Morris County, New Jersey
Chester Borough
Chester Borough is the compact historic village at the heart of the Chester area—a walkable downtown of preserved buildings, specialty shops, restaurants, civic spaces and seasonal activity surrounded entirely by Chester Township.
The Borough covers only about 1.6 square miles, but its Main Street commercial district and historic small-town character make it one of western Morris County's most recognizable downtown destinations.
Chester Borough Highlights
Historic Main Street
Downtown shopping & dining
Grove Street Park
Municipal Field
Field House
Historic Preservation
Shared Chester School District
Chester Area Pool
ZIP Code 07930
Chester Borough and Chester Township are separate municipalities. Chester Borough is completely surrounded by Chester Township. NJTGO maintains a separate Chester Township guide, so destinations physically located in the Township are not presented here as Borough attractions.
Chester Borough at a Glance
CountyMorris County
ZIP Code07930
AreaAbout 1.6 square miles
IncorporatedApril 3, 1930
GovernmentMayor & Borough Council
Borough Hall50 North Road
K–8 SchoolsShared Chester School District
High SchoolWest Morris Mendham High School
Why Visit Chester Borough?
Historic Main StreetThe Borough's identity is centered on an intact village streetscape filled with historic buildings, independent shops, restaurants and pedestrian-friendly downtown blocks.
Specialty ShoppingChester has long been known for gifts, home décor, antiques, clothing, specialty food and locally oriented retail rather than a conventional mall-style downtown.
Dining & CoffeeMain Street and nearby commercial areas support cafés, bakeries, casual restaurants, takeout and destination dining.
Community EventsMunicipal Field and downtown streets host seasonal activities, celebrations and community programs throughout the year.
Historic PreservationThe Borough formally protects and reviews historic resources through its Historic Preservation Commission and land-use process.
Small-Town ScaleChester's compact size makes downtown easy to explore on foot once visitors have parked.
Historic Main Street
Chester Borough developed as a rural agricultural village and commercial center, later influenced by improved road connections and the region's iron-mining industry. The Borough's historic resources remain concentrated most strongly in the downtown village and along Main Street.
Historic district: Borough planning documents identify more than 100 properties within the historic district, reflecting a broad collection of early homes, commercial buildings and civic architecture that give downtown Chester its distinctive character.
Village StreetscapeHistoric storefronts, older homes, brick walks and small commercial buildings create a downtown very different from the highway-oriented centers found elsewhere in Morris County.
Historic ReviewThe Historic Preservation Commission advises the Borough Council and land-use boards on preservation matters and continues to meet during 2026.
Iron & AgricultureFarming shaped the earliest settlement, while iron-mining activity helped expand the area's economy and transportation connections.
1930 IncorporationThe Borough separated from Chester Township in 1930, creating the compact municipality that exists today.
Historic Preservation
Chester Borough History
1730sEuropean settlers began establishing farms in the Chester area, many arriving from Long Island and other parts of the region.
1799Chester was established as a separate political entity; at the time it included both the surrounding Township and the downtown village.
19th CenturyRoad improvements, agriculture, commerce and regional iron mining helped Chester grow as a local village center.
1930Chester Borough was incorporated as a separate municipality, leaving Chester Township surrounding it on every side.
1985–PresentThe Borough has been recognized as a Tree City USA every year since 1985 through ongoing municipal shade-tree stewardship.
2026The Borough marked the nation's 250th anniversary with Chester 250 Day at Municipal Field and planted five Princeton American elms at Grove Street Park.
Borough Parks & Recreation
Although Chester Borough is geographically small, it maintains several public recreation spaces within the municipality.
Grove Street ParkOne of the Borough's primary recreation areas, with park space, basketball courts and the Field House. In 2026, five Princeton American elm trees were planted here to commemorate America's 250th anniversary.
Field House at Grove Street ParkLocated at 107 Seminary Avenue, the year-round rental facility includes an accessible event room, full kitchen, covered patio, gas grill and on-site parking.
Municipal FieldMain Street community field used for recreation and major Borough events, including Chester 250 Day in June 2026.
Collis Lane FieldAdditional Borough athletic/recreation space included in the municipality's facility-use system.
Borough ParkMunicipal open-space/recreation property maintained as part of the Borough park system.
Tree City USAChester Borough's Shade Tree Commission manages public trees in parks and rights-of-way and has helped maintain Tree City USA status since 1985.
Borough Parks & Recreation
Field House
Chester Area Pool
The Chester Area Pool is a Borough-administered shared community facility at 137 North Road. It serves residents of Chester Borough and Chester Township as well as non-resident members under the current membership program.
Boundary note: The pool is on school-district property north of the Borough rather than being a downtown Borough attraction. It is included here because Chester Borough operates and administers the facility.
The pool is membership-only; day passes are not offered to the general public. Its seasonal program includes swimming, lessons, early-bird swim, the Chester Riptides swim team and summer employment opportunities.
Chester Area Pool
Schools
Chester Borough and Chester Township share the Chester School District for Kindergarten through grade 8. The district explicitly serves both municipalities.
Dickerson Elementary SchoolGrades K–2
250 Route 24
Bragg Intermediate SchoolGrades 3–5
250 Route 24
Black River Middle SchoolGrades 6–8
North Road / Route 513
West Morris Mendham High SchoolGrades 9–12
Students continue into the West Morris Regional High School District.
Municipal-boundary note: The Chester K–8 school campuses are outside the compact Borough boundary, but Borough children attend them through the shared Chester School District.
Chester School District
Chester Library
The Joint Free Public Library of Chester Borough and Chester Township serves residents of both municipalities. The library is located at 250 West Main Street in Chester Township.
Shared resource, separate location: The library belongs in the Borough guide as an important service for Borough residents, but it is physically in Chester Township and should not be mistaken for a Borough attraction.
Chester Library250 West Main Street
Chester, NJ 07930
Books, digital resources, children's and teen programs, meeting spaces, local history and community programming.
Chester Library
2026 Borough Highlights
Chester 250 DayOn June 14, 2026, Municipal Field hosted a free community celebration with live music, historical reenactments, children's activities, arts and crafts and food trucks.
Five New American ElmsThe Shade Tree Commission planted five Princeton American elms at Grove Street Park in 2026, one for each 50-year period since the Declaration of Independence.
Active Public CalendarThe Borough maintains current Mayor & Council, Land Use Board, Environmental & Open Space, Board of Health and Historic Preservation meeting schedules online.
Downtown Redevelopment ReviewCurrent 2026 public notices include land-use and redevelopment proceedings involving Main Street properties, reflecting continued planning activity in the Borough.
Borough Government
Chester Borough Hall50 North Road
Chester, NJ 07930
908-879-3660
Administration, clerk, tax, construction, zoning, public works, recreation and other municipal services.
Official Borough Website
Construction & Land UseThe Borough maintains separate construction, zoning, code-enforcement and Land Use Board functions for property and development matters.
Staff Directory
Public NoticesOfficial ordinances, legal notices, budgets and land-use notices are published through the Borough's online public-notice system.
Public Notices
Getting Around Chester Borough
Main Street / Route 24The Borough's principal east-west street and the center of downtown shopping, dining and civic activity.
U.S. Route 206Runs along the western side of the village area and connects Chester with northern and southern Morris/Somerset County destinations.
Walk the DowntownMain Street's compact blocks make walking practical once visitors reach the central business district.
Driving Is Still ImportantChester has no passenger rail station, and most regional trips—including shared schools, the library, pool and Township attractions—require a car.
Chester Township Is Separate
Chester Township surrounds the Borough and contains many well-known Chester-area destinations, rural landscapes, parks and historic sites. Those places belong in the separate Chester Township NJTGO guide rather than being presented as if they were inside Chester Borough.
Examples: Cooper Gristmill, much of the Black River parkland, the Chester Library site and the larger rural/farm landscape are Township-side resources or destinations. Use the Township guide when exploring beyond the Borough boundary.
Explore Chester Township
Explore Chester Borough
Business & Shopping
Downtown stores, specialty retail, services and commercial centers.
Food & Drink
Restaurants, cafés, bakeries, casual dining and local food businesses.
Real Estate
Housing, taxes, zoning, buying, selling and residential resources.
Visiting & Lodging
Plan a downtown visit, explore events and find nearby lodging.
Classifieds
Community marketplace, notices, local sales and neighborhood information.
Jobs
Local employment, public-sector hiring and career resources.
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