Mountain Lakes is a borough in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and a suburb of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,472, an increase of 312 (+7.5%) from the 2010 census count of 4,160, which in turn had reflected a decline of 96 (−2.3%) from the 4,256 recorded at 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.

Originally a planned community, the borough was named for a pair of lakes which served to distinguish Mountain Lakes as "the first year-round residential lake community in northwestern New Jersey."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 8, 2015. Mountain Lakes was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1924, from portions of Boonton Township and Hanover Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed on April 29, 1924.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 195. Accessed May 30, 2024.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries , Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1924, March 3. Mountain Lakes Borough is established from Boonton and Hanover Township."National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet for Mountain Lakes Historic District, Borough of Mountain Lakes. Accessed December 25, 2016. "The independent Borough of Mountain Lakes, incorporated on Feb 26, 1924, acted decisively with the development company to retain the character of Mountain Lakes as a residential park."

The borough has been one of the state's highest-income communities.Mountain Lakes, NJ, NeighborhoodScout. Accessed March 29, 2020. "The per capita income in Mountain Lakes in 2010 was $84,741 (~$ in ), which is wealthy relative to New Jersey and the nation."O'Dea, Colleen. "The List: Dozen ‘Smartest’ Towns in New Jersey", NJ Spotlight. Accessed March 29, 2020. "Mountain Lakes: Advanced education typically correlates with wealth and socioeconomic status. This borough in Morris County was the richest, with a median household income of more than $216,000, (~$ in ) according to the five-year 2018 American Community Survey."Davis, Tom. "25 Wealthiest Zip Codes In New Jersey; What are the 25 wealthiest zip codes in New Jersey? The list is below.", Mendham-Chester, NJ Patch, July 4, 2016. Accessed March 29, 2020. "Here are the 25 wealthiest zip codes in New Jersey, with each zip code's average household income:... 2. Mountain Lakes, $249,225" In the 2013–2017 American Community Survey, Mountain Lakes had a median household income of $175,556 (ranked 12th in the state) and included 45.6% of households earning more than $200,000 annually.Cervenka, Susanne. "Rich in New Jersey: Here are the 50 wealthiest towns in the state. Is yours one of them?", Asbury Park Press, July 1, 2019. Accessed July 19, 2022. "12. Mountain Lakes _ County: Morris County; Median household income: $175,556; Percent making more than $200,000: 45.6%"Mountain Lakes 2017 Census Data Summary, Morris County, New Jersey Office of Planning and Preservation. Accessed July 19, 2022.

In 2010, Forbes.com listed Mountain Lakes as 210th in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $1,045,401.Staff. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes: In these neighborhoods $4 million homes are the norm.", Forbes, September 27, 2010. Accessed July 29, 2011.

Mountain Lakes ranked among the highest annual property tax bills in New Jersey, and was the highest in Morris County, at $20,471 in 2018, compared to a statewide average of $8,767."These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.'s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 22, 2019. Accessed July 19, 2022. "The average property tax bill in Mountain Lakes Borough was $20,471 (~$ in ) in 2018, the highest in Morris County." New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Mountain Lakes as the 26th best place to live in New Jersey in its rankings of the "New Jersey's Top Towns 2011–2012" in New Jersey.Staff. "The Top 20 Towns in New Jersey", New Jersey Monthly, August 15, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2013.

The Mountain Lakes station provides NJ Transit commuter train service.Mountain Lakes Station, New Jersey Transit. Accessed April 26, 2023. The station offers service on the Montclair-Boonton Line and is the first train station heading eastbound not concurrent with the nearby Morris & Essex Lines.Montclair-Boonton Line, NJ Transit, updated April 23, 2023. Accessed April 26, 2023.

History

Mountain Lakes was originally a planned community, founded in 1910 by Herbert Hapgood. The entire face of the community changed from a wilderness of Dutch and English properties to a planned suburban community of large stucco houses now affectionately known as "Hapgoods." During this single decade, the natural and architectural character of Mountain Lakes was developed. Hapgood was particularly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, at the height of its popularity in 1910 when he started building.Westhiven, William. "The other Jersey shores: North Jersey's lakes", Daily Record, August 11, 2018. Accessed July 19, 2022. "Upscale Mountain Lakes is known for its distinctive 'Hapgood' homes built by developer Herbert Hapgood beginning in 1910. About 454 of the 500 Hapgoods still stand, constituting one of the largest collections of Craftsman-influenced houses in the world."

Lawrence W. Luellen, inventor of the Dixie Cup, became the community's first resident when he moved to his new home in March 1911.Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Mountain Lakes, N.J.;A 20's Community Frozen in Time", The New York Times, July 28, 1996. Accessed August 26, 2021. "The first family to move into Mountain Lakes, in 1911, was that of Lawrence W. Luellen, founder of the Lily Paper Cup Company."Mountain Lakes Historic District Statement of Significance, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed August 26, 2021. "Lawrence W. Luellen and his family became the first residents of Mountain Lakes to live in a Hapgood-built house when, on St. Patrick's Day 1911, they moved to 46 Dartmouth Road."

The Hapgood model homes were early forerunners of the modern development, but each house was modified to suit individual tastes. To the basic styles of these houses, Hapgood added colonial and craftsman features. He reversed floor plans, and interchanged architectural details. By the end of 1912, two hundred Hapgood homes were sold and occupied and in 1914 saw the formation of the Mountain Lakes Club. By 1923, approximately six hundred stucco houses were built to meet the overwhelming demand. Mountain Lakes became an independent municipality in 1924.Our History, Borough of Mountain Lakes. Accessed July 19, 2022.

The United States Navy's Underwater Sound Reference Laboratories was located in Mountain Lakes during World War II.U.S. Naval Activities World War II by State: New Jersey, ibiblio.org. Accessed January 11, 2014.

Mountain Lakes had a discriminatory "gentleman's agreement" from its inception up through the 1960s, preventing African-Americans, Jews, Latinos, Catholics, and other "undesirable groupings"Hollander, Dave. 52 Weeks: Interviews With Champions!, p. 339. Globe Pequot Press, 2006. . Accessed November 13, 2015. from living there.Cahillane, Kevin. "Housing; Over the Rainbow, a Melting Pot", The New York Times, June 6, 2004. Accessed June 2, 2015.Historic Preservation Committee On-Line Questionnaire:Abbie McMillen, Borough of Mountain Lakes. Accessed August 3, 2015.Helmreich, William B. The Enduring Community: The Jews of Newark and MetroWest, p. 294. Transaction Publishers, 1999. . Accessed August 3, 2015. While this was abandoned in recent years, the town still has a less diverse population than the rest of New Jersey, or Morris County.

Mountain Lakes is home to the historic Grimes Homestead, an 18th-century home that served as a way station on the Underground Railroad."Aboard the Underground Railroad: Grimes Homestead, National Park Service. Accessed December 20, 2012.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.91 square miles (7.53 km2), including 2.64 square miles (6.84 km2) of land, and 0.27 square miles (0.69 km2) of water (9.11%).

Part of The Tourne county park is in Mountain Lakes.The History of the Tourne , Borough of Mountain Lakes. Accessed June 17, 2012.

The borough borders Parsippany-Troy Hills to the east and south, the town of Boonton to the northeast, Boonton Township to the northwest, and Denville to the west, all of which are located in Morris County.Areas touching Mountain Lakes, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed February 29, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Lakes Man-made lakes in Mountain Lakes include Birchwood Lake, Crystal Lake, Mountain Lake, Shadow Lake, Sunset Lake, Wildwood Lake, and Cove Lake. There are town private swimming beaches in Birchwood Lake, and Mountain Lake. The Mountain Lakes Club is located on the northern end of Mountain Lake.

Beaches are open from sunrise to sunset, and facilities are available between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm every day between the months of June and August, with beach badges purchased at the borough hall.Forrest, Cindy. "Mountain Lakes Council considers beach badge age change", Neighbor News (Boonton), May 4, 2012. Accessed October 24, 2013. "If passed, the amended law would require a tag for "all residents 2 years of age or older desiring to use facilities at Island Beach, Birchwood Beach and borough-owned lakes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day.'" Beach badges are available to Mountain Lakes residents only.

Demographics

According to The New York Times, a diverse group of foreigners has been moving to the borough, including Germans, Chinese, South Africans, and New Zealanders.Capuzzo, Jill P. "Mountain Lakes, N.J.: A 'Resort Getaway' to Call Home", The New York Times, June 25, 2014. Accessed January 21, 2015. "In recent years, a growing number of foreigners have moved to this borough of 4,160 residents, Ms. Pinke said. Germans, South Africans and Chinese, among others, have discovered it partly because of the schools' reputation and partly through relocation companies' recommendations."

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Mountain Lakes had a population of 4,472. The median age was 41.7 years. 29.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,376 households in Mountain Lakes, of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 78.0% were married-couple households, 6.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 13.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 9.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,429 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,339 74.7% Black or African American 19 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 6 0.1% Asian 697 15.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 41 0.9% Two or more races 369 8.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 247 5.5%