Suburban homes and rich history in Morris
The past lives inside the present in Morris Township: This sprawling suburban community has just as much of a rich history as neighboring Morristown to the east, known as the “military capital of the American Revolution.” Founded in 1740, Morris was named for a colonial governor, and is only 25 years younger than the nearby town. Morris and the surrounding Washington Valley mostly existed as farmland during their early years, and the former Fort Nonsense site continues to offer residents sweeping views with hints of history. “This is a different market, it’s not like the New Yorkers moving into trendier places like Montclair, east of here,” says Frank LaMorte, broker associate with Lattimer Realty. “You’re going to see larger properties on larger parcels of land.”
Colonial styles highlight the area's Revolutionary-era heritage
Diverse housing immerses residents into this region’s Colonial history – especially, and appropriately, various styles of colonial homes that hearken back to tastes of an earlier time. This forested community also includes Tudor-style homes, bungalows and ranch-style homes, many of them also expressing 18th-century influences. Kevin Saum, an agent with Align Team and a resident of Morris County for over 30 years says, “Morris Township is the donut that surrounds the donut hole of Morristown, which has the bars, entertainment, and restaurants. Morris Township is more of your residential, spacious, and bigger-house neighborhood, and bigger prices come with that.” Homes here range in price from $600,000 to $800,000.
Morris School District gets an A-minus
Morris School District earns an A-minus from Niche. Kids can attend Hillcrest School, which covers kindergarten through second grade, and earns an A-minus. At Sussex Avenue School, third to fifth graders learn in an environment rated B-plus. Frelinghuysen Middle is for sixth to eighth graders, and it earns a B. Morristown High is known for having a STEM Academy, where students can study engineering and environmental sustainability. The school earns an A. The Rabbinical College of America is also located in Morristown, for those who wish to pursue a degree in religious studies.
Busy restaurant scene nearby in Morristown
The area is connected to the busy commercial center of Morristown through U.S. Route 202, plus there are still backyard restaurants that add to the local charm. “You have Tiff's Ale House and a few pizzerias, and you’re only 10 minutes or less from all the fun that’s happening in Morristown,” Saum says. Tiff's is a spacious venue that serves up grill classics like burgers and tacos in a white-tablecloth atmosphere suitable for both casual meals and special occasions, while also offering a wide selection of brews from the bar. Portofino’s Restaurant is the place for a greatest hits list of Italian food, such as chicken marsala and penne alla vodka. Local charm can be found in Stephanie’s Deli, an old-school corner spot that offers hot sandwiches, cold sandwiches and even some Latin American items like empanadas. There’s a Whole Foods on the east end, along state Route 24, for a grocery option near Morristown's expansive restaurant scene.
Sports at The Central Park of Morris County
One of the neighborhood’s biggest green spaces is Lewis Morris Park, which stretches across the west end. Spread over more than 1,000 acres, it offers a place for residents to explore numerous activities, from boating to hiking. The Central Park of Morris County offers a more traditional experience on the north end, with ball fields, a playground and a dog park. Nodding to the area’s history, the Patriots’ Path is a place for easygoing outdoor recreation, offering trails that pass through interesting terrain – some parts even trek across cinder beds that used to be old railroads. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum aims to boost enjoyment of horticulture with nearly 2,000 specimens planted across 127 acres. It's open daily for free.
The area has two golf courses: Morris County Golf Club and Spring Brook Country Club. Both are private 18-hole courses that opened near the turn of the 20th century.
Route 24 leads to amenities, like groceries and restaurants
Mount Kemble Avenue, another name for Route 202, snakes along the east end and is one of the neighborhood’s major thoroughfares; it intersects with Interstate 287 on the south side. This is for north-south travel, though, and when it comes to east-west corridors, Morris Township has many, including Hanover Avenue, which goes past Central Park of Morris County, and Route 24, which leads to the high school and the commercial amenities of Morristown. New York City is 35 miles away using state Route 24 and I-78. Newark Liberty International Airport is about 25 miles.
