Hillside, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hillside, New Jersey
Township
Woodruff House
Seal
Map of Hillside Township in Union County. Inset: Location of Union County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside, New Jersey Location in Union County, New Jersey Show map of Union County, New Jersey Hillside, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Hillside, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Union
Incorporated	April 29, 1913
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act (mayor–council)
• Body	Township Council
Area
• Total	2.78 sq mi (7.20 km2)
• Land	2.77 sq mi (7.17 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)  0.54%
Area rank	357th of 565 in state 15th of 21 in county
Elevation	56 ft (17 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	22,456
• Estimate  (2023)	21,991
• Rank	122nd of 565 in state 11th of 21 in county
• Density	8,115.6/sq mi (3,133.5/km2)
• Density rank	48th of 565 in state 5th of 21 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07205
Area code(s)	908 and 973
FIPS code	3403931980
GNIS feature ID	0882211

Hillside is a township located in Union County, New Jersey. It's a place where about 22,456 people lived as of the 2020 United States census. This number shows a small increase in population since 2010.

Hillside became an official township on April 3, 1913. This happened after people voted for it on April 29, 1913. The township got its name because it is surrounded by hills.

The area uses two main phone codes: 908 and 973.

Exploring Hillside's Past

Hillside was formed from parts of nearby towns like Newark, Elizabeth, and Union. It used to be made up of large farms belonging to families like Woodruff, Conant, and Saybrook. You can still see their names on local streets today.

The "Comets" and Halley's Comet

Hillside became a township not long after Halley's Comet was seen in 1910. Because of this, the sports teams at Hillside High School are called the "Comets." The high school opened in 1940. Many local businesses also use the name "Comet" for the same reason.

Preserving History at Woodruff House

The Hillside Historical Society started in the 1980s. They are based in the Woodruff House on Conant Street, which is one of the oldest buildings in the township. The Woodruff House and Eaton Store Museum is cared for by the Historical Society.

The society bought the house in 1978 and has worked to restore it. The house shows how buildings changed over three centuries. It includes the original part from 1735, an addition from 1790, a kitchen from the 1890s, and a store from the 1900s. The society has also added a barn and a museum honoring Phil Rizzuto, a famous baseball player from Hillside.

Local Stories and Famous Companies

Jean-Ray Turner, a reporter, wrote a book called Along the Upper Road in the 1970s. This book shares the history of Hillside.

Hillside was once home to big companies like Bristol-Myers Squibb. Lionel Trains were made in a factory in Hillside from 1929 to 1974. This factory employed up to 2,000 people. The town grew a lot and was at its best economically in the 1960s. Many workers lived in the central part of town and worked in local factories.

White-collar workers lived in a neighborhood called Westminster. This is where baseball legend Phil Rizzuto lived for most of his life. This area also had the private Pingry School for boys, which later moved. Now, part of it is the East Campus of Kean University.

In the 1950s and 1960s, about half of the township's population was Jewish. Many lived in Westminster or near Chancellor Avenue, close to the Weequahic area of Newark. Famous people like comedian Jerry Lewis and writer Philip Roth grew up nearby.

Parks and Public Buildings

In the early 1950s, Hillside created Conant Park, its largest park. The park is next to the Elizabeth River and Conant Street. Near the park was the land of the Kean family. This was the childhood home of Governor Thomas Kean (who served from 1982–1990). The wealthy Kean family also gave land for Newark Normal College in 1885. This college was later renamed Kean University in their honor.

Also in the 1950s, the Town Hall, Police Headquarters, and Municipal Library were built. They are located at the corner of Liberty and Hillside Avenues.

Community Groups

Hillside has many community groups. These include Rotary International, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, and Elks. There are also business groups and political clubs, along with many groups for different ethnic backgrounds.

Hillside's Location and Weather

Hillside covers about 2.78 square miles (7.20 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

Neighboring Towns

Hillside is on the northern edge of Union County. To the northwest, it borders Irvington. To the north and northeast, it borders Newark. Both of these towns are in Essex County. Elizabeth is to the east and southeast of Hillside, and Union is to the west.

Climate in Hillside

The weather in Hillside usually has hot and humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.

Understanding Hillside's Population

The population of Hillside has changed over the years. In 1920, there were 5,267 people. By 1960, it had grown to 22,304. In 2020, the population was 22,456.

Population Diversity

Hillside is a diverse community. The 2020 United States census showed that about 50% of the population was Black or African American. About 17% was White, and about 23% identified as Hispanic or Latino. Many people also identified as being of mixed race.

Hillside's Economy

Part of Hillside is a special area called an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). This program helps encourage businesses to create jobs and invest in the area. Hillside joined this program in 1996.

One benefit of being in a UEZ is that shoppers can pay a lower sales tax rate. Instead of the usual state rate, the sales tax is cut in half for eligible businesses. Hillside's UEZ status is set to continue until May 2027.

Arts and Culture in Hillside

Hillside has been home to musical groups. For example, Blanks 77, a street punk band, is from Hillside.

Learning in Hillside

The Hillside Public Schools system teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. In the 2018–19 school year, there were six schools and about 3,123 students. This means there were about 12 students for every teacher.

Schools in the District

The schools in Hillside include:

• Abram P. Morris Early Childhood Center (Pre-K–1)
• Calvin Coolidge Elementary School (Grade 2)
• Hurden Looker School (Grades 3–4)
• George Washington School (Grade 5)
• Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School (Grades 6–8)
• Hillside High School (Grades 9–12)

Hillside High School was first built in 1941. It replaced the Coe Avenue School, which then became a grammar school. More additions were built in the 1950s and 1960s to fit more students.

Catholic Schools and Higher Education

There were once Catholic grammar schools like Christ the King and St. Catherine of Siena. In 2004, they merged to form Hillside Catholic Academy. However, this school closed in 2012 due to fewer students and rising costs.

A part of Kean University is located in the Westminster section of Hillside. This area used to be the site of the Pingry School.

Getting Around Hillside

Interstate 78 westbound in Hillside

As of 2010, Hillside had about 48.48 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the township itself.

Major Roads and Highways

Several important roads pass through Hillside. These include the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 78, U.S. Route 22, New Jersey Route 439, and County Route 509. The Union toll plaza for the Garden State Parkway is also in Hillside.

Public Transport Options

NJ Transit offers bus service from Hillside to Midtown Manhattan and other places in New Jersey. Routes 113 and 114 serve the area.

While a train line goes through Hillside, there are no train stations directly in the township. The closest train stations are Union station in Union and North Elizabeth station in Elizabeth.

Newark Liberty International Airport is also very close, about 2 miles east of Hillside.

Famous People from Hillside

Evergreen Cemetery

Hillside is home to Evergreen Cemetery. This cemetery is known as the burial place for many Roma families. It also holds the graves of several famous writers, including:

• Stephen Crane, who wrote The Red Badge of Courage
• Mary Mapes Dodge, who wrote Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates
• Edward Stratemeyer, who created popular book series like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew

Hillside in Pop Culture

• Hip hop artist Lauryn Hill mentions Hillside in her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. In her song "Every Ghetto, Every City," she talks about growing up in New Jersey and says, "Hillside brings beef with the cops."
• The 1978 movie King of the Gypsies was partly filmed in Hillside.
• The Rat Slayer of Hillside, NJ is a documentary about a Hillside resident named Frank Balun. He was charged for killing a rat, and the film features the township.

Images for kids

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  Interstate 78 westbound in Hillside

See also

In Spanish: Hillside (Nueva Jersey) para niños