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Rockaway Township, New Jersey

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Template:Short description Template:See also Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Rockaway 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 25,341,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 1,185 (+4.9%) from the 2010 census count of 24,156,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 1,226 (+5.3%) from the 22,930 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>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.</ref>

Rockaway Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1844, from portions of Hanover Township and Pequannock Township.<ref>Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1844, April 8. Rockaway Township is established from Pequannock."</ref> Portions of the township were taken to form Rockaway Borough (June 19, 1894), Port Oram (June 26, 1895, now Wharton) and Denville Township (April 14, 1913).<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 197. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> Portions of the township were annexed to Boonton Township in 1906 and to Rockaway Borough in 1908.<ref>Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 244. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 23, 2015.</ref>

The township shares its name with the Rockaway River and the neighboring borough. The name is derived from a Native American term, variously said to mean "place of sands",<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref><ref>Nestor, Sandy. Indian Place Names in America, Volume 1, p. 113. McFarland, 2004. Template:ISBN. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref> "creek between two hills"<ref>"Indian Place Names in New Jersey" from the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration 1938-1939 Series, Bulletin 12. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Rockaway - Possibly from Powawachne, creek between two hills"</ref> or "bushy" / "difficult to cross".<ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 265. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref>

A large part of the township consists of Picatinny Arsenal, a United States Army base that covers nearly Template:Convert of the township (a portion of the facility is located in Jefferson Township), used mainly for the development of new weapons technologies, especially concerning anti-terrorism.<ref>NPL Site Narrative for Picatinny Arsenal (USARMY), United States Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed July 13, 2012. "Picatinny Arsenal covers 6,491 acres in Morris County, New Jersey. Most of the land is in Rockaway Township; small portions of the western side are in Jefferson Township."</ref>

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 45.89 square miles (118.85 km2), including 41.73 square miles (108.09 km2) of land and 4.16 square miles (10.77 km2) of water (9.06%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Rockaway Township and its sister community, Rockaway Borough, and the area around the two municipalities are home to some scenic areas. These areas include lakes, rivers, and expansive ranges of mountains, covered with trees and wildlife and hiking trails, including Farny State Park,<ref>Farny State Park, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref> Wildcat Ridge WMA,<ref>"Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area", New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref> Mount Hope Historical Park<ref>Mount Hope Historical Park, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Accessed November 4, 2013.Template:Dead link</ref> and Splitrock Reservoir.<ref>Izzo, Michael. "Paddling Splitrock Reservoir to take in fall's spectacular colors", Daily Record, October 25, 2013. Accessed November 4, 2013. "That was the only advice I got before heading onto the Splitrock Reservoir in Rockaway Township, a 625-acre preserve that borders Rockaway Township and Kinnelon, for a two-hour canoe paddle last week."</ref><ref>Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Rockaway Township. Accessed April 2, 2020.</ref>

Portions of the township are owned by the City of Newark, Essex County, for their Pequannock River Watershed, which provides water to the city from an area of Template:Convert that also includes portions of Hardyston Township, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon, Vernon Township and West Milford.<ref>Primerano, Jane. "Newark appealing watershed taxes against Jefferson", AIM Jefferson, May 8, 2015. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Besides West Milford and Jefferson, Newark owns watershed land in Hardyston, Vernon, and Rockaway Townships and Kinnelon Borough, Leach said."</ref><ref>City of Newark v. Vernon Tp., Leagle from Tax Court of New Jersey, April 1, 1980. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Generally, the lands are part of the 35,000-acre Pequannock Watershed (approximately two times the size of Newark), which was purchased by Newark at the turn of the century to provide a water supply. The watershed, which contains five major bodies of water, is located in Vernon and Hardyston in Sussex County, Jefferson, Rockaway and Kinnelon in Morris County, and West Milford in Passaic County."</ref> Newark's Pequannock Watershed is administered by the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation.<ref>About, Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation. Accessed July 2, 2015.</ref> The river keeper for the Pequannock River is the Pequannock River Coalition.<ref>Home page, Pequannock River Coalition. Accessed September 5, 2011.</ref>

Two sites on the National Register of Historic Places are in Rockaway Township.<ref>New Jersey - Morris County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed July 13, 2012.</ref> Split Rock Furnace is a Civil War era iron ore furnace which is still intact.<ref>O'Dea, Colleen. "Highlands not just a water reserve; Region is a wonderland for those who love nature", Daily Record, July 1, 2004. Accessed July 13, 2012. "Below the dam, on land that Jersey City still owns outright, are the nearly intact remains of the Split Rock Furnace. The 32-foot tall, 22-foot wide stone chimney tower where magnetite ore was turned to iron has weeds growing out its top, but it still looks impressive."</ref> The Ford-Faesch Manor House, is a 1768 stone mansion that figured prominently during the Revolutionary War and in the 250-year history of Morris County iron industry.<ref>Staff. "Morris churches, other historic sites share $2.1M in preservation funds"Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore, Daily Record, August 29, 2009. Accessed July 13, 2012. "Rockaway Township received a $300368 construction grant for masonry and structural restoration of the Ford-Faesch House, built in 1768."</ref><ref>Erwood, Janet. "Saving an ironmaster's home", Daily Record, April 30, 2008. Accessed July 13, 2012. "The Ford-Faesch Manor House is an elegant Georgian style construction typical of its era, with 2- to 3-foot-thick walls built from native stone, eight English style fireplaces and high ceilings, all befitting of an ironmaster's mansion."</ref>

Lake Telemark (with a 2010 Census population of 1,255<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Lake Telemark CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref>) and White Meadow Lake (with 8,836 as of 2010 <ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for White Meadow Lake CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref>) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Rockaway Township.<ref>GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Morris County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref><ref>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Beach Glen, Deer Pond, Denmark, Bowlbyville, Durham Pond, Foxs Pond, Green Pond (a lake and an accompanying residential community, though it uses a Newfoundland address in West Milford), Hibernia (site of the Hibernia mines), Hickory Hill, Hilltown, Lyonsville, Marcella, Meriden, Middle Forge, Middletown, Mount Hope, Picatinny, Spicertown and Split Rock.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

Splitrock Reservoir is Template:Convert of wilderness in Rockaway Township that straddles the township's border with Kinnelon. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection spent $3 million in 2015 to acquire a Template:Convert buffer area around the reservoir, as part of an agreement under which Jersey City retains rights to use water from the reservoir and is responsible for maintenance of the dam at the site.<ref>Izzo, Michael. "State preserves Split Rock reservoir in Rockaway Twp.", Daily Record, January 5, 2015. Accessed August 5, 2015. "The state Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres program has finalized a $3.1 million purchase of 1,500 acres of watershed buffer land surrounding Split Rock Reservoir from Jersey City.... Under the terms of the agreement, Jersey City retains water rights to continue to use water resources from the northern Morris County reservoir, a supply source for the city's water system. Jersey City will also retain ownership, use and maintenance of the Split Rock dam and the road leading to the dam. The state will have access to the road and to the reservoir."</ref>

Rockaway Township borders the municipalities of Boonton Township, Denville Township, Dover, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon, Randolph, Rockaway and Wharton in Morris County; and West Milford in Passaic County.<ref>Areas touching Rockaway, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.</ref><ref>Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 4, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Despite being the largest municipality in terms of area in Morris County and being the fourth-largest in population, Rockaway Township does not have its own designated ZIP code. The township is served by eight ZIP codes, seven from the surrounding municipalities and one of an unincorporated area within Rockaway Township. The ZIP codes for Rockaway Township are 07005 (Boonton), 07405 (Butler), 07435 (Newfoundland), 07438 (Oak Ridge), 07801 (Dover), 07842 (Hibernia), 07866 (Rockaway Borough) and 07885 (Wharton).

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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Rockaway township, Morris County, New Jersey – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 18,919 17,804 78.32% 70.26%
Black or African American alone (NH) 552 731 2.29% 2.88%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 12 10 0.05% 0.04%
Asian alone (NH) 1,605 1,918 6.64% 7.57%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 10 0.02% 0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 42 83 0.17% 0.33%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 317 790 1.31% 3.12%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,705 3,995 11.20% 15.76%
Total 24,156 25,341 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 24,156 people, 8,983 households, and 6,701 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 9,587 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 86.43% (20,878) White, 2.55% (616) Black or African American, 0.12% (28) Native American, 6.67% (1,611) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 2.24% (541) from other races, and 1.98% (478) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.20% (2,705) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 8,983 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18; 62.9% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.4% were non-families. Of all households, 21.3% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $95,530 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,122) and the median family income was $111,053 (+/− $5,557). Males had a median income of $75,475 (+/− $5,327) versus $52,586 (+/− $4,837) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,757 (+/− $1,898). About 0.8% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Rockaway township, Morris County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 22,930 people, 8,108 households, and 6,380 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 8,506 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 88.86% White, 2.46% African American, 0.10% Native American, 5.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.60% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.28% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Rockaway township, Morris County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 13, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Rockaway township, Morris County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 13, 2012.</ref>

There were 8,108 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $80,939, and the median income for a family was $89,281. Males had a median income of $58,027 versus $40,038 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,184. About 1.4% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

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File:RockawayMall.jpg
Rockaway Townsquare

Rockaway Townsquare is a super-regional mall anchored by Macy's, JCPenney, and Raymour & Flanigan with a gross leasable area of Template:Convert,<ref>Property Highlights for Rockaway Townsquare, Simon Property Group. Accessed December 21, 2011. "Property Facts: Regional Mall - 100% Simon Owned - 1,248,000 sf - Macy's, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney, Sears"</ref> placing it in the top ten among the largest shopping malls in New Jersey.

Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, dates back to 1880 when it was established as the Dover Powder Depot, before being renamed just days later as the Picatinny Powder Depot.<ref>History, Picatinny Arsenal. Accessed March 4, 2020. "On 6 September 1880, the War Department established the Dover Powder Depot. Four days later, it changed the name to Picatinny Powder Depot. In 1907, the Army altered the name to Picatinny Arsenal and established its first powder factory on the site."</ref> With 5,000 employees and covering Template:Convert, Picatinny Arsenal is the Joint Center of Excellence for Armaments and Munitions for the United States Armed Forces.<ref>About Us, Picatinny Arsenal. Accessed December 23, 2012.</ref>

Sports

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In 2011, the North Jersey Lakers began playing in the Eastern Basketball Alliance, a now-defunct semi-professional men's winter basketball league.<ref>"Minor league basketball team to debut Feb. 4 in Rockaway", West Milford Messenger, September 29, 2011. Accessed March 11, 2020. "Rockaway Twp. - A brand new minor league basketball team called the North Jersey Lakers has just been created as an extension of the Eastern Basketball Alliance (EBA) and is scheduled to debut on February 4 at Green Pond Bible Chapel."</ref>

Government

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Local government

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Rockaway Township is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government (Plan F), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1968.<ref>"The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed November 4, 2013. Incorrectly listed as Rockaway Borough, which operates under the Borough form of government.</ref><ref>Chapter II: Administrative Code, Rockaway Township Code. Accessed November 4, 2013. "Charter shall mean the provisions of the Optional Municipal Charter Law (P.L. 1950, Chapter 210, as amended) governing Mayor-Council Plan."</ref> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the township council. The mayor is directly elected by the voters. The township council is comprised of nine members, with one member elected from each of six wards and three elected on an at-large basis. The members of the governing body are elected to staggered four-year terms of office on a partisan basis in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election, with the six ward seats up for vote together and then the three at-large and the mayoral seat up for vote together two years later.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 116.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the Mayor of Rockaway Township is Republican Joseph Jackson, who was elected to serve the balance of a term of office expiring December 31, 2023.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor, Rockaway Township. Accessed April 27, 2023. "The Township of Rockaway operates under the Mayor-Council Plan (NJSA 40:69A-31) of government. This form, also known as the 'strong mayor' form, provides for the direct election of the mayor, who serves a 4-year term."</ref> Members of the Township Council are Council President Howard Kritz (R, 2023; At-large), Council Vice President John J. Quinn Jr. (R, 2025; Ward 2), Douglas Brookes (R, 2025; Ward 3), Rachel Brookes (R, 2025; Ward 6), Emanuel "Manny" Friedlander (D, 2025; Ward 5), Mary Noon (R, 2025; Ward 1), Jonathan Sackett (D, 2025; Ward 4), Adam Salberg (R, 2023; At-large) and Pawel Wojtowicz (R, 2023; At-large - elected to serve an unexpired term).<ref>Township Council, Rockaway Township. Accessed April 27, 2023.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Rockaway Township. Accessed April 27, 2023.</ref><ref name=MorrisManual>Morris County Manual 2024, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=MorrisOfficials>Morris County Municipal Elected Officials For The Year 2024, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk, updated March 20, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Morris2022>General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Morris2021>General Election Winners For November 2, 2021, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Morris2019>General Election November 5, 2019, Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 31, 2020.</ref>

In January 2022, Joseph Jackson was selected as mayor following the resignation of Michael Puzio from the term expiring in December 2023. In March 2022, Pawel Wojtowicz was appointed to fill Jackson's vacated at-large council seat, also expiring in December 2023.<ref>Wildstein, David. "Rockaway mayor resigns; Special election for unexpired term will be held this year", New Jersey Globe, January 12, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2022. "Rockaway Township Mayor Michael Puzio has unexpectedly resigned to take a job with a pharmaceutical company causing a special elections for the second time in the last four years. Council President Joe Jackson will become acting mayor on January when Puzio’s resignation becomes effective."</ref><ref>Condon, Mike. "Wojtowicz joins Rockaway Township Council", The Citizen of Morris County, March 9, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2022. "It wasn’t a traditional swearing-in, but Republican Pawel Wojtowicz is now a member of the Township Council. He joins the council as an at-large member, replacing GOP Councilman Joseph Jackson, who was appointed Mayor after Mayor Michael Puzio, also a Republican, resigned to accept a job in January."</ref> Jackson and Wojtowicz served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election when voters elected them to serve the balance of the term of office for both seats.<ref name=Morris2022/>

In July 2019, Republican Mary Noon was appointed to fill the Ward 1 seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Victor Palumbo until he resigned from office the previous month in the face of a pending recall effort.<ref>Cohen, Michael. "Noon named to Rockaway Township Council as lawsuits fly back and forth", The Citizen of Morris County, July 29, 2019. Accessed March 4, 2020. "The township’s Republican County Committee has named First Ward resident Mary Noon to the Township Council, replacing former Councilman Victor Palumbo who resigned in June."</ref> In September 2019, the township council appointed Douglas Brookes to fill the Ward 3 seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Phyllis I. Smith until she resigned from office earlier that month; at the same meeting, the council removed Jeremy Jedynak from office due to excessive absence, after he had missed attending a string of meetings over a two-month period.<ref>Myers, Gene. "Rockaway Township councilman voted out because of extended absence", Daily Record, September 25, 2019. Accessed March 4, 2020. "Jeremy Jedynak was voted off the Township Council on Tuesday night because of numerous unexcused absences, municipal leaders said.... The seat was vacated as a matter of necessity after an absence that lasted from June 11 through Sept. 9, said council President Jonathan Sackett.... The council also voted to accept Douglas Brookes as Ward 3 replacement for Councilwoman Phillis Smith, who resigned Sept. 8."</ref>

Jedynak was designated as acting mayor after the death of Mayor Michael Dachisen of a cardiac arrest in August 2018, pending the selection of an interim successor.<ref>Westhoven, William; and Wright, Peggy. "Rockaway Township Mayor Michael Dachisen dies suddenly at age 58", Daily Record, August 15, 2018. Accessed August 22, 2018. "Mayor Michael Dachisen died Wednesday evening of a heart attack, just days after he had a stress test and was cleared by a doctor to go home, two friends said Thursday morning.... Council President Jeremy Jedynak will be acting mayor for at least 30 days, said John Inglesino, a former township mayor and attorney representing Jedynak against a lawsuit filed by Dachisen."</ref> At the appointment deadline in September 2018, Paul Minenna, a former councilmember, was selected to serve as mayor on an interim basis; the meeting had been pushed off and rescheduled for 10:30 PM after the site that had been originally designated for the special meeting was no longer available.<ref name=Minenna>Myers, Gene. "Rockaway Twp. leaders fail to tamp things down at late Friday meeting", The Record, September 15, 2018. Accessed September 16, 2018. "Friday also was the deadline for the decision on interim mayor and former Councilman Paul Minenna was voted in.... Paul Minenna, who served 17 years on the Township Council, is sworn in as Rockaway Township's interim mayor until the November elections."</ref> In October 2018, a Superior Court judge ruled that all of the actions taken at the late-night meeting in September at which Minenna had been appointed were null and void as they violated the terms of the state's Open Public Meetings Act; Adam Salberg was designated by the judge to fill the mayoral vacancy on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of Dachisen's term of office.<ref>Wright, Peggy. "Rockaway Township finally has official interim mayor after court decision", Daily Record, October 1, 2018. Accessed October 15, 2018. "The question of which of Rockaway Township's two interim mayors is the official one has been answered: It's Adam Salberg, the court ruled. A Superior Court judge found that the Sept. 14 special Rockaway Township Council meeting was "illegal," therefore voiding all actions taken, including the council's appointment of interim Mayor Paul Minenna and Township Attorney John Inglesino."</ref>

Michael Dachisen was selected to serve as mayor in June 2012 after Louis S. Sceusi stepped down to take a position as judge in New Jersey Superior Court,<ref>Balbi, Amanda. "Dachisen moves up to Rockaway Township mayor's seat", Neighbor News, July 11, 2012. Accessed July 13, 2012. "Michael Dachisen, Rockaway Township Council president, sat through the June 26 Council meeting with a different perspective. Instead of being at the head of the class, he sat quietly to the side, interjecting when called on. Recently, Mayor Louis Sceusi was appointed a Superior Court Judge. Therefore, Dachisen has temporarily taken over the mayor's duties."</ref> and was sworn in as mayor in July 2012.<ref>Staff. "There's a new mayor in Rockaway Township: Michael Dachisen", Neighbor News, July 20, 2012. Accessed December 22, 2012. "With these words, "our work here is not over," President Michael Dachisen walked away from the Council and stepped into his new role as the mayor of Rockaway Township."</ref> In November 2012, Dachisen won a special election to serve the balance of Sceusi's term through 2015.<ref>Tamblyn, Ellen Fox. "Rockaway Twp. residents retain Dachisen as mayor", Neighbor News, November 14, 2012. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref> Jeremy Jedynak took office in June 2013, filling the at-large seat held by John DiMaria, who left office to relocate outside of the state. The term expires in 2015 and the remaining two years of the seat were up for vote in the November 2013 general election.<ref>Lusardi, Anthony. "Rockaway Township Council welcomes new member", The Citizen of Morris County, July 11, 2013. Accessed November 4, 2013. "When the Township Council met on Tuesday, June 25, new Councilman-at-Large Jeremy Jedynak was sworn into office.... He will have to run in November to fill the two-year unexpired term left when Councilman John DiMaria resigned. The term will expire at the end of 2015."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

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Rockaway Township is located in the 11th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

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Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 16,022 registered voters in Rockaway Township, of which 3,861 (24.1%) were registered as Democrats, 5,481 (34.2%) were registered as Republicans and 6,668 (41.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Morris, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 52.9% of the vote (6,410 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.9% (5,562 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (153 votes), among the 12,198 ballots cast by the township's 16,865 registered voters (73 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 72.3%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.2% of the vote (6,770 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 46.3% (5,998 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (134 votes), among the 12,958 ballots cast by the township's 16,558 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.3%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 55.9% of the vote (6,934 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 43.3% (5,368 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (87 votes), among the 12,411 ballots cast by the township's 16,057 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.3.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.7% of the vote (5,071 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.5% (2,396 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (137 votes), among the 7,726 ballots cast by the township's 16,708 registered voters (122 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.2%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.9% of the vote (4,855 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 33.8% (2,930 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.6% (750 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (53 votes), among the 8,681 ballots cast by the township's 16,190 registered voters, yielding a 53.6% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Morris County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref>

Education

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The Rockaway Township Public Schools serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.<ref>Rockaway Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 -Identification, Rockaway Township Public Schools, last edited January 2013. Accessed September 27, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through eight in the Rockaway Township School District. Composition: The Rockaway Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Rockaway Township."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 2,386 students and 248.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Rockaway Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Rockaway Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are Birchwood Elementary School<ref>Birchwood Elementary School, Rockaway Township Public Schools. Accessed September 27, 2024.</ref> with 279 students in grades K-5, Catherine A. Dwyer Elementary School<ref>Catherine A. Dwyer Elementary School, Rockaway Township Public Schools. Accessed September 27, 2024.</ref> with 322 students in grades K-5, Katherine D. Malone Elementary School<ref>Katherine D. Malone Elementary School, Rockaway Township Public Schools. Accessed September 27, 2024.</ref> with 259 students in grades K-5, Dennis B. O'Brien Elementary School<ref>Dennis B. O'Brien Elementary School, Rockaway Township Public Schools. Accessed September 27, 2024.</ref> with 275 students in grades PreK-5, Stony Brook Elementary School<ref>Stony Brook Elementary School, Rockaway Township Public Schools. Accessed September 27, 2024.</ref> with 391 students in grades K-5 and Copeland Middle School<ref>Copeland Middle School, Rockaway Township Public Schools. Accessed September 27, 2024.</ref> with 853 students in grades 6-8.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Rockaway Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Rockaway Township Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend either Morris Hills High School (those living in the White Meadow Lake section and other southern portions of the township) or Morris Knolls High School (the remainder of the township). Morris Hills (located in Rockaway Borough) also serves students from Wharton and some from Rockaway Borough (those mostly north of Route 46); Morris Knolls (located in Denville) serves all students from Denville and portions of Rockaway Borough (those mostly south of Route 46).<ref>About Us, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed September 27, 2024. "Morris Hills High School receives students from Wharton, the southernmost portion of Rockaway Township.... and the White Meadow Lake portion of Rockaway Township; Rockaway Borough north of Route #46 as well as within the area of Rockaway Road, the Trailer Park behind the Boro Plaza (west of the railroad track) south of Route #46. Morris Knolls High School receives students from Denville, all of Rockaway Township with the exception of White Meadow Lake and the area described above in the southern part of Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough south of Route #46 with the exception of the area of Rockaway Road and the Trailer Park behind the Boro Plaza (west of the railroad track) south of Route #46".</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, Morris Hills High School had an enrollment of 1,187 students and 117.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1,<ref>School data for Morris Hills High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> while Morris Knolls had an enrollment of 1,447 students and 130.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis) and a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.<ref>School data for Morris Knolls High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, a magnet high school program that is part of the Morris County Vocational School District is jointly operated on the Morris Hills campus.<ref>Home page Template:Webarchive, Morris Hills High School. Accessed March 6, 2015. "Morris Hills is home to the Academy of Mathematics, Science and Engineering, a partnership with Morris County School of Technology."</ref> The two high schools are part of the Morris Hills Regional High School District.<ref>Morris Hills Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 11, 2015. "Our schools' success is directly attributed to the support we receive from the residents of Denville, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Wharton - people who care about their children and who value education."</ref>

Transportation

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File:2021-06-16 12 27 53 View east along Interstate 80 from the overpass for Morris County Route 664 (Mount Hope Road) in Rockaway Township, Morris County, New Jersey.jpg
Interstate 80 eastbound in Rockaway Township

Roads and highways

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Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Morris County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Morris County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref>

Interstate 80 passes through the township, including exits 35 and 37.<ref>Interstate 80 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, March 2010. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref> U.S. Route 46 cuts through the southernmost area of the township,<ref>U.S. Route 46 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, March 2010. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref> while Route 15 clips the southwestern portion of the township.<ref>Route 15 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, April 2008. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref> County Route 513 traverses a total of Template:Convert north-south across the township.<ref>County Route 513 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, September 2006. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref>

Public transportation

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NJ Transit train service does not stop in the township, but is accessible at the Denville station<ref>Denville station, NJ Transit. Accessed April 27, 2023.</ref> on both the Morris & Essex Lines and the Montclair-Boonton Line.<ref>Morris and Essex Lines schedule, NJ Transit, updated April 23, 2023. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref><ref>Montclair-Boonton Line, NJ Transit, updated April 23, 2023. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref>

NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 880 local route,<ref>Riding the Bus, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref><ref>Bus Route 880 Schedule, NJ Transit. Accessed December 10, 2011.</ref><ref>Morris County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref><ref>Morris County System Map, NJ Transit. Accessed August 5, 2015.</ref> which replaced service that had been provided up to 2010 on the MCM10 route.<ref>NJ TRANSIT RESTRUCTURES MORRIS COUNTY BUS SERVICE; Four current 'MCM' routes will be expanded to six new bus routes, NJ Transit, September 13, 2010. Accessed August 5, 2015.</ref>

NJ Transit eliminated service on the MCM5 and MCM7 routes as part of budget cuts.<ref>Private Carrier Bus Service reductions, NJ Transit. Accessed August 3, 2015.</ref>

Lakeland Bus Lines offers bus service from the Rockaway Townsquare Mall to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.<ref>Lakeland RT 80 Newton to PABT Template:Webarchive, Lakeland Bus Lines. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref>

Fire department

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There are five companies of the Rockaway Township Fire Department. Each company is all-volunteer and provides emergency medical services in addition to fire protection.<ref>Rockaway Township Fire Department. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref><ref>Fire Department, Rockaway Township. Accessed April 2, 2020.</ref> The five stations are:

  • Hibernia Company #1<ref>Hibernia Company 1, Rockaway Township Fire Department. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref>
  • Mount Hope Company #2<ref>Mount Hope Fire Co 2, Rockaway Township Fire Department. Accessed November 4, 2013.</ref>
  • Marcella Company #3, covering the northern portion of the township<ref>Marcella Company 3, Rockaway Township Fire Department. Accessed November 4, 2013. "The Marcella Fire Company is our farthest north station. It covers from Lake Denmark Road north to the Township border with Jefferson Township. It covers from the Township border with Jefferson to the west and east to the Boonton Township line."</ref>
  • Birchwood Company #4 covers the area around the Rockaway Townsquare Mall<ref>Birchwood Company 4, Rockaway Township Fire Department. Accessed November 4, 2013. "They cover the area from the Dover border north to and including Route 80. They cover to the Rockaway border to the east and west to the Wharton border."</ref>
  • White Meadow Lake Company #5, covers the southern portion of the township<ref>Hibernia Company 1, Rockaway Township Fire Department. Accessed November 4, 2013. "The White Meadow Lake Fire Company is centrally located in southern area. It covers a densely populated residential lake community and is also responsible for portions of Route 80 and parts of the industrial area of Green Pond Road."</ref>
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  • The 2003 independent film, The Station Agent, was filmed at various locations in the northern part of the township and elsewhere in the surrounding Morris County area.<ref>Staff. "Miramax", Daily Record, September 24, 2003. Accessed November 4, 2013. "The movie, which won three awards at the Sundance Film Festival this year and will open nationwide in late October or early November, was filmed in Rockaway Township, Dover and other locations around Morris County."</ref>

Notable people

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Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Rockaway Township include:

References

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Template:Reflist

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Template:Commons category

Template:Morris County, New Jersey

Bordering municipalities

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Template:Geographic Location (8-way)

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