Rockaway, borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Rockaway is a small borough in Morris County, New Jersey, made up mostly of residential streets lined with older homes. It sits within the Highlands region of the state, surrounded by wooded hills that give the area a distinctly rural feel despite its location close to larger towns.
The area was settled in the early 18th century as a farming community, and a Presbyterian congregation formed there as early as 1758. The churchyard cemetery holds graves of soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, making it one of the oldest documented sites in the borough.
The name Rockaway comes from a Lenape word roughly meaning 'sandy place'. The First Presbyterian Church, built in brick in 1832, still stands on a quiet street and remains a gathering point for the local community.
Rockaway is easy to reach by road from nearby towns in Morris County, and bus connections are available for those without a car. The center is compact enough to walk around, though a car is more practical for reaching spots outside the main streets.
Parts of Rockaway were used as a filming location for a Hollywood production, and some spots along Main Street and the rail tracks appeared on screen. Visitors who know the film can recognize these places while walking through what is otherwise a very ordinary neighborhood.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.