WHIPPANY – The Morris County township of Whippany is home to many famous people and landmarks. Located along the banks of the river that shares its name, it was one of the first places where Europeans settled in north central New Jersey. The town’s historic district, which includes the two-acre Whippany River Cemetery, is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. Among the 450 gravestones are those of 11 Revolutionary War soldiers and several Civil War veterans, as well as members of prominent local families.
The earliest known European settlers of the town lived along the gentle, meandering Whippany River in the 17th century. The area also was a center of agriculture and industry. Whippany’s population grew rapidly in the 19th century with the development of manufacturing industries, especially milling and agriculture.
Today, Whippany is a thriving suburban community of residential neighborhoods and industrial and commercial areas. Its 10.8 square miles border the Townships of Morris, Parsippany-Troy Hills, East Hanover and the Boroughs of Morris Plains and Florham Park. Its convenient location and access to major highways makes it an ideal place for businesses to do business.
It is the second largest corporate airport in the state and has numerous corporations in its township, including Bayer, Masda Corporation, Metlife and Wegmans. It is also home to the historic Whippany Railroad Museum, which runs several events throughout the year for families. The township’s schools have high academic achievement, with average math and reading proficiency scores that are above the state average.
Among the notable residents of Whippany are Adlan Amagov, Strikeforce fighter; Sal Canzonieri, guitarist and founding member of the band Electric Frankenstein; Damon Daunno, actor who starred in the 2019 Broadway revival of Oklahoma!; and Dan Frischman, character actor.
Whippany is served by the Morris County Public School System, which has more than 40 schools. The majority of students attend schools that are rated 8/10 or higher by the state, with an average math and reading proficiency score of 41% and 57% respectively. Students in the district are diverse in terms of race, socioeconomic status and language proficiency.
The township is served by three major airports – the Newark Liberty International Airport, the New York-Newark Air Force Base and the Newark International Airport. Other major transportation facilities include the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 287. The township is also a short drive from the Bergenfield and Paterson railway stations.
