Butler
Butler is a compact Morris County borough with a historic Main Street, deep industrial roots, neighborhood parks, a community swim club and convenient access to the Route 23 corridor.
The borough grew around the hard-rubber industry and railroad, and that history still shapes its identity today—from the former mill landscape to the Butler Museum in the historic railroad station.
Butler, NJ — A small borough with a traditional Main Street, residential neighborhoods and a long manufacturing history.
Butler at a Glance
Butler covers a little more than two square miles in northern Morris County. Its compact size gives the borough a close-knit feel, while Main Street, Route 23 and nearby regional roads connect residents with shopping, jobs and recreation throughout northern New Jersey.
Explore Butler
Main Street & Butler's Historic Core
Main Street is one of Butler's defining features. The corridor grew alongside the borough's factories and railroad, creating the shops, homes and civic institutions needed by a rapidly expanding industrial community.
The Butler Museum maintains an extensive Historic Address Highlights collection documenting the changing uses of individual Main Street and Route 23 properties. It turns an ordinary walk through downtown into a self-guided look at former mills, stores, professional offices and neighborhood businesses.
From Hard Rubber to the Borough of Butler
What became Butler was once known as West Bloomingdale. The community changed dramatically after Richard Butler became involved with the local rubber industry in 1879. The growing factory operation attracted workers, housing, stores and other community institutions.
The settlement took the name Butler in 1881, when a post office was established in Richard Butler's honor. The Butler Hard Rubber Company later became part of the American Hard Rubber Company, while other rubber and manufacturing operations expanded the industrial base along Main Street.
On March 13, 1901, the New Jersey Legislature incorporated Butler as a separate borough. William Kiel, an important figure in the local rubber industry, became the borough's first mayor.
Butler Museum
The Butler Museum preserves the borough's industrial, railroad and community history inside the former New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad station.
221 Main Street
Butler, NJ 07405
973-838-7222
Open the first and third Saturdays of each month, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Butler MuseumExhibits cover the American Hard Rubber Company, Thomas Edison connections, Butler and the Statue of Liberty, the railroad, fire department, military history, schools, churches, telephones and everyday life.
Museum hours and volunteer schedules can change. Confirm before making a special trip.
Parks, Swimming & Recreation
Schools
Butler Public Schools uses the motto “Small District Big Impact” and operates three public schools within the borough.
98 Decker Road
Butler, NJ 07405
973-492-2037
Elementary school serving the borough's younger students.
3 Pearl Place
Butler, NJ 07405
973-492-2079
Middle-school campus serving the district's intermediate grades.
38 Bartholdi Avenue
Butler, NJ 07405
973-492-2000
Home of the Butler Bulldogs and the district's high-school academic and athletic programs.
Butler Public Library
The Butler Public Library shares the municipal complex at One Ace Road and is part of the Main Library Alliance. Butler residents can use their library cards across participating libraries in Morris County and many other northern New Jersey libraries.
1 Ace Road
Butler, NJ 07405
973-838-3262
Books, digital resources, community programs, research services and reciprocal borrowing.
Butler Public LibraryA Municipal Utility Tradition
One of Butler's more unusual local features is its municipally operated electric utility. The borough has continuously operated an electric utility since the early 1900s and today serves customers in Butler, Kinnelon, Bloomingdale and small portions of West Milford and Riverdale.
Getting Around Butler
Borough Government & Resident Resources
One Ace Road
Butler, NJ 07405
973-838-7200
Current business hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Municipal news, meetings, forms, taxes, utilities, recreation, public notices and department information.
Borough of ButlerEmergency: 911
Non-emergency: 973-838-4100
Local law enforcement and public-safety services.
973-838-7208
Electric, water, sewer, streets and related municipal services.
Nearby Communities
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