Mendham Borough, New Jersey


Mendham Borough is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 4,981, reflecting a decline of 116 from the 5,097 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 207 from the 4,890 counted in the 1990 Census.
Mendham Borough is known for noted landmarks such as the Phoenix House, which serves as the Borough's Municipal Building, and the Black Horse Inn. New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Mendham Borough as the best place to live in the state in its 2013 rankings of the "Best Places to Live" in New Jersey.
In the Forbes magazine's 2006 and 2012 rankings of the Most Expensive ZIP Codes in the United States, Mendham was listed among the top 500 nationwide.
The borough is one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2014–2018, Mendham Borough residents had a median household income of $158,542, almost double the statewide median of $79,363.

History

Mendham Borough was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 15, 1906, from portions of Mendham Township, because residents of what became the Borough wanted sidewalks and street lights constructed while those that lived in what remained the Township felt it was cost prohibitive in their more rural areas.
The township may be named for Mendham, Suffolk, England, or the name may derive from the Native American word mendom or for an Earl of Mendham.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 6.000 square miles, including 5.950 square miles of land and 0.050 square miles of water.
The borough is surrounded by Mendham Township to the north, east, and west in Morris County and Bernardsville in Somerset County to the south.
An unnamed pond in the borough is the source of the Passaic River. The North Branch Raritan River also originates in the borough.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $119,787 and the median family income was $155,139. Males had a median income of $145,739 versus $82,813 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $51,875. About 2.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Based on data from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey, the borough had a per-capita income of $51,875, ranked 89th in the state.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,097 people, 1,781 households, and 1,380 families residing in the borough. The population density was 846.2 people per square mile. There were 1,828 housing units at an average density of 303.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.14% White, 0.45% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.
There were 1,781 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were same-sex couples. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $110,348, and the median income for a family was $129,812. Males had a median income of $96,672 versus $48,542 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,629. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, Mendham Borough had the 44th-highest per capita income in the state.

Government

Local government

Mendham Borough is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the most commonly used form of government in the state. The governing body is comprised of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is comprised of 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 Mendham Borough 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 is considered the head of the municipal government and as chief executive is responsible to see that all state laws and borough ordinances are faithfully executed. The mayor, presides over the borough council meetings and only votes in order to break a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances and appoint subordinate officials, ad hoc committees and certain other officials to boards, committees and commissions.
, the mayor is Republican Christine Serrano Glassner, whose term ends of office ends December 31, 2022. The Borough Council is comprised of Council President Brad Badal, John Andrews, Steve Andrew, Brennan Reilly, Mary Sue Martin, and James R. Kelly.<
In January 2019, the Borough Council appointed James Kelly to fill the term expiring in December 2019 that became vacant when Christine Glassner took office as Mayor.

Federal, state and county representation

Mendham Borough is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 25th State Legislative District. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Mendham Borough had been in the 16th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,701 registered voters in Mendham, of which 739 were registered as Democrats, 1,615 were registered as Republicans and 1,346 were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 64.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 35.0%, and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 2,598 ballots cast by the borough's 3,889 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.3% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 3,009 ballots cast by the borough's 3,854 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.1% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 37.6% and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 2,964 ballots cast by the borough's 3,885 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.3.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 80.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 18.8%, and other candidates with 1.2%, among the 2,143 ballots cast by the borough's 3,851 registered voters, for a turnout of 55.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.2% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 24.1%, Independent Chris Daggett with 9.1% and other candidates with 0.2%, among the 2,328 ballots cast by the borough's 3,735 registered voters, yielding a 62.3% turnout.

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Mendham Borough Schools. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 522 students and 52.2 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.0:1. Schools in the district are
Hilltop Elementary School with 259 students in grades PreK-4 and
Mountain View Middle School with 257 students in grades 5–8.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend West Morris Mendham High School, which is located in Mendham Borough and serves students from Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough and Mendham Township. The school is part of the West Morris Regional High School District, which also serves students from Washington Township at West Morris Central High School. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,241 students and 97.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1. The district's board of education has nine members who are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. The nine seats on the board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with one seat assigned to Mendham Borough.
Saint Joseph School is a Catholic school established in 1963 and operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson that serves students in preschool through eighth grade. Founded in 1963, the school was recognized in 2012 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
The Westmont Montessori School, established in 1964, is the second-oldest Montessori school in New Jersey. It has served approximately 2,500 children ages 15 months to 6 years old in its 50-year history. Westmont is dually accredited by the American Montessori Society and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Until 2005, Mendham was home to the Assumption College for Sisters, a two-year women's college that is open to lay students as well as those pursuing religious lives, operated by the Sisters of Christian Charity; the school has moved to the Morris Catholic High School campus in Denville Township.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Morris County.
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways pass through Mendham. The most significant roadways directly serving the borough are County Route 510 and County Route 525.

Public transportation

offered service on the MCM4 and MCM5 routes until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Mendham Borough include: