THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO β¦
Denville, NJ
Looking to move to Denville? Youβre in good company! Our team is so proud to be based in this gorgeous town.
Welcome to the Denville!
Denville is a suburban township in Morris County known as the "Hub of Morris County", its downtown charm, and picturesque lake communities. Denville is a a commuter town to New York City with a direct train line and offers a mix of small-town living with convenient access to New York City. Denvilleβs highly-rated public schools and a strong sense of community, make it a popular choice for families.
Around Townβ¦
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Order and eat outside The Pasta Shop to enjoy one of the top rated chicken parmesans in New Jersey.
Enjoy the ambiance and soup dumplings at the award winning Hunan Taste.
Indulge in a few scoops of homemade ice cream at the Denville Dairy, a local institution offering an ever changing variety of flavors.
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Visit Esting Lake or Indian Lake for swimming, sand and picnicking
Walk 10 miles of trails at Torne County Park or climb to the highest point to enjoy a panoramic view of New York City.
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Pick up a book from The Book Barn, a charming second-hand bookstore housed in an old dairy barn.
Family-owned Shoe and Sneaker Barn is a great place to get a perfect pair of new shoes fitted for your kids or yourself.
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Thinking about calling Denville home? Weβve got the inside scoop and would love to show you around.
Quick Facts:
Check out some βQuick Factsβ here, or scroll down for a deeper look at the ins and outs of Denville!
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17,107 in 2020
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Average time to NY Penn is 70 minutes via the Midtown Direct Train Line.
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Elementary Schools
Lakeview Elementary School grades PreKβ5
Riverview Elementary School grades Kβ5
Middle school
Valleyview Middle School grades 6β8
High School
Vocational School
Private Schools
Preschools / Nursery Schools/ Daycares
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Many sports leagues are active in Denville. Visit their websites for contact information, scheduling and more.
Denville, New Jersey Fun Traditions + Annual Events:
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Downtown Denville holds both a spring and a fall classic car show, with the spring show typically happening in April and the fall show in October. These events are free to attend, feature a variety of classic cars, often include live music, and are held in the downtown area, such as the Chase Bank parking lot. Check the Downtown Denville websiteand their social media for specific dates and details for each year.
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Spring into Downtown Denville is an annual community event that marks the start of spring with a variety of family-friendly activities. Key features include an in-store egg hunt for children, opportunities to take photos with the Easter Bunny, and spring-themed crafts, often held in early to mid-April. The event also typically features other seasonal activities like special sales, treats, and sometimes includes additional events like yoga and adult egg hunts.
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Downtown Denville Harvest Festival in September takes place on Broadway in downtown Denville and features vendors, live music, a beer garden, a car show, a petting zoo, a corn maze, and various kids' activities. More information can be found here.
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Pink Witches Night Out in Denville is one New Jerseyβs most prestigious Breast Cancer Awareness event. For over 12 years, the Denville community has helped fight the battle against Breast Cancer by raising over $150,000 through this event to help local residents who have been diagnosed with cancer. More information can be found on the foundation website.
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The Downtown Denville Holiday Shopping Open Houseis an annual event that officially kicks off the holiday season, typically held the Friday after Thanksgiving. The event features ice skating, carolers, fire pits, a holiday train ride, and opportunities for pictures with Santa. Participating businesses offer late-night shopping, special promotions, and participate in a window decorating and hot chocolate contest.
Explore our interactive map to discover Denvilleβs key locations! Everything from City Hall, to all of our schools, parks, clubs, and more!
Commuting Options
Denville is an easy commute to either New York City or Hoboken by train or bus.
Train service is provided by NJ Transit via both the Montclair-Boonton or the Morris & Essex train lines. Bus service is provided by Lakeland Bus Lines.
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The Denville Train Station is located on Estling Road. The station contains three side platformsβtwo curved low-level platforms that service New Jersey Transit's Morristown Line, and a third that services their MontclairβBoonton Line.
NJ Transit Trains from Denville Station travel directly to both New York CIty and Hoboken. Train ticket to New York Penn costs $17.75/ride.Click here for other fare options.
Β· Trains average at 70 minutes
Β· Earliest train usually at 4:17 AM
Β· Latest train back usually at 12:56 AM
You may access an interactive schedule here.
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Train Station parking is available on Estling Lake Road for $4 per day or $150 per quarter. For more information on parking at the Denville Train Station, visit the information page..
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Lakeland Bus Lines offers weekday rush hour service to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal. View the schedule here.
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NJ Path - Drive and park at Newark Penn Station (monthly parking pass available)
Ferry - NY Waterways Ferry Terminals in Weehawken and Hoboken
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 28 miles east of Denville.
All About Denville Schoolsβ¦
Spend a perfect day in Denville
9:30am - Arrive in Denville:
Arrive by train to Denville Train Station or drive to Denville via any major highway.
Enjoy a βmade from scratchβ breakfast at Carverβs voted #1 breakfast in the county to start your day
11:00am - Start exploring Denvilleβs shopping scene:
Our favorite jewelry and accessories store: Wish
Our favorite gift boutique: Sisters
Our favorite second-hand bookstore: The Book Barn
Our favorite local shoe store: Shoe and Sneaker Barn
12:00pm - Grab Lunch at one of our favorites:
Grab a slice of delicious real wood-burning oven pizza from Casa DβPizza
Or relax and unwind at The Second Half either inside or on their beautiful outdoor patio.
1:00pm - Driving Tour:
Take a driving tour to learn about all of the different Denville neighborhoods with a Price Group Buyer Specialist!
3:00pm - Enjoy a walk through nature and history:
Enjoy 10 miles of hiking trails at Tourne Country Park and hike to the highest point for panoramic views of New York City.
On a nice warm day enjoy the afternoon swimming, relaxing in the sand or having a beach picnic at Cookβs Pond, one of Denvilleβs local public lakes.
5:00pm - Treat Yourself:
Sit outside and enjoy some live music and a pint at the Diamond Spring Brewing and you take in the ambiance of downtown Denville.
6:00pm - Have dinner before heading out at one of our favorite places:
Craving chicken parm? The Pasta Shop
Craving soup dumplings? Hunan Taste
Craving dinner with a lake view? Casa Bella
Craving a lively pub? Thatcher McGheeβs
Craving homemade ice cream: Denville Dairy
Then head back home, and reminisce on your amazing day spent in Denville - and call your Price Group agent to start booking home tours!
Letβs take a step back in timeβ¦
Lenape Native Americans were known to travel the Minisink Trail for centuries before Europeans arrived in New Jersey. Part of that trail cut across what is now southern Denville.
When Dutch and English settlers began to arrive in the New World in the early 17th century, the Minisink Trail was the likely route they traveled to explore the interior. Daniel Denton, one of the purchasers of what is known as the Elizabethtown Tract in 1664, led an expedition into the interior of northern New Jersey. In 1670, he wrote the first English language description of the area. Some researchers conclude that the name "Denville" derives from Denton.
It is suggested that European settlers began to come to the Denville area as early as 1690. These early settlers were primarily Dutch and English from Long Island, Quakers from Philadelphia, and Germans. William Penn and several other proprietors began to survey and stake out lands in the Denville area around 1715. These surveys are the first documentation of Denville. Between 1730 and 1760, several forges and mills were erected in Denville along the Rockaway River and the Denbrook. A number of communities associated with the forges and mills began to emerge.
An alternative explanation for the derivation of the township's name came from a letter from early Denville settler John Hinchman in the year 1800, in which he recounted some of the oral history of Denville from 50 years earlier, as stated to him by some of the elders of the time. Hinchman explains in his letter that the naming of Denville can be traced to a "den" of wild animals located in the swampy regions along the Denbrook and Rockaway River. The animals would bask on a knoll that juts out into the meadows where they were hunted by the native Lenape. This "den", Hinchman wrote, was the basis for the name of Denville and the Denbrook.