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East Orange, New Jersey
City
East Orange Fire Headquarters
East Orange Fire Headquarters
Official seal of East Orange, New Jersey
Seal
East Orange, New Jersey is located in Essex County, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey
Location in Essex County, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey is located in the United States
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Essex
Incorporated March 4, 1863; 162 years ago (1863-03-04)
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 
(2024)
71,850
 • 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 made it the 17th most populated city in New Jersey.

History of East Orange

East Orange began with families from Connecticut in 1666. They traveled to the "Passayak" River area. This land now includes cities like Newark and the Oranges. King Charles II of England gave this land to his brother, James, Duke of York. James then gave it to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. Since Carteret was the Royal Governor of the Isle of Jersey, the land became known as New Jersey.

East Orange was first part of Newark and called Newark Mountains. In 1780, the people of Newark Mountains voted to call their town Orange. Many wanted to separate from Newark. This finally happened in 1806. In 1807, the first local government was chosen. Orange officially became a city in 1860.

Soon after, the city started to split into smaller towns. This happened because of disagreements over paying for police, fire, and street services. South Orange formed in 1861, East Orange in 1863, and West Orange in 1863. East Orange became a city again in 1899 after a public vote. The city was once famous for the many shade trees lining its streets, and many of these old trees still stand today.

Geography and Location

East Orange covers about 3.93 square miles (10.17 square kilometers) of land. It doesn't have any water within its borders.

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

Exploring East Orange's Neighborhoods

Eastorangemansion
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 is divided into five official areas called wards. It also has several unofficial neighborhoods, many with well-kept streets and homes.

  • Ampere: This area grew around the old Ampere train station. It was named after André-Marie Ampère, a scientist who studied electricity.
  • Greenwood (Teen Streets): This area is named after Greenwood Avenue and the "teen" streets that cross it. It was changed a lot when Interstate 280 and the Garden State Parkway were built.
  • Presidential Estates: This neighborhood is known for its streets named after early U.S. presidents. It has many large, beautiful homes and old shade trees.
  • Elmwood: Located in the southeast, Elmwood Park is a great spot here. It has tennis courts, a basketball court, a swimming pool, and sports fields. The Elmwood Branch of the East Orange Public Library, a Carnegie Library, opened in 1912.
  • Doddtown (Franklin): Named after John Dodd, who first explored this area. The former Upsala College campus is here. It is now home to the East Orange Campus High School and new houses.

Population and People

East Orange has a diverse population. In 2020, the city's population was 69,612. This was an increase from 64,270 people in 2010.

Population Changes Over Time

East Orange city, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1990 Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 4,596 1,874 1,422 1,388 6.25% 2.68% 2.21% 1.99%
Black or African American alone (NH) 65,098 61,604 55,702 54,689 88.51% 88.23% 86.67% 78.56%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 287 130 186 164 0.39% 0.19% 0.29% 0.24%
Asian alone (NH) 449 294 436 501 0.61% 0.42% 0.68% 0.72%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) N/A 37 29 6 N/A 0.05% 0.05% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 141 288 335 570 0.19% 0.41% 0.52% 0.82%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) N/A 2,313 1,065 3,262 N/A 3.31% 1.66% 4.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,981 3,284 5,095 9,032 4.05% 4.70% 7.93% 12.97%
Total 73,552 69,824 64,270 69,612 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Public Playgrounds in East Orange, New Jersey (1908)
Public playgrounds in East Orange, 1908
Apartment building, East Orange
A pre-WWII apartment on South Munn Avenue in East Orange.

In 2010, there were 64,270 people living in East Orange. About 29% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.53 people. The median age was 35 years old.

In 2000, East Orange had 69,824 residents. A large percentage, 89.46%, identified as Black or African American. Many people from the Caribbean, like Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Haiti, live in East Orange. The city has one of the highest percentages of African American and Caribbean American people in the United States.

Economy and Business

CENTRAL AVENUE COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, EAST ORANGE, ESSEX COUNTY, NY
Central Avenue Commercial Historic District

East Orange is part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). This program helps encourage jobs and investment in the city. Shoppers in these zones can pay a lower sales tax rate. East Orange joined this program in 1996, and it will continue until June 2027.

The main shopping streets are Central Avenue and Main Street. Efforts have been made to improve these areas. New apartment buildings and shops have been built or planned recently.

Parks and Fun Activities

East Orange has five parks for residents to enjoy: Columbian Park, Elmwood Park, Francis-Haire Park, Memorial Park, and Rowley Park. There are also sports fields like Oval Playground and Soverel Field, which is the city's largest. Paul Robeson Stadium hosts local sports and the city's yearly Fourth of July fireworks show.

The city also owns the East Orange Golf Course, which is about 10 miles away in Short Hills.

City Government

East Orange City Hall Lincoln jeh
City Hall

East Orange is run by a mayor and a city council. The mayor is chosen by the voters. The city council has ten members, with two from each of the city's five wards. Council members serve four-year terms.

The City Council makes laws and approves the city's budget. The current mayor of East Orange is Theodore R. "Ted" Green, a Democrat. His term ends on December 31, 2025.

The first African-American Mayor of East Orange was William S. Hart Sr. He served from 1970 to 1978. Hart Middle School is named after him.

Voting and Politics

As of March 2011, most registered voters in East Orange were Democrats. In recent presidential elections, East Orange voters have strongly supported Democratic candidates. For example, in the 2012 election, Barack Obama received 98.5% of the votes.

Education in East Orange

The East Orange School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district has 20 schools. In the 2018–19 school year, there were over 10,000 students.

Some of the schools include:

  • Althea Gibson Early Childhood Academy
  • Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative & Performing Arts
  • East Orange Campus High School
  • Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts

The East Orange Public Library has a large collection of books and other items. It has four locations. The original library building opened in 1903, thanks to a gift from Andrew Carnegie.

Healthcare Services

East Orange has East Orange General Hospital, now called CareWell Health Medical Center. It's a hospital that provides general medical care. The city is also home to the US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, also known as the East Orange VA Hospital. This hospital serves many veterans from the area.

Getting Around East Orange

2021-06-05 15 55 37 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the overpass for Essex County Route 658 (Park Avenue) in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey
The Garden State Parkway in East Orange

East Orange has many roads and highways. The Garden State Parkway and Interstate 280 are major highways that pass through the city.

Public Transportation Options

NJ Transit provides public bus services throughout East Orange and to nearby towns. There are many bus routes available.

New Jersey Transit also has two train stations in East Orange on the Morris & Essex Lines:

Both stations offer train service to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. You can also get to Hoboken Terminal on weekdays.

The city is also close to Newark Liberty International Airport, which is about 7.8 miles away.

Famous People from East Orange

Many well-known people have connections to East Orange, including:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: East Orange para niños

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