Butler is a borough located in Morris County, New Jersey, United State. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,682.
Butler was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1888, from portions of Pequannock Township.
Butler is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and the Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is comprised of six members, who are also elected to four-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years and three seats up for election in odd-numbered years.
Butler was the site of another incident on September 18, 1918, when a fire burned down the Butler Brothers Plant, a major employer in the area that produced dyes and other chemicals.
Dairies played a significant role in Butler's early development. The first dairy, the Rockhouse Creamery Company, was built in 1870 and was later taken over by the Sheffield Farms Dairy Company.
The population of Butler has more than tripled since 1970. Its location next to several major highways has contributed to its growth.
Butler was once served by the Butler-Sparta Railway, which linked the communities of Sparta and Butler.
Downtown Butler is located along Main Street and features several shops, a park, and a police station. It has a couple of restaurants and a pizzeria.
Butler has several annual events, including the Butler Day celebration in May, which features music, rides, crafts, and food vendors. Downtown Trunk or Treat, which takes place on Halloween, and Christmas on Main, which takes place in December, are other annual events.
Butler High School is the borough's public high school. The school's mascot is the Bulldogs.
Butler has a train station along the NJ Transit Montclair-Boonton Line.
Some notable people from Butler include musician Jay Weinberg, who was the drummer for the band The Misfits, and Dave Feam, a former MLB relief pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners.