Oak Ridge is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in West Milford Township in Passaic County and Jefferson Township in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07438. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 10,996.

Geography

The Oak Ridge CDP is located in northern Morris County and western Passaic County and includes several communities, including Oak Ridge proper in Passaic County on the Pequannock River along Route 23 and the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad main line. In Morris County, the communities of Milton, Petersburg, and Woodstock are within the Oak Ridge CDP. County Route 699 (Oak Ridge Road) runs south from the junction with Route 23 and is the main north–south local route in the community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Oak Ridge CDP has a total area of 14.26 sqmi, of which 13.31 sqmi are land and 0.95 sqmi, or 6.65%, are water. The Pequannock River, forming the Passaic/Morris county line, takes a winding course through the northern part of the CDP, separating Oak Ridge proper from the communities of Milton and Petersburg. The Pequannock is an east-flowing tributary of the Pompton River and part of the Passaic River watershed. Oak Ridge Reservoir on the Pequannock lies on part of the northwest border of the CDP. A low height of land just south of the Pequannock River places the southern part of the CDP within the watershed of the Rockaway River, a south-flowing tributary that also leads to the Passaic. White Rock Lake, Mitt Pond, Moosepac Pond, Cozy Lake, Lake Swannanoa, and Oak Ridge lake are all within the CDP and drained by the Rockaway River. Green Pond Mountain, rising to over 1260 ft above sea level, forms the southern border of Oak Ridge and the border with Rockaway Township. Bowling Green Mountain, elevation 1380 ft, borders the community to the southwest.

Demographics

The Oak Ridge CDP was first listed for the 2020 census.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Oak Ridge has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Government and infrastructure

The postal addresses within the CDP, including the communities within Jefferson Township, read "Oak Ridge, New Jersey".

Education

The respective school districts are Jefferson Township Public Schools for sections in Jefferson Township, Morris County; and West Milford Township Public Schools for sections in West Milford Township, Passaic County. The respective public high schools are Jefferson Township High School and West Milford High School.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Oak Ridge include: