MorrisArticle Free Pass Morris, county, northern New Jersey,
U.S., bounded by the Musconetcong River and Lake Hopatcong to
the west, the Pequannock and Pompton rivers to the north, and
the Passaic River to the east. It consists largely of a piedmont
and upland region, with swampy lowlands in the southeast, and is
drained by the Black, Rockaway, and Raritan (south branch)
rivers. Among its numerous lakes are Charlotteburg and
Morristown reservoirs, Budd Lake, and Lake Hopatcong, the
largest lake in New Jersey. Parklands include Great Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge and Hacklebarney and Hopatcong state
parks. The principal forest species are oak and hickory. In the
17th century English and Dutch settlers encountered Algonquian-
speaking Delaware Indians in the region. Many colonists migrated
from Long Island, N.Y. Morris county was formed in 1739 and
named for Lewis Morris, first governor of New Jersey. Iron
mining spurred the early development of the county, notably in
Morristown, the county seat. It was home to