The first municipality, a town that was settled in 1710 as a colonial English village in the Province of New Jersey, that in 1773 adopted a name change to "Chatham".

[2] The newly established, post-Revolutionary War state of New Jersey went through several stages setting out how its local governments would be structured.

On August 19, 1892, the citizens of Chatham reincorporated with another new type of village government offered as an alternative within townships by New Jersey as it developed.

[3] The Continental Army’s First Winter Encampment January – May 1777 in the Lowantica Valley (modern spelling Loantaka ) Morris County, Chatham Township, New Jersey.

Most of the army was sent a few miles southeast to the Lowantica Valley (modern spelling Loantaka) in present day Chatham Township.

Site is North of Loantaka Brook, East of Tredwell Avenue West of Giralda Farms.

In 2016, the Morris County Park Commission and the Chatham Township Historical Society began working together to reclaim the area and create trails and apply for grants for informational signage.

All volunteer, squad members are certified by the state of New Jersey as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

Its limited membership made it unable to meet the increasing demand for its services to the growing Chatham Township that was being developed with many new residences.

[15] In early 1951, the borough council was petitioned to authorize reorganization of the Squad as a unit independent of the Fire Department.

[15] Chatham has one municipal building for its medical squad members (North Passaic Avenue) and another for its firefighting personnel (Fire House Plaza) — both centered in what was the pre-colonial village.

Due to its sweeping landscape and the Great Swamp, Chatham Township is served by three departments: one on River Road (below The Highlands, on the edge of town bordering with New Providence), one on Southern Boulevard (near Wickham Woods), and the last in Green Village (on Green Village Road).

[16] It offers a variety of indoor and outdoor recreational and sports activities at various municipal buildings, parks, fields, gyms, and school locations.