Denville Township is a township in Morris County, in the northern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a commuter town of New York City in the New York area, located west of Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 17,107, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 472 (+2.8%) from the 2010 census count of 16,635, which in turn had reflected an increase of 811 (+5.1%) from the 15,824 counted at the 2000 census.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.

Located at the center of the county, Denville's access to major transportation routes has made it known as the Hub of Morris County.Denville profile, Daily Record. Accessed April 22, 2007. "Known as the 'hub' of Morris County -- because of its central geographic location and spot along major transportation routes -- this township is home to one of the most traditional town centers in the county." The township's location in Morris County has contributed to the growth of its "eclectic downtown", along with four membership lake communities developed a century ago as summer colonies.Levin, Jay. "Denville, N.J.: Lakefront Living with an Eclectic Downtown", The New York Times, May 26, 2021. Accessed March 30, 2022. "Iron forges along the Rockaway River and Den Brook put Denville on the map. Den refers either to Daniel Denton, a 17th-century Englishman who explored interior northern New Jersey, or to the 'den' of wild animals prevalent near the waterways."

NJ Transit rail service is available at the Denville station, a large three-platform station serving both the Morristown and the Montclair-Boonton lines, with service to Hoboken Terminal or to New York Penn Station in New York City via Midtown Direct.

Denville was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1913, from portions of Rockaway Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries , Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1913. Denville is established from Rockaway Township."

History Lenape Native Americans were known to travel the Minisink Trail for centuries before Europeans arrived in New Jersey. Part of that trail cut across what is now southern Denville, roughly following the course of Route 10 and Mount Pleasant Turnpike. Some research has indicated that there was a Lenape campsite along the trail in Denville, on or near the Ayres / Knuth Farm Historic Site along Route 10.

When Dutch and English settlers began to arrive in the new world in the early 17th century, the Minisink Trail was the likely route they traveled to explore the interior. Daniel Denton, one of the purchasers of what is known as the Elizabethtown Tract in 1664, led an expedition into the interior of northern New Jersey. In 1670, he wrote the first English language description of the area. Some researchers conclude that the name "Denville" derives from Denton."Honoring The Centennial Of The Township Of Denvill - Hon. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen of New Jersey in the House of Representatives Friday, April 12, 2013, Congressional Record, Volume 159, Number 49 (Friday, April 12, 2013). Accessed March 8, 2015. "As early as 1664, however, Dutch and English settlers began arriving on the shores of the Eastern Coast of the United States. Daniel Denton, a wealthy landowner, is believed to have led an expedition into the interior of Northern New Jersey, specifically the region of Morris County. His discoveries and descriptions of the area, along with its bountiful land and resources led people to populate the area as early as 1690. It is believed that The Great Daniel Denton's influence on the area gave Denville its name."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.

Some researchers have suggested that European settlers began to come to the Denville area as early as 1690. These early settlers were primarily Dutch and English from Long Island, Quakers from Philadelphia, and Germans. William Penn and several other proprietors began to survey and stake out lands in the Denville area around 1715. These surveys are the first documentation of Denville. Between 1730 and 1760, several forges and mills were erected in Denville along the Rockaway River and the Denbrook. A number of communities associated with the forges and mills began to emerge. Ninkey and Franklin in southern Denville developed around the forges there of the same names. Denville village developed around the Job Allen Iron Works. Early developers of Denville, such as the Hussa family and A.B Crane & Co., were intrinsic in shaping the residential and lake communities.

An alternative explanation for the derivation of the township's name came from a letter from early Denville settler John Hinchman in the year 1800, in which he recounted some of the oral history of Denville from 50 years earlier, as stated to him by some of the elders of the time. Hinchman explains in his letter that the naming of Denville can be traced to a "den" of wild animals located in the swampy regions along the Denbrook and Rockaway River. The animals would bask on a knoll that juts out into the meadows where they were hunted by the native Lenape. This "den", Hinchman wrote, was the basis for the name of Denville and the Denbrook."What's in our name?", Daily Record, September 12, 2007. Accessed March 30, 2022, via Newspapers.com. " OK: Show of hands. Who knows how Denville got its name?.... In fact, as John Hinchman tells us, Denville was named for the den of wild animals who inhabited the swamps along the Rockaway and Denbrook rivers the latter of which was also named for the den."

Geography

The township had a total area of 12.74 square miles (32.99 km2), including 11.99 square miles (31.06 km2) of land and 0.75 square miles (1.94 km2) of water (5.86%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cedar Lake, Cooks Pond, Cooper Lake, Franklin, Indian Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Estling, Lake Openaka, Mount Tabor, Openaka Lake, Rock Ridge, Snake Hill, and Union Hill.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The township borders the Morris County municipalities of Mountain Lakes and Parsippany to the east, Morris Township to the South, Randolph to the south and west, Rockaway to the west, Rockaway Township to the north and west, and Boonton Township to the north and east.Areas touching Denville, MapIt. Accessed March 27, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 27, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Denville has 11 named bodies of water within township limits. The four major residential lake communities are Cedar Lake, Indian Lake, Rock Ridge and Lake Arrowhead (including Great Bay and Bay of Deep Waters). Estling Lake is a private summer community. The three minor lakes are Cooper Lake, Hollstein Lake, and Openaki Lake. The town also has Cooks Pond, a recreational lake available for public use by membership.

Most residents of Denville live in the non-lake communities in the township, including Bald Hill, Beacon Hill and Union Hill.

As of 2026, the township is a member of Local Leaders for Responsible Planning in order to address the township's Mount Laurel doctrine-based housing obligations.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 16,635 people, 6,432 households, and 4,509 families in the township. The population density was . There were 6,734 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 89.49% (14,887) White, 1.42% (236) Black or African American, 0.12% (20) Native American, 6.52% (1,084) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.78% (129) from other races, and 1.67% (278) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.31% (883) of the population.

Of the 6,432 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18; 59.8% were married couples living together; 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.9% were non-families. Of all households, 25.6% 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.

23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $103,435 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,379) and the median family income was $122,600 (+/− $7,473). Males had a median income of $85,571 (+/− $9,730) versus $61,382 (+/− $2,135) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $49,990 (+/− $3,235). About none of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Denville township, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 31, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 15,824 people, 5,990 households, and 4,312 families residing in the township. The population density was . (in the 2010 Census there are 16,635 people). There were 6,178 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 92.64% White, 1.14% African American, 0.08% Native American, 4.64% Asian, (in the 2010 Census it was 1,084 or 6.5%), 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.64% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Denville township, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 31, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Denville township, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 18, 2012.

There were 5,990 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $76,778, and the median income for a family was $90,651. Males had a median income of $63,413 versus $42,392 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,607. About 1.7% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy