Far Hills, New Jersey
| Far Hills, New Jersey | |||
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| Coordinates: 40°41′25″N 74°37′18″W / 40.69028°N 74.62167°WCoordinates: 40°41′25″N 74°37′18″W / 40.69028°N 74.62167°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Jersey | ||
| County | Somerset | ||
| Incorporated | May 12, 1921 | ||
| Government[1] | |||
| • Type | Borough (New Jersey) | ||
| • Mayor | Carl J. Torsilieri | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.9 sq mi (12.7 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.9 sq mi (12.6 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2) | ||
| Elevation[2] | 239 ft (73 m) | ||
| Population (2010)[3] | |||
| • Total | 919 | ||
| • Density | 187.6/sq mi (72.9/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 07931 | ||
| Area code(s) | 908 | ||
| FIPS code | 34-22890[4][5] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0885217[6] | ||
Far Hills is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 919.[3]
Far Hills was incorporated as a borough based on an Act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 7, 1921, from portions of Bernards Township, subject to the results of a referendum held on May 12, 1921.[7]
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[edit] Geography
Far Hills is located at 40°41′13″N 74°38′00″W / 40.686872°N 74.633400°W (40.686872, −74.633400).[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, Far Hills has a total area of 4.9 square miles (13 km2), of which, 4.9 square miles (13 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (1.22%) is water.
[edit] History
Far Hills encompasses just five square miles in Somerset County, New Jersey, encircled by the equally upscale communities of Bedminster Township, Peapack-Gladstone, Bernards Township, and Bernardsville. It shares a public library, a community pool, athletic programs, civic organizations, and a school system with Bernardsville. It also shares a fire department and a first aid squad with neighboring Bedminster Township
Far Hills maintains the characteristic of its community through 10-acre (40,000 m2) minimum zoning laws whereby large private properties and homes surround a small village which was the creation of a wealthy New York businessman in the late 1800s. The beginning of rail service to nearby Bernardsville in 1870, opened the area to city people seeking a respite from the heat and hurry of urban life.
Anticipating the demand for country properties was Evander H. Schley, a land developer and real estate broker from New York State. He bought several thousand acres of farmland, some of it sight unseen, in Bedminster and Bernards townships in the 1880s. One day in 1887, Schley's brother, Grant, and his wife, Elizabeth, arrived by horse-drawn carriage to see Evander's farms. Elizabeth is said to have remarked on the beautiful vista of the "far hills," thus giving the name to the place before a village was built.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 560 |
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| 1940 | 574 | 2.5% | |
| 1950 | 600 | 4.5% | |
| 1960 | 702 | 17.0% | |
| 1970 | 780 | 11.1% | |
| 1980 | 677 | −13.2% | |
| 1990 | 657 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 859 | 30.7% | |
| 2010 | 919 | 7.0% | |
| Population 1930–1990.[9] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 859 people, 368 households, and 253 families. The population density was 176.8 people per square mile (68.2/km2). There were 386 housing units at an average density of 79.4 per square mile (30.7/km2). The racial makeup was 96.04% White, 0.81% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.10% Asian, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61% of the population.
There were 368 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.76.
The population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household was $112,817, and the median income for a family was $149,095. Males had a median income of $90,000 versus $46,607 for females. The per capita income was $81,535. About 0.8% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Far Hills is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. 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.[1]
The Mayor of Far Hills is Paul J. Vallone, M.D. Members of the Far Hills Borough Council are Council President David Karner, Sheila Tweedie, Thomas Howland, Joseph Carty, Richard Hand and David Surks.[10]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Far Hills is in the 7th Congressional district. New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
Far Hills is in the The 16th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Christopher Bateman (R, Somerville) and in the General Assembly by Jack Ciattarelli (R, Hillsborough Township).[11] Peter J. Biondi won re-election to an eighth term in the Assembly but died days after the November 2011 election; He will be replaced by a Republican Party convention of district delegates and the remaining year on his seat will be filled in a November 2012 special election.[12]
Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[13] As of 2012[update], Somerset County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Patricia L. Walsh (Green Brook Township, term ends December 31, 2013),[14] Freeholder Deputy Director Peter S. Palmer (Bernardsville, 2014),[15] Mark Caliguire (Montgomery Township, 2012),[16] Patrick Scaglione (Bridgewater Township, 2012).[17] and Robert Zaborowski (Franklin Township, 2014),[18][19]
[edit] Education
Students in public school for grades K – 12 attend the schools of the Somerset Hills Regional School District, a regional school district serving students from Bernardsville, Far Hills, and Peapack-Gladstone, along with students from Bedminster Township who attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[20] The three schools in the district (with 2005–06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[21]) are Bedwell Elementary School (K – 4, 692 students), Bernardsville Middle School (5 – 8, 554 students) and Bernards High School (9 – 12, 759 students), and are all located in Bernardsville.
Far Hills Country Day School is a private, nonsectarian coeducational day school located in Far Hills, serving students in nursery through eighth grade on a 55-acre (220,000 m2) campus. The school has a total enrollment of 429 students
[edit] Transportation
The Far Hills train station is a New Jersey Transit station on the Gladstone Branch of the Morristown Line; the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The station is located at U.S. Route 202, near the intersection of Far Hills Road, one half mile east of U.S. Route 206. The station offers service via Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station or to Hoboken Terminal.
[edit] Points of interest
- The Leonard J. Buck Garden, 33 acres (130,000 m2), is a public botanical garden operated by the Somerset County Park Commission, and located at 11 Layton Road. It is open daily; a small fee is requested.
- Moggy Hollow Natural Area is a National Natural Landmark adjacent to the Buck garden.
- Natirar is an estate spanning 491 acres (1.99 km2) in Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone and Bedminster, New Jersey. It was sold in 2003 by Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, to the Somerset County Parks Commission.
- The United States Golf Association is headquartered in Far Hills. The United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is located on the premises.
- From 2000 through 2005 the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase returned to the Far Hills Races after a hiatus of six years. Known for the highest prize money of a steeplechase in America, the purse for the Breeders' Cup winner may be as large as $250,000 and it may draw as many as 100,000 spectators. Several races are scheduled by Far Hills Race Meeting Association in late October of each year. Considered one of the premier social events of the year in the tri-state area, it is attended by as many as 75,000 people annually.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Far Hills include:
- Nicholas F. Brady (1930–), former United States Secretary of the Treasury who represented New Jersey in the United States Senate.[22]
- PJ Chesson (1978–), IndyCar driver who raced in the 2006 Indianapolis 500
- Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. (1917–71), businessman who controlled an international mining and metals conglomerate and was also a major owner in thoroughbred horse racing.[23]
- Malcolm Forbes (1919–1990), former editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine
- Steve Forbes (1947–), editor-in-chief of Forbes[24]
- J. Geils (1946–), blues-rock lead guitarist, singer, and founder of The J. Geils Band
- Joe Plumeri, (1944– ), Chairman & CEO of Willis Group Holdings and owner of the Trenton Thunder
- Andrew Schlafly, (1961–), founder of Conservapedia, son of Phyllis.
- Reeve Schley, former Township mayor; vice president, Chase Manhattan Bank; member, Yale Corporation; and maternal grandfather, Christine Todd Whitman
- Christine Todd Whitman (1946–), former Governor of New Jersey.[24]
[edit] References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 77.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Far Hills, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b 2010 Census Data, accessed February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 – 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ [1]. Accessed May 31, 2011.
- ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
- ^ Megerian, Chris. "Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi (R-Somerset), dies at 69, days after re-election", The Star-Ledger, November 10, 2011. Accessed January 11, 2012. "Assemblyman Peter Biondi, who on Tuesday was elected to his eighth term in the state Legislature representing the 16th District covering parts of Somerset and Morris Counties, died tonight after a battle with cancer, the Assembly Republican office said."
- ^ Somerset County Government: At Your Service, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
- ^ Patricia Walsh, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
- ^ Peter S. Palmer, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
- ^ Mark Caliguire, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
- ^ Patrick Scaglione, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
- ^ Robert Zaborowski, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
- ^ Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
- ^ Somerset County School Districts-Sending/Receiving/Regional, Somerset County Superintendent of Schools. Accessed April 27, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Somerset Hills School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed (February 28, 2008.
- ^ Quint, Michael. "The Financier 'Who Knows What Is Going On'", The New York Times, August 6, 1988. Accessed November 27, 2007. "The great grandson of Anthony N. Brady, an Irish emigrant who was a friend and business associate of Thomas A. Edison, Nicholas Brady grew up on a large estate in Far Hills, N.J., that borders on the Dillon family estate."
- ^ "Belmont Loses Nijinsky to Newmarket", The New York Times, October 13, 1970. Accessed December 9, 2007. "Charles W. Engelhard of Far Hills, N.J., millionaire racehorse owner, gave approval today for his colt, Nijinsky, to race in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday."
- ^ a b Peterson, Iver. "ON POLITICS; It's Not Too Late or Irrational For Mr. Forbes to Aim Lower", The New York Times, January 16, 2000. Accessed December 11, 2007. "Even Governor Whitman, his Far Hills neighbor and longtime acquaintance, was a county freeholder before she tried for the Senate and then went on to win the governor's race."
[edit] External links
- Information page for Far Hills, Somerset County, New Jersey
- Somerset Hills School District
- Somerset Hills School District's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Somerset Hills School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills
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