[23] In March 2018, Bloomberg ranked Chatham as the 64th highest-income place in the United States and as having the 8th-highest income in New Jersey.

The community known as Bottle Hill was established in the early eighteenth century in Morris Township when the area was within the English Province of New Jersey.

[28] On December 27, 1889, Madison was incorporated as an independent borough and its former village boundaries were expanded between 1891 - 1899 with annexed portions of rural lands that had formerly been within the township.

In 1773, the village John Day's Bridge, a community governed by the English township of Morris since its settlement in 1710, was renamed as, Chatham, in honor of Sir William Pitt, a British prime minister and the first Earl of Chatham, who was most favorable toward the colonists of the Province of New Jersey in issues with the British government.

Nearby Morristown was the military center of the revolution, where the winter headquarters were established twice, and revolutionary troops were active in the entire area regularly.

[33] Of the pre-revolutionary settlements included in its jurisdiction when it was formed, only portions of Green Village have remained governed by Chatham Township, which has never had a community center.

On December 27, 1889, based on the results of a referendum passed three days earlier, the village of Madison seceded from Chatham Township and adopted the borough form of government in order to develop a local water supply system for its population of 3,250.

The village had to raise its own money to install kerosene street lamps and its roads were in poor repair.

Post-World War II suburban development ensued in the 1950s when farm lands, greenhouses, and flower nurseries began to be sold off.

[33] Families moved out to this rural suburban area as ownership of automobiles increased dramatically.

[34] For several generations, the largest, the Schwartz Farm had produced dairy products that were sold in local stores and schools and that were delivered to homes on scheduled routes.

Former rose farms became two major shopping centers near the corner of Shunpike Road and Southern Boulevard.

[35] After successfully crossing the Delaware River and subsequent battles in Trenton and Princeton, General Washington marched to Morristown and established his headquarters in Arnold's Tavern on the Morristown Green for the Continental Army’s first winter encampment.

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.

[1][2] Chatham Township is located about 25 miles (40 km) west of New York City on the eastern edge of Morris County.

Chatham Township's neighboring municipalities to the south are Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights in Union County.

[38][39][40] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Floral Hill, Great Swamp, Green Village (partially in Harding Township), Hickory Tree, Mount Vernon and The Orchard.

In 2010, the township designated the site as a redevelopment zone, with the possibility that the area could be remediated as a solar farm.

[42] Chatham Township has a humid subtropical climate and is slightly more variant (lows are colder, highs are warmer) than its neighbor 20 miles (32 km) east: New York City.

[59] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 10,086 people, 3,920 households, and 2,771 families residing in Chatham Township.

[6][61] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor.

The township committee is the legislative branch of the community's government and establishes policies for the administration of the various departments.

The committee appoints the township administrator who is responsible for carrying out those policies and overseeing the day-to-day operations.

[69] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

[71] For the 2024-2025 session, the 21st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jon Bramnick (R, Westfield) and in the General Assembly by Michele Matsikoudis (R, New Providence) and Nancy Munoz (R, Summit).

[73] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.

This proposal was supported by the voters of both communities and since then, the two municipalities have shared a regionalized school district.

[125][126] The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration; the seats on the board are allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population, with Chatham Township assigned five seats.