Chatham, New Jersey

Chatham, New Jersey. Located in Essex County, New Jersey, Chatham is a borough that is situated approximately 25 miles west of New York City and is part of the New York metropolitan area. The borough is bordered by Madison, New Jersey to the west, Florham Park, New Jersey to the north, and Millburn, New Jersey to the east, and is near Morristown, New Jersey and Summit, New Jersey. Chatham is also close to Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Columbia University.

Geography

Chatham is situated in the Raritan Valley region of New Jersey and is drained by the Passaic River and its tributaries, including the Rockaway River and Whippany River. The borough has a total area of 2.4 square miles and is near the Watchung Mountains and the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Chatham is also close to the Delaware River and the Hudson River, and is near the Palisades Interstate Park and the High Point State Park. The borough's geography is similar to that of neighboring Maplewood, New Jersey and South Orange, New Jersey, and is part of the Newark Basin.

History

The area that is now Chatham was originally settled by the Lenape Native American tribe and was later colonized by Dutch West India Company in the 17th century. The borough was formed in 1892 from portions of Madison, New Jersey and was named after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, a British Prime Minister who was a strong supporter of the American colonies. Chatham is near the Morristown National Historical Park and the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, and is close to the Princeton University and the Rutgers University. The borough's history is also tied to the American Revolution and the French and Indian War, and is near the Battle of Short Hills and the Battle of Springfield.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the borough's population was approximately 9,000 people, with a diverse range of Census-designated places and Unincorporated communities in the area, including Short Hills, New Jersey and Millburn Township, New Jersey. Chatham is near the Newark, New Jersey and the Jersey City, New Jersey, and is part of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The borough's demographics are similar to those of neighboring Westfield, New Jersey and Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and is close to the Kean University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Economy

The economy of Chatham is driven by a mix of small businesses and large corporations, including AT&T and Honeywell, which have operations in the area. The borough is also home to a number of startups and entrepreneurs, and is near the Newark Liberty International Airport and the Port of New York and New Jersey. Chatham is close to the Prudential Financial and the Pfizer, and is part of the New Jersey Transit system, which provides access to New York Penn Station and other major transportation hubs. The borough's economy is also tied to the pharmaceutical industry and the biotechnology industry, with companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co. having operations in the area.

Education

Chatham is served by the School District of the Chathams, which operates a number of public schools in the area, including Chatham High School and Lafayette School. The borough is also home to a number of private schools, including The Pingry School and The Peck School, and is near the New Jersey State University and the Rutgers University-Newark. Chatham is close to the Columbia University School of Engineering and the Stevens Institute of Technology, and is part of the Essex County Vocational Technical Schools system.

Transportation

Chatham is accessible by a number of major highways, including Interstate 78 and Interstate 287, and is near the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike. The borough is also served by the New Jersey Transit system, which provides access to New York Penn Station and other major transportation hubs, including Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station. Chatham is close to the Newark Liberty International Airport and the LaGuardia Airport, and is part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey system. The borough's transportation options are similar to those of neighboring Summit, New Jersey and Westfield, New Jersey, and is near the Morristown Station and the Drew University Station.