Boonton lies nestled in historic Morris County, surrounded by communities ranked among New Jersey's wealthiest. Just as many industrial cities have suffered distress from the loss of industry, Boonton has persevered but has not recaptured the prosperity spawned in the early part of the 20th century.

In the early 1900's, the molded plastics industry brought affluence to Boonton. Factories in Boonton manufactured the molded plastic known as bakelite. The development of bakelite contributed to the radio and electronics industries being introduced into Boonton. Molded plastic dinnerware known as Boontonware also gained national popularity in the 1950's and 1960's. Now, industry in Boonton is virtually non-existent. However, a short tour of this quaint and culturally diverse town confirms there was a time in the past when industry brought it prosperity.

In stark contrast to the affluence of neighboring towns, 45% of Boonton's families fall within the very low-income category set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) income guidelines. The ground-work for Cedar Hill/St. John's CDC was laid by a grass roots call to action, spurred by a commitment to the community and a patent need for an after school haven for children. At-risk behaviors are fostered in children during unsupervised, idle time. In 2000, Cedar Hill/St. John's CDC was established to improve the quality of life of Boonton's families by providing affordable after-school care, thus giving peace of mind to parents by ensuring the safety of their children.

The CDC is supported by foundations, corporations and individuals; and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Youth and Family Services. Our mission is to serve our neighbors in need, the low-income residents of the Boonton area, by working with sustained commitment to improve their quality of life in tangible ways.

Our mission is to serve our neighbors in need- the low-income residents of the Boonton area-by working with sustained commitment to improve the quality of life in tangible ways.