Weichert Real Estate Building |
Halloween in Long Valley |
LOCATION
THE BOROUGH OF CHESTER AND CHESTER TOWNSHIP:
Chester is located between Interstate 80 (approximately 10 miles to the north) and Interstates 287 and 78 (approximately 10 miles to the south). There is daily bus service from Chester to New York City, and there is rail service to New York from the Gladstone station, about 5 miles to the south. Chester is located just to the east of Mendham, and to the southeast of Morristown. Newark International Airport is only about 40 miles away (an approximate 50-minute drive).
THE BOROUGH OF MENDHAM AND MENDHAM TOWNSHIP:
Mendham is located just southwest of Morristown, approximately 35 miles west of New York City and 28 miles northwest of Newark. Major highways in the area include Route 24, I-287, I-78, I-280, I-80 & I-24, which connect to Newark and New York. Train and bus service to Manhattan is available in Morristown, the county seat, or in neighboring Bernardsville. Newark International Airport is only about thirty minutes away by car.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (INCLUDING LONG VALLEY)
The Washington Township, where Long Valley is located, is approximately 45 square miles in area, and is about 50 miles west of New York City. The township is located in the Highlands Section of New Jersey and includes two mountain ranges?Schooley's and the Fox Hill Range, with elevations up to 1,134 feet above sea level in the Schooley's Mountain range and 1,034 on the Fox Hill Range. Route 24 winds its way through Washington Township and provides access to Route 206. Commuters can travel north on Route 206 to Interstate-80 or south to Interstate-78. NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line provides service from nearby Hackettstown and Mount Olive to Dover, where connections can be made to New York City. A trip by car to Manhattan takes about one hour and 15 minutes. From Long Valley, it is about 45 miles (or a one-hour drive time) to the Newark International Airport.
BRIEF HISTORY /POPULATION
Downtown Chester |
MORRIS COUNTY:
Morris County is home to the Chesters, the Mendhams, and Long Valley. It is New Jersey's seventh largest county, and is known as the "Military Capital of the American Revolution." Located in the center of Northern New Jersey, the hills, valleys, lakes, mountains, and towns of the area are rich in history and tradition. This is where General George Washington's Army camped during two winters of the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold was tried for treason, and Alexander Hamilton courted Betsy Schuyler. Morris County is also the birthplace of the telegraph?which was invented by Alfred Vail and Samuel Morse. The Morris Canal also made history here?as it was considered to be one of the most accomplished engineering feats of the time. From 1990 to 2000, Morris County's population grew by 11.6% to 470,212 residents.
THE BOROUGH OF CHESTER AND CHESTER TOWNSHIP:
The Borough of Chester and Chester Township was originally settled as a farming and mining community. The area is set amidst a beautiful landscape of farms, estates, woods, hills, and streams. Chester Borough has developed into a popular antique and craft shopping area. There is old-town charm and history still present here?the original stagecoach stop is currently a restaurant and inn, and the old gristmill is open to the public. Chester Township has a current population of approximately 10,000 people within 9.3 square miles, and Chester Borough has a population of 1,635 people within 1.5 square miles.
THE BOROUGH OF MENDHAM AND MENDHAM TOWNSHIP:
In March 1749, the entire area comprising both Mendhams was incorporated by the Morris County Court as Mendham Township. The first settlers came for its forests and iron ore, although their main objective was to practice their religion. In 1906 the six square miles now known as Mendham Borough separated, and incorporated. The center of the Borough still retains its history?with the same intersection of two main streets and the same four buildings including The Phoenix House, which was built in the early 1800's and now houses the Municipal offices, and the Black Horse Tavern which is one of only a few pre-Revolutionary inns still operating in New Jersey. The current population of Mendham Township is approximately 5,400 people on 18 square miles, and Mendham Borough has approximate 5,000 people on six square miles.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (INCLUDING LONG VALLEY):
Washington Township was the home of the Lenni Lenape Indians who called the area "Long Valley." In the 1730s German immigrants came to the area and called it "German Valley." In 1789 the Township was officially established and was the first area to be named after George Washington. The Township includes Long Valley, Schooley's Mountain, Stephensburg, Drakestown, Middle Valley, Naughright, Fairmount, and Pleasant Grove. It is the most westerly township of Morris County and is a scenic location?with rolling valleys, woods, rural farmland, and beautiful mountain ranges. The current population is approximately 17,600 people on 45 square miles.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Town Craft Fair in Chester |
THE BOROUGH OF CHESTER AND CHESTER TOWNSHIP:
The Borough of Chester and Chester Township offer many activities for all ages. For those into outdoor recreation, there is an abundance of park areas including Grove Street Park, with tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, picnic areas and a sandy playground. Chester Park has a Little League playfield. Chubb Park is an 85-acre park with numerous athletic fields for adults as well as youth, an ice skating area, hiking and cross-county ski areas, and a Veteran's Monument. Chester puts on an annual antique show and an arts and crafts festival at Memorial Field. The Chester Theatre Group performs at the Black River Playhouse, where they offer everything from musicals to short plays throughout the year.
THE BOROUGH OF MENDHAM AND MENDHAM TOWNSHIP:
Both the Mendham Township and Mendham Borough join together to provide an abundance of recreational activities and attractions in the area. They have clubs such as the Junior Women, Rotary, and Pastime as well as specialized clubs for those into activities such as gardening, and for senior citizens and women. The Mendhams have an annual Fourth of July parade, fishing derbies, and Brookside Beach where you can swim in the pond. Parks in the area include Buttermilk Farms, which has great hiking trails and skiing in the winter, as well as Borough Park, which has ball fields and playgrounds. The Ralston General Store, an "antique" in its own right, houses 18th century artifacts and offers tours in the summer months.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (INCLUDING LONG VALLEY):
Washington Township is full of recreational activities?the most notable being Schooley's Mountain. At the Morris County Park on the old Camp Washington site, you can hike, ski, ice skate, boat, play ball, picnic, and more. Other parks include Cataract Park, Rock Spring Park, Scott Park, Califon Fields, Palmer Park, Cobblestone Field, and Hacklebarney State Park. The library at Rock Spring Park has a variety of children's programs?crafts, holiday programs, and a summer reading club. The Myhelan Cultural Arts Alliance brings art and culture to the community of Washington Township. They put on exhibitions, offer educational programs, and host an annual independent film festival.
ABOUT EDUCATION
High School in Long Valley |
CHESTER TOWNSHIP and CHESTER BOROUGH:
The Chesters public education is overseen by the Chester Township Board of Education. Students in grades K-2 attend Dickerson Elementary School, grades 3-5 attend Bragg Elementary School, and grades 6-8 attend Black River Middle School. High school students from the Chesters attend West Morris Mendham High School, a top-ranked high school in New Jersey, along with students from the Mendhams.
THE BOROUGH OF MENDHAM AND MENDHAM TOWNSHIP:
Both areas of the Mendhams have their own elementary and middle schools, but they share the same high school. In Mendham Borough, students in kindergarten through third grade attend the Hilltop School, with an extended day kindergarten program. The Mountain View School houses grades 4-8, where team teaching is emphasized. In Mendham Township, Mendham Township Elementary serves students in grades K-4, and grades 5-8 attend the Mendham Township Middle School. Students from the Mendhams and the Chesters attend the West Morris Mendham High School, which is one of two high schools in the West Morris Regional High School District. Mendham High School is ranked among the top high schools in the state. In 1999-2000, SAT scores average 1,103 with 97.5 percent of the class participating. Other academic achievements for West Morris Mendham High School students include National Merit Finalists, Commended Scholars, and awards and honors for music and art students. They also have an excellent Special Education Department, which has received statewide recognition.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (INCLUDING LONG VALLEY):
Public education in Washington Township is served by the Washington Township School District, which runs a high-quality public school system. The District includes Walter Kossman School, for grades K-2, Old Farmers Road School, for grades K-4, Flocktown Road School, for grades 3-4, and Long Valley Middle School for grades 5-8. High school students in Washington Township attend West Morris Central High School (WMCHS), which is part of the West Morris Regional High School District. WMCHS is noted for its academic excellence. It is one of only seven schools in New Jersey that offers the rigorous and internationally recognized college preparatory program called the International Baccalaureate diploma. It also offers an excellent student-teacher ratio of 10.6 to 1, with 72 percent of the school's faculty and staff with a master's degree or higher. There are also a good number of private schools in the area, including Montessori.
ABOUT HEALTHCARE
Country Farm Setting in Long Valley |
CHESTER BOROUGH AND CHESTER TOWNSHIP:
Healthcare in the area is served by Morristown Memorial Hospital, a 628-bed hospital servicing the all of Morris County. Morristown Hospital is also one of the largest employers of the area with over 1,100 physicians on staff as well as 120 residents. There are also numerous clinics and healthcare facilities in the Chester area including doctors, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, and physical therapists. The many large and specialized hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities of Newark and New York City are also accessible to Chester residents.
MENDHAM BOROUGH AND MENDHAM TOWNSHIP:
Healthcare in the Morris area is served by Morristown Memorial Hospital, as well as a variety of local clinics and facilities. The nearby major urban areas such as Newark and New York City also offer other medical facilities such as the Children's Hospital of New Jersey and the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. There is also Tri-County Orthopedics located just north of Mendham in Morristown.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (INCLUDING LONG VALLEY):
Hospital healthcare in the Long Valley area is found at the Morristown Memorial Hospital, which has served the Morris County community for over 100 years. Washington Township also has its own smaller clinics and healthcare providers for its local residents.
Long Valley Farm at Halloween |
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