Chester Township, New Jersey

For the municipality formerly called Chester Township in Burlington County, see Maple Shade Township, New Jersey.
See also: Chester Borough, New Jersey

Chester Township, New Jersey
Township
A Federal-style Colonial home in Chester
A Federal-style Colonial home in Chester
Official seal of Chester Township, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Chester Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Location of Chester Township in Morris County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Morris County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Chester Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Chester Township, New Jersey
Chester Township is located in Morris County, New Jersey
Chester Township
Chester Township
Location in Morris County
Chester Township is located in New Jersey
Chester Township
Chester Township
Location in New Jersey
Chester Township is located in the United States
Chester Township
Chester Township
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°46′36″N 74°41′11″W / 40.776758°N 74.686512°W / 40.776758; -74.686512[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Morris
IncorporatedApril 1, 1799
Named forChestershire, England
Government
[4]
 • TypeFaulkner Act (small municipality)
 • BodyTownship Council
 • MayorTimothy Drag
 • Administrator / Municipal clerkRobin Collins[3]
Area
[1]
 • Total
29.22 sq mi (75.67 km2)
 • Land29.13 sq mi (75.45 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)  0.29%
 • Rank93rd of 565 in state
5th of 39 in county[1]
Elevation
[5]
787 ft (240 m)
Population
 (2020)[6][7]
 • Total
7,713
 • Estimate 
(2023)[6][8]
7,706
 • Rank303rd of 565 in state
25th of 39 in county[9]
 • Density264.8/sq mi (102.2/km2)
  • Rank487th of 565 in state
38th of 39 in county[9]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07930 – Chester[10]
07931 – Far Hills[11]
07934 – Gladstone
Area code908[12]
FIPS code3402712610[1][13][14]
GNIS feature ID0882199[1][15]
Websitewww.chestertownship.org

Chester Township is a township in southwestern Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[16] As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 7,713,[6][7] a decrease of 125 (−1.6%) from the 2010 census count of 7,838,[17][18] which in turn reflected an increase of 556 (+7.6%) from the 7,282 counted in the 2000 census.[19] The township's name is derived from Chestershire in England.[20]

Periodically recognized as part of the Somerset Hills,[21][22][23][24][25] Chester Township is located in the Raritan Valley region[26] within the New York Metropolitan area. It is known as the "doughnut" around Chester Borough since it completely surrounds it, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[27]

Located about 40 miles (64 km) west of New York City, Chester Township is a semi-rural residential community known for its agricultural and equestrian farms along with its country estates. The township is characterized by undeveloped, residentially zoned areas that largely contain vast amounts of open space comprised of farmland — much of which is preserved — in addition to public parks.[28][29]

The township has been one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the 2014–2018 American Community Survey, the township residents had a median household income of $160,625, more than double the statewide median of $79,363.[8] In 2010, Forbes ranked Chester Township at 321st in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes," with a median home price of $823,691.[30]

  1. ^ a b c d e 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Admin and Clerk's Office, Chester Township. Accessed April 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Chester, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Chester, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed December 17, 2012.
  11. ^ ZIP Code 07931, United States ZIP Codes. Accessed July 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Chester, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed January 5, 2014.
  13. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  14. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  15. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Explore Southwestern Morris County, Morris County Tourism Authority. Accessed April 10, 2024. "Southwestern Morris County includes a multitude of farms, farmers markets and community-supported agriculture offering fresh produce and festivals throughout the growing season throughout its communities of Mount Olive, Washington Township (Long Valley), Roxbury, Chester, Chester Township, Mount Arlington, Mendham, Mendham Township, Randolph and Netcong."
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.
  21. ^ Thomson, W. Barry. "New Municipal Proposals of 100 Years Ago", Inside the Brick Academy, June 2021. Accessed July 10, 2023.
  22. ^ "Review: New Jersey Country Homes The Somerset Hills." T3 Consortium, LLC, last modified September 2006, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2008. Accessed December 11, 2015.
  23. ^ Schapiro, Amy (2003). Millicent Fenwick: Her Way. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 9780813532318.
  24. ^ "Somerset County Historical Quarterly". 1917.
  25. ^ Turpin, John K.; Barry Thomson, W. (2004). The Somerset Hills. Mountain Colony Press. ISBN 9780974950402.
  26. ^ Raritan Basin Hydrology, New Jersey Water Supply Authority. Accessed July 10, 2023.
  27. ^ DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.
  28. ^ Ritter, George A. Planning Report; Master Plan Amendment - Housing Element, Chester Township, April 14, 2010. Accessed August 17, 2020. "Chester Township is characterized by large areas of public parkland, vast areas of undeveloped ground in its natural state or in agriculture, and residential development chiefly comprised of detached single-family homes on large lots."
  29. ^ About Our District, Chester School District. Accessed July 10, 2021. "The surrounding Chester Township is a 29.3 square mile residential community made up of farms, estates, and attractive housing developments."
  30. ^ Staff. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes: In these neighborhoods $4 million homes are the norm.", Forbes, September 27, 2010. Accessed July 29, 2011.