Chatham, New Jersey
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"The Chathams" (, ) is a term used in reference to shared services for two neighboring municipalities in
Morris County, New Jersey Morris County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the county was the state's List of counties in New Jersey, tenth- ...
, United States – Chatham and Chatham Township. The two are separate municipalities, although when sharing some services act much like one cohesive community (hence "The Chathams"). The first municipality, a town that was settled in 1710 as a colonial English village in the
Province of New Jersey The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial history of the United States, Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherla ...
, that in 1773 adopted a name change to "Chatham". There are numerous references to this village as "Chatham, New Jersey" dating from that time. The second municipality, more southern, without a town center, and less densely populated until very recently, is the vestige of a regional government that was formed in 1806 as a
township A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...
, a form of municipal government peculiar to the
state of New Jersey New Jersey is a state located in both the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the heavily urbanized Northeast megalopolis, it is bordered to the northwest, north, and northeast ...
. It had
jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' and 'speech' or 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, the concept of jurisdiction applies at multiple level ...
over a region including a large area of open space and several villages. One of those, the village of Chatham, dating from 1710, was the source for its name, "Chatham Township". It was mostly rural with expansive farmlands and open land until very late in the twentieth century and until the township school district was formed, its children were bussed to public and private schools in the closest municipality, Madison or Chatham. Chatham and Chatham Township now share various joint public services: the school district, the library, the municipal court, the medical emergency squad, and recreation program. In 2012,
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listed Chatham as 375th in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $776,703. In March 2018,
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ranked Chatham as the 64th wealthiest place in the United States, and the 8th wealthiest in
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
.


History

The newly established, post- Revolutionary War state of New Jersey went through several stages setting out how its local governments would be structured. Townships were drawn that included villages and open land. Once
borough A borough is an administrative division in various English language, English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History ...
s became available in New Jersey as a form of local government after 1878, between 1889 and 1899 Chatham Township lost all but one of the villages drawn into it, including Chatham (settled in 1710), which had been drawn into the new township in 1806. They
seceded Secession is the formal withdrawal of a group from a political entity. The process begins once a group proclaims an act of secession (such as a declaration of independence). A secession attempt might be violent or peaceful, but the goal is the c ...
as soon as the bourough form of government became available.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. pp. 191-2. Accessed April 25, 2012.
Only Green Village, another early town that, like Chatham, dates to colonial times, was left under jurisdiction of "Chatham Township". On August 19, 1892, the citizens of Chatham reincorporated with another new type of
village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
government offered as an alternative within townships by New Jersey as it developed. The village of Chatham then reincorporated for governance as a
borough A borough is an administrative division in various English language, English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History ...
by an Act of the
New Jersey Legislature The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and ...
on March 1, 1897 regaininng independence from Chatham Township. The Continental Army’s First Winter Encampment January – May 1777 in the Lowantica Valley (modern spellin
Loantaka
) Morris County, Chatham Township, New Jersey. After successfully crossing the Delaware Ricer, with subsequent battles in Trenton and Princeton, General Washington marched to Morristown, NJ and made his headquarters in Arnold’s Tavern on the Morristown Green. Most of the army was sent a few miles southeast to the Lowantica Valley (modern spelling Loantaka) in present day Chatham Township. Site is North of Loantaka Brook, East of Tredwell Avenue West of Giralda Farms. In 2016, the Morris County Park Commission and the Chatham Township Historical Society began working together to reclaim the area and create trails and apply for grants for informational signage.


Shared services

The municipalities of Chatham and Chatham Township now share various joint public services: the school district ( School District of the Chathams, created in 1986), the library (since 1974), the municipal court (created 2010), the medical emergency squad (since 1936), and the decades long, recreation program.


Public schools

The municipalities of Chatham and Chatham Township held elections in November 1986 to consider joining their separate school districts. This proposal was supported by the voters of both and they now share a regionalized school district, the School District of the Chathams.


Elementary schools


Milton Avenue School
Grades Pre-K - 3. Principal - Kristen Crawford. For the 2014-15 school year, the Milton Avenue School was recognized with a Blue Ribbon School Award by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.
Southern Boulevard School
Grades K - 3. Principal - Marco Freyre.
Washington Avenue School
Grades K - 3. Principal - Kristine Dudlo.
Lafayette School
Grades 4 & 5. Principal - Cheryl Russo.


Middle school


Chatham Middle School
Grades 6 - 8. Principal - Anthony "Tony" Orsini. Vice Principals - Peter "Pete" Trebour and Sean Devine.


High school

* Chatham High School. Grades 9 - 12. Principal - Douglas "Doug" Walker. Vice Principals - Lori Gironda and Connor Henderson. For the 2004-05 school year, the high school was recognized with a
Blue Ribbon School The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States Department of Education award program that recognizes exemplary public and non-public schools on a yearly basis. Using standards of excellence evidenced by student achievement measures, ...
Award by the
United States Department of Education The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, originating in 1980. The department began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and ...
, the highest award an American school can receive.Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 Through 2005
accessed May 15, 2006
The school was the 20th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 328 schools statewide in ''
New Jersey Monthly ''New Jersey Monthly'' is an American monthly magazine featuring issues of possible interest to residents of New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United St ...
'' magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 8th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. It was the 12th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in ''
New Jersey Monthly ''New Jersey Monthly'' is an American monthly magazine featuring issues of possible interest to residents of New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United St ...
'' magazine's September 2006 cover story on the state's ''Top Public High Schools''.


Library

A library was founded in Chatham Borough in 1907. Located in a number of different shared buildings, a site for a separate building for the library was chosen after the Fairview Hotel on Main Street burned down. The hotel land was bought after a borough-wide solicitations of funds that was proposed by Charles M. Lum, after whose family Lum Avenue is named, and a brick building was constructed to house the library. John H. Eastwood of
Belleville, New Jersey Belleville (French: "Belle ville" meaning "beautiful town") is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 38,222. an increase of 2,296 (+6.4%) from the 2010 ...
, a client of R. E. Lum, bequeathed $30,000 upon his death in 1924 for the construction of the library as a memorial to his own father, John H. Eastwood Sr., and Ralph E. Lum’s father, Frederick H. Lum, who were close friends. The building was dedicated as the Chatham Public Library, and it opened to the public in 1924. Residents of Chatham Borough were able to join. This location continues to house the library. As the population of Chatham Township began to grow in the 1960s, services were extended to students in the township elementary school. In 1974, a referendum was placed on the November ballot for Jointure, which was to form a library for both towns. The measure passed and the library began to serve all township residents as well. The library, renamed the Library of The Chathams, now serves both municipalities. The library is administered by six trustees, who are appointed jointly by the councils of both municipalities and their mayors (or their representatives), as well as a representative from the joint school district.Library of the Chathams – History
In 1985 the library joined the Morris Automated Information Network (MAIN), an electronic database linking together all the public libraries in Morris County. An expansion costing nearly $4,000,000 (with the governments of both Chatham Borough and Chatham Township contributing a combined $2,000,000) was completed and dedicated on January 11, 2004. The library also has a 9/11 memorial with 7 doves to represent the 13 citizens who lost their lives in the
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.


Municipal court

Chatham Township and Chatham Borough are members of the Borough of
Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States * Madison (footballer), Brazilian footballer Places in the United States Populated places * Madi ...
Joint Municipal Court, which also has jurisdiction over Harding Township. The joint court was created in 2010 and is located in Madison.


Emergency services

The Chatham Emergency Squad, which operates from two buildings, one in the Borough and one in the Township, provides emergency and non-emergency response for medical services, assistance for seniors and the disabled, and ambulance transportation to area
hospital A hospital is a healthcare institution providing patient treatment with specialized Medical Science, health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically ...
s and local
nursing home A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of older people, senior citizens, or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as care homes, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms ...
s. All volunteer, squad members are certified by the state of New Jersey as
Emergency Medical Technician An emergency medical technician (often, more simply, EMT) is a medical professional that provides emergency medical services. EMTs are most commonly found serving on ambulances and in fire departments in the US and Canada, as full-time and som ...
s (EMTs). When first established in 1936, it drew its members from the Chatham Fire Department. Its limited membership made it unable to meet the increasing demand for its services to the growing Chatham Township that was being developed with many new residences.Chatham Emergency Squad - History
, Chatham Emergency Squad. Accessed June 12, 2013.
In early 1951, the borough council was petitioned to authorize reorganization of the Squad as a unit independent of the Fire Department. The Chatham Emergency Squad, Inc. was then established as an independent
corporation A corporation or body corporate is an individual or a group of people, such as an association or company, that has been authorized by the State (polity), state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law as ...
. It could then draw on regular citizens from the borough and the township for membership. Chatham has one municipal building for its medical squad members (North Passaic Avenue) and another for its firefighting personnel (Fire House Plaza) — both centered in what was the pre-colonial village. Chatham Township has a municipal building for its medical squad members in Rolling Hill. Due to its sweeping landscape and the Great Swamp, Chatham Township is served by three departments: one on River Road (below The Highlands, on the edge of town bordering with New Providence), one on Southern Boulevard (near Wickham Woods), and the last in Green Village (on Green Village Road).


Recreation

The Chatham Recreation is a joint venture of Chatham Borough Recreation and Chatham Township Recreation. It coordinates its activities with the Chatham Borough Council, the Chatham Township Committee, and the School District of the Chathams. It offers a variety of indoor and outdoor recreational and sports activities at various municipal buildings, parks, fields,
gym A gym, short for gymnasium (: gymnasiums or gymnasia), is an indoor venue for exercise and sports. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasion". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learn ...
s, and school locations. It employs volunteers for supervision and
referee A referee is an official, in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection. The official tasked with this job may be known by a variety of other title ...
ing of these activities.


Residency

The two municipalities contain a number of distinguished neighborhoods — each with unique characteristics. Highly common throughout, however, are tree-lined streets, belgian block curbs, and manicured lawns. The 07928 zip code is highly sought after, with some Chatham residents being amongst some of the wealthiest in New Jersey. Across "The Chathams", the median home value lies at $976,200 (as of 2022) — up from $876,400 the year prior. The municipality of Chatham is home to Chatham Village, Haaside, the Manor Section, Manor Woods, Mansion Row, Mount Stanley, Upper Washington, and Washington. The median home value lies at $944,600 (as of 2022) for the borough. Conversely, Chatham Township is home to Chatham Heights, Floral Hill, High Gate, Rolling Hill, The Highlands, and Wickham Woods. Within Chatham Township, the median home value lies at $1,025,300 (as of 2022).Census Reporter: Chatham township, New Jersey. https://censusreporter.org/profiles/06000US3402712130-chatham-township-morris-county-nj.


Notable people

*
Dan McHale Dan McHale (born 1979) is a former American college basketball coach who most recently served as the special assistant to the head coach at New Mexico. He served as the head men's basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 2015 to 2018. ...
, basketball coach * Calvin B. T. Lee, chancellor of University of Maryland *
Alex Laferriere Alex Laferriere (born October 28, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey right winger for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Laferriere was often passed over for spots on top youth ice hockey teams ...
, NHL player * Marianne Espinosa, New Jersey Superior Court Judge


See also

For other groups of similarly named municipalities in New Jersey, see: *
The Amboys The Amboys are a pair of municipalities in Middlesex County, New Jersey, both of which have the word ''Amboy'' in their name. The two municipalities are the City of Perth Amboy and the City of South Amboy, located opposite each other on the Ra ...
*
The Brunswicks The Brunswicks are a group of four municipalities in Middlesex County, New Jersey, all of which have the word ''Brunswick'' in their name. New Brunswick, New Jersey, the first formed of the four, was named in 1730 after the British royal House of ...
*
The Caldwells The Caldwells are a group of three municipalities in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, New Jersey, all of which have the word ''Caldwell'' in their name. All of these communities are named after the Reverend James Caldwell (clergyman), James ...
*
The Oranges The Oranges () are a group of four municipality, municipalities in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, New Jersey, all of which have the word ''Orange'' in their name. The four municipalities are Orange, New Jersey, Orange, East Orange, New ...
*
The Plainfields The Plainfields are a group of three municipalities spanning the convergence of Somerset, Union, and Middlesex Counties in New Jersey, all of which have the word ''Plainfield'' in their name. They are the Borough of North Plainfield (Somerset Co ...
*
The Ridgefields The Ridgefields are a pair of municipalities in Bergen County, New Jersey, both of which have the word ''Ridgefield'' in their name. The two municipalities are the Borough of Ridgefield and the Village of Ridgefield Park. Both municipalities ha ...
*
The Wildwoods The Wildwoods are a group of five communities (four distinct municipalities and one census-designated place) in Cape May County, New Jersey. These are situated on the Island of Five Mile Beach, a barrier island facing the Atlantic Ocean. These Jer ...


Notes


Sources

* ''The New Jersey municipal data book'' ed. by Ruth R. Hornor. Palo Alto, CA: Information Publications, 2005. Entries on Chatham Borough and Chatham Township.


External links


School District of the Chathams website
*
School District of the Chathams
National Center for Education Statistics The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on education in the United States. Established under , it operates within the Institute of Education S ...
{{Passaic River Chatham Borough, New Jersey Chatham Township, New Jersey