In the era before the world wars and the advent of air travel, it was a welcome respite for the residents of nearby New York City and Newark.

Every summer, thousands would arrive by train at Landing Station, and then travel by water taxi across Lake Hopatcong to the area's many large resort hotels to escape the city heat and enjoy the famous "Mount Arlington breeze" which always cooled the summer evenings.

[24] Mount Arlington was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 3, 1890, from portions of Roxbury Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.

[27] In March 2014, members of the public petitioned the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to form the Roxbury Mount Arlington Study Commission to consider a possible consolidation of Mount Arlington and the neighboring municipality of Roxbury Township.

If the commission votes to recommend a merger, the decision would have to be ratified by a referendum of the voters in each community.

Established in 1905, it is a private yacht club located on the small peninsula of Bertrand Island along Lake Hopatcong.

[32] The Adirondack style clubhouse structure was completed in 1910 and was added in 1999 to both the National and New Jersey registers of historic places.

[7] The borough form of government used by Mount Arlington 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.

[42][43] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Mount Arlington is Republican Michael Stanzilis, who is serving a term of office ending December 31, 2026.

In April 2016, Stanzilis was selected by the borough council from three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat following the death of Arthur R. Ondish; Stanzilis served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election when he was elected to serve the two years remaining on the term of office.

[3][44] Members of the Borough Council are Council President Jack Delaney (R, 2023), Dave BaRoss (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Andrew Cangiano (R, 2025), Melissa Fostle (R, 2023), Nita Galate (R, 2024) and Leonard J.

[45][46][47][48][49][50][51] In February 2023, the borough council appointed Dave BaRoss to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Maria Farris.

[54] In May 2016, the borough council appointed Jack Delaney to fill the council seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Michael Stanzilis until he was appointed as interim mayor; Delaney served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

[59][60][61] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).

[63] For the 2024-2025 session, the 25th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Anthony M. Bucco (R, Boonton Township) and in the General Assembly by Christian Barranco (R, Jefferson Township) and Aura K. Dunn (R, Mendham Borough).

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

[107] Interstate 80 is the main highway serving Mount Arlington, running for nearly 1.4 miles (2.3 km) through the borough.