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Affluent Country Life Harding Township, with a population of just under 4000, is a small, affluent community in Morris County just 45 minutes from Manhattan. Established in 1922 and named after the incumbent President Warren G. Harding, this quiet, pastoral enclave is about twenty square miles in size, nearly half of which is preserved land. Home to horse lovers and upscale residences yet close to major roadways, shopping centers and business parks, Harding Township offers a peaceful country setting with a convenient location. And with a minimum requirement of 3 acres per home site, the tranquil, rural atmosphere is protected. HISTORY Much of what is now known as Harding was an agricultural community with roots stretching as far back as the early 1700s. Bypassed by turnpikes, canals and railroads, Harding remained a rural backwater. For almost two centuries, Harding’s open and rolling landscapes reflected its agricultural use, as land had been cleared for cattle pastures, orchards and fields of grain. The Great Swamp and the slopes near Jockey Hollow were also used by local farmers for wood supply. The communities of New Vernon, Logansville, Pleasantville and Green Village were the centers of this agricultural community; it was not unusual for villages to have a store and post office, a school of one or two rooms, churches, blacksmiths and sometimes a tavern. Wealthy city residents in search of rural tranquility bought great swaths of farmland, enlarged old farmhouses and landscaped the grounds. Several estate owners, desirous of better roads and wishing to deter suburban development, led the movement to form Harding Township. And so, in 1922 the township was created from the northern half of what was then called Passaic Township (present day Long Hill Township) and named after the incumbent President of the United States, Warren G. Harding. The desire to preserve Harding’s rural character was quite evident by 1928. An unusual private land preservation effort was begun with the New Vernon Neighborhood Restrictive Agreement, when several estate owners convinced many others to place a restrictive covenant on their land. This pre-zoning, voluntary effort to limit development and save the pastoral qualities of over 1000 acres (4 km²) across Harding Township influenced subsequent zoning codes and helped preserve the landscape to the present day.
Single family home prices typically start in the $600,000s. With a small inventory of high prices homes, only 21 homes selling during the first half of 2006, the Harding real estate market is largely one for affluent buyers looking for acreage and privacy.The average home price for the first half of 2006 was $2,014,476, up 25% from last year.Totally dollar volume is also up 22% from 2005, totally $42,304,000. In 2007 the average sale price in Madison rose 2% over the same time period of 2006 and total dollar volume remained unchanged.In the first four months of 2007, 86 properties sold, the average sale price was $796,047 and total dollar volume was $68,460,096. Looking at sales in Harding and Madison it appears that markets further along the train line are not faring as well as communities closer to NYC.However, Harding’s market is consistent in its inconsistency.With such a small inventory of homes it is hard to accurately gauge Harding’s market. For comprehensive statistical reports please visit our Area Market Statistics including statistics per school districts. *Based on data from the Garden State Multiple Listing Service, comparing the first half of each year (January-June, the most active part of the year for real estate transactions).2007 statistics compared sales from January-April of each year.
The Harding Township School on Lee's Hill Road provides public education for Township children kindergarten through eight grades. The Township sends its secondary school students to Madison High School. The Harding Kids Club, a before and after school care program is available on a fee basis. Emergency school closings are announced by radio station WMTR-AM (1250). The New Vernon Presbyterian Nursery School offers various programs for children 2 1/2 to 5 years of age. For further information call Leslie Barry, Director at 326-9839
BRIDLE TRAILS MAIL SERVICE HOUSES OF WORSHIP SENIOR CITIZENS
Novartis, Lucent Technologies Inc., Schering-Plough Corp., Wachovia Corp., Saint Barnabas Healthcare System, Robert Wood Johnson Health System & Network, Verizon Communications, AT&T Corp., Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., Prudential Financial Inc., Park Place Entertainment, Drew University, Hooper Homes/PortaMedic TOWNSHIP LINKS Harding Township Civic Association Harding Township Schools GOLF COURSES AND CLUBS Essex County Somerset County Union County AREA ATTRACTIONS The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Jockey Hollow (Part of a Colonial and Revolutionary War National Park) AREA RESTAURANTS Reviews are available through Zagat or for free at http://chefmoz.org/United_States/NJ/ Bernardsville Madison Chatham
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