Kinnelon · Morris County

Kinnelon, New Jersey

Kinnelon is a wooded Highlands borough where lakes, reservoirs, rocky ridges and preserved land shape everyday life. The community combines large-lot residential neighborhoods, private lake communities, a small Route 23 commercial corridor and unusually extensive access to open space.

With Silas Condict County Park, the Smoke Rise and Fayson Lakes communities, strong public schools, the historic L'Ecole museum and a competitive housing market, Kinnelon has more depth than its small commercial footprint suggests.

Kinnelon at a GlanceMorris County
ZIP 07405
Approx. 10,138 residents
18.03 sq. mi. land
Incorporated 1922
New Jersey Highlands community
Four public schools · PreK–12
Silas Condict County Park
Smoke Rise · Fayson Lakes
Route 23 shopping & dining

Why Kinnelon Stands Out

10,138
2025 Population Estimate
2020 Census: 9,966
18.03
Square Miles of Land
Low-density Highlands borough
552.8
People per Sq. Mile
2020 Census density
$187,438
Median Household Income
2020–2024 Census estimate
34.3 min.
Mean Commute
Workers age 16+, 2020–2024
1,647
Public School Students
Current district profile
Highlands LandscapeNearly all of Kinnelon lies within the New Jersey Highlands Preservation Area, making water resources, forests, steep slopes and environmental planning central to the borough's identity.
Lake CommunitiesSmoke Rise, Fayson Lakes and other lake neighborhoods contribute a distinctive residential character. Some recreational amenities within these communities are private and reserved for residents or members.
Outdoor AccessSilas Condict County Park alone provides more than 1,500 acres and roughly 10 miles of trails, while municipal fields, lake facilities and nearby Pyramid Mountain expand recreation choices.
Small Commercial FootprintKinnelon is primarily residential. Most everyday shopping and dining is concentrated around Route 23, Meadtown Shopping Center, Kinnelon Mall and a handful of neighborhood establishments.

Kinnelon History

Kinnelon became a borough in 1922, but the area's story reaches much farther back. Colonial-era settlement, iron production, farms and the former Charlotteburg area all figure into local history. The borough later developed around large estates and summer communities that evolved into some of today's best-known neighborhoods.

Francis S. Kinney EstateThe property associated with Francis S. Kinney eventually became the private Smoke Rise community surrounding Lake Kinnelon.
Fayson LakesThe Fayson Lakes area traces its development to a summer retreat created by Frank Fay and his son.
Meadtown SchoolhouseThe schoolhouse story begins in the 1800s. The later Meadtown School building became L'Ecole and eventually the Kinnelon Museum.
Dr. Helen MillerPhysician Helen Miller transformed the former schoolhouse into a residence and medical practice. Upon her death in 1990, she left L'Ecole to the Borough of Kinnelon.

Parks, Lakes & Outdoor Recreation

Morris County Park

Silas Condict County Park

Kinnelon's signature public destination: 1,513 scenic acres, roughly 10 miles of trails, Canty's Lake, fishing, equestrian use, picnic areas, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

100 Kinnelon Road
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
Historic Park Facility

The Casino at Silas Condict

Historic stone event building overlooking Canty's Lake, restored with original-style woodwork and murals. Available for weddings and private events through the Morris County Park Commission.

Municipal Recreation

Kinnelon Recreation Park

Public athletic complex with softball, baseball, all-purpose field, basketball and field-house facilities.

50 Boonton Avenue
Municipal Recreation

Boonton Avenue Fields

Tennis, pickleball, batting cages, practice pitching area and playground. The site also provides convenient access toward nearby Pyramid Mountain trails.

Public Recreation

Park Lake

Seasonal swimming beach and docks, lighted walking path, picnic tables, playground, fishing and volleyball. In-season swimming requires the applicable badge.

165 Lakeside Drive
Neighborhood Parks

Main Street, Heady, Smith & Jackson Avenue Parks

Smaller municipal facilities add ballfields, playgrounds, basketball, street hockey, picnic areas, fishing and scenic river access around the borough.

Private lake-community access: Smoke Rise and Fayson Lakes contain extensive recreational amenities, but beaches, trails, docks and lake facilities within those communities may be private. Visitors should not assume public access.
Silas Condict County ParkKinnelon Recreation

Business & Shopping

Kinnelon does not have a traditional downtown shopping district. Commercial activity is concentrated primarily along Route 23 and at a few established centers, while residential neighborhoods and preserved land dominate much of the borough.

Shopping Center

Meadtown Shopping Center

Neighborhood shopping center with grocery/errand-oriented retail, personal services and dining.

1483 NJ-23, Kinnelon
Shopping Center

Kinnelon Mall

Compact local center anchored by everyday retail, medical and service uses rather than destination mall shopping.

25 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon
Redevelopment watch: Borough housing-planning documents identify redevelopment activity at the Kinnelon Mall/Route 23 area involving proposed mixed-use retail/restaurant and multifamily housing. Proposals should be treated as planning activity until construction and approvals are complete.

Standard NJTGO business references list businesses without direct commercial website links. Enhanced website, ordering, offer and promotional links are available through paid NJTGO placements.

Food & Drink

Kinnelon has a compact but varied dining scene, with neighborhood breakfast and lunch, Italian food, Thai cuisine, bagels and additional Route 23 choices nearby. NJTGO applies dietary badges conservatively and only when current menu or restaurant information supports them.

GF / DF badge guide: GF means a current menu or restaurant resource documents gluten-free or gluten-friendly choices. DF means current information documents dairy-free or vegan choices that can support dairy-free ordering. A badge does not mean a dedicated allergen-free kitchen or guarantee celiac/allergy safety.
Breakfast · Brunch · Cafe

Comfort Kitchen Cafe

Family-owned breakfast-and-lunch café with espresso drinks, baked goods and scratch-made comfort food.

104 Boonton Avenue
973-838-3333
Italian

San Giorgio's Italian Bistro

Small Italian bistro serving Italian-American classics, seafood, veal and rotating dinner specials.

86 Boonton Avenue
973-492-5305
Thai

House of Thai GFDF

Route 23 Thai restaurant serving noodles, curries, soups, rice dishes and Southeast Asian favorites. Current restaurant information specifically accommodates gluten-free and vegan customers, and the current menu identifies all soups as gluten-free.

1483 NJ-23, Unit 6
973-750-1600
Breakfast · Bagels · Deli

Kinnelon Bagels Deli & Cafe

Local breakfast-and-lunch option at Meadtown with bagels, breakfast sandwiches and deli fare.

1485 NJ-23
Allergy & cross-contact caution: GF and DF badges identify available options, not an allergen-free kitchen. Shared fryers, grills, utensils, prep surfaces and ingredients may create cross-contact. Anyone with celiac disease or a food allergy should confirm ingredients and preparation directly with the restaurant before ordering.

Dietary review: NJTGO reviewed current restaurant/menu information in September 2026. No badge is assigned when current documentation is not clear enough.

Real Estate & Housing

Kinnelon is primarily a single-family-home market with large lots, wooded terrain, lake-community properties and a meaningful luxury segment. Smoke Rise is especially associated with larger homes and private community amenities, while other sections of Kinnelon range from modest older houses to newer custom homes.

$927,200
Median Sale Price
June 2026 Redfin snapshot
27 days
Median Days on Market
June 2026 Redfin snapshot
104.6%
Sale-to-List Ratio
Recent Redfin market measure
49
Active Listings
June 2026 Realtor.com snapshot
Highlands Due DiligenceMost of Kinnelon is in the Highlands Preservation Area. Property improvements, subdivisions, wells, septic systems, steep slopes and environmental constraints can require additional review.
Private Community FeesProperties in Smoke Rise, Fayson Lakes and other associations may include dues, rules or private-road/lake obligations. Review current governing documents before purchasing.
Water & Sewer VaryKinnelon includes properties with different utility arrangements. Confirm municipal water/sewer, well, septic and service-area details for the exact parcel.
TaxesThe Borough Tax Collector publishes current tax-rate components and quarterly utility information. Use the actual current tax bill for a specific property rather than relying on a generalized rate calculation.
Topography MattersRock, steep grades, drainage, long driveways and wooded lots can affect construction, maintenance and insurance considerations.
Market Numbers Are Not AppraisalsCitywide medians can shift quickly and do not account for neighborhood, condition, lot size, lake/community membership or property type.
Kinnelon Tax & Utility Information

Kinnelon Public Schools

Kinnelon Public Schools currently serves approximately 1,647 students across four schools, covering pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The district reports a student-to-teacher ratio of about 10:1.

Kiel SchoolPreK–2, with preschool programming associated with the Sisco Building.
Stonybrook SchoolGrades 3–5.
Pearl R. Miller Middle SchoolGrades 6–8.
Kinnelon High SchoolGrades 9–12 · 121 Kinnelon Road.
District development: Kinnelon Public Schools has been expanding academic and career-oriented programming, including industrial arts, robotics/engineering, theater and a planned Culinary Arts offering for 2026–27.
Kinnelon Public Schools

Places of Worship

Kinnelon supports several active congregations across Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Reformed and non-denominational traditions. The Borough's current service directory identifies the following in-town houses of worship.

Baptist

Kinnelon Baptist Church

15 Cutlass Road
Kinnelon, NJ 07405
Non-Denominational Christian

Community Church of Smoke Rise

38 North Road
973-838-5599
Reformed

Heritage Reformed Congregation of New Jersey

129 Boonton Avenue
973-248-7978
Roman Catholic

Our Lady of the Magnificat

2 Miller Road
973-838-6838
Reformed Church in America

Reformed Church in Kinnelon

155 Kinnelon Road
973-838-3113
Episcopal

St. David's Episcopal Church

91 Kinnelon Road
973-838-6696
Historic chapel: St. Hubert's Chapel on an island in Lake Kinnelon is a significant historic religious landmark within the private Smoke Rise community. Access is not automatically public.
Borough Service Directory

Cemeteries & Burial Grounds

Kinnelon contains both active cemeteries and small historic family burial grounds that reflect the borough's early settlement and later community history.

Historic Public Cemetery

Mount Evergreen Cemetery / Miller Cemetery

Historic cemetery on Kinnelon Road. Borough open-space documentation notes that the site includes Miller family burials and a section containing the graves of Kinnelon war veterans.

Kinnelon Road
Catholic Cemetery

Our Lady of the Magnificat Cemetery

Parish cemetery associated with Our Lady of the Magnificat. The parish history notes that the cemetery expanded from an earlier family burial area and began parish burials in the 1960s.

Miller Road area
Parish office: 973-838-6838
Historic Burial Ground

Fredericks / Kayhart Cemetery

Historic burial ground in the Fayson Lakes area, documented by Morris County as dating to the late 1700s and containing numerous early stones.

Twin Lakes Drive area
Memorial Garden

St. David's Episcopal Memorial Garden

Memorial garden at St. David's Episcopal Church, dedicated in 1976 for cremated remains and remembrance.

91 Kinnelon Road
Historic-site respect: Some family burial grounds are small, privately situated or difficult to access. Do not enter private property or disturb stones, markers or vegetation.

Visiting Kinnelon

Kinnelon is best approached as an outdoor and local-history destination rather than a conventional tourist town. There is no large hotel district or walkable downtown; a visit typically revolves around hiking, parks, museum hours or a community event.

Museum

L'Ecole · Kinnelon Museum

Local-history museum in the former Meadtown schoolhouse and home of Dr. Helen Miller. Collections cover farming, schools, Smoke Rise, Fayson Lakes, public safety and community life.

25 Kiel Avenue
Current museum site: Saturday & Sunday, 12–4 PM; closed holiday weekends.
Outdoor Destination

Silas Condict County Park

The strongest public visitor destination in Kinnelon, with hiking, fishing, picnic facilities, scenic Canty's Lake and the historic Casino building.

Community Tradition

Kinnelon Community Carnival

The borough's 2026 Community Carnival ran August 13–16. Similar annual recreation events are best confirmed on the current Borough calendar each year.

Lodging: Kinnelon has very limited conventional lodging inventory. Visitors generally look to nearby Butler/Route 23 communities, Wayne, Rockaway, Parsippany or other Morris/Passaic County hotel areas.
Kinnelon MuseumBorough Events & Information

Classifieds & Community Notices

Kinnelon's community marketplace is best handled as part of this flagship page rather than through a separate thin classifieds page.

For Sale / WantedFurniture, household items, electronics, tools, sporting goods and other legal personal-property listings.
Garage & Yard SalesResidents should verify current Borough rules before advertising a sale, especially signage and property-use requirements.
Lost & FoundCommunity notices for lost property or pets should use a safe contact method without publishing sensitive personal information.
Community & VolunteersKinnelon has active volunteer opportunities through municipal committees, recreation, emergency services and community organizations.
NJTGO does not accept: firearms or ammunition, illegal/regulated weapons, explosives, controlled substances, recreational drugs, prescription medication, nicotine/tobacco products, alcohol, stolen or counterfeit goods, recalled/unsafe goods, fraudulent schemes or other unlawful listings.

Jobs & Employment

Kinnelon itself is not a large employment center, so a practical local job search combines the borough, Kinnelon Public Schools, Route 23 employers and nearby communities.

Kinnelon Public SchoolsLate-August 2026 school hiring included positions such as Head Custodian, Director of Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment and Digital Platforms, substitute nurses, substitute custodians, Special Education Teacher, paraprofessional, bus drivers and coaching roles.
Borough EmploymentThe Borough maintains an Employment & Volunteer Opportunities page. Current police information states that the department is not presently accepting police-officer applications.
Small BusinessRetail, restaurants, medical offices, personal services and service businesses along Route 23 provide local private-sector employment.
Expand the RadiusButler, Bloomingdale, Riverdale, Pequannock, Wayne, Rockaway and Parsippany substantially expand healthcare, retail, education, government and professional employment options.
School EmploymentBorough Employment & Volunteer Opportunities

Kinnelon Public Library

Kinnelon Public Library serves as both a traditional library and community-learning center, with children's programming, adult classes, discussion groups, exercise/wellness programs, summer reading and other events.

132 Kinnelon Road · 973-838-1321
Current Borough-posted hours: Monday 10–6 · Tuesday–Thursday 10–8 · Friday 10–5 · Saturday 10–4.
Kinnelon Public Library

Borough Government & Services

Kinnelon is governed under the borough form of municipal government. Borough Hall is located at 130 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ 07405.

MayorJames J. Freda · term through December 31, 2026.
Borough CouncilSix council members serve staggered terms. Current council information and committee assignments are published by the Borough.
Office HoursCurrent Borough hours: Monday–Thursday 8 AM–4 PM and Friday 8 AM–1 PM.
Planning & ZoningBecause of Highlands protections, lake communities and varied terrain, property owners should use current Borough land-use and construction guidance before major projects.
Public WorksDPW manages municipal roads, sanitation/recycling information and public-works services. The Borough publishes 2026 sanitation, curbside and bulk schedules.
Emergency ServicesKinnelon is served by local police, the Kinnelon Volunteer Fire Company and the volunteer Tri-Boro First Aid Squad.
Kinnelon Borough

Nearby & Related Communities

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