Morris County, NJ Morris County, among the fastest growing counties in the New York metropolitan area, is nestled amid rolling hills, valleys, and clear lakes approximately 30 miles northwest of New York City. Rich in historic lore and tradition, Morris County was created by an Act of the State Legislature on March 15, 1738 separating it from Hunterdon County. Named after Colonel Lewis Morris, then Governor of the Province of New Jersey, it originally included what are now the counties of Morris, Sussex and Warren. Morris was first penetrated by the europeans in 1700. It today combines natural beauty and pleasant suburban living with proximity to its metropolitan surroundings. There are 39 municipalities in the 478 square mile county, with more than 421,000 residents. During the Revolutionary War, Morris County was known as The Military Capital of the American Revolution, because of its strategic location, which prompted Gen. George Washington and his Continental Army to make their winter encampments near Morristown on two different winters. Much of the historic lore of these encampments is preserved today in Morristown National Historical Park. In the years following the Revolution, Morris County was a leader in the iron ore industry, a fact made possible by the abundance of iron ore, timber to fuel the forges, and swiftly flowing streams to provide power. The Morris iron dynasty faced ruin, when in 1882 the iron industry discovered that iron ore could almost literally be picked off the surface in the ever expanding west. Some of the last mines lasted until 1913. In 1831 the Morris Canal, conceived and developed by a Morristown resident was completed through the county. Crossing the state from Phillipsburg to Newark, a distance of 90 miles, it played a major role in movement of iron ore, coal and freight until the 1920s. By 1900 the nation's business and financial leaders, seeking escape from New York City, the financial capital of the nation, discovered Morris County, its isolation, ideal climate and unspoiled countryside, and started the construction of large country estates. Within a few years it was claimed that more millionaires lived within a one mile radius of the Morristown Green than elsewhere in the world. Slowly, through the 1930's and the 1940's the large mansions that lined Madison Avenue, for years known as "Millionaires Row", were demolished to avoid rising property taxes, increased cost of domestic help and the rising cost of living. Since the turn of the century, the character of industry in Morris County has changed from iron mining to research, pharmaceuticals and light manufacturing. In the same period, the character of the land itself has changed from agricultural to residential. Beautiful homes and gardens predominate, both in housing developments, many of them located on the estates of former millionaires, to small country estates. New construction, both residential, commercial and industrial, is constant. New Jersey Transit serves thousands of county commuters daily. Bus service links the 39 municipalities to the metropolitan region. Two airports are located within Morris County. The county is bisected by a fine network of approximately 2,000 miles of federal interstate freeways, and state, county and municipal roads. Morris is host to many world company headquarters and numerous research centers, and laboratories. Morris County is the home of three universities, a two-year County College, and a County Vocational Technical School. Museums and cultural facilities also abound here.