Short Hills, New Jersey

Short Hills, New Jersey
Census designated place

Downtown Short Hills
Short Hills, New Jersey

Location of Millburn in Essex County. Inset: Location of Essex County in New Jersey.

Coordinates: 40°44′21″N 74°19′39″W / 40.739157°N 74.327442°W / 40.739157; -74.327442Coordinates: 40°44′21″N 74°19′39″W / 40.739157°N 74.327442°W / 40.739157; -74.327442
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Essex
Township Millburn
Area[1]
 • Total 5.211 sq mi (13.497 km2)
 • Land 5.196 sq mi (13.459 km2)
 • Water 0.015 sq mi (0.039 km2)  0.29%
Elevation[2] 377 ft (115 m)
Population (2010 Census)[3]
 • Total 13,165
 • Density 2,533.5/sq mi (978.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07078[4]
FIPS code 3467320[1][5]
GNIS feature ID 02584025[1][6]

Short Hills is an unincorporated community and census designated place (CDP) located within Millburn Township, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States.[7][8] It is a popular commuter town for residents who work in New York City. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 13,165.[3]

It is notable for being an affluent community. The median listing price of its homes was $1.75 million in February 2012, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal, citing data from Zillow.[9] In 2014, Time magazine named it the "Richest Town in America" with seven in ten household incomes above $150,000 per year, the highest percentage in the United States.[10][11]

History

Beginnings

Originally, the area that would become Short Hills was part of Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey, and its eponymous hills are thought to have played a role in the movement of the Continental Army under George Washington during the Battle of Springfield.

Short Hills began as a planned community, when Stewart Hartshorn (who became wealthy from developing, perfecting and manufacturing the self-acting shade roller) purchased 13 acres (53,000 m2) of land in Millburn Township, near the present Hobart Avenue, Parsonage Hill Road, and Chatham Road. Hartshorn's purpose was to create "a harmonious community for people who appreciated nature," and "where natural beauty would not be destroyed by real estate developments, and where people of congenial tastes could dwell together." He later increased his land holdings to 56 acres (230,000 m2) for himself and 1,552 acres (6.28 km2) for the whole village, with each plot not owned by Hartshorn being no larger than 1/2 acre.

Hartshorn chose the name "Short Hills" because it reflected the topography of the region, and also because the local Lenape Native Americans used that same name to describe the region. One local resident suggested that he call his village "Hartshornville," but he refused, quietly content with Short Hills sharing his initials.

Railroad and postal connections

Short Hills Station, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad ca. 1895

Hartshorn situated his "ideal town" near enough to a railroad to allow for an easy commute to Hoboken and, from there, to New York City. Hence, his decision in 1879 to build, at his own expense, a railroad station along the original Morris and Essex Railroad line. He also persuaded the United States Post Office to open a branch in his new railroad station in 1880, and in fact, the Post Office has always had a presence in Short Hills from that day and its own ZIP Code, 07078.

Buffer zones

Hartshorn deliberately preserved strips of land along the railroad right-of-way from any development west of Old Short Hills Road. These strips separate Hobart Avenue to the north, and Chatham Road to the south, from the railway line. The only structure that has ever stood directly adjacent to the line is the railroad station. In 1944, the Hartshorn family also donated Crescent Park to Millburn Township, directly across from the station, with the stipulation that the park always remain open to the public.

Common elements

After seventeen houses were erected, Hartshorn turned his attention to other "common elements." These included a Music Hall, which later became the Short Hills Racquets Club. However, Short Hills remains a relatively quiet place.

Stewart Hartshorn died in 1937 at the age of 97. His daughter Cora survived him, wrote her own history of the hamlet, and helped establish the Arboretum that bears her name.[12]

Later events

In 1968, Temple B’nai Jeshurun relocated from Newark, NJ, to a 21-acre site in Short Hills. It is the oldest Reform Jewish congregation in New Jersey and, with 1,100 member families, one of the largest Jewish congregations in the state at the time of the move. Most of the property was purchased from Congressman Robert Kean, father of future New Jersey governor Thomas Kean. The land had been given to Kean’s family by King George III of the United Kingdom.[13][14]

In 1975, the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society formed in conjunction with the American Bicentennial celebrations.

In 2001, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center opened in Short Hills.

In 2002, local residents planted a memorial tree on the grounds of the railroad station, to honor those of their neighbors who died in the attacks on September 11, 2001.

Present day

Waterfall garden at Hartshorn Arboretum in Short Hills.

The opening of the Kearny Connection in 1996, establishing direct rail service to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, has enhanced real-estate values immensely.

Short Hills is home to many senior executives and controlling stockholders of some of the largest corporations in the United States and their families. The median family income is over $200,000.[15] Dun & Bradstreet has its headquarters in Short Hills.[16]

Short Hills has four K-5 elementary schools. Three are part of the Millburn Township Public Schools: Deerfield Elementary School,[17] Glenwood Elementary School,[18] and Hartshorn Elementary School.[19] The fourth is The Pingry School Lower Campus. Students move on to complete their public school education at Millburn Middle School[20] for grades 6–8 and Millburn High School for grades 9–12. Short Hills is also home to the Far Brook School, a private day school serving students in nursery through eighth grade.[21]

Though Short Hills has its own railroad station and post-office branch, it does not have an independent government. It remains today a part of the Township of Millburn, as it has been since its inception. Short Hills has a "downtown" business area that is smaller than downtown Millburn. Located along Chatham Road near the Short Hills railroad station, it includes the post office, a pharmacy, small eateries and specialty shops.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 5.211 square miles (13.497 km2), including 5.196 square miles (13.459 km2) of land and 0.015 square miles (0.039 km2) of water (0.29%).[1][22]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Short Hills has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[23]

Demographics

Census 2010

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 13,165 people, 4,146 households, and 3,682 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,533.5 per square mile (978.2/km2). There were 4,292 housing units at an average density of 826.0 per square mile (318.9/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 81.44% (10,721) White, 0.96% (127) Black or African American, 0.01% (1) Native American, 15.48% (2,038) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.26% (34) from other races, and 1.84% (242) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.40% (316) of the population.[3]

There were 4,146 households, of which 54.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.4% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.2% were non-families. 9.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.40.[3]

In the CDP, 34.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.[3]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $211,989 (with a margin of error of +/- $13,467) and the median family income was $227,262 (+/- $22,938). Males had a median income of $192,625 (+/- $33,436) versus $98,214 (+/- $12,561) for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $100,875 (+/- $7,868). About 0.6% of families and 0.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.[24] According to an analysis in Time magazine in 2014, Short Hills is the wealthiest community in the United States in terms of having the highest percentage of households (69%) with incomes above $150,000 per year.[10][25]

Media references

Philip Roth's first book, Goodbye Columbus, is mostly set in Short Hills, the home of the girlfriend of the character Neil Klugman and her family.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Short Hills include:

Points of interest

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 13, 2013.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Short Hills Census Designated Place, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed November 6, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Short Hills CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 4, 2012.
  4. ↑ Look Up a ZIP Code for Short Hills, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed November 6, 2012.
  5. ↑ American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  6. ↑ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed October 17, 2012.
  8. ↑ Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ Lefkowitz, Melanie."Short Hills Is Much More Than Just the Mall", The Wall Street Journal, February 24, 2012. Accessed May 28, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Taylor, Ben. "Here Are the 10 Richest Towns in America", Time, May 15, 2014. Accessed June 8, 2014
  11. ↑ Note: the analysis compared Short Hills' zip code to other communities with at least 10,000 inhabitants, and used census data based on five-year averages.
  12. ↑ Meisner, Marian. A History of Millburn Township. Millburn, NJ: Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society and Millburn Free Public Library, 2002 (e-book)
  13. ↑ "A Plot of Land, From King George III to a Short Hills Synagogue". New York Times. September 27, 1998.
  14. ↑ Honig, Milton (October 8, 1961). "Newark Temple Plans to Move To Suburb, Following Members". New York Times.
  15. ↑ Fact Sheet for Zip Code Tabulation Area 07078, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 25, 2007.
  16. ↑ About Us. Dun & Bradstreet. Accessed October 1, 2012. "HQ info: 103 John F Kennedy Parkway Short Hills, NJ 07078"
  17. ↑ Deerfield Elementary School
  18. ↑ Glenwood Elementary School
  19. ↑ Hartshorn Elementary School
  20. ↑ Millburn Middle School
  21. ↑ Far Brook School
  22. ↑ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  23. ↑ Climate Summary for Short Hills, New Jersey
  24. ↑ DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Short Hills CDP, Essex County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 29, 2013.
  25. ↑ Note: area defined by its zip code
  26. ↑ Saxon, Wolfgang. "LEE BICKMORE, EX-CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY", The New York Times, June 12, 1986. Accessed September 15, 2015. "Lee Smith Bickmore, who rose from a sales job with the National Biscuit Company in Pocatello, Idaho, to the chairmanship of the company, died last Saturday in Vero Beach, Fla., where he lived in retirement. He was 78 years old and a former resident of Short Hills, N.J. "
  27. ↑ Barnes, Mike. "Richard Coogan, Star of 'Captain Video and His Video Rangers,' Dies at 99", The Hollywood Reporter, March 12, 2014. Accessed September 15, 2015. "A native of Short Hills, N.J., Coogan worked as an announcer and news anchor on radio before making his Broadway debut in 1945 in the comedy Alice in Arms."
  28. ↑ Staff. "Joseph P. Day's Home Robbed $20,000 Gems; Butler and Chauffeur Gone--Abandon Auto", The New York Times, September 4, 1920. Accessed September 15, 2015. "When Mrs. Charlotte Pope, mother-in-law of Joseph P. Day, real estate expert, was at dinner Thursday evening in Mr. Day's country residence, Pleasant Days, Short Hills, N.J., sneak thieves entered Mrs. Pope's room on the second floor, broke open a jewel box which they found in the drawer of the chiffonier and escaped with jewelry valued at $20,000."
  29. ↑ Ramirez, Anthony. "Metro Briefing", The New York Times, March 14, 2001. Accessed September 15, 2015. "The case dates to a 1994 golf outing at the East Orange Golf Course, when John Ferolito of Short Hills hit a mulligan, or second tee shot, and struck Jeffrey Schick in the eye, knocking him unconscious. He sued."
  30. ↑ Bonelli, Winnie. "From "Tiara Flicks" To English Romance", The Independent, August 22, 2007. Accessed May 10, 2012. "So what was the common denominator that enabled Hathaway to relate to Austen? "Loneliness," the Brooklyn-born, Short Hills, NJ-reared actress confessed."
  31. ↑ "Adm. Herbert G. Hopwood Dies; Pacific Fleet Commander, '58–60", The New York Times, September 16, 1966. Accessed November 28, 2007. "Adm. Herbert Gladstone Hopwood, who was commander in chief of the United States Pacific Fleet at his retirement from the Navy in 1960, died this morning in St. Barnabas Hospital. He was 67 years old and lived at 68 Tennyson Drive in Short Hills."
  32. ↑ #278 Peter Kellogg, Forbes. Accessed September 15, 2015. "Residence: Short Hills, New Jersey, United States, North America"
  33. ↑ Strauss, Robert. "Here's something to squawk about", Coloradan magazine, June 1, 2009. Accessed September 15, 2015. "Kernen, 53, stays out of the limelight living in Short Hills, N.J., a bedroom community 45 minutes from CNBC’s studios in suburban New Jersey, a few miles northwest of Wall Street."
  34. ↑ Lieber, Jill. "Freedom is music to Larionov's ears", USA Today, January 27, 2004. Accessed September 15, 2015. "Larionov, at 43 the oldest player in the NHL and in his 14th and final season in professional hockey as a center with the New Jersey Devils, hears music everywhere he turns. At home in Short Hills, N.J., daughters Alyonka, 16, and Diana, 13, are busy launching a pop music career, singing practically around the clock."
  35. ↑ "Robert Marcus Named Senior Executive Vice President at Time Warner Cable", Time Warner, August 1, 2005. Accessed September 15, 2015. "He lives with his wife and four children in Short Hills, NJ."
  36. ↑ Interview with John C. McGinley, Ability, accessed April 21, 2007. "JM: I was born in New York and raised in New Jersey. CC: What part of New Jersey? JM: Short Hills, which is a beautiful suburb of New York."
  37. ↑ Horner, Shirley. "ABOUT BOOKS", The New York Times, October 3, 1993. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Previous residents of the award, which has come to be known as the Michael, include Mary Higgins Clark of Saddle River, Belva Plain of Short Hills, Wende and Harry Devlin of Mountainside, the Nobel laureate Dr. Arno Penzias of Highland Park and Gay Talese of Ocean City."
  38. ↑ Russo, Michael. "Wild about Minnesota Despite leaving for New Jersey, Rolston raves about playing in Minneapolis.", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2009. Accessed May 10, 2012. "'This is something I've never gone through before,' said Koivu, who along with some teammates planned to eat dinner at Rolston's Short Hills, N.J., home Thursday night."
  39. ↑ Gacser, Ava. "Short Hills 'Matchmaker' is blunt", Home News Tribune, February 8, 2009. Accessed November 13, 2015.
  40. ↑ Peter Van Sant, 48 Hours Mystery, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 26, 2008. Accessed September 15, 2015. "He lives in Short Hills, N.J., with his wife."
  41. ↑ Voreacos, David. "N.J. Judge Retains Case Over Estate of Formosa’s Wang (Update1)", Bloomberg L.P., August 13, 2009. Accessed September 15, 2015. "Wang died of cardiopulmonary arrest on Oct. 15 at his house in Short Hills, New Jersey, two days after arriving from Taiwan. He traveled to Short Hills "numerous times on a regular basis every year of the last twenty-plus years of his life," and lived there in the 1980s, according to the complaint."
  42. ↑ Staff. "WIN A JOYOUS RETURN FOR WILFS", St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 14, 2005. Accessed November 13, 2015. "Oh, the joy! The Wilfs of Short Hills, N.J., were unremitting fans of their beloved Giants, but they never felt football bliss quite like the Vikings' victory over the Giants on Sunday. 'I wanted this for a long time,' said Zygi Wilf after the Vikings survived a heart-pounding finish for their first road victory of the season."
  43. ↑ She's got the look, The Observer, July 16, 2006, accessed April 26, 2007. "She was born Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig in New York and grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey, the daughter of wealthy art collectors."
  44. ↑ Capuzzo, Jill L. "From 'Saturday Night Live' to '700 Sundays'", The New York Times, December 12, 2004. Accessed November 13, 2015. "For one thing, it has allowed him to move his family back East, to Short Hills, from Los Angeles, where the Zweibels have been living for the last 15 years."
  45. ↑ The Mall at Short Hills, International Council of Shopping Centers. Accessed October 30, 2008.

External links

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