| Dover, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Dover highlighted in Morris County. Inset map: Morris County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Dover, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Incorporated | April 1, 1869 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Town (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | James P. Dodd (term ends 2011)[2] |
| • Administrator | Bibi Stewart Garvin[3] |
| Area[4] | |
| • Total | 2.73 sq mi (7.1 km2) |
| • Land | 2.68 sq mi (6.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) 1.83% |
| Elevation[5] | 561 ft (171 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[6][7][8] | |
| • Total | 18,157 |
| • Density | 6,788.2/sq mi (2,620.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 07801-07802 |
| Area code(s) | 862/973 |
| FIPS code | 34-18070[9][10] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885196[11] |
| Website | http://www.dover.nj.us |
Dover is a town in Morris County, New Jersey on the Rockaway River. Dover is about 31 miles (50 km) west of New York City and about 23 miles (37 km) west of Newark, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 18,157.[6]
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Dover is located at (40.885899, -74.558241).[12]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.73 square miles (7.1 km2), of which 2.68 square miles (6.9 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2), or 1.83%, is water.[6]
Hedden County Park, a 380-acre (1.5 km2) Morris County park, is partly located in Dover, with park entrances in Randolph.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 2,958 |
|
|
| 1900 | 5,938 |
|
|
| 1910 | 7,468 | 25.8% | |
| 1920 | 9,803 | 31.3% | |
| 1930 | 10,031 | 2.3% | |
| 1940 | 10,491 | 4.6% | |
| 1950 | 11,174 | 6.5% | |
| 1960 | 13,034 | 16.6% | |
| 1970 | 15,039 | 15.4% | |
| 1980 | 14,681 | −2.4% | |
| 1990 | 15,115 | 3.0% | |
| 2000 | 18,188 | 20.3% | |
| 2010 | 18,157 | −0.2% | |
| Population sources:1880-1930[13] 1930-1990[14] 2000[15][16] 2010[6][8][7] |
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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 18,157 people, 5,562 households, and 3,877 families residing in the town. The population density was 6,765.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,612.2 /km2). There were 5,783 housing units at an average density of 2,154.8 per square mile (832.0 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 66.55% (12,083) White, 6.10% (1,108) African American, 0.63% (114) Native American, 2.54% (461) Asian, 0.05% (9) Pacific Islander, 19.88% (3,610) from other races, and 4.25% (772) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 69.38% (12,598) of the population.[6]
There were 5,562 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.54.[6]
In the town the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females there were 110.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.2 males.[6]
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 18,188 people, 5,436 households, and 3,919 families residing in Dover. The population density was 6,788.2 people per square mile (2,620.3/km2). There were 5,568 housing units at an average density of 2,078.1 per square mile (802.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 69.45% White, 6.83% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 15.99% from other races, and 4.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.94% of the population.[15][16]
11.27% of Dover residents identified themselves as being of Colombian American ancestry in the 2000 Census, the second highest percentage of the population of any municipality in the United States (behind neighboring Victory Gardens, New Jersey which had 15.27% of residents so identified) with 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.[17]
There were 5,436 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.55.[15][16]
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.[15][16]
The median income for a household in the town was $53,423, and the median income for a family was $57,141. Males had a median income of $31,320 versus $27,413 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,056. About 8.2% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.[15][16]
On May 31, 1722, Joseph Latham and his wife Jane deeded 527 acres (2.13 km2) over to John Jackson of Flushing, New York. Joseph Latham was deeded the land in 1713 by virtue of land purchased from Native Americans by the Proprietors of West Jersey.
Historical records show that a small Native American village was settled at the site of Hurd Park. Jackson settled on the eastern portion of his land along Granny’s Brook at the site of what would later become the Ross Ribbon Factory on Park Heights Avenue.
Iron ore at the time was so plentiful that it was easily picked off the surface of the ground at the nearby Dickerson Mine in Mine Hill. Horse back saddles would bring the ore to Jackson’s Forge, and he would process the ore into bars that would then be transported to points eastward, namely the factories in Paterson.
It is believed that Jackson had a vital business until hard times hit in 1750, due to the passage of the “Iron Act” of the British Parliament.
By 1753, John Jackson went bankrupt and all his property and belongings were sold off at a Sheriff’s sale. Quaker Hartshorne Fitz Randolph purchased his property and annexed to his existing property to become part of Randolph Township.
Dover was incorporated as a village in 1826 and on April 1, 1869 as a town. The town charter was amended in 1875. In its past, Dover has had extensive iron and mill works, machine shops, stove, furnace, and range works, boiler and bridge works, rolling mills, drill works, knitting and silk mills, and a large hosiery factory (MacGregors).
Today, Dover has a large Hispanic population with the largest concentrations being of Mexican, Colombian, Dominican and Puerto Rican ancestry. Hispanics have been a demographic majority since 1980, and are growing quickly. As of the 2000 Census, Dover's population was 57.9% Hispanic, making it the municipality with the fifth highest Hispanic population percentage in New Jersey and one of eight New Jersey municipalities with a Hispanic majority. The surrounding Morris County area is predominantly non-Hispanic (9.8% Hispanic or Latino, of any race).
While Dover is not currently financially disadvantaged in comparison to average towns nationwide, it is considerably less affluent (with a median household income of $53,423) than Morris County as a whole (with a median household income of $84,010).[18]
Dover Town operates using the Town form of government and is governed by a Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The Mayor is elected at large. The Board of Aldermen consists of eight members, with two Aldermen elected to two-year terms from each of the four wards on a staggered basis, with one Aldermanic seat coming up for election each year in each ward.[1]
As of 2011[update], the Mayor of Dover Town is James P. Dodd, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2011.[19] As of 2011[update], members of the Board of Aldermen are:[20]
Dover Town is in the 11th Congressional district. New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
Dover is in the 25th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Anthony Bucco (R, Boonton) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Michael Patrick Carroll (R, Morris Plains) and Tony Bucco (R, Boonton).[21][8]
Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[22] As of 2011, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William J. Chegwidden (Wharton),[23] Deputy Freeholder Director Douglas R. Cabana (Boonton Township),[24] Gene F. Feyl (Denville),[25] Ann F. Grassi (Parsippany-Troy Hills),[26] Thomas J. Mastrangelo (Montville),[27] John J. Murphy (Morris Township)[28] and Margaret Nordstrom (Washington Township).[29][30]
The Dover School District serves students in pre-k through 12th grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics[31]) are Academy Street Elementary School (grades K-5, 474 students), East Dover Elementary School (K-6, 524), North Dover Elementary School (PreK-5, 581), Dover Middle School (6-8, 481) and Dover High School (9-12, 874).
Students in grades K - 12 from Victory Gardens attend the Dover Public School system as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[32][33] Students in grades 7-12 from Mine Hill Township also participate in the Dover district as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[34]
Sacred Heart School is a Catholic school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.[35]
The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, a technical school founded in 1976 and the only accredited school devoted to cartooning and graphic art, is located in Dover.
Highways traveling in or nearby Dover include Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, New Jersey Route 10, County Route 513, and New Jersey Route 15. Dover Exit 35 off of Route 80 is a popular stop for travelers, existing halfway between the Delaware Water Gap and New York City. The Rockaway Townsquare Mall rests immediately off the exit.
Dover is served by the 875 and 880 bus routes operated by New Jersey Transit.[36]
NJ Transit's Morristown Line and Montclair-Boonton Line stop at the Dover train station. Trains operate to Hackettstown, Netcong, Boonton, Morristown, Montclair State University, Summit, the Oranges, Newark, Hoboken, New York City, and intermediate points.[37][38]
Lakeland Bus Lines provides regular service to Sparta, Newton, Mount Olive, Rockaway, Boonton, Parsippany, Wayne, New York City, and intermediate points from their terminal on the Rockaway Township border.[39] Service is also provided from Wednesday to Sunday between Dover and Atlantic City [40]
Dover is served by numerous local taxi services. Taxis can be found waiting outside of the supermarkets, bars, bus stations, and train station. These taxis provide a convenient service to all town residence and are an amenity to all local business.
Dover is located approximately 15 minutes west of Morristown Municipal Airport, and approximately 40 minutes west of Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, NJ.
The community of Dover is centered around a developed downtown area filled with many eateries. A vast percentage of these are owned and run by Hispanics of various countries, and feature their ethnic food.[41] Dover is a haven for diverse eating experiences, from sushi, pizza, and coffee shops, to popular Irish and Italian food places. The majority of these venues are located in and around the business district of Blackwell Street.
On every Sunday from April to December, there is a flea market downtown.[42]
Dover has been described as a walking town, as most parts of town are within about a 1/2 mile of the downtown area and most streets have sidewalks.
Dover is served by St. Clare's Dover General Hospital, located on Route 46. It is the local medical facility for Dover and other communities in western Morris County. Saint Clare's Denville Hospital is located 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Dover in Denville, and Morristown Memorial Hospital is located 11 miles (18 km) east of Dover in Morristown. The Zufall Health Center is located on Warren Street and provides basic medical and dental services to low-income residents of Dover and neighboring towns.
Notable current and former residents of Dover include: