Characterized by rustic views of windswept fields and rolling hills which define the pastoral landscapes of the Rockaway Valley, Boonton Township in north-central Morris County is a peaceful community measuring just over eight square miles. The township has put forth a concerted effort to maintain its natural environment even as neighboring municipalities are typified by their expansive commercial and residential development. This dedication to remaining more rural has resulted in Boonton Township becoming one of the most sought-after towns in the county. Its popularity was confirmed by New Jersey Monthly magazine when they named Boonton Township a Top Town, ranking it the 4th best place to live in the state in 2011-12.

Another reason people move to Boonton Township is for their children to attend the highly-rated Mountain Lakes High School, consistently named one of the top public high schools in New Jersey. Not to be confused with the smaller adjacent town of Boonton, Boonton Township reported a population of 4,263 in the 2010 United States Census. Incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1867, the township was originally created from portions of Pequannock Township.

Boonton Township History

Boonton Township's first recorded history began around 1710 when William Penn, the famous Quaker land speculator, acquired over 1,400 acres of woodlands and fields. In 1715, another early settler named James Bollen purchased over 1,500 acres along the Rockaway River. By 1759, the Great Boonton Tract was purchased by David Ogden, Colonial Attorney-General of New Jersey. So when Boonton Township was officially established in 1867, most of William Penn's land and portions of James Bollen's and David Ogden's land holdings fell within its boundaries.

McCaffrey Lane, which now serves as the main entrance to the Tourne County Park, was created in 1767 by Samuel Ogden to haul iron ore from Hibernia's mines to his iron works in Old Boonton. Within this historic region, cannon balls were manufactured for use by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. This land has the distinction of being the oldest recorded thoroughfare in the area. In 1822, North Main Street was created along the proposed route of the Morris Canal. The Morris Canal and Banking Company was chartered in 1824 with John Scott of Powerville, an important commissioner. Lock numbers 9, 10 and 11 were constructed along Powerville Road. Another reminder of that era is the Powerville Hotel, which is still standing; it was built near Lock Number 11 to accommodate canal and transient trades. The hotel later gained fame as a pre-Civil War Underground Railroad station.

In the late 1920s the township became home to the Aircraft Radio Corporation, which pioneered electronic instrumentation for use in planes. Equipment designed by the Aircraft Radio Corporation was installed in the first fighter squadrons of the Navy, Army and Air Force. In January, 1929 an engineering conference was held at the Flying Field, and the electronic instruments industry dedicated the new Radio Frequency Laboratories at its hangar and flying field. Johanson Manufacturing Corporation was founded in 1945 in the central portion of the township where it serves the radio frequency and microwave industries. Both Radio Frequency Laboratories and Johanson Manufacturing Corporation are still headquartered in Boonton Township.

Boonton Township Community Life

Numerous aspects of small-town living make up the fabric of community life in Boonton Township. There are a variety of scouting troops for boys and girls, an active historical society, service groups like the Boonton Township Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary, sporting organizations such as the Tri-Town Mountaineers (Tri-Town refers to the neighboring municipalities of Boonton Township, Mountain Lakes and Boonton Town) and Morris Rubgy Youth Program, as well as the local Lakeland Hills YMCA, and specialty groups like the Rockaway Valley Garden Club.

The Boonton Township Recreation Department sponsors a roster of activities including an Open Gym Night for adult basketball and adult yoga classes at Rockaway Valley School, and The Boonton Township Ladies Town Club, a women's group that meets monthly to socialize, network and perform community service projects in Morris County.

Local shops, restaurants and services are mainly located in Boonton Town, which borders Boonton Township. The Rockaway Townsquare Mall in nearby Rockaway Township offers major department stores, eateries and a multi-screen movie theatre.

Boonton Township Education

The Rockaway Valley School at 11 Valley Road serves students in kindergarten through grade eight. Pupils here are among the top academic performers in both the region and the state. Co-curricular activities include sports teams that have advanced to the final levels of competition as well as musical and theatrical performances. Among the school's activities are Battle of the Books, Student Council, School Leaders, a Broadcast Club, Podcasting, Forensics, Chorus, Band, Junior Solar Sprints, Geography Bee, Athletics, Visual and Performing Arts and theatrical productions. Additionally, the school has been involved in several philanthropic efforts including fundraisers for local charities like the Interfaith Food Pantry, the Donnie Farrell Scholarship Fund, Operation Jersey Cares and providing for needy families. The district is in the forefront in using technology to enhance instruction. Each classroom has wireless access to the Internet as well as a SMART Board and peripherals for interactive learning.
There is a sending/receiving agreement in place between the Boonton Township Board of Education and Mountain Lakes Board of Education which allows students living in Boonton Township to attend the highly-ranked Mountain Lakes High School in Mountain Lakes. Located at 96 Powerville Road, the high school offers an academically acclaimed college preparatory program with approximately 731 pupils. Students are taught by a faculty of 71 professionals; three hold doctorates; 50 have master's degrees and 18 have bachelor's degrees.

The student body of Mountain Lakes High School possesses a strong commitment toward academic excellence. High achieving, motivated students follow a rigorous college preparatory curriculum resulting in over 90% attending four-year colleges, including the most competitive colleges in the nation. Time and again, Mountain Lakes High School rates favorably among the most competitive public and private schools in New Jersey. New Jersey Monthly magazine ranks Mountain Lakes High School among the highest performing high schools in the state.

However, the success of Mountain Lakes High School students does not lie in their academic accomplishments alone. Over 90% participate in extracurricular activities and community service. Most students are involved in athletics, the arts, drama, music, school government and community service programs. The daily learning environment nurtures the development of a lifelong commitment to academic excellence and achievement.

Mountain Lakes High School offers honors and advanced placement courses in English, social studies, mathematics, science, world languages, computer science, and studio art. In addition to modern languages, the high school also offers advanced studies in Latin.

Boonton Township Transportation

Boonton Township is located several miles from Interstates 287 and 80 and the historic town of Boonton train station on NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line. Lakeland Bus provides service from Boonton town to New York's Port Authority in midtown Manhattan. Travelers on Route 80 are about 25 miles west of the George Washington Bridge.

Boonton Township Real Estate

Boonton Township is well-known for its luxury homes and estate-caliber properties on large lots. Oak Hills and several other neighborhoods near the border of Denville offer more modestly-sized homes. Other popular neighborhoods in Boonton Township include Rock Ridge, Cook's Pond, Sheep Hill, Birchwood, Kincaid Estates, Meadowbrook, Four Corners, Powerville, Mountain Run, Skyridge Estates, Kingsland, Hillcrest, Forest Park, Brookstone, Crestfield Estates, Hawk Hill Estates, Rockaway Valley, and Eagle Canyon Estates. Brae Loch is a condominium and townhome community in Boonton Township. Home shoppers will find a wide variety of home styles and price ranges, including center hall Colonials, custom homes, Victorians, antique homes, ranches, Tudors, contemporary homes and historic homes.

Boonton Township Parks

Tourne County Park contains 546.9 acres and includes a wildflower trail with nearly 250 species of native plants, a lake, athletic fields, bike and horse trails, gardens, picnic facilities and play areas. The Tourne is the only remaining undeveloped portion of the Great Boonton Tract. It provides opportunities for sledding in the winter, picnics and day camps in the summer, and hiking throughout the year.

Boonton Township Parks include Leonard Park at 15 Valley Road; Griffith Park at 1 North Main Street; Griffith Pond at Kingsland Road and the RVA Fields at 353 Powerville Road.

Boonton Township Local Attractions

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area features unusual glacial erratics, dramatic rock outcrops, extensive wetlands, waterfalls, and several scenic overlooks with views reaching all the way to the Manhattan skyline. Don't miss Tripod Rock, a 160-ton boulder resting atop three smaller boulders.

The Miller-Kingsland House is the oldest recorded home in Boonton and is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. Expanded over the years, the original Dutch house consisted of one room with a sleeping attic; it was built by Johannes Miller in 1740.