Butler, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Butler 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 8,047,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 508 (+6.7%) from the 2010 census count of 7,539,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 119 (+1.6%) from the 7,420 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>

Butler was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of Pequannock Township.<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. 191. Accessed October 25, 2012.</ref><ref>Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries Template:Webarchive, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1901, March 13. Butler Borough is established from Pequannock."</ref>

History

The area now known as Butler was originally called "West Bloomingdale" and was sparsely populated. Water power brought manufacturing entities to the area. In 1857, The Pequannock Valley Paper Company moved from Bergen County and in 1868 the Newbrough Hard Rubber Company built a factory, both based along the Pequannock River. These were two significant economic entities that contributed to the growth of the borough. In 1871, the New Jersey Midland Railroad extended track through Butler from Paterson, making an important transportation connection for both passengers and freight. The northern terminus for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's passenger service was located at Butler until 1966. The railroad still carries freight through Butler.

The growing community was given the name "Butler" in 1881 after Richard Butler, who had taken ownership of the Hard Rubber Company.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref> A Post Office was established and a larger railroad station was built. This station has been the Borough Museum since 1977. The Hard Rubber Company eventually merged with other businesses and became the American Hard Rubber Company in 1898. A "Soft" Rubber Company built a factory just along Main Street. The borough continued to grow as other factories and supporting businesses were established. The population in 1920 was 2,265 people. By 1950, it was 4,063.

Butler's largest fire began just after midnight, February 26, 1957, when one of the nation's largest rubber reclaiming mills (Pequanoc Rubber Company on Main Street) was destroyed by a blaze estimated to have caused a loss of as much as $3 million (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million in Template:Inflation/year). The mill occupied the site on upper Main Street, an irregular shaped complex 600 feet by 300 feet and three to four stories high; it produced over 100 tons of reusable sheet rubber daily from 200 tons of scrap. One Butler Heights resident remembers the fire being so bright she could read a newspaper in her yard at 3 am at a distance of a mile. The glow reportedly was visible for 100 miles, mutual aid response was required by volunteer fire companies from a dozen nearby fire companies.<ref>via Associated Press. "$2,000,000 Fire Set Off by Blast Destroys New Jersey Rubber Plant", The New York Times, February 27, 1957. Accessed July 1, 2011. "A fire that started early today in a drying-room explosion destroyed the plant of the Pequanoc Soft Rubber Company, causing a loss estimated at $2,000,000 to $3,000,000."</ref>

Numerous organizations exist in town and, along with the neighboring towns of Kinnelon and Bloomingdale, many "Tri-Boro" organizations serve the area, including the local Little League & Volunteer First Aid Squad.

Butler was the location of a health resort run by Benedict Lust called "Yungborn" that opened on September 15, 1896.<ref name=Yungborn>Whorton, James C. Nature cures: the history of alternative medicine in America, p. 198, Oxford University Press, 2002. Template:ISBN. Accessed July 1, 2011.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.06 square miles (5.34 km²), including 2.03 square miles (5.27 km²) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km²) of water (1.31%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders the municipalities of Kinnelon and Riverdale in Morris County; and both Bloomingdale and West Milford in Passaic County.<ref>Areas touching Butler, MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.</ref><ref>Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 22, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,539 people, 3,031 households, and 1,976 families in the borough. The population density was 3,703.2 per square mile (1,429.8/km²). There were 3,169 housing units at an average density of 1,556.6 per square mile (601.0/km²). The racial makeup was 88.95% (6,706) White, 1.11% (84) Black or African American, 0.16% (12) Native American, 3.02% (228) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 4.95% (373) from other races, and 1.80% (136) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.41% (860) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 3,031 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18; 50.8% were married couples living together; 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.8% were non-families. Of all households, 28.3% 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 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,614 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,375) and the median family income was $102,435 (+/− $7,072). Males had a median income of $69,407 (+/− $4,399) versus $46,286 (+/− $4,815) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,678 (+/− $3,263). About 3.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Butler borough, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 7,420 people, 2,868 households, and 2,024 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,923 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 94.89% White, 0.62% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Butler borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Butler borough, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.</ref>

There were 2,868 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.09.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $57,455, and the median income for a family was $66,199. Males had a median income of $45,975 versus $35,815 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,113. About 2.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Butler is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<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 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 121.</ref> The borough form of government used by Butler 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Butler is Republican Ryan Martinez (R, 2026). Members of the Borough Council are Council President Raymond Verdonik (R, 2026), Alexander Calvi (R, 2024), Robert Fox (R, 2024), Robert H. Meier (R, 2024), Britni Morley (R, 2025), and Marc Piccirillo (R, 2026).<ref name=Council>Town Council, Butler Borough. Accessed May 5, 2024. "The Borough of Butler is governed by a Borough Council which has both Legislative and Executive powers, and is comprised of six councilmen and a Mayor, all positions elected at large. The executive powers are implemented through a professional staff comprised of a Borough Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, Borough Clerk, Tax Collector, Utility Collector, Superintendent of Public Works, Superintendent of Water and a Chief of Police." As of date accessed, term-end dates for Piccirillo and Verdonik have not been updated.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Butler Borough. Accessed May 5, 2024.</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=Morris2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 11, 2023. Accessed January 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>

Federal, state and county representation

Butler 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>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,551 registered voters in Butler, of which 863 (19.0%) were registered as Democrats, 1,458 (32.0%) were registered as Republicans and 2,224 (48.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Morris, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 17, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.1% of the vote (1,811 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.5% (1,430 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (44 votes), among the 3,302 ballots cast by the borough's 4,774 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.2%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.1% of the vote (1,968 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.7% (1,561 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (32 votes), among the 3,573 ballots cast by the borough's 4,759 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.1%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 17, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.4% of the vote (1,986 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 41.4% (1,430 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (26 votes), among the 3,458 ballots cast by the borough's 4,822 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.7.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Morris County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 17, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.9% of the vote (1,320 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.8% (571 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (25 votes), among the 1,949 ballots cast by the borough's 4,723 registered voters (33 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.3%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.9% of the vote (1,286 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 33.4% (755 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.0% (159 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (33 votes), among the 2,260 ballots cast by the borough's 4,615 registered voters, yielding a 49.0% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Morris County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 17, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Butler Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Butler Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Butler Public Schools. Accessed January 4, 2023. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Butler School District. Composition: The Butler School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Butler."</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,156 students and 109.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.5:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Butler Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Butler Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Aaron Decker School<ref>Aaron Decker School, Butler Public Schools. Accessed January 4, 2023.</ref> with 379 students in grades K-4, Richard Butler School<ref>Richard Butler School, Butler Public Schools. Accessed January 4, 2023.</ref> with 299 students in grades 5-8 and Butler High School<ref>Butler High School, Butler Public Schools. Accessed January 4, 2023.</ref> with 455 students in grades 9-12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Butler Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Butler Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Students from Bloomingdale attend Butler High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Bloomingdale School District.<ref>Butler Public School District 2016 Report Card Narrative Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 12, 2017. "The district also engages in several Shared Service agreements with the Bloomingdale school district, beyond the send-receive high school experience, including sharing of school Library oversight, Special Education and sharing the services of the Student Assistance Counselor."</ref><ref>Lee, Michelle. "Proposal to merge Butler, Bloomingdale school chiefs snagged on state pay-cap", The Record, February 20, 2011. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Lauren Grecco, Bloomingdale school board president, said the trustees came up with the shared superintendent idea last fall with the goals of saving money and better-aligning curriculum. Bloomingdale students attend Butler High School, and the districts share a librarian and a buildings-and-grounds supervisor."</ref>

St. Anthony of Padua School was a Catholic school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson that was closed in June 2012 in the face of declining enrollment, after having served the community for 130 years.<ref>Staff. "Controversy rises over St. Anthony's closure in Butler", Suburban Trends, June 28, 2012. Accessed July 25, 2013. "With the St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School having reportedly closed its doors forever with the end of this school year, a fight is brewing between the priest who, in light of falling enrollment, made the decision to end the school's 130-year run, and various parents and parishioners who say that he abandoned the school too soon."</ref>

Transportation

File:2021-09-24 10 15 40 View north along New Jersey State Route 23 from the overpass for Maple Lake Road in Butler, Morris County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 23 northbound in Butler

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the borough 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 July 18, 2014.</ref>

New Jersey Route 23 is the main highway serving Butler. County Route 511 also traverses the borough. Interstate 287 passes just outside the borough limits within neighboring municipalities.

Public transportation

File:Butler NYSW station.jpg

The former Butler station (for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad) as seen in August 2011 just before Hurricane Irene

Template:Main NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 194 route to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.<ref>Morris County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 1, 2011.</ref><ref>Morris County System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed August 6, 2015.</ref>

Notable people

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

• Kurt Adler (1907–1977), music conductor<ref>Staff. "Kurt Adler, 70, Conductor Of 20 Different Operas At Met During 22 Years", The New York Times, September 22, 1977. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Kurt Adler, opera conductor and chorusmaster of the, Metropolitan Opera from 1945 through 1973, died yesterday after a long illness. He was 70 years old and lived in Butler, N.J."</ref>
• Frederick Aldrich (1927–1991), marine biologist best known for his research on giant squid<ref>McLeod, Don. "First sub-Arctic type: Marine lab opens in May", Leader-Post, September 29, 1966. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Dr. Aldrich, 39-year-old native of Butler, N.J., who came to Memorial five years ago from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, expects to have a staff of eventually 100, probably 48 of them senior researchers."</ref><ref>Frederick A. Aldrich, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Frederick Allen Aldrich, AB, M.Sc., PhD, was born in Butler, New Jersey, on May 1, 1927. Following the award of his doctorate in marine biology and physiology from Rutgers University, he served for seven years as curator of invertebrates at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia."</ref>
• Benedict Lust (1872–1945), naturopathy pioneer who founded the Yungborn health resort<ref name=Yungborn/>
• Harry L. Sears (1920–2002), politician who served for 10 years in the New Jersey Legislature<ref>Martin, Douglas. "Harry L. Sears, 82, Politician And Courier for Vesco Cash", The New York Times, May 21, 2002. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Harry Lloyd Sears Jr. was born on Jan. 16, 1920, in Butler, N.J. He graduated from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., and Rutgers University Law School. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1961 and was re-elected every two years until he ran successfully for the Senate in 1967."</ref>
• Andrew Turzilli (born 1991), wide receiver who played in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans<ref>Duggan, Dan. "Tennessee Titans sign Rutgers receiver Andrew Turzilli as undrafted free agent", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2, 2015. Accessed May 27, 2017. "Turzilli transferred to Rutgers for his final season of eligibility after spending four years at Kansas. The Butler, N.J., native only had 10 catches last season, but he gained 347 yards and scored four touchdowns."</ref>
• Gary Wehrkamp (born 1970), musician, songwriter and producer best known a member of the progressive rock band Shadow Gallery<ref>Gary Wehrkamp, Shadow Gallery, October 10, 2009. Accessed October 20, 2014. "Gary Wehrkamp was born May 11, 1970 in Butler, New Jersey. Gary made his foray into music as a self-taught drummer and vocalist at the age of ten."</ref>

Points of interest

• The Butler Museum is located on Main Street in the former NYS&W railroad station, across from 234 Main Street. The museum houses exhibits that reflects on the town's history.<ref>Museum History Template:Webarchive, Butler Museum. Accessed October 20, 2014.</ref>

External links

• Butler Borough website
• Butler Public Schools
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Butler Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Daily Record – regional area newspaper