Mountain Lakes is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, about 35 miles west of New York City. Incorporated in 1924, it began as a planned suburban community carved from rural woodland in the 1910s, transforming a landscape of farms and forest into one of New Jersey's best-known residential lake communities. The 2020 census recorded 4,472 residents. The borough's defining feature is its lakes. Mountain Lakes contains nine lakes within its municipal boundaries, and much of the community's residential fabric is organized around them. The borough is also known for its historic "Hapgood" homes, a collection of distinctive houses built during the community's early development that give Mountain Lakes a strong architectural identity. A two-mile walking path known as the Boulevard circles through the borough, reinforcing its pedestrian-oriented, parklike feel. Mountain Lakes is among New Jersey's most highly educated municipalities, with an exceptionally high share of adults holding college and graduate degrees, and it functions primarily as an affluent residential suburb. The local school district, the Mountain Lakes Schools, serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, with the high school located in the adjacent Boonton area. Surrounding parkland, including the Tourne County Park area and several local woodlands, extends the borough's outdoor offerings beyond the lakes themselves. Transportation is a key asset. NJ Transit operates a commuter rail station in the borough on the Montclair-Boonton Line, offering direct service toward New York City, while U.S. Route 46 passes through town and Interstates 80 and 287 run just outside the borough in neighboring Parsippany-Troy Hills. For those seeking a lakefront, historically distinctive suburb with rail access to Manhattan, Mountain Lakes is a leading choice in Morris County.