Tunis-Ellicks House & Museum
At 16 Village Road, the circa-1795 Tunis-Ellicks House is headquarters of the Harding Township Historical Society. The restored East Jersey cottage interprets early farm life and supports exhibits, archives and programs.
Harding Township · Morris County
Harding Township, New Jersey
Harding Township is one of Morris County's most distinctly rural communities, shaped by historic crossroads villages, estate landscapes, working countryside and unusually large areas of permanently protected open space. New Vernon is the civic heart of the township, while part of Green Village lies within Harding along its eastern border.
The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the Jockey Hollow portion of Morristown National Historical Park, Bayne Park, historic New Vernon and thousands of acres of preserved open space give Harding a character very different from the more densely developed suburbs around it.
Harding at a Glance2020 Census: 3,871 residents
About 20.5 square miles
Formed in 1922
New Vernon · 07976
Green Village · 07935 (shared with Chatham Township)
Entirely in the Highlands Planning Area
Harding Township School · PreK–8
Madison High School · Grades 9–12
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
About 20.5 square miles
Formed in 1922
New Vernon · 07976
Green Village · 07935 (shared with Chatham Township)
Entirely in the Highlands Planning Area
Harding Township School · PreK–8
Madison High School · Grades 9–12
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
New Vernon & Green Village
New Vernon
New Vernon is entirely within Harding Township and serves as its principal village and civic center. Town Hall, Bayne Park, Harding Township School, Kemmerer Library, the post office and several historic institutions use the New Vernon address.
Green Village
Green Village is a historic unincorporated community that extends across both Harding Township and Chatham Township. Harding's portion includes part of the historic village landscape and surrounding residential countryside.
NJTGO directory note: New Vernon and Green Village both route to the Harding Township guide. Because Green Village crosses the municipal boundary, confirm whether a specific address is in Harding or Chatham Township when municipal services, schools, taxes or permits matter.
Four Historic Crossroads Villages
Harding's own land-use planning describes the township's rural pattern as organized around four historic crossroads villages.
New VernonThe principal community focal point, centered around Village Road, Lee's Hill Road, Bayne Park, municipal offices, the post office and houses of worship.
Green VillageA historic crossroads district that continues across Harding's eastern boundary into Chatham Township.
PleasantvilleA smaller historic settlement embedded within Harding's open countryside.
LogansvilleOne of Harding's long-established rural crossroads communities.
Open Space Defines Harding
6,200+
Preserved Acres
Nearly half of Harding's land area in the Township master plan
7,800+
Great Swamp Acres
Regional federal refuge extending beyond Harding
244+
Bird Species
Documented at Great Swamp NWR
20.5
Square Miles
Low-density rural township
Harding lies entirely in the New Jersey Highlands Planning Area. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Morristown National Historical Park are the largest preservation landscapes, supplemented by county reservations, municipal parks and privately protected conservation land.
Parks & Outdoor Recreation
Bayne ParkMore than 13 acres in New Vernon with a pond, open lawns, picnic areas, historic WPA-era stone footbridges, a bridle trail and seasonal winter recreation. Howard Bayne donated the land to the Township in 1937.
Great Swamp National Wildlife RefugeA nationally significant wetland, forest and grassland complex supporting extensive wildlife and bird habitat.
Jockey HollowThe Morristown National Historical Park landscape reaches into Harding and preserves Revolutionary War terrain and trail connections.
Loantaka Brook ReservationMorris County's trail network crosses Harding as part of an 850+ acre reservation with nearly 10 miles of paths.
Memorial Park & Show GroundsTownship civic and recreation properties overseen with guidance from Harding's Recreation Advisory Committee.
Barrett FieldMunicipal playing field serving community recreation.
Historic Harding
The Tramp House
This simple stone structure was built around 1870 as temporary lodging for itinerant workers and Civil War veterans seeking farm work. The Historical Society later saved it and moved it to the Tunis-Ellicks property.
New Vernon Historic District
The village retains an unusually intact rural crossroads character with historic houses, community buildings, parkland and streetscapes centered near Village Road and Blue Mill Road.
The Tunis-Ellicks House, Tramp House and Historical Society archives are generally visited by appointment or during scheduled programs and open-house events.
Harding Township Historical SocietyEducation
Harding Township SchoolPreK through grade 8 at 34 Lee's Hill Road in New Vernon. The 2026–27 district information describes elementary grades PreK–4 and middle-school grades 5–8 in two buildings on the same campus.
Madison High SchoolHarding students in grades 9–12 attend Madison High School through the sending/receiving relationship with Madison Public Schools.
Kemmerer Library · Harding Township
Kemmerer Library serves Harding from 19 Blue Mill Road, New Vernon, in the township's civic center. It provides collections, children's and adult programming, and community meeting space.
Current posted hours: Monday–Friday 10 AM–5 PM · Saturday 10 AM–1 PM · 973-267-2665.
Kemmerer LibraryTownship Government
Harding uses New Jersey's Township form of government. Five Township Committee members are elected to staggered three-year terms, and the Committee selects the mayor annually.
2026 MayorTimothy Jones.
2026 Deputy MayorNicole Lacz.
Municipal Offices21 Blue Mill Road, New Vernon, NJ 07976.
Town Hall HoursMonday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:00 PM.
Main Phone973-267-8000.
Township ServicesPolice, public works, construction, zoning, finance, tax, clerk/registrar, health and emergency-management services.
Places of Worship & Community Institutions
First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon2 Lee's Hill Road, New Vernon.
Church of Christ the King16 Blue Mill Road, New Vernon.
Chinese Community Church272 Green Village Road, Green Village.
Harding Township Historical Society16 Village Road, New Vernon.
Volunteer Emergency ServicesNew Vernon and Green Village volunteer fire organizations contribute to Harding's emergency-response network.
Civic OrganizationsGarden, historical, recreation, open-space, land-trust and civic groups are prominent parts of township life.
Planning, Preservation & 2026 Development
Harding's planning policy emphasizes preservation of its low-density rural pattern, historic villages and open-space network. Current municipal documents show continued 2026 work involving the New Vernon Redevelopment Plan and Glen Alpin/Hurstmont redevelopment area. These are active planning and redevelopment processes, not completed projects.
Harding Master PlanNearby Communities
MadisonImmediately northeast, with downtown shopping, rail service and Madison High School.
Chatham TownshipShares the Green Village community with Harding.
Long Hill TownshipSouth and southeast of Harding, including Gillette, Millington and Stirling.
Morris TownshipNorth of Harding and part of the greater Morristown area.
Mendham TownshipRural residential neighbor to the west.
Bernardsville & Bernards TownshipSomerset County neighbors along Harding's southern boundary.
Explore Harding in Depth
The supporting NJTGO pages cover Harding, New Vernon and the Harding portion of Green Village in greater detail.
Business & ShoppingVillage businesses, local services and practical nearby shopping.
Food & DrinkHarding-area dining and carefully identified nearby choices where appropriate.
Real EstateEstate properties, village homes, land-use rules and rural-property due diligence.
Visiting & LodgingGreat Swamp, historic New Vernon, outdoor recreation and regional lodging.
ClassifiedsCommunity marketplace and local notices.
JobsCurrent local and nearby employment resources.
Reach Harding, New Vernon & Green Village
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