Borough (New Jersey)

Borough (New Jersey). A borough in New Jersey is a type of municipal corporation that is similar to a town or city, but has a unique system of government and administration, as outlined in the New Jersey State Constitution and the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law. The formation of a borough in New Jersey is governed by the New Jersey Legislature and is typically initiated by a petition from the residents of the area, who may be influenced by the experiences of other municipalities, such as Princeton or New Brunswick. The process of forming a borough involves a number of steps, including the creation of a municipal charter and the election of borough officials, such as the Mayor of Hoboken or the Council of Jersey City.

Definition and Formation

The definition of a borough in New Jersey is a municipal corporation that has been incorporated under the New Jersey Borough Act of 1878, which was signed into law by Governor George B. McClellan. The formation of a borough requires a petition from the residents of the area, which must be approved by the New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey Legislature, as was the case with the formation of Bergen County and Hudson County. The borough must also have a defined boundary and a minimum population, as specified in the New Jersey Municipal Code, which is enforced by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller. The borough is governed by a Mayor and a Borough Council, which are responsible for providing public services such as police and fire protection, as well as infrastructure such as roads and sewer systems, similar to those found in Essex County and Union County.

Types of Boroughs

There are several types of boroughs in New Jersey, including boroughs that are part of a county and those that are independent, such as Atlantic City and Jersey City. Some boroughs are also part of a regional planning commission, such as the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission or the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, which work with other municipalities, such as New York City and Philadelphia. The types of boroughs in New Jersey include boroughs with a Mayor-Council form of government, such as Newark and Elizabeth, and those with a Council-Manager form of government, such as Princeton Township and West Windsor Township. The boroughs may also have different types of school districts, such as regional school districts or local school districts, which are overseen by the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey State Board of Education.

Government and Administration

The government and administration of a borough in New Jersey is typically headed by a Mayor and a Borough Council, which are responsible for providing public services and infrastructure to the residents of the borough, similar to those found in Morris County and Somerset County. The borough council is composed of council members who are elected by the residents of the borough, and who serve terms of varying lengths, as specified in the New Jersey Municipal Code and the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. The borough may also have a number of boards and commissions, such as a planning board or a zoning board, which are responsible for overseeing the development and growth of the borough, in accordance with the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The borough is also subject to the oversight of the New Jersey State Legislature and the New Jersey Governor, as well as the New Jersey Supreme Court and the New Jersey Superior Court.

List of Boroughs in New Jersey

There are over 200 boroughs in New Jersey, including Asbury Park, Belleville, Bloomfield, Bound Brook, Carteret, Chatham, Clifton, Collingswood, Dunellen, East Orange, Edison, Elizabeth, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Ridge, Hackensack, Harrison, Hawthorne, Highland Park, Hoboken, Hopewell, Irvington, Jersey City, Keansburg, Kearny, Kenilworth, Linden, Livingston, Lodi, Long Branch, Madison, Mahwah, Manasquan, Maplewood, Middletown, Millburn, Millville, Montclair, Morristown, Mount Holly, New Brunswick, New Milford, New Providence, Newark, North Arlington, North Bergen, North Brunswick, North Plainfield, Nutley, Ocean City, Old Bridge, Orange, Palisades Park, Paramus, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Passaic, Paterson, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Plainfield, Pleasantville, Point Pleasant, Rahway, Red Bank, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, Ringwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, Rutherford, Sayreville, Secaucus, Somerville, South Amboy, South Brunswick, South Orange, South Plainfield, South River, Spotswood, Springfield, Summit, Teaneck, Tenafly, Tinton Falls, Toms River, Trenton, Union City, Union Township, Vineland, Waldwick, Wallington, Wanaque, Warren, Washington Township, Watchung, Wayne, West Caldwell, West New York, West Orange, Westfield, Westwood, Whippany, Wildwood, Willowbrook, Woodbridge, and Woodbury Heights, among others, which are all part of the New Jersey League of Municipalities and the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.

History of Boroughs in New Jersey

The history of boroughs in New Jersey dates back to the 18th century, when the New Jersey Legislature first authorized the creation of municipal corporations, as outlined in the New Jersey State Constitution and the New Jersey Colonial Laws. The first boroughs in New Jersey were established in the 19th century, with the creation of boroughs such as Newark and Jersey City, which were influenced by the experiences of other municipalities, such as New York City and Philadelphia. The boroughs in New Jersey have a long history of industrialization and urbanization, with many boroughs experiencing significant growth and development during the 20th century, as seen in the examples of Hoboken and Weehawken. Today, the boroughs in New Jersey continue to play an important role in the state's economy and politics, with many boroughs serving as regional centers for commerce and industry, such as Princeton and New Brunswick, and are part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the New Jersey Department of State. Category:New Jersey