Chester is a borough in southwestern Morris County, New Jersey, situated in the rolling, wooded landscape of the state's northern highlands. It is surrounded by Chester Township, and the two municipalities together form a rural community known for its farms, horse country, and preserved open space. The borough itself is home to roughly 1,680 residents. The settlement grew up at the crossing of Native American trails that became the region's colonial "Great Roads," and was long known as Black River. In the 19th century, iron mining along the Black River and in the Hacklebarney area briefly made Chester a center of the region's iron industry, a period documented in local histories as "Chester's Iron Heyday." After mining declined, the village settled into a quieter agricultural and residential role. Today Chester is best known for its historic downtown, where preserved 18th- and 19th-century buildings line brick sidewalks and house more than 80 boutique shops, antique stores, and restaurants. The district has made Chester a destination for shopping and dining in northwest New Jersey while retaining a genuine small-town atmosphere. Chester suits residents seeking a rural, low-density lifestyle with excellent schools and convenient access to the rest of the region. Students attend the Chester School District for kindergarten through eighth grade and West Morris Central High School for grades nine through twelve. Hacklebarney State Park, with its trails and trout fishing along the Black River, anchors outdoor recreation nearby, and the borough's crossroads location on U.S. Route 206 and Route 24 places interstates 78 and 287 within easy reach. The area's large lots, historic homes, and equestrian properties appeal to those who value open space while remaining within commuting distance of Morristown and, by highway or rail, New York City.