Butler is a borough in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,047, an increase of 508 (+6.7%) from the 2010 census count of 7,539, which in turn reflected an increase of 119 (+1.6%) from the 7,420 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
Butler was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of Pequannock Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries , Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1901, March 13. Butler Borough is established from Pequannock."
History The area now known as Butler was originally called "West Bloomingdale" and was sparsely populated. Water power brought manufacturing entities to the area. In 1857, The Pequannock Valley Paper Company moved from Bergen County and in 1868 the Newbrough Hard Rubber Company built a factory, both based along the Pequannock River. These were two significant economic entities that contributed to the growth of the borough. In 1871, the New Jersey Midland Railroad extended track through Butler from Paterson, making an important transportation connection for both passengers and freight. The northern terminus for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's passenger service was located at Butler until 1966. The railroad still carries freight through Butler.
The growing community was given the name "Butler" in 1881 after Richard Butler, who had taken ownership of the Hard Rubber Company.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015. A Post Office was established and a larger railroad station was built. This station has been the Borough Museum since 1977. The Hard Rubber Company eventually merged with other businesses and became the American Hard Rubber Company in 1898. A "Soft" Rubber Company built a factory just along Main Street. The borough continued to grow as other factories and supporting businesses were established. The population in 1920 was 2,265 people. By 1950, it was 4,063.
Butler's largest fire began just after midnight, February 26, 1957, when one of the nation's largest rubber reclaiming mills (Pequanoc Rubber Company on Main Street) was destroyed by a blaze estimated to have caused a loss of as much as $3 million (equivalent to $ million in ). The mill occupied the site on upper Main Street, an irregular shaped complex 600 feet by 300 feet and three to four stories high; it produced over 100 tons of reusable sheet rubber daily from 200 tons of scrap. One Butler Heights resident remembers the fire being so bright she could read a newspaper in her yard at 3 am at a distance of a mile. The glow reportedly was visible for 100 miles, mutual aid response was required by volunteer fire companies from a dozen nearby fire companies.via Associated Press. "$2,000,000 Fire Set Off by Blast Destroys New Jersey Rubber Plant", The New York Times, February 27, 1957. Accessed July 1, 2011. "A fire that started early today in a drying-room explosion destroyed the plant of the Pequanoc Soft Rubber Company, causing a loss estimated at $2,000,000 to $3,000,000."
Numerous organizations exist in town and, along with the neighboring towns of Kinnelon and Bloomingdale, many "Tri-Boro" organizations serve the area, including the local Little League & Volunteer First Aid Squad.
Butler was the location of a health resort run by Benedict Lust called "Yungborn" that opened on September 15, 1896.Whorton, James C. Nature cures: the history of alternative medicine in America, p. 198, Oxford University Press, 2002. . Accessed July 1, 2011.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.06 square miles (5.34 km2), including 2.03 square miles (5.27 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2) of water (1.31%).
The borough borders the municipalities of Kinnelon and Riverdale in Morris County; and both Bloomingdale and West Milford in Passaic County.Areas touching Butler, MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 22, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Butler had a population of 8,047. The median age was 42.5 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.8 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 3,258 households in Butler, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.7% were married-couple households, 18.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 3,403 housing units, of which 4.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 6,242 77.6% Black or African American 141 1.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 39 0.5% Asian 287 3.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 595 7.4% Two or more races 743 9.2% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,409 17.5%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 7,539 people, 3,031 households, and 1,976 families in the borough. The population density was 3,703.2 per square mile (1,429.8/km2). There were 3,169 housing units at an average density of 1,556.6 per square mile (601.0/km2). The racial makeup was 88.95% (6,706) White, 1.11% (84) Black or African American, 0.16% (12) Native American, 3.02% (228) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 4.95% (373) from other races, and 1.80% (136) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.41% (860) of the population.
Of the 3,031 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18; 50.8% were married couples living together; 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.8% were non-families. Of all households, 28.3% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.
20.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,614 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,375) and the median family income was $102,435 (+/− $7,072). Males had a median income of $69,407 (+/− $4,399) versus $46,286 (+/− $4,815) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,678 (+/− $3,263). About 3.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,420 people, 2,868 households, and 2,024 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,923 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 94.89% White, 0.62% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Butler borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 17, 2012.
There were 2,868 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $57,455, and the median income for a family was $66,199. Males had a median income of $45,975 versus $35,815 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,113. About 2.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over. Government
Local government Butler is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 121. The borough form of government used by Butler is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.