, after relocating from AlliedSignal headquarters in Morristown.

Government

Local government

Morris Plains is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes 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. The borough form of government used by Morris Plains 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.
, the mayor of Morris Plains is Democrat Jason C. Karr, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Salvatore F. "Sal" Cortese, Art J. Bruhn, Jr., Bill Houston, Michael Ivey, Tyler J. Pontier, and Nancy Verga.
The Morris Plains Municipal Court judge is Michael A. Carlucci.

Police department

The Morris Plains Police Department has 17 sworn officers. The command structure has a chief, two lieutenants, five sergeants, nine patrolmen and six civilians. They are dispatched through the Morris County Communication Center who dispatches for the police, fire and first aid departments. The police department handled over 29,000 calls for the year 2010.

Fire department

The Morris Plains Fire Association was established on April 28, 1907, after the Weise Hotel Fire of 1906.

Federal, state and county representation

Morris Plains is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 26th state legislative district.

Education

The Morris Plains Schools educate public school students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 601 students and 66.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.1:1. Schools in the district are
Mountain Way School with 209 students in grades PreK–2 and
Morris Plains Borough School with 391 students in grades 3–8.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Morristown High School, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Morris School District which also serves the communities of Morristown and Morris Township. As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,856 students and 137.6 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.5:1.
St. Virgil Academy, founded in 1910, was a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade that operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. The school was closed at the end of the 2015–2016 school year in the wake of declining enrollment and the rising costs of covering the school's deficits.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Morris County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
U.S. Route 202, Route 10 and Route 53 are the main highways serving Morris Plains. Interstate 80 and Interstate 287 are both accessible in neighboring Parsippany–Troy Hills.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides service at the Morris Plains station on the Morristown Line to Newark Broad Street station, Secaucus Junction, New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal. The one-story red brick station house, constructed in 1915 in Renaissance Revival style, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1984.
NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 872, 875 and 880 routes, replacing service that had been offered on the MCM2, MCM3 and MCM10 routes until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.

TV and movies

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Morris Plains include: