Morris County, New Jersey
Chatham Borough & Chatham Township
Two municipalities, one closely connected Chatham community. Chatham Borough brings a walkable Main Street, commuter rail, historic districts, shops and restaurants, while Chatham Township extends south and west through residential neighborhoods, Green Village, trails, recreation and the Great Swamp landscape.
NJTGO combines both municipalities in one Chatham guide because residents share major community institutions—including the school district, public library, recreation program, senior services and community garden—while still maintaining separate municipal governments and local services.
One Shared Chatham Guide
Chatham Borough
Chatham Township
Shared Community Resources
School District of the Chathams
Library of the Chathams
Joint Chatham Recreation
Senior Center of the Chathams
Chatham Community Garden
Important: Chatham Borough and Chatham Township are legally separate municipalities with separate governing bodies, police departments, public works operations, tax offices and land-use rules. NJTGO's shared Chatham guide reflects how the community functions together without treating the two governments as one municipality.
The Chathams at a Glance
CountyMorris County
ZIP Code07928
Borough AreaAbout 2.4 square miles
Township AreaAbout 9.3–9.4 square miles
Borough GovernmentMayor & 6-member Council
Township Government5-member Township Committee
Shared SchoolsSchool District of the Chathams
RailNJ TRANSIT in Chatham Borough
Two Municipalities, Two Distinct Settings
Chatham Borough
The Borough is the compact, more walkable side of Chatham. Main Street/Route 124 forms its commercial spine, with the train station, library, restaurants, shops, civic buildings and historic districts concentrated near the center.
- Historic Main Street business district
- NJ TRANSIT Chatham Station
- Chatham Borough Farmers' Market
- Memorial Park and Memorial Park Pool
- Shepard Kollock Park and Passaic River access
- Older residential neighborhoods and commuter-oriented town center
Chatham Borough
Chatham Township
The Township is geographically much larger and more residential, stretching toward Green Village and the Great Swamp. Its landscape includes wooded ridges, wetlands, trails, neighborhood parks and lower-density residential areas.
- Great Swamp access and natural areas
- Green Village
- Colony Pool Club
- Nash, Shunpike, Esternay and Mountainview parks
- Green Village Conservation and other local trails
- Residential neighborhoods shaped by open space and terrain
Chatham Township
Explore the Chathams
Downtown ChathamWalk Main Street for independent shopping, restaurants, services, historic architecture and a traditional small-town streetscape.
Great Swamp CountryChatham Township's western landscape is strongly influenced by the Great Swamp, wetlands, wildlife habitat and preserved open space.
Chatham PlayhouseThe community theater on North Passaic Avenue has long been one of the Chathams' best-known cultural institutions.
Local ParksFrom Shepard Kollock and Memorial Park in the Borough to Nash, Shunpike, Esternay and Mountainview in the Township, recreation is distributed across both communities.
Community PoolsMemorial Park Pool in the Borough and Colony Pool in the Township give the Chathams two distinct summer swimming traditions.
Farmers' MarketThe Borough's Saturday Farmers' Market brings vendors to Railroad Plaza South from spring into late fall.
Community GardenThe Joint Chatham Community Garden at 87 Woodland Road brings residents of both municipalities together around shared garden plots.
Historic PlacesMain Street, Green Village, the Gibbons horse-breeding legacy and Mount Vernon School/Township Hall help tell several centuries of local history.
Main Street & Chatham Borough
Chatham Borough grew around an important Passaic River crossing, an early travel route and later the Morris Turnpike and railroad. Today, Main Street remains the community's most recognizable commercial and civic corridor.
Historic district character: The Borough's officially designated Main Street Historic District preserves a streetscape whose history reaches back to early settlement. The corridor has been known at different times as the Minisink Trail, King's Highway, Morris Turnpike and Route 24/124, carrying travelers from the colonial period through the railroad and commuter eras.
Walkable DowntownShops, restaurants, services, the library and railroad station are concentrated in a relatively compact central area.
Railroad LegacyThe Morris and Essex Railroad reached Chatham in 1837 and helped transform the community into a residential commuter town.
East Main StreetColonial-era and historic structures contribute to the Borough's architectural identity near the eastern end of Main Street.
Passaic RiverThe river helped determine the original settlement location and continues to shape parks, open space and the Borough's eastern edge.
Historic Preservation
Chatham Township, Green Village & the Great Swamp
Chatham Township's identity is closely tied to land and landscape. Much of the municipality lies within the Great Swamp watershed, with the Passaic River along its southern border and wooded ridges overlooking wetlands and open space.
Green VillageThe historic village area reflects the Township's agricultural and small-industry past, with old houses, roads and community institutions near the Great Swamp.
Great Swamp LegacyIn 1959, Chatham and neighboring communities helped oppose plans for a major airport in the Great Swamp, contributing to preservation of the area as open space and wildlife habitat.
Rose-Growing HistoryIn the late 19th century, the Township became an important greenhouse and rose-growing center, including production of prized American Beauty roses.
Trails & NatureResidents and visitors can use local trails including Green Village Conservation Trail, Giralda Farm Preserve Trail, Hillside Trail and Shunpike Trail.
Township History
Township Parks & Recreation
Parks, Pools & Joint Recreation
Chatham Borough and Chatham Township jointly sponsor an extensive recreation program while each municipality maintains its own parks and facilities.
Joint Chatham RecreationYouth and adult offerings include baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, football, cheerleading, field hockey, cross country, track, wrestling, tennis, golf and seasonal camps.
Memorial Park PoolBorough-owned pool on North Passaic Avenue. The 2026 season runs through Labor Day and includes resident and area non-resident membership/day-pass options.
Colony Pool ClubTownship-owned spring-fed swimming facility with sand and grass areas plus six public tennis courts at Spring Street and School Avenue.
Shepard Kollock ParkBorough park with fields, playground, picnic shelter, walking trail, boat launch and fenced off-leash dog area.
Nash ParkTownship recreation site with active-use facilities; a playground replacement project began in 2026.
Nature RecreationTownship trails and nearby Great Swamp destinations add hiking, birding and wildlife viewing to the Chatham recreation mix.
Joint Chatham Recreation
School District of the Chathams
Chatham Borough and Chatham Township share one public-school system. The School District of the Chathams currently serves about 3,600 students and reports approximately 420 certificated staff.
Milton Avenue School16 Milton Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
Primary elementary school in Chatham Borough.
Southern Boulevard School192 Southern Boulevard
Chatham, NJ 07928
Primary elementary school in Chatham Township.
Washington Avenue School102 Washington Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
Primary elementary school in Chatham Borough.
Lafayette School221 Lafayette Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
Upper-elementary campus serving the shared district.
Chatham Middle School480 Main Street
Chatham, NJ 07928
Middle-school campus on Main Street.
Chatham High School255 Lafayette Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
High school serving students from both municipalities.
School District of the Chathams
Library of the Chathams
The Library of the Chathams at 214 Main Street is a shared public library governed for the benefit of both Chatham Borough and Chatham Township residents.
Major 2026 investment: In March 2026, the library received approval for $2.45 million in state funding toward a major modernization project. Planned improvements include a renovated children's room, new meeting and collaboration spaces, a business center, a dedicated STEM room and significant HVAC upgrades.
Library of the Chathams214 Main Street
Chatham, NJ 07928
973-635-0603
Books, digital resources, children's services, study areas, community programming and local information for both municipalities.
Library Website
2026 Community Highlights
Library renovation funding: The shared Library of the Chathams received approval for $2.45 million in state funding toward modernization and infrastructure improvements.
Nash Field playground: Chatham Township began a playground replacement project at Nash Field in April 2026.
Chatham Borough Farmers' Market: The 2026 market runs Saturdays from May 16 through November 14, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., at Railroad Plaza South, with no market on July 4.
Memorial Park Pool: The Borough's 2026 pool season continues through Labor Day, September 7, with memberships available to Borough and Township residents as well as area non-residents.
Township mobile app: Chatham Township launched its official “Chatham Township NJ” mobile app in July 2026 for notices and municipal information.
A Shared History with Different Paths
European settlement in the Chatham area began in the early 18th century near an important Passaic River crossing and established travel route. The community adopted the name Chatham in 1773 in honor of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, a defender of colonial rights in Parliament.
Chatham Township was incorporated in 1806 and originally encompassed a much larger area that included places that later became separate municipalities. The railroad's arrival in 1837 accelerated growth. Chatham's more densely settled village ultimately separated and incorporated as Chatham Borough in 1897, while the Township retained its committee form of government and a more expansive residential and open-space landscape.
Gibbons Horse Barn: associated with William Gibbons and the celebrated racehorse Fashion, an important reminder of the area's 19th-century horse-breeding history.
Mount Vernon School: the former one-room schoolhouse became Chatham Township Hall in the mid-20th century, linking educational and civic history.
Government & Resident Resources
Chatham Borough
Borough Hall
54 Fairmount Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
973-635-0674
Mayor and six-member Borough Council, with separate Borough police, public works, tax, land-use and municipal services.
Borough Website
Chatham Township
Municipal Building
58 Meyersville Road
Chatham, NJ 07928
973-635-4600
Five-member Township Committee, with separate Township police, public works, tax, construction/land-use and municipal services.
Township Website
Library of the ChathamsShared public library at 214 Main Street.
Library
Senior Center of the ChathamsPrograms, wellness, education, support and referral services for older adults.
Senior Center
Getting Around
NJ TRANSIT RailChatham Station in the Borough provides Morris & Essex Line service, making rail a defining part of the Borough's commuter identity.
Main Street / Route 124The primary east-west corridor through Chatham Borough links downtown with Madison and Summit-area destinations.
Route 24Nearby highway access connects the Chathams with I-78, I-287, Short Hills, Summit and regional employment centers.
Township DrivingChatham Township is more spread out, and a car is generally the practical way to reach Green Village, trails, recreation sites and residential areas.
Walking DowntownChatham Borough's central business district is well suited to combining shopping, dining, the library and rail station on foot.
Cycling & TrailsLocal parks, trails and the Borough's compact street network create both recreational and short-distance bicycle opportunities.
Chatham Borough Farmers' Market
The 2026 Chatham Borough Farmers' Market operates Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at Railroad Plaza South off Fairmount Avenue, from May 16 through November 14, with no market on July 4.
Shared-community destination: Although operated by Chatham Borough, the market serves residents and visitors from both Chatham municipalities and nearby towns, making it a natural part of the combined Chatham guide.
Farmers' Market
Nearby Communities
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