East Orange, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Orange, New Jersey
City
East Orange Fire Headquarters
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East Orange, New Jersey Location in Essex County, New Jersey Show map of Essex County, New Jersey East Orange, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey East Orange, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Essex
Incorporated	March 4, 1863; 162 years ago (March 4, 1863)
Government
• Type	City
• Body	City Council
Area
• Total	3.93 sq mi (10.17 km2)
• Land	3.93 sq mi (10.17 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.00%
Area rank	301st of 565 in state 10th of 22 in county
Elevation	177 ft (54 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	69,612
• Estimate  (2023)	69,556
• Rank	544th in country (as of 2023) 17th of 565 in state 2nd of 22 in county
• Density	17,722.0/sq mi (6,842.5/km2)
• Density rank	13th of 565 in state 2nd of 22 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	07017–07019
Area code(s)	973
FIPS code	3401319390
GNIS feature ID	0885200

East Orange is a city located in Essex County, New Jersey. It's a vibrant place with a rich history. In 2020, about 69,612 people lived here. This makes East Orange one of the larger cities in New Jersey. The city is known for its tree-lined streets and friendly neighborhoods.

History of East Orange

East Orange started a long time ago with families from Connecticut. In 1666, a group traveled to the "Passayak" River. They settled in an area that now includes East Orange and other nearby towns. This land was given to two owners by King Charles II of England. One owner, Sir George Carteret, was the governor of the Isle of Jersey. That's why the area became known as New Jersey!

How East Orange Became a City

East Orange was first part of Newark and was called Newark Mountains. In 1780, the people voted to call their town Orange. Many wanted to separate from Newark, which finally happened in 1806.

The area of Orange then became an official city in 1860. But soon, it started to split into smaller communities. This happened because people disagreed about how much it cost to have paid police, fire, and street services. So, South Orange, East Orange, and West Orange all became separate towns in the early 1860s. East Orange officially became a city again in 1899.

Geography and Location

East Orange covers about 3.93 square miles (10.17 square kilometers) of land. It's located in Essex County.

Neighboring Towns

East Orange shares its borders with several other towns in Essex County. To the east and south, it's next to Newark. To the southwest, you'll find South Orange. Orange is to the west. And to the north, East Orange is next to Glen Ridge and Bloomfield.

Exploring East Orange's Neighborhoods

A reminder of East Orange's former wealth. The Ambrose-Ward Mansion was built in 1898 for a book manufacturer, now the home of the African-American Fund of New Jersey

East Orange has five official sections called wards. It also has many unofficial neighborhoods, each with its own feel. Many streets still have beautiful, tall shade trees.

• Ampere: This area grew around a train station and a company called Crocker Wheeler. It's named after a scientist, André-Marie Ampère.
• Greenwood (Teen Streets): This neighborhood is named after Greenwood Avenue and other streets ending in "teen." It was changed a bit when major highways like Interstate 280 were built.
• Presidential Estates: The streets here are named after early U.S. presidents. You can find many large, well-kept homes and old, shady trees.
• Elmwood: Located in the southeast, this area has Elmwood Park. The park offers tennis courts, a basketball court, a swimming pool, and sports fields. It also has one of the city's old Carnegie libraries, which opened in 1912.
• Doddtown (Franklin): This neighborhood is named after John Dodd, who first explored the area. The former Upsala College campus is here. It has been turned into the new East Orange Campus High School and new homes.

Population and People

East Orange has a diverse population. According to the 2020 census, the city had 69,612 residents. This was an increase from the 2010 census. The city is home to people from many different backgrounds. Most residents identify as Black or African American. There are also growing numbers of Hispanic or Latino residents and people of mixed races.

Economy and Business

Central Avenue Commercial Historic District

East Orange is part of a special program called an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). This program helps encourage businesses to open and grow in the city. It also helps create jobs. One benefit of being in a UEZ is that shoppers pay a lower sales tax rate. This helps make shopping more affordable. East Orange joined this program in 1996.

The main shopping and business streets in East Orange are Central Avenue and Main Street. The city has been working to make these areas even better. New apartment buildings and shops have been built recently.

Parks and Fun Activities

East Orange has five main parks where you can relax and play. These include Columbian Park, Elmwood Park, and Memorial Park. There are also sports fields like Oval Playground and Soverel Field. These places offer athletic fields for different sports.

The city also has Paul Robeson Stadium. This stadium hosts local sports games. It's also where the city often holds its annual Fourth of July fireworks show. If you like golf, East Orange owns its own golf course in nearby Short Hills.

Education in East Orange

The East Orange School District provides education for students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. This district is special because the state helps cover the costs for building and renovating schools. This means students have access to modern learning spaces.

Schools in the District

The district has many schools. Here are a few examples:

• Althea Gibson Early Childhood Academy (Pre-K and K)
• Benjamin Banneker Academy (Pre-K–5)
• Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative & Performing Arts (Pre-K–8)
• East Orange Campus High School (9–12)
• East Orange STEM Academy (9–12)

There is also a public charter school called East Orange Community Charter School. It operates independently from the main school district. The East Orange Public Library has several locations. The first library building opened in 1903, thanks to a gift from Andrew Carnegie.

Healthcare Services

East Orange has its own hospital, East Orange General Hospital. It's now called CareWell Health Medical Center. This hospital provides medical care to the community. The city is also home to the US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This hospital serves many military veterans from the area.

Getting Around East Orange

East Orange has many roads and highways that help people travel. The Garden State Parkway is a major highway that goes through the city. It connects East Orange to other towns like Newark and Bloomfield. Another important highway is Interstate 280.

Public Transportation

You can get around East Orange and to nearby towns using NJ Transit public buses. There are many bus routes that serve the city.

East Orange also has two train stations for commuters:

• The East Orange station is located near City Hall.
• The Brick Church station is about a mile west and is used more often.

Both stations offer train service to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. You can also take a train to Hoboken Terminal. The city is also close to Newark Liberty International Airport, which is about 7.8 miles away.

Famous People from East Orange

Many famous people have lived in or are connected to East Orange! Here are just a few:

See also

In Spanish: East Orange para niños