[1] The township's location in Morris County has contributed to the growth of its "eclectic downtown", along with four membership lake communities developed a century ago as summer colonies.

[24][25] 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, roughly following the course of Route 10 and Mount Pleasant Turnpike.

Some research has indicated that there was a Lenape campsite along the trail in Denville, on or near the Ayres / Knuth Farm Historic Site along Route 10.

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.

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.

Early developers of Denville, such as the Hussa family and A.B Crane & Co., were intrinsic in shaping the residential and lake communities.

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.

[citation needed] The 2010 United States census counted 16,635 people, 6,432 households, and 4,509 families in the township.

[38] As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 15,824 people, 5,990 households, and 4,312 families residing in the township.

[39][40] The game of American flag rugby was first played in Denville, introduced to the township by resident Tom Feury.

[41] The Tourne county park is in portions of Denville, Boonton Township and Mountain Lakes.

The park covers more than 540 acres (220 ha) of undeveloped land and offers a view of the New York City skyline from its peak standing 897 feet (273 m) high.

[8][46][47] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Denville Township is Republican Thomas W. Andes, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[46][48][49][50][51][52] In February 2020, the township council selected former councilmember Christopher Golinski to fill the Second Ward seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Brian Bergen until he resigned from office in November 2019 after being elected to a seat in the General Assembly.

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

[58] For the 2024-2025 session, the 26th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Pennacchio (R, Rockaway Township) and in the General Assembly by Brian Bergen (R, Denville Township) and Jay Webber (R, Morris Plains).

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

[105][106] Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades typically attend Morris Knolls High School, which is located in Denville, but has a Rockaway address, along with most students from Rockaway Township.

Founded in 1953 through an affiliation with Seton Hall University, Assumption is run by the Sisters of Christian Charity.

Primarily designed to prepare women for work in religious vocations, Assumption specializes in theological studies and the liberal arts.

The Denville station[114] offers train service to Hoboken Terminal or to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan via Midtown Direct on NJ Transit's Morristown Line and Montclair-Boonton Line.