Morris Plains is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 5,532,^[7][8][9] reflecting an increase of 296 (+5.7%) from the 5,236 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 17 (+0.3%) from the 5,219 counted in the 1990 Census.^[18]

Morris Plains was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1926, from portions of Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 15, 1926.^[19][20] The borough's name comes from Lewis Morris, colonial governor of New Jersey.^[21][22]

Morris Plains serves as a bedroom community, with many residents traveling to work in New York City. The Morristown Line of NJ Transit provides commuters with direct access to New York Penn Station and to Hoboken Terminal.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.594 square miles (6.718 km2), including 2.557 square miles (6.623 km2) of land and 0.037 square miles (0.095 km2) of water (1.42%).^[1][2]

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Littleton.^[23]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Morris Plains has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[24]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,532 people, 2,131 households, and 1,485.307 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,163.5 per square mile (835.3/km2). There were 2,197 housing units at an average density of 859.2 per square mile (331.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.44% (4,948) White, 2.73% (151) Black or African American, 0.09% (5) Native American, 4.97% (275) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.07% (59) from other races, and 1.70% (94) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.68% (314) of the population.^[7]

There were 2,131 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.^[7]

In the borough, the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.4 males.^[7]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $103,688 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,744) and the median family income was $127,614 (+/- $20,257). Males had a median income of $91,908 (+/- $21,398) versus $67,232 (+/- $24,331) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,165 (+/- $10,332). About 0.4% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.^[29]

As of the 2000 United States Census^[15] there were 5,236 people, 1,955 households, and 1,477 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,018.7 people per square mile (780.6/km2). There were 1,994 housing units at an average density of 768.8 per square mile (297.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.91% White, 1.34% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.32% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.69% of the population.^[27][28]

There were 1,955 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.05.^[27][28]

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The average age is 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.^[27][28]

The median income for a household in the borough was $84,806, and the median income for a family was $98,333. Males had a median income of $75,040 versus $44,554 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,553. About 1.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.^[27][28]

The borough has been a major base of operations for Pfizer, previously the headquarters for Warner-Lambert. Pfizer has sponsored the Health and Medical Science Academy at Morristown High School and an annual 5k race around Morris Plains. In 2012, a 63-acre (25 ha) property owned by Pfizer on the west side of Route 53 was acquired by M&M Realty Partners, which plans to redevelop the site for a mixed use development that would include 500 housing units and 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) for retail use.^[30]

In 2015, Honeywell moved into a 475,000-square-foot (44,100 m2) headquarters on a 40-acre (16 ha) campus, after relocating from AlliedSignal headquarters in Morristown.^[31]

Morris Plains is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. 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 in a three-year cycle.^[5] The Borough form of government used by Morris Plains, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.^[32][33]

As of 2016, the Mayor of Morris Plains is Republican Frank J. Druetzler, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Jason C. Karr (D, 2016), Joseph Cecala Jr. (R, 2018), Salvatore "Sal" Cortese (R, 2017), John "Jack" Doherty (R, 2017), Laurie Fu (R, 2018) and Suzanne B. McCluskey (R, 2016).^{[4][34][35][36][37][38][39]}

The Morris Plains Municipal Court judge is Michael A. Carlucci.^[40]

The Morris Plains Police Department has 17 sworn officers. The command structure has a chief, two lieutenants, five sergeants, nine patrolmen and six civilians.^[41] They are dispatched through the Morris County Communication Center who dispatches for the police, fire and first aid departments. The police department handled over 29,000 calls for the year 2010.^[42]

Morris Plains is located in the 11th Congressional District^[43] and is part of New Jersey's 26th state legislative district.^[8][44][45]

For the 116th United States Congress, New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).^[46]

New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2021)^[47] and Bob Menendez (Paramus, term ends 2025).^[48][49]

For the 2018–2019 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 26th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Pennacchio (R, Montville) and in the General Assembly by BettyLou DeCroce (R, Parsippany-Troy Hills) and Jay Webber (R, Morris Plains).^[50][51]

Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, 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. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of six super-departments, more than 30 divisions plus authorities, commissions, boards and study committees.^[52] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator, John Bonanni.^[53] As of 2019, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Douglas Cabana (R, Boonton Township, 2019),^[54] Deputy Freeholder Director Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2020),^[55] Kathryn A. DeFillippo (R, Roxbury Township, 2019,^[56] John Krickus (R, Washington Township, 2021),^[57] Thomas J. Mastrangelo (R, Montville, 2019),^[58] Stephen H. Shaw (R, Mountain Lakes, 2021),^[59] and Deborah Smith (R, Denville, 2021).^[60][61]

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).^[62] As of 2019, they are County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany, 2023),^[63] Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2019)^[64] and Surrogate John Pecoraro (R, Mendham Borough, 2019).^[65]

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,935 registered voters in Morris Plains, of which 853 (21.7%) were registered as Democrats, 1,695 (43.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,381 (35.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered to other parties.^[66]

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.3% of the vote (1,659 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.9% (1,429 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (27 votes), among the 3,142 ballots cast by the borough's 4,140 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 75.9%.^[67][68] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.3% of the vote (1,725 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.8% (1,511 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (27 votes), among the 3,297 ballots cast by the borough's 3,994 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.5%.^[69] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 55.9% of the vote (1,783 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 42.8% (1,365 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (31 votes), among the 3,191 ballots cast by the borough's 3,921 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.4.^[70]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.8% of the vote (1,399 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.9% (551 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (27 votes), among the 2,025 ballots cast by the borough's 4,122 registered voters (48 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.1%.^[71][72] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.6% of the vote (1,337 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 31.5% (719 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% (191 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (10 votes), among the 2,283 ballots cast by the borough's 3,898 registered voters, yielding a 58.6% turnout.^[73]

The Morris Plains Schools educate public school students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its two schools had an enrollment of 845 students and 59.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.3:1.^[74] Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[75]) are Mountain Way School^[76] for grades K-2 (204 students) and Morris Plains Borough School^[77] for grades 3-8 (409 students).^[78]

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Morristown High School, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Morris School District which also serves the communities of Morristown and Morris Township (for grades K-12).^[79] As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,678 students and 124.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.5:1.^[80]

Saint Virgil Academy, founded in 1910, is a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade (including PreK3 and PreK4) that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.^[81][82]

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 28.66 miles (46.12 km) of roadways, of which 24.15 miles (38.87 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.81 miles (2.91 km) by Morris County and 2.70 miles (4.35 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.^[83]

U.S. Route 202, New Jersey Route 10 and New Jersey Route 53 are the main highways serving Morris Plains. Interstate 80 and Interstate 287 are both accessible in neighboring Parsippany-Troy Hills Township.

NJ Transit provides service at the Morris Plains station^[84] on the Morristown Line to Newark Broad Street Station, Secaucus Junction, New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.^[85] The one-story red brick station house, constructed in 1915 in Renaissance Revival style, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1984.^[86]

NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 872, 875 and 880 routes,^[87] replacing service that had been offered on the MCM2, MCM3 and MCM10 routes until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.^[88][89]

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Morris Plains include: