Butler, New Jersey
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| Butler, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Incorporated | March 13, 1901 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Joseph P. Heywang (2010) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2.1 sq mi (5.4 km²) |
| - Land | 2.1 sq mi (5.4 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 8,074 |
| - Density | 3,568.9/sq mi (1,377.9/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07405 |
| Area code(s) | 973 |
| FIPS code | 34-09040[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885175[4] |
| Website: http://www.butlerborough.com | |
Butler is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 7,420.
Butler was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of Pequannock Township.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Butler is located at (40.999497, -74.346326)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.96%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 3,392 |
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| 1940 | 3,351 | -1.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,050 | 20.9% | |
| 1960 | 5,414 | 33.7% | |
| 1970 | 7,051 | 30.2% | |
| 1980 | 7,616 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,392 | -2.9% | |
| 2000 | 7,420 | 0.4% | |
| Est. 2006 | 8,074 | [2] | 8.8% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 7,420 people, 2,868 households, and 2,024 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,568.9 people per square mile (1,377.3/km²). There were 2,923 housing units at an average density of 1,405.9/sq mi (542.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.89% White, 0.62% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.
There were 2,868 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $57,455, and the median income for a family was $66,199. Males had a median income of $45,975 versus $35,815 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,113. About 2.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
The area now known as Butler was originally called "West Bloomingdale" and was sparsely populated. Water power brought manufacturing entities to the area. In 1857, The Pequannock Valley Paper Company moved from Bergen County and in 1868 the Newbrough Hard Rubber Company built a factory, both based along the Pequannock River. These were two significant economic entities that contributed to the growth of the Borough. In 1869, the New Jersey Midland Railroad extended track through Butler from Paterson, making an important transportation connection for both passengers and freight. The northern terminus for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's passenger service was located at Butler until 1966. The railroad still carries freight through Butler.
The growing town was given the name "Butler" in 1881 after Richard Butler, who had taken ownership of the Hard Rubber Company. A Post Office was established and a larger railroad station was built. This station has been the Borough Museum since about 1977. The Hard Rubber Company eventually merged with other businesses and became the American Hard Rubber Company in 1898. A "Soft" Rubber Company built a factory just along Main Street. The town continued to grow as other factories and supporting businesses were established. The population in 1920 was 2,265 people. By 1950, it was 4,063.
Butler's largest fire began just after midnight, February 26, 1957, when one of the nation's largest rubber reclaiming mills (Pequanoc Rubber Company, Main Street) was destroyed by a $17 million blaze (a loss of about $100 million in today's dollars when adjusted for inflation). The mill occupied the site on upper Main Street, an irregular shaped complex 600 feet by 300 feet and 3 to 4 stories high; it produced over 100 tons of reusable sheet rubber daily from 200 tons of scrap. One Butler Heights resident remembers the fire being so bright she could read a newspaper in her yard at 3am at a distance of 1 mile. The glow reportedly was visible for 100 miles, mutual aid response was required by volunteer fire companies from 55 municipalities during the initial hours and then in shifts over the next week. New York City Fire Department, 30 miles away, offered help when observing the bright glow.
Numerous organizations exist in town and, along with the neighboring towns of Kinnelon and Bloomingdale, many "Tri-Boro" organizations serve the area, including the local Little League & Volunteer First Aid Squad.
Butler was the location of a Health Resort run by Benedict Lust called "Yungborn" that opened on September 15, 1896.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Borough of Butler is governed under the Borough system of municipal government. The government consists of a Borough Council which has both Legislative and Executive powers, and is comprised of six councilmen and a Mayor, all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
As of 2008, the Mayor of Butler is Joseph P. Heywang, whose four-year term of office ends on December 31, 2010. Members of the Butler Borough Council are[8]:
- Council President Stephen Regis (2007)
- Robert Alviene (2008)
- Roger Elliott (2007)
- Robert Fox (2009)
- Raymond Verdonik (2009)
- Judith Woop (2008)
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Butler is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 26th Legislative District.[9]
New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District, covering western portions of Essex County, all of Morris County, and sections of Passaic County, Somerset County and Sussex County, is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 26th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Pennacchio (R, Pine Brook) and in the Assembly by Alex DeCroce (R, Morris Plains) and Jay Webber (R, Morris Plains).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]
Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats up for election each year.[12] As of 2008, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom, Deputy Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl, Douglas R. Cabana, William J. Chegwidden, John J. Murphy, James W. Murray and Jack J. Schrier.[13]
[edit] Education
The Butler Public Schools serves students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Aaron Decker School serves grades K-4, Richard Butler Schoolserves grades 5-8, with high school students attending Butler High School. Students from Bloomingdale attend Butler High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Bloomingdale School District.[14]
[edit] Transportation
New Jersey Transit bus service is provided on the 194 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and on the 75 to Newark.[15]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Butler, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Butler borough, United States Census Bureau, accessed September 16, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 191.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Town Council, Butler Borough. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ What is a Freeholder?, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed February 6, 2008.
- ^ Meet the Freeholders, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed February 6, 2008.
- ^ BHS District Profile, Butler High School. Accessed January 30, 2008. "Butler High School is a public high school servicing the students of the Boro of Butler and the Boro of Bloomingdale."
- ^ Morris County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed June 21, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Butler Borough website
- Butler Public Schools
- Butler Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Butler Public Schools
- Regional area newspaper
- Butler, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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