The town of Hopatcong has a rich history, given its relationship with New York City. It borders Lake Hopatcong, a partially man-made lake that is now a source of much recreation and desirable real estate, and is the biggest lake in New Jersey. The community, 40 miles (64 km) west of New York City, began as a summer getaway for the wealthy in NYC who primarily sought access to the lake. An amusement park, called “Bertrand’s Island”, sprang up and was accessible via the lake, trolley or by car through Mount Arlington. The construction of Interstate 80, a highway that stretches from Teaneck, New Jersey, all the way across the country to San Francisco, California, triggered rapid growth in New York City’s suburbs and led to Hopatcong becoming a permanent residential community.
The area had been called “Brookland” in the 19th century and the lake that was expanded to become Lake Hopatcong had been known as “Great Pond” or “Brookland Pond”.[21][22] During the 1830s, the name of the community had been modified to “Brooklyn”, to match the spelling of the city on New York’s Long Island.[23] Hopatcong was originally established as the Town of Brooklyn on April 2, 1898, from portions of Byram Township. On March 22, 1901, the Borough of Hopatcong replaced Brooklyn.[24] In 1922, residents of Byram Cove, Northwood, and other areas to the west of the original land area of the borough, voted to leave Byram Township and join Hopatcong, leaving the Borough with its current borders.[25]

In 2008, New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Verona #1 in Essex County and #3 in New Jersey as “Top Places to Live in New Jersey”.[21]

Middlesex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1913, from portions of Piscataway, based on the results of a referendum held on May 6, 1913.[21] The borough’s name derives from Middlesex, England.[22][23]

Located just north of the historic town of Morristown (separated by a thin strip of Morris Township) and adjacent to the regional Morristown Municipal Airport, Hanover Township offers many public attractions including the Whippany Railway Museum,[22] the Frelinghuysen Arboretum[23] and the Morris County Library. Patriots’ Path, a wilderness walkway and bike trail that stretches for 26 miles (42 km), also passes through the township along the Whippany River.[24]

Hammonton was settled in 1812 and was named for John Hammond Coffin, a son of one of the community’s earliest settlers, William Coffin, with the “d” in what was originally “Hammondton” disappearing over time.[22][23] It was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1866, from portions of Hamilton Township and Mullica Township.[24] It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad that is used by NJ Transit’s Atlantic City Line.

Ramsey was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 10, 1908, from portions of Hohokus Township (whose remnants are now Mahwah Township). Additional territory was annexed from Waldwick in 1921, and portions of the borough were ceded to Saddle River in 1925.[21]

While the area of today’s Branchburg has a history antedating the American Revolutionary War, the township itself was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 5, 1845, from portions of Bridgewater Township.[20] The township is named for its location at a point where branches of the Raritan River merge.[21]

Fairview was formed on December 19, 1894, from portions of Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.[20][21] The borough was formed during the “Boroughitis” phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[22] The borough is named for its view of the Hackensack River valley.[23]

[19][20][21][22] As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough’s population was 13,574,[23][24][24][25] reflecting an increase of 734 (+5.7%) from the 12,840 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 36 (+0.3%) from the 12,804 counted in the 1990 Census.[26]

Highland Park was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1905, when it broke away from what was then known as Raritan Township (present-day Edison).[20] The borough was named for its location above the Raritan River.[21]