Mount Olive is a township in western Morris County, New Jersey, covering about 32 square miles of ridgelines, river valleys, and open space. Its population reached 28,886 at the 2020 census, its highest ever, and the township is organized around two long-established communities: Budd Lake and Flanders. Budd Lake takes its name from John Budd, who acquired 1,300 acres in the area in 1714, while Flanders was named for early settlers who had vacationed in Flanders, Long Island. The township's most prominent natural feature is Budd Lake, New Jersey's largest natural lake. Set in part within a distinctive bog habitat, the lake is the source of the South Branch of the Raritan River and serves as a recreational hub for boating, fishing, and lakeside living. The area's history also includes the Old Morris Canal, whose remnants still cross the landscape, along with iron mines, mills, farms, and sand quarries that supported the region's early economy. Mount Olive's modern identity is shaped by the International Trade Zone, a major commercial and industrial park with direct access to Interstate 80 that brought corporate employers, jobs, and infrastructure to the township. That commercial base supports a well-regarded K-12 school district and a diverse housing stock of historic homes, established neighborhoods, and newer subdivisions and townhomes. With shopping along U.S. Route 206, the Flanders Valley Golf Course, and Allamuchy Mountain State Park nearby, Mount Olive offers a practical blend of lake recreation, suburban living, and regional employment access. For families and commuters, it delivers the open space and outdoor amenities of western Morris County alongside the jobs and conveniences of a major interstate corridor.