slowly than in other parts of the County. Protective of its character, its streetscape, its
development, and its residents, Mendham is a semi-rural, residential community where the
names of its founding families have become the names of many of its streets, where homes sold
are often referred to by the last name of the seller rather than by the street address, and where
children often return to raise the next generation.
Incorporated on May 15, 1906, Mendham Borough occupies only six (6) square miles. It is
served by two (2) main roads: Main Street that runs between the Mendham Township lines on
both the east and west sides of town, and Mountain Avenue/Hilltop Road that runs from
Mendham Township on the north to the Bernardsville line on the south. At the intersection of
these roads (one of only two (2) signalized intersections in the Borough) lies the heart of this
community, where several of the Borough's landmark white buildings welcome residents and
visitors. Among these are the historic Phoenix House, the Black Horse Inn, Robinson Drug
Shop, and One East Main, all dating to the beginning of the last century or earlier.
Home to a slow growth population of 5097 residents, Mendham Borough is a largely residential
community of homes on land parcels ranging from ¼-acre lots to over 25 acres. With few
existing lots available for development, Mendham Borough can best be described as a nearly
built-out community on the verge of rebuilding. In fact, while there has been some new
construction during the past decade in areas toward the Borough's outer borders, the heart of
Mendham Borough, its Village Center, experiences much more renovation, restoration, and
preservation than it does new construction. During the next decade and beyond, Mendham
Borough is likely to see redevelopment in its existing neighborhoods with larger homes replacing
smaller ones, occasional property divisions, and expansion of existing homes. An active
Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Historical Preservation Commission, and Borough
Council will continue to assure proactively that new development does not come at the expense
of the historic character of the Borough, and that the vision of the Borough's leaders over the
years continues to be maintained.
Designated as a Village Center by the State Planning Commission, Mendham Borough also
serves as the business district for The Mendhams. In addition, the Borough is home to the
regional high school that is attended by students from Mendham Borough, Mendham Township,
and the Chesters. The Borough has five (5) churches, a sheep farm, cattle farms, a residential
drug rehabilitation facility, a 40-unit senior housing complex, a skilled care nursing home
facility, a 300-unit town home complex, and more. Much of the recent Main Street construction
in the Borough has been focused on the non-residential properties, and the Historic Preservation
Commission along with the Board of Adjustment and Planning Board have worked to ensure that
adherence to character has been maintained in each of these developments.