Dover, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Dover is a town in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located on the Rockaway River, Dover is about Template:Convert west of New York City and about Template:Convert west of Newark, New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 18,460,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 303 (+1.7%) from the 2010 census count of 18,157,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn had reflected a decline of 31 (−0.2%) from the 18,188 counted at 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>

Dover is a majority minority community, with nearly 70% of the population as of the 2010 census identifying themselves as Hispanic, up from 25% in 1980.<ref>Semuels, Alana. "White Flight Never Ended; Today's cities may be more diverse overall, but people of different races still don't live near each other.", The Atlantic Citylab, July 30, 2015. Accessed August 4, 2015. "Segregation isn't just happening between black and white towns. Hispanic and Asian residents are segregated into their own cities and towns, too. Dover, New Jersey, for instance, a town 30 miles west of New York, was 70 percent Hispanic in the 2010 Census. In 1980, it was only 25 percent Hispanic."</ref>

History

Joseph Latham was deeded the land that includes present-day Dover in 1713, from portions of land that had been purchased from Native Americans by the Proprietors of West Jersey. On May 31, 1722, Latham and his wife Jane deeded Template:Convert over to John Jackson of Flushing, New York. Jackson settled on the eastern portion of his land along Granny's Brook at the site of what would later become the Ross Ribbon Factory on Park Heights Avenue.<ref>Daigle, Michael. "Dover at the Millenium" Template:Webarchive, Daily Record, February 25, 1999. Accessed April 27, 2012.</ref>

Iron ore at the time was so plentiful that it could be collected off the ground at the nearby Dickerson Mine in Mine Hill. At Jackson's Forge, ore would be processed into bars that would then be transported to Paterson and other industrial areas towards the east. The passage of the Iron Act by the British Parliament led to financial difficulties, leading Jackson into bankruptcy in 1753, with all of his property and belongings sold off at a Sheriff's sale. Quaker Hartshorne Fitz Randolph purchased Jackson's property and annexed to his own existing property, which would later become part of Randolph Township.<ref>Kullen, Charlotte G. "Randolph — A Day in the Life" Template:Webarchive, Daily Record, October 21, 1999. Accessed April 27, 2012. "It is here that in 1722, Dover's first European settler, John Jackson, built an iron forge that gave birth to the industry that for the next 21 centuries would shape the growth of the town... The ban wiped out Jackson, who sold his farm to Hartshorne Fitz Randolph, for whom the modern township is named, and his forge to Josiah Beaman."</ref>

Dover was incorporated as a town on April 1, 1869, within Randolph Township and became fully independent as of March 5, 1896.<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. 210. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 22, 2015.</ref> The town charter was amended in 1875. On May 7, 1896, Dover was reincorporated as a city and regained its status as a town on March 21, 1899, after the referendum that approved the change was invalidated by a court ruling.<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. 192. Accessed July 9, 2013.</ref><ref>Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries Template:Webarchive, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1869, April 1. Dover Town is established from Rockaway and Randolph. It is called Dover City during 1896-1899."</ref>

In its past, Dover has had extensive iron and mill works, machine shops, stove, furnace, and range works, boiler and bridge works, rolling mills, drill works, knitting and silk mills, and a large hosiery factory (MacGregors). During this period, Dover was a port on the Morris Canal while it was operational; the boat basin was located at what is today the JFK Commons Park.<ref>Daigle, Michael. "Morris Canal's history gains more support: $440,000 in grants will help residents' preservation efforts" Template:Webarchive, Daily Record, July 4, 2004. Accessed April 27, 2012.</ref>

Sources attribute the town's name to Dover, England<ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 10. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref> or Dover, New Hampshire.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref><ref>Herman, Jennifer. New Jersey Encyclopedia, p. 267. State History Publications, 2008. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 29, 2015.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 2.73 square miles (7.06 km²), including 2.68 square miles (6.93 km²) of land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) of water (1.90%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders the Morris County municipalities of Mine Hill Township, Randolph, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens and Wharton.<ref>Areas touching Dover, MapIt. Accessed March 27, 2020.</ref><ref>Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 27, 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 18,157 people, 5,562 households, and 3,877 families in the town. The population density was 6,765.5 per square mile (2,612.2/km²). There were 5,783 housing units at an average density of 2,154.8 per square mile (832.0/km²). The racial makeup was 66.55% (12,083) White, 6.10% (1,108) Black or African American, 0.63% (114) Native American, 2.54% (461) Asian, 0.05% (9) Pacific Islander, 19.88% (3,610) from other races, and 4.25% (772) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 69.38% (12,598) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 5,562 households, 33.0% had children under the age of 18; 43.6% were married couples living together; 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.3% were non-families. Of all households, 22.6% were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.54.<ref name=Census2010/>

21.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 110.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 111.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $59,454 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,227) and the median family income was $61,187 (+/− $2,750). Males had a median income of $34,722 (+/− $4,750) versus $28,098 (+/− $4,993) for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,581 (+/− $990). About 3.6% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Dover town, Morris County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 26, 2012.</ref>

The 2010 Census showed that Dover's Hispanic population accounted for 69.4% of all residents, ranked fifth in the state by percentage, while 13% of New Jersey's population was Hispanic; the city was one of 13 municipalities in the state with a Hispanic majority.<ref>Mascarenhas, Rohan. "Census data shows Hispanics as the largest minority in N.J.", The Star-Ledger, February 3, 2011. Accessed December 18, 2017.</ref> The town had notable percentages of residents who were Colombians (15.2% of all residents), Mexicans (14.9%), Puerto Ricans (11.1%), Ecuadorians (5.6%), Hondurans (4.7%) and Peruvians (2.8%), with smaller percentages (from 1-2%) of Costa Ricans, Uruguayans, Chileans and Salvadorans.<ref>QT-P10 - Hispanic or Latino by Type: 2010 from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Dover town, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 24, 2018.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 18,188 people, 5,436 households, and 3,919 families residing in Dover. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,568 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 69.45% White, 6.83% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 15.99% from other races, and 4.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.94% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Dover town, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 18, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Dover town, Morris County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 18, 2012.</ref>

11.27% of Dover residents identified themselves as being of Colombian American ancestry in the 2000 Census, the second-highest percentage of the population of any municipality in the United States (behind neighboring Victory Gardens, New Jersey, which had 15.27% of residents so identified) with 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.<ref>Colombian Communities Template:Webarchive, EPodunk. Accessed August 23, 2006.</ref>

There were 5,436 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.55.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

By age, the population of the town is distributed relatively evenly, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the town was $53,423, and the median income for a family was $57,141. Males had a median income of $31,320 versus $27,413 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,056. About 8.2% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Dover has a large Hispanic population with the largest concentrations being of Mexican, Colombian, Dominican and Puerto Rican ancestry. Hispanics have been a demographic majority since 1980, and have grown quickly. As of the 2000 Census, Dover's population was 57.9% Hispanic, making it the municipality with the fifth-highest Hispanic population percentage in New Jersey and one of eight New Jersey municipalities with a Hispanic majority. The surrounding Morris County area is predominantly non-Hispanic (7.8% Hispanic or Latino, of any race).<ref>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 18, 2017.</ref>

Points of interest

• The Baker's Opera House is a historic theatre located on Blackwell Street and listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Dover station is a historic train station listed on the NRHP.
• The Blackwell Street Historic District, listed on the NRHP, contains 52 contributing buildings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Baker's Opera House
  Baker's Opera House
• Dover station
  Dover station

Parks and recreation

• Hedden County Park, on Reservoir Avenue, is a Template:Convert Morris County park, is partly located in Dover, with park entrances in Randolph. An active park, mostly in Randolph Township, with a picnic pavilion and tables, stone cooking grills for picnics in the woods, paddle boats in season, playgrounds, ball fields and hiking trails.<ref>Hedden County Park, Morris County, New Jersey Park Commission. Accessed January 29, 2017.</ref>
• Hamilton Field is one of Dover's recreation centers, featuring a football field with bleachers, soccer fields, and a historic cinder track. This facility is restricted to school use and is not open to the public.
• JFK Memorial Commons Park consists of a children's play park and the town Gazebo. JFK Park hosts the town's annual Christmas tree lighting, Easter egg hunt, Halloween parade, summer concerts and on occasions ceremonies following town parades. The park was constructed by filling in the basin for the old Morris Canal. The name was given following the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.
• Crescent Field includes a new turf soccer field and is the hosting site for Dover's annual Colombian Festival.
• Water Works Park consists of a baseball field, picnic area, and accessible banks of the Rockaway River. The Water Commission purchased the lane in 1902 and developed wells for much needed water to a growing community. In 1933, the land became a playground for picnicking and swimming in the nearby Rockaway River.
• Hurd Park is a passive park with no playgrounds or ballfields. Ideal location for wedding and graduation photographs with its Greek style pavilion having fluted columns and a circular gazebo-like center with a red-tiled roof and a scenic background. Donated to the town in 1911 by John Hurd, the park is also host to a 1922 World War I Spirit of the American Doughboy statue, one of a few found around the country. The park also displays a Civil War Memorial, a Spanish American War Memorial and a brick-walk memorial naming those on stone bricks who served in the Armed Forces. The park is also adjacent to Indian Falls, a scenic walk along the Jackson Brook to Hedden Park.
• Triangle Park. In downtown Dover at the foot of Prospect Street, the small park is maintained by Dover's Renaissance Club and the home of Hudson Favell's "Story Poles."
• Hooey Park is a small neighborhood park with a climbing playground for kids located in the Salem Village section of town.
• Richards Avenue Park is a small park built on a vacant lot consisting of a small climbing playground for kids.
• Bowlby Park and King Field located in North Dover was developed for Little League Baseball, soccer and high school girls softball games.
• Mountain Park is located in South Dover on the old Munson Mine Tract and is being developed for hiking trails.

Government

Local government

Dover operates using the Town form of government, one of nine 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 Town Council who are chosen on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The Mayor is elected at-large to a four-year term of office. The Towns Council is comprised of eight members, with two council members elected to two-year terms from each of the four wards on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year in each ward.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 58.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 5. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body had been known as the Board of Aldermen until October 2023, when the name was changed to the Town Council, making it the last municipality in the state to have used the term Aldermen.<ref>Westhoven, William. "NJ's last aldermen are gone as Morris County town switches to gender-neutral 'council'", Daily Record, October 25, 2023. Accessed November 5, 2023. "Dover no longer has a board of aldermen running things. Neither does New Jersey. The governing body of the Morris County municipality voted by a 5-4 margin on Tuesday to declare itself a 'town council,' effectively relegating the alderman title to Garden State history. Dover was the last holdout in the state after another Morris town, Boonton, made the same change in 2021."</ref>

Template:As of, the Mayor of Dover is Democrat James P. Dodd, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2027.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor's Page, Town of Dover. Accessed May 5, 2024.</ref> Dodd had previously served as Mayor from 2006-2019 and defeated incumbent Mayor Carolyn Blackman in the 2023 Democratic primary en route to returning to office.<ref>Cahill, Frank. "Dodd Secures Decisive Victory in Dover Mayoral Race, Clinching 70% of Votes", Morris County Focus, November 9, 2023. Accessed February 4, 2024. "Ex-Mayor James Dodd achieved a resounding victory in Tuesday’s election, securing 70% of the vote in a bid to retake the position he previously occupied for four consecutive terms.... In the June Primary, Dodd competed against the incumbent Mayor Carolyn Blackman and Edward Correa. Dodd emerged with a majority of 50.6% of the votes, totaling 844. Blackman secured 24% of the votes, which amounted to 405, while Correa obtained 25%, equal to 418 votes."</ref> Members of the Town Council are Geovani Estacio-Carillo (Ward 2; D, 2026), Sergio Rodriguez (Ward 2; D, 2025), Arturo "A.B." Santana (Ward 4; D, 2025), Michael J. Scarneo (Ward 3; D, 2025), Marcos Tapia-Aguilar, Sr. (Ward 4; D, 2026), Claudia P. Toro (Ward 1; D, 2025), Veronica Velez (Ward 3; D, 2026) and Sandra Wittner (Ward 1; D, 2026).<ref>Town Council, Town of Dover. Accessed May 5, 2024.</ref>

Dover serves as the lead agency operating a joint municipal court that also serves the neighboring municipalities of Mine Hill Township, Mount Arlington, Victory Gardens and Wharton.<ref>Mayor and Board of Aldermen, Town of Dover Minutes of the Reorganization Meeting for January 1, 2015, Town of Dover. Accessed July 29, 2015.</ref> Established in 2009, the joint municipal court was projected to offer annual savings in excess of $250,000 over the 10-year life of the agreement.<ref>Forrest, Cindy. "Victory Gardens Council judges proposal for joint municipal court", The Record, May 18, 2012. Accessed July 29, 2015. "With Dover as the lead agency, four other area towns - Rockaway Borough, Wharton, Mine Hill, and Mt. Arlington - entered into a landmark municipal court shared-services agreement in 2009 anticipating an estimated $2.65 million savings over the 10-year life of the contract."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Dover is located in the 11th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Prior to the 2010 Census, Dover had been part of the Template:Ushr, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.<ref name=LWV2011>2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, p. 56, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,613 registered voters in Dover. Of those, 2,603 (39.4%) were registered as Democrats, 1,125 (17.0%) were registered as Republicans, 2,881 (43.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated, and 4 were registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 72.4% of the vote (3,223 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 26.8% (1,195 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (35 votes), among the 4,494 ballots cast by the town's 7,196 registered voters (41 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.5%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Citation</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 67.1% of the vote (3,172 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 31.7% (1,500 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (31 votes), among the 4,727 ballots cast by the town's 7,019 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.3%.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 57.2% of the vote (2,658 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 41.2% (1,914 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (34 votes), among the 4,643 ballots cast by the town's 7,356 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 63.1.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.0% of the vote (1,055 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 43.6% (853 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (47 votes), among the 1,994 ballots cast by the town's 7,078 registered voters (39 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 28.2%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Citation</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 55.6% of the vote (1,408 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 36.3% (919 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.6% (142 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (21 votes), among the 2,532 ballots cast by the town's 6,750 registered voters, yielding a 37.5% turnout.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Education

The Dover School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Dover Public Schools District Policy 0110 - Identification, Dover School District. Accessed February 26, 2023. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades PK through 12 in the Dover School District. Composition: The Dover School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Dover in County of Morris."</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 3,448 students and 244.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Dover Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Dover School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Academy Street Elementary School<ref>Academy Street Elementary School, Dover School District. Accessed February 26, 2023.</ref> with 470 students in grades K-6, East Dover Elementary School<ref>East Dover Elementary School, Dover School District. Accessed February 26, 2023.</ref> with 389 students in grades K-6, North Dover Elementary School<ref>North Dover Elementary School, Dover School District. Accessed February 26, 2023.</ref> with 658 students in grades PreK-6, Dover Middle School<ref>Dover Middle School, Dover School District. Accessed February 26, 2023.</ref> with 524 students in grades 7-8 and Dover High School<ref>Dover High School, Dover School District. Accessed February 26, 2023.</ref> with 1,094 students in grades 9-12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Dover Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Dover School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

The district serves students from Victory Gardens, which has been fully consolidated into the Dover School District since 2010.<ref>Martin, Liz. "Voters have their say on the budgets", Neighbor News, April 28, 2010. Accessed July 11, 2016. "The school board goes from 11 members to 10 after this election as the temporary Board seat assigned to the Victory Gardens representative Danielle Press expired permanently on April 20. Now that Victory Gardens has merged with the Dover school district, there will no longer be a dedicated Victory Gardens seat on the Board. Any resident from either Dover or Victory Gardens will be eligible to run for any available Board seat."</ref><ref>13 Non-Operating School Districts Eliminated, New Jersey Department of Education press release dated July 1, 2009. Accessed July 11, 2016.</ref> Students in grades 7–12 from Mine Hill Township attend the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship.<ref>Dover High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 11, 2016. "Dover High School, located 40 miles from New York City, services approximately 900 high school students from the Town of Dover, the Borough of Victory Gardens, and the Township of Mine Hill."</ref>

Sacred Heart School was a Catholic school serving students in pre-school through eighth grade that operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. A successful fundraising effort in 2006 had kept the school open despite plans to close the school, but in 2009 the Paterson Diocese announced that declining enrollment and financial difficulties would lead to the school's closure at the conclusion of the 2008–2009 school year.<ref>Diamant, Jeff; and Adarlo, Sharon. "Dover's Sacred Heart School, saved in 2006, to close in June", The Star-Ledger, January 9, 2009. Accessed September 3, 2003. "An 85-year-old Catholic school in Dover will close in June, two years after parents and alumni worked to stave off that fate by raising money and working to increase enrollment. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson said the student body at Sacred Heart School has since dropped back to unsustainable levels -- 121 from preschool through eighth grade -- and the current term will be the school's last."</ref>

The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, a technical school founded in 1976 by cartoonist Joe Kubert and his wife Muriel and the only accredited school devoted to cartooning and graphic art, is located in Dover.<ref name=Kubert>Jennings, Dana. "Paper, Pencil And a Dream", The New York Times, December 14, 2003. Accessed March 29, 2012. "Mr. Kubert said that Dover, which has 18,000 people and is bisected by the Rockaway River, suits him. He and his wife, Muriel, raised their five children here, and it was here that they opened their school."</ref>

Infrastructure

Transportation

File:2018-07-30 09 51 51 View west along U.S. Route 46 (McFarlan Street) just west of New Jersey State Route 15 (Clinton Street) in Dover, Morris County, New Jersey.jpg

U.S. Route 46 westbound in Dover

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the town 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>

Highways directly serving Dover include U.S. Route 46, New Jersey Route 15 and County Route 513. Interstate 80 is accessible from several neighboring towns.

Public transportation

Dover is served by NJ Transit bus routes 875 and 880,<ref>Riding the Bus, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref><ref>Morris County System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed July 29, 2015.</ref> replacing service on the MCM2, MCM5, MCM7 and MCM10 routes until June 2010, when NJ Transit eliminated the subsidy as part of budget cuts.<ref>Morris County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed August 6, 2015.</ref><ref>Private Carrier Bus Service reductions Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed August 6, 2015.</ref>

NJ Transit Morristown Line and Montclair-Boonton Line trains stop at the Dover station.<ref>Dover Station, NJ Transit. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref> Trains operate to Hackettstown, Netcong, Boonton, Morristown, Montclair State University, Summit, the Oranges, Newark, Hoboken, New York City, and intermediate points.<ref>Montclair-Boonton Line, NJ Transit, updated April 23, 2023. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref><ref>Morris and Essex Line, NJ Transit, updated April 23, 2023. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref>

Lakeland Bus Lines provides regular service to Sparta, Newton, Mount Olive, Rockaway, Boonton, Parsippany, Wayne, New York City, and intermediate points from their terminal on the Rockaway Township border.<ref>Bus Schedule, Lakeland Bus Lines. Accessed October 12, 2014.</ref> Service is also provided from Wednesday to Sunday between Dover and Atlantic City <ref>Lakeland Bus Lines Atlantic City Schedule Template:Webarchive, Lakeland Bus Lines. Accessed August 6, 2015.</ref>

The Morris County Department of Transportation also operates bus service along Route 46 to Netcong and Mount Olive Township.<ref>Morris On the Move (M.O.M.) Timetable Template:Webarchive, Morris County Department of Transportation, as of October 12, 2011. Accessed October 12, 2014.</ref>

Air

File:Newark airport (2170792712).jpg

Newark Airport Control Tower

Dover is located approximately 15 minutes west of Morristown Municipal Airport, and approximately 40 minutes west of Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth.

Health care

Dover is served by St. Clare's Dover General Hospital, located on Route 46, which is the local medical facility for Dover and other communities in western Morris County.<ref>Saint Clare's Dover Hospital, Saint Clare's Health System. Accessed June 3, 2020.</ref> Saint Clare's Denville Hospital is located Template:Convert east of Dover in Denville, and Morristown Medical Center is located Template:Convert east of Dover in Morristown. The Zufall Health Center, founded in 1990, is located on Warren Street and provides basic medical and dental services to low-income residents of Dover and neighboring communities.<ref>Mission and History, Zufall Health Center. Accessed June 3, 2020.</ref>

Community

The community of Dover is centered around a developed downtown area around Blackwell Street, featuring many eateries primarily owned and run by Hispanics of various countries, offering their ethnic food.<ref>Dover New Jersey Restaurants and Food Resources, accessed July 11, 2006.</ref> Other culinary establishments include sushi, pizza, coffee shops, and popular Irish and Italian food.

Dover has been described as a walking town, as most parts of town are within about a 1/2 mile of the downtown area and most streets have sidewalks.<ref>Izzo, Michael. "'Street Smart' campaign launches in Dover", Daily Record, March 30, 2017. Accessed September 17, 2019.</ref>

Popular culture

• The climactic scene of the 2008 movie, The Wrestler, was filmed at the Baker Theater.<ref>Hyman, Vicki. "Baker Theatre", The Star-Ledger, March 18, 2008. Accessed September 3, 2013. "It'll take 9 1/2 weeks to scrub these images out of our brains. Mickey Rourke, in flowing blond locks and lime green spandex, thrilled wrestling fans over the weekend in Dover, where he was filming scenes for his upcoming movie The Wrestler in between real wrestling matches at the historic Baker Theater."</ref>
• Metallica played their first ever New Jersey show at Showplace in Dover on April 16, 1983. It was also the first time the band performed live with lead guitarist Kirk Hammett.<ref>January 31, 2009 Prudential Center, Newark, NJ , Metallica Live Downloads. "The first time they played the state was on April 16, 1983 in Dover, NJ. It was Kirk Hammett's first show as a member of the band."</ref>
• The music video for Eddie Money's "I Wanna Go Back" was filmed on Blackwell Street and at the old Dover High School, Dover Middle School, and now Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art.Template:Citation needed
• Dover is referenced multiple times in The Sopranos. In season 2, episode 4 ("Commendatori"), Elvis impersonator/DiMeo crime family associate, Jimmy Bones, tells Big Pussy Bonpensiero and Agent Skip Lipari that he was born and raised in Dover, New Jersey and emphasizes that the town was named after the Cliffs of Dover.<ref>The Sopranos Season 2 Episode 4 - Commendatori Template:Webarchive, TV.com. Accessed September 3, 2013.</ref> In episode 5 of season 5 ("Irregular Around the Margins"), Tony Soprano and Adriana La Cerva get into a car accident in Dover, where they were going to buy cocaine.<ref>The Sopranos Season 5 Episode 5 - Irregular Around the Margins Template:Webarchive, TV.com. Accessed September 3, 2013.</ref>
• Dover was featured on episode 25 of season 6 of Impractical Jokers titled "Dover and Out" in which Brian "Q" Quinn, a member of the comedy troupe The Tenderloins, pretends to be an artist and reveals a mural stating "Dover sucks" to the town's government and residents.

Notable people

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

• Lois Barker (1923–2018), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player<ref>Heaphy, Leslie A.; and May, Mel Anthony. Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball, p. 28. McFarland & Company, 2006. Template:ISBN. "Barker, Lois Anna Tommie (b. 7 April 1923, Dover, New Jersey)"</ref><ref>Madden, W. C. The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: A Biographical Dictionary, McFarland & Company, 2005. Format: Paperback, 295 pp. Language: English. Template:ISBN</ref>
• William F. Birch (1870–1946), represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district<ref>William Fred Birch, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed July 25, 2007.</ref>
• Harry "A" Chesler (1897/98–1981), comic book entrepreneur<ref>Ewing, Emma Mai. "The 'Funnnies' Can Be Serious", The New York Times, September 12, 1976. Accessed May 20, 2020. "'I moved into the comics business in New York in 1935, first at Fifth Avenue and 32d Street and then at Seventh Avenue and 23d Street. I commuted from Dover for $6.45 a week.'"</ref>
• Shane Davis, comic book artist<ref>Seman, Rob. "Dover artist flexes muscle with Spider-Man: 24-year-old illustrates Marvel's superhero comic aimed at readers ages 6-12" Template:Webarchive, Daily Record, June 30, 2004. Accessed March 29, 2012. "Shane Davis could be thought of as a strand in Spider-Man's web. The 24-year-old Dover artist and alumnus of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art is the penciller of "Marvel Age Spider-Man," a new line of comic books being marketed for readers ages 6-12."</ref>
• Jim Duffy (born 1974), baseball coach who was head coach of the Manhattan Jaspers baseball team from 2012 through 2017<ref>Jim Duffy, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Born: July 18, 1974 (Age: 45-307d) in Dover, NJ"</ref>
• George Peter Foster (1858–1928), U.S. Representative from Illinois who served from 1899 to 1905<ref>Foster, George Peter (1858-1928), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Foster, George Peter, a Representative from Illinois; born in Dover, Morris County, N.J., April 3, 1858"</ref>
• Thomas Jefferson Halsey (1863–1951), Congressman who represented Missouri's 6th congressional district from 1929 to 1931<ref>Halsey, Thomas Jefferson (1863-1951), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Halsey, Thomas Jefferson, a Representative from Missouri; born in Dover, Morris County, N.J., May 4, 1863"</ref>
• Ken Jones (1903–1991), MLB pitcher<ref>Ken Jones, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Born: April 13, 1903 in Dover, NJ"</ref>
• Paula Kassell (1917–2012), founder of New Directions for Women who successfully pushed The New York Times to use the term "Ms." in reference to women<ref>Townsend, Cara. "Paula Kassell, feminist pioneer and Dover resident, dies at 94" Template:Webarchive, Daily Record, September 1, 2012. Accessed September 5, 2012. "Kassell was a long-time women's rights activist who in 1972 founded the news tabloid, New Directions for Women, and later convinced the New York Times to use Ms. in addition to Miss and Mrs. on the paper's pages."</ref>
• Joseph Kekuku (1874–1932), inventor of the steel guitar<ref>Ruymar, Lorene. "The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Its Great Hawaiian Musicians", via Google Books, p. 26. Centerstream Publications, 1996. Template:ISBN. Accessed November 23, 2008.</ref>
• X. J. Kennedy (born 1929), writer and poet<ref>Vital Statistics, X. J. Kennedy. Accessed March 1, 2008.</ref>
• Adam Kubert (born 1959), cartoonist and instructor at The Kubert School<ref name=Kubert/>
• Andy Kubert (born 1962), cartoonist and instructor at The Kubert School<ref name=Kubert/>
• Joe Kubert (1926–2012), cartoonist and founder of The Kubert School<ref name=Kubert/>
• Mike Leach (born 1976), former NFL long snapper<ref>Mike Leach, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Born: October 18, 1976 (Age: 43-215d) in Dover, NJ"</ref>
• Ben Loory (born 1971), author<ref>Smith, Bud. "Ben Loory Interview", Hobart Pulp, May 28, 2018. Accessed March 6, 2021. "I grew up in a small town called Dover, which is about a half hour west of New York, off Route 46."</ref>
• Stuart Loory (1932–2015), journalist and educator<ref>"Stuart Loory, globe-trotting journalist and CNN executive, dies at 82", The Washington Post, January 16, 2015. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Stuart Hugh Loory was born in Easton, Pa., on May 22, 1932, and grew up in Dover, N.J., where his father owned a furniture store."</ref>
• Jacque MacKinnon (1938–1975), tight end who played for the San Diego Chargers<ref>Jacque MacKinnon, National Football League. Accessed November 22, 2008.</ref>
• Drew Miller (born 1984), left wing who has played for the Detroit Red Wings<ref>Drew Miller, Detroit Red Wings. Accessed April 26, 2012.</ref><ref>via Associated Press. "Red Wings claim F Drew Miller off waivers", Sporting News, November 11, 2009. Accessed April 26, 2012. "The Detroit Red Wings have claimed forward Drew Miller off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old native of Dover, N.J., had no points and two penalty minutes with the Lightning in 14 games this season."</ref>
• Sidney Mintz (1922–2015), anthropologist best known for his studies of the Caribbean, creolization and the anthropology of food<ref>Staff. A Community of Scholars: The Institute for Advanced Study Faculty and Members 1930-1980 Template:Webarchive, p. 293. Institute for Advanced Study, 1980. Accessed November 22, 2015. "Mintz, Sidney Wilfred 74-75 Soc, Anthropology, History Born 1922 Dover, NJ."</ref>
• Harry J. Palmer (1872–1948), politician who served in the New York State Senate<ref>"Harry J. Palmer", The New York Times, February 13, 1948. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Born and educated in Dover, N. J., Mr. Palmer had made his home on Staten Island for thirty-two years and had been a Democratic district leader in the Third Ward for many years."</ref>
• PES (born 1973 as Adam Pesapane), Oscar and Emmy-nominated director and stop-motion animator, whose short film Fresh Guacamole was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2013<ref>Robinson, Chris. Animators Unearthed: A Guide to the Best of Contemporary Animation, p. 57. A & C Black, 2010. Template:ISBN. Accessed December 1, 2017. "Born in Dover, New Jersey, PES says that he says that he was always interested in art."</ref>
• Reince Priebus (born 1972), former chairman of the Republican National Committee<ref>Schoonejongen, John. "RNC Chairman Priebus touts his Jersey cred", Asbury Park Press Capitol Quickies, August 30, 2012. Accessed November 8, 2012. "'I have something in common I think a little bit with you all, I was born in New Jersey,' Reince Priebus told New Jersey Republicans at their delegation breakfast. "I was born in Dover, and some of my favorite childhood memories … we moved when I was seven to Wisconsin, but I still remember very fondly, and I think about it, was growing up in Netcong. That's where I grew up.'"</ref>
• Sherry Ross (born Template:Circa), sports broadcaster and journalist who is a color commentator for the New Jersey Devils radio broadcasts<ref>"N.J. Statehouse to honor Sherry Ross", New Jersey Devils, March 22, 2010. Accessed September 21, 2015. "In May 2007, the native of Dover, NJ was among those inducted into the inaugural class of Randolph (NJ) High School's Hall of Fame."</ref>
• Brandon Sklenar (born 1990), actor best known for his roles in the films Mapplethorpe, Vice, Midway and It Ends with Us<ref>Kuperinsky, Amy. "Meet N.J. actor Brandon Sklenar, starring in ‘'It Ends With Us’' with Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 8, 2024. Accessed February 23, 2025. "Sklenar was born in Dover to a hairdresser mother and carpenter father."</ref>
• Gail Sontgerath (born 1944), gymnast who competed in six events at the 1960 Summer Olympics<ref>Robb, Sharon. "Then and Now", Sun-Sentinel, June 2, 1996. Accessed August 3, 2019. "Hometown: Dover, N.J."</ref>
• Edgar Tillyer (1881–1970), astronomer, computer and lens designer who was the director of research at the American Optical Company<ref>"Edgar D. Tillyer", p. 3. Scientific American, Volumes 162-163. Munn & Company, 1940. Accessed August 16, 2019. "Dr. Tillyer was born at Dover, New Jersey, December 7, 1881."</ref>
• Jyles Tucker (born 1983), linebacker for the San Diego Chargers<ref>Jyles Tucker Template:Webarchive, San Diego Chargers. Accessed November 21, 2007.</ref>
• Shirley Turner (born 1941), politician who represents the 15th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate<ref>Shirley Turner, Vote Smart. Accessed May 20, 2020. "Birth Place: Dover, NJ"</ref>
• Bruce Waibel (1958–2003), bass guitarist who toured with FireHouse<ref>Tavelski, Nick. Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door, p. 683. Omnibus Press, 2010. Template:ISBN Accessed May 20, 2020. "Hailing from Dover, New Jersey, Waibel began playing guitar aged nine."</ref>
• Ava Ziegler (born 2006), figure skater who won the 2022 CS Budapest Trophy<ref>"Ava Ziegler of Dover wins skating sectional", Daily Record, January 12, 2019. Accessed October 20, 2022. "Ava Ziegler, a 12-year-old from Dover, won U.S. Figure Skating's Eastern Sectional"</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Dover Area Historical Society
• Template:Cite Collier's