According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.98 square miles (56.93 km2), including 20.85 square miles (54.01 km2) of land and 1.13 square miles (2.93 km2) of water (5.14%).[1][2]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Baker Mill Pond, Bertrand Island, Carys, Lake Junction, Lake Rogerene, Port Morris Landing, Rustic and Shippenport.[30]
Roxbury township, Morris County, New Jersey – Racial and Ethnic Composition (NH = Non-Hispanic) Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Of the 8,292 households, 36.0% had children under the age of 18; 65.6% were married couples living together; 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.8% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.19.[19]
24.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.5 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $95,676 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,626) and the median family income was $110,538 (+/− $6,156). Males had a median income of $75,417 (+/− $7,299) versus $47,556 (+/− $4,775) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,576 (+/− $2,305). About 2.5% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.[47]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 23,883 people, 8,364 households, and 6,532 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,117.4 inhabitants per square mile (431.4/km2). There were 8,550 housing units at an average density of 400.0 per square mile (154.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 92.57% White, 1.91% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 4.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[43][44]
There were 8,364 households, out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.25.[43][44]
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.[43][44]
The median income for a household in the township was $72,982, and the median income for a family was $83,409. Males had a median income of $59,488 versus $36,353 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,174. About 2.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.[43][44]
Roxbury operates under the Council-Manager form of Government under the Faulkner Act. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[51] The Township Council is comprised of seven elected officials, with three seats elected from the entire township at-large and one elected from each of the four wards. Council members are elected for four-year terms on a staggered basis in partisan elections held in odd-numbered years, with the three at-large seats selected together and the four ward seats up for election at the same time two years later. The mayor and deputy mayor are chosen from within the council by the members of the council at a reorganization meeting held each year during the first week in January to serve one-year terms of office.[7][52] The manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations associated with all municipal activities. The manager directs, administers and coordinates the activities of the municipality in full support of policies, goals and objectives established by the governing body.
As of 2023[update], the members of Roxbury's Township Council are Mayor Jim Rilee (R, term on council ends December 31, 2025 / term as mayor ends 2023; at large), Deputy Mayor Jacqueline "Jaki" Albrect (R, term on council and as deputy mayor ends 2023; Ward 2), Tom Carey (R, 2023; Ward 4), Mark Crowley (R, 2025; at large), Robert DeFillippo (R, 2025; at large), Fred Hall (R, 2023; Ward 3) and Shawn Potillo (R, 2023; Ward 1 – elected to serve an unexpired term).[3][53][54][55][56][57]
In April 2021, the Township Council selected Shawn Potillo from a list of three candidates submitted by the Republican municipal committee to the fill the Ward 1 council seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Richard Zoschak until his death the previous month.[58] Potillo served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[56]
Roxbury Mount Arlington Study Commission
In March 2014, members of the public petitioned the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to form the Roxbury Mount Arlington Study Commission to consider a possible consolidation of Roxbury and the neighboring municipality of Mount Arlington. In March 2015, the commission was formed with five members and two alternates from each municipality. If the commission votes to recommend a merger, the decision would have to be ratified by a referendum of the voters in each community.[59]
Federal, state and county representation
Roxbury is located in the 7th Congressional District[60] and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[61]
Morris County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of seven members who are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either one or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[66] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[67]
The county's constitutional officers are
County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[82][83]
Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[84][85] and
Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2029).[86][87]
Politics
United States presidential election results for Roxbury 2024[88] 2020[89] 2016[90] 2012[91] 2008[92] 2004[93]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 15,471 registered voters in Roxbury, of which 3,010 (19.5%) were registered as Democrats, 5,307 (34.3%) were registered as Republicans and 7,145 (46.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[94]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 59.9% of the vote (6,536 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.2% (4,282 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (100 votes), among the 10,996 ballots cast by the township's 16,262 registered voters (78 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.6%.[95][96] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.3% of the vote (7,182 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.2% (4,952 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (112 votes), among the 12,321 ballots cast by the township's 15,934 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.3%.[97] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.5% of the vote (7,270 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 37.3% (4,411 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (113 votes), among the 11,816 ballots cast by the township's 15,469 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.4.[98]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.9% of the vote (4,996 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.9% (1,996 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (154 votes), among the 7,267 ballots cast by the township's 16,060 registered voters (121 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.2%.[99][100] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.3% of the vote (5,306 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 25.6% (2,081 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.0% (646 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (45 votes), among the 8,120 ballots cast by the township's 15,686 registered voters, yielding a 51.8% turnout.[101]
Education
The Roxbury School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.[102] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,551 students and 328.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.8:1.[103] Schools in the district consists of the following (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[104]) are
Franklin Elementary School[105] with 332 students in grades K–4,
Jefferson Elementary School[106] with 369 students in grades K–4,
Kennedy Elementary School[107] with 254 students in grades K–4,
Nixon Elementary School[108] with 258 students in grades K–4,
Lincoln / Roosevelt School[109] with 480 students in grades 5–6,
Eisenhower Middle School[110] with 534 students in grades 7–8 and
Roxbury High School[111] with 1,297 students in grades 9–12.[112][113]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 133.66 miles (215.10 km) of roadways, of which 107.03 miles (172.25 km) were maintained by the municipality, 13.91 miles (22.39 km) by Morris County and 12.72 miles (20.47 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[117]
Tom's Diner was featured in the music video from Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper.[127] Constructed in the 1940s, the long-derelict diner was demolished in 2021.[128]
Harry "A" Chesler (1898–1981), entrepreneur behind the first comic book "packager" of the late-1930s to 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books, supplying comics features and complete comic books to publishers testing the waters of the emerging medium[131]
^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."
^Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1740, December 24. Roxbury is established. Roxbury includes Kenvil (previously known as McCainsville), Landing (previously known as Drakesville), Ledgewood, Port Morris, and Suckasunny/Succasunna (its name is changed in 1888)."
^"A New Councilman for Roxbury", TAP into Roxbury, April 28, 2021. Accessed May 11, 2022. "Landing resident Shawn Potillo was chosen Tuesday by the Roxbury Mayor and Council to fill the unexpired term of former Roxbury Councilman Richard Zoschak, who died March 31. Potillo, a 43-year-old Republican, was one of three people nominated by the Roxbury Republican Club to fill the Ward 1 council vacancy."
^Westhoven, William. "Roxbury-Mt. Arlington consolidation commission named", Daily Record, March 30, 2015. "The public is about to get its first chance to meet the chosen members of the Roxbury Mount Arlington Study Commission and discuss the dominant topic on its agenda — a possible consolidation of the neighboring municipalities."
^Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners, who serve three-year terms."
^"Morris County Appoints Deena Leary Acting Administrator", Morris County, New Jersey, August 1, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Assistant Morris County Administrator Deena Leary has been appointed Acting Administrator by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, placing her at the helm of county operations and ready to assume the post when long-time Administrator John Bonanni officially retires at year’s end."
^Tayfun Selen, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Stephen H. Shaw, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^John Krickus, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Roxbury Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Roxbury School District. Accessed June 13, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Roxbury Township School District. Composition: The Roxbury Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Roxbury Township."
^Rehabilitation of Roxbury Rail Line Complete, Morris County, New Jersey, May 17, 2011. Accessed December 31, 2016. "The Chester Branch connects to the High Bridge Branch, and these two lines connect to the NJ Transit line near the Roxbury – Rockaway Township border, allowing businesses along these branches to connect to the national rail freight network."
^Conson, Mike. "Once an iconic landmark, Tom's Diner now an eyesore in Roxbury", Roxbury Register, August 18, 2011. Accessed May 7, 2012. "Everybody in Morris County knows 'Tom's Diner.' In the 1980's, it was the shooting location for pop star Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time video."
^Aun, Fred J. "Tom's Diner in Roxbury is Demolished", TAPinto Roxbury, April 8, 2021. Accessed April 27, 2023. "The iconic but long dormant Tom’s Diner on Route 46 in Ledgewood was demolished today while its former owner, town officials and the property’s new owners watched.... The Silk City-style diner, built in the early 1940s, has not been operated for nearly two decades."
^Havsy, Jane for the Daily Record. "Roxbury alum Dylan Castanheira now Atlanta United II goalkeeper", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 6, 2019. Accessed June 12, 2020. "Columbia senior goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira of Landing signed with Atlanta United 2 on Friday.... After missing his freshman season at Roxbury High School due to a twice-broken leg, Castanheira was able to train with Stoke City in England for a week in the summer and was invited to return for a more formal tryout a couple of months later."
^Ewing, Emma Mai. "The 'Funnies' Can be Serious", The New York Times, September 12, 1976. Accessed August 24, 2018. "Now, however thanks to Harry "A" Chesler of Succasunna, all that is changing at Fairleigh Dickinson University in madison, where students and teachers are studying comics and cartoons as related to the transition of American society."
^Havsy, Jane. "Roxbury alumna Paige Monaghan signs with Sky Blue FC", Daily Record, February 4, 2019. Accessed June 12, 2020. "Butler midfielder Paige Monaghan, a Roxbury graduate, was recently named to the Big East first team.... 'I am beyond blessed to have been drafted and now signed with Sky Blue FC,' Monaghan, a 22-year-old from Succasunna, said in a press release."
^Kitchin, Mark. "Roxbury's Moore retires from NFL", Daily Record, June 8, 2007. Accessed May 7, 2012. "Roxbury native Dave Moore retired on Thursday after a 15-year NFL career as a tight end and long snapper, primarily with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers..."
^Lusardi, Anthony. "Roxbury's Tito Santana enjoys the quieter life", Roxbury Register, August 6, 2013. Accessed June 30, 2015. "'I like being home most of the time. Wrestling was good to me while it lasted, but it was time for me to get out,' said Santana, who has called the Ledgewood section of the township home for years."