East and West Main Street remain central to Borough Hall, schools, houses of worship, the library, historic resources and locally oriented businesses.
Morris County · Main Street, Morris Canal & Park Lake
Rockaway Borough, New Jersey
Rockaway Borough is a compact Morris County community with a distinct village-scale identity, an unusually deep industrial and Revolutionary-era history, established residential neighborhoods, local schools, municipal parks and a traditional Main Street corridor.
Located between Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 46, the Borough is easy to reach while still feeling different from the much larger Rockaway Township that surrounds much of the area. Rockaway Borough became its own municipality in 1894 after separating from Rockaway Township and today remains an independent community with its own government, K–8 school district, parks, library and local business districts.
CountyMorris County
GovernmentMayor & six-member Council
Borough Hall1 East Main Street
ZIP Code07866
MayorThomas Mulligan
Public SchoolsRockaway Borough School District
High SchoolMorris Hills High School
Historic ThemeMorris Canal & iron industry
Rockaway Borough is not Rockaway Township. The two are separate municipalities with separate governments, schools, parks, housing markets and business districts. Looking for Rockaway Township, including Green Pond, Hibernia, Lake Telemark, White Meadow Lake, Rockaway Townsquare or the Mount Hope retail corridor? Visit the Rockaway Township guide.
Explore Rockaway Borough
Rockaway Borough has enough distinct local business, dining, housing, community and employment activity to support its own complete NJTGO page set.
Business & ShoppingMain Street, U.S. 46, neighborhood services, healthcare, retail, contractors and local professional businesses.
Food & DrinkRestaurants, pizza, cafés, takeout, bars and local food businesses physically located in Rockaway Borough.
Real EstateHistoric homes, established neighborhoods, multifamily housing, taxes, utilities, flood considerations and buyer guidance.
Visiting & LodgingRockaway history, museum, Park Lake, parks, community events and practical nearby hotels.
ClassifiedsCommunity marketplace, yard sales, local notices, lost and found, lessons and resident submissions.
JobsLocal schools, municipal hiring, U.S. 46 businesses, healthcare, services and regional employment.
A compact historic community
Rockaway Borough covers only about 2.1 square miles, but its built environment includes an older Main Street core, 19th-century homes, established neighborhoods, municipal parks, schools and a substantial U.S. 46 business corridor.
The Borough's highway corridor supports retail, services, fitness, automotive, arts and employment while connecting quickly to Denville, Dover and I-80.
Because the Borough is compact, parks, schools and municipal facilities sit close to residential streets rather than being dispersed across a large township.
Iron, revolution, canal & industry
Rockaway Village was settled in the early 1700s and became a center of trade, manufacture and religion. Its location near productive iron mines helped make the area important during the Revolutionary period, while the arrival of the Morris Canal in the 1830s accelerated industrial and commercial growth.
Settlers established what became Rockaway Village, with early mills, forges, stores and religious institutions.
The Rockaway area became a focal point of iron manufacture and Revolutionary activity.
The canal ran through the heart of the village, creating basins and supporting the shipment of coal, iron and manufactured goods.
Rockaway separated from Rockaway Township and became an independent borough.
199 West Main Street, beside Donatoni Community Park. The Historical Committee maintains exhibits and schedules public open houses and special programs.
40 East Main Street. The historic house is associated with Captain Stephen Jackson, a Revolutionary-era Rockaway patriot.
35 Church Street. Rockaway's Presbyterian history reaches back to the 18th century; the present church building dates to 1832.
Parks, fields & Park Lake
Rockaway Borough maintains a substantial recreation system for a municipality of its size, with neighborhood parks, athletic fields, riverfront spaces and Park Lake.
165 Lakeside Drive. Borough lake and recreation area with a seasonal beach zone, picnic area, park space and perimeter walkway.
199 West Main Street. Community park located beside the Rockaway Borough Historical Committee Museum.
109 Lakeside Drive. Athletic and recreation facility maintained by the Borough.
33 Maple Avenue. Borough park and recreation facility in the historic central community.
85 West Lincoln Avenue. Municipal athletic field serving community recreation programs.
Jackson Avenue River Park and Beach Street River Park provide public green space along the Rockaway River corridor.
Community recreation: Rockaway Borough supports soccer, basketball, baseball/softball, football and other seasonal programs. Facility rules and access vary by location and season.
Education in Rockaway Borough
Rockaway Borough operates its own Pre-K–8 district. Borough students then attend Morris Hills High School in the Morris Hills Regional School District.
37 Keller Avenue
Rockaway, NJ 07866
95 East Main Street
Rockaway, NJ 07866
520 West Main Street
Rockaway, NJ 07866
2026–27 school year: Rockaway Borough School District is preparing to welcome students back on September 8, 2026. The district has also announced Dr. Jennifer Gallegly as the new principal of Lincoln Elementary School.
Rockaway Borough Library
The Rockaway Borough Library at 82 East Main Street is a central community institution adjacent to the Veterans Memorial. It provides library services, programming and public resources through the Morris Automated Information Network.
12:00 PM–8:00 PM
10:00 AM–6:00 PM
10:00 AM–2:00 PM · Closed Sunday
Rockaway Borough · Fall 2026
Several Borough and Historical Committee events are still ahead as of September 1, 2026.
8:00 AM–3:00 PM, rain or shine. Registration is due by September 8 through the Rockaway Borough Historical Committee.
Environmental Commission cleanup from 9:00 AM to noon at Jackson Avenue River Park.
The Historical Committee Museum resumes public open-house programming after its summer renovation period.
Rockaway Borough participates in the regional Pathways of History program with museum access and historical programming.
Historical Committee program scheduled from 6:00 PM–9:00 PM at the Assembly of God Church.
Fall family program shared with Rockaway Township. Registration opens September 10 and is limited to 48 families combined.
Borough government
Rockaway Borough is governed by an elected mayor and six Borough Council members. The mayor serves a four-year term and two council seats are elected each year to three-year terms.
Thomas Mulligan
1 East Main Street
Rockaway, NJ 07866
Generally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Community Center, 21–25 Union Street.
Nearby communities & regional connections
Separate surrounding municipality with Green Pond, White Meadow Lake, Picatinny Arsenal, extensive open space and the Mount Hope retail district.
Nearby downtown, restaurants, healthcare, recreation and NJ TRANSIT rail access.
Regional downtown and transit center with NJ TRANSIT rail, shopping, dining and employment.
Neighboring borough with additional Route 15/46 access, businesses and local recreation.
Large neighboring township south of Dover and Rockaway with County College of Morris, parks and Route 10 commerce.
Provides direct regional access toward Parsippany and New York-bound routes to the east and Roxbury/Mount Olive to the west.
Reach Rockaway Borough residents and visitors
NJTGO enhanced placements can give local businesses, restaurants, employers, real-estate professionals and community organizations stronger visibility throughout the Rockaway Borough guide.
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