Montclair, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montclair, New Jersey
Township
Panoramic view of Montclair from atop the Watchungs, 2008 Montclair-Boonton Line bound for the Upper Montclair station, 2006 The Anchorage, 2014 Opening night for the film Wild Rose at Wellmont Theater, 2019 Montclair High School, 2008 Montclair State University, 2014 Montclair Art Museum, 2008 Mountainside Medical Center, 2008 Victorian home on 30 Eagle Rock Way, 2011
Seal
Montclair, New Jersey Location in Essex County, New Jersey Show map of Essex County, New Jersey Montclair, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Montclair, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Essex
Incorporated	April 15, 1868 (as township)
Reincorporated	February 24, 1894 (as town)
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act (council–manager)
• Body	Township Council
Area
• Total	6.25 sq mi (16.17 km2)
• Land	6.24 sq mi (16.16 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)  0.11%
Area rank	252nd of 565 in state 6th of 22 in county
Elevation	299 ft (91 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	40,921
• Estimate  (2023)	39,797
• Rank	57th of 565 in state 6th of 22 in county
• Density	6,560.0/sq mi (2,532.8/km2)
• Density rank	79th of 565 in state 10th of 22 in county
Economics
• Median income	8,765 (± ,562) (2018-2022)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	07042, 07043
Area code(s)	973
FIPS code	3401347500
GNIS feature ID	1729720
Website	montclairnjusa.org

Montclair is a township in Essex County, New Jersey. It sits on the Watchung Mountains and is a lively center for business and culture in North Jersey. Montclair is also a diverse community where many people live and travel to work in New York City. It is part of the larger New York metropolitan area.

Montclair is home to Montclair State University, which is the second-largest university in New Jersey. In 2020, about 40,921 people lived in Montclair. This was an increase from 37,669 people in 2010.

Montclair's History and Name

Montclair became a township on April 15, 1868. It was formed from parts of Bloomfield Township. This change happened so a second railroad could be built to Montclair. Later, on February 24, 1894, Montclair officially became a town.

The name "Montclair" comes from the French words mont clair. This means "clear mountain" or "bright mountain." In 1980, Montclair changed its name back to "Township of Montclair." This was done to get more government funding.

Exploring Montclair's Geography

Montclair is located on the east side of the First Mountain of the Watchung Mountains. From higher spots in Montclair, you can see great views of the area. You can even see the New York City skyline, which is about 12 miles (19 km) away.

The township covers about 6.3 square miles (16.3 square kilometers) of land. Only a very small part is water.

Neighborhoods and ZIP Codes

Montclair has several well-known areas. These include Frog Hollow, Montclair Heights, South End, Upper Montclair, and Watchung Plaza.

Most of Montclair uses two main ZIP codes. The central and southern parts use 07042. Upper Montclair, which is north of Watchung Avenue, has its own ZIP code, 07043. Sometimes, homes near the town's edges might use a ZIP code from a neighboring town.

Streams and Rivers

Several streams flow through Montclair towards the east. These include Toney's Brook, Nishuane Brook, Wigwam Brook, Pearl Brook, and Yantacaw Brook. All these streams are part of the Passaic River watershed. Yantacaw and Toney's brooks have dams in parks, creating ponds. Wigwam, Nishuane, and Toney's brooks flow into the Second River. The others flow into the Third River.

Montclair's Climate and Weather

Montclair has a mild climate. Summers are warm to hot and humid. Winters are cool to cold. This is typical for a humid continental climate.

January is usually the coldest month. High temperatures are in the upper 30s Fahrenheit (around 3-4°C). Lows average 21°F (about -6°C). July is the warmest month. High temperatures are in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 29-30°C). Lows are in the 70s Fahrenheit (around 21-26°C). Spring (April to June) and fall (September to early November) have temperatures from the lower 60s to lower 70s Fahrenheit (around 16-22°C).

Montclair gets about 50 inches (1,270 mm) of rain each year. This is more than the average for the United States. Snowfall is common from December to early March, with about 30 inches (760 mm) annually. Montclair usually has 202 sunny days each year.

Montclair's Diverse Community

Montclair is known for its diverse population. This diversity has attracted many people to live there. For many years, the African American population has been around 30%. Many residents work in New York City or the surrounding metro area. Some even work for major media companies like The New York Times.

Montclair's Economy and Shopping Areas

The Upper Montclair neighborhood

Montclair has six different commercial areas where people can shop and eat.

• Montclair Center: This is also called Downtown Montclair. It's the main shopping area with many stores and restaurants. It has upscale restaurants and boutiques. Lackawanna Plaza, a former railway station, is also here. In 2015, Montclair Center won the Great American Main Street Award.
• Upper Montclair: Located in the north, this is the second-largest commercial zone. It has restaurants, shops, and some chain stores. The Upper Montclair railway station and Anderson Park are here. Anderson Park was designed by John Charles Olmsted.
• Watchung Plaza: This area has many small, local businesses. It also has its own post office and is served by the Watchung Avenue station.
• Walnut Street: This area is built around the Walnut Street train station. It hosts the Montclair Farmer's Market in spring, summer, and fall. You'll find many restaurants and cafes here, including Montclair Brewery, the first Black-owned microbrewery in New Jersey.
• South End: This commercial area is in the southern part of town.
• Valley Road: Known as "Frog Hollow," this area has strip mall-style shops and window shops with apartments above them.

Arts and Culture in Montclair

Montclair is a vibrant place for arts and culture, with many art institutions and theaters.

Literature and Film Connections

• The 1948 book Cheaper by the Dozen is about a family living in Montclair. The authors, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, lived there in real life.
• Parts of the film "Seven Minutes in Heaven" (1986) were filmed at Montclair High School.
• The 1989 film Bloodhounds of Broadway, starring Madonna, was partly filmed in Montclair.

Music Scene

• Herman Hupfeld, who wrote the famous song "As Time Goes By" (from the movie Casablanca), was born, lived, and is buried in Montclair.
• The indie rock band Pinegrove is from Montclair. They released a film called Montclair: Live at the Wellmont Theater in 2023.

Theatre and Performing Arts

• In 1971, actors Louis Zorich and Olympia Dukakis started a theater group called Whole Theatre in Montclair. They put on many different types of plays for two decades.
• Montclair has several live theaters, including The Montclair Operetta Company and the Wellmont Theater. Montclair State University also has theaters.
• The Montclair Orchestra, a semi-professional orchestra, was formed in 2017.

Art Institutions and Galleries

• Montclair has its own art museum, the Montclair Art Museum, and several smaller art galleries.
• The Claridge Cinema on Bloomfield Avenue shows various films, including documentaries and indie movies.
• The annual film festival started in 2012. It showcases films from New Jersey, the US, and around the world.

Media and Library

• Montclair has a local newspaper called the Montclair Local.
• Montclair State University has a radio station, WMSC at 90.3 FM.
• The township has a public television channel, Channel 34, which broadcasts local meetings.
• Montclair Public Library is one of New Jersey's oldest public libraries. It has the largest collection of materials in northern New Jersey.

Sports and Recreation in Montclair

Anderson Park

Edgemont Memorial Park

Montclair offers many sports and outdoor activities.

Sports Teams

• The New Jersey Jackals, an Independent baseball league team, played at Yogi Berra Stadium until 2022.
• The New York Red Bulls II, a professional soccer team, play at Montclair State University.
• The Montclair Rugby Football Club, also known as the Norsemen, plays at Codey Field.
• Other local teams include the Essex Eagles cricket team and the Montclair Giants baseball team.

Parks and Outdoor Spaces

Montclair has many parks and nature areas. There are 18 township parks covering 153.9 acres (0.62 square kilometers) and five county parks covering 123.8 acres (0.50 square kilometers).

• Mountainside Park: This is the largest township park at 33.2 acres (0.13 square kilometers). It has tennis and recreation facilities.
• Presby Memorial Iris Gardens: Located within Mountainside Park, this 6.5-acre (0.026 square kilometers) living museum is dedicated to the iris flower. Volunteers maintain it.
• Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve: This preserve covers nearly 20 acres (0.08 square kilometers) of wetlands and uplands along the Third River. It has hiking trails.
• Yantacaw Brook Park: This 11.5-acre (0.047 square kilometers) park surrounds a pond fed by Yantacaw Brook.

Montclair also has 18 public tennis courts, four skating rinks (two indoors), and three public swimming pools.

Skatepark Development

In 2007, residents wanted a public skatepark. The idea gained new life in 2010. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary skatepark was created by community members on unused tennis courts at Rand Park. The township officially recognized this temporary skatepark. The community provides all the skating equipment.

Education in Montclair

Board of Education Building

The Montclair Public Schools serve students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school. In the 2022–23 school year, about 6,216 students were enrolled.

• Elementary Schools: Bradford, Charles H. Bullock, Edgemont, Hillside, Nishuane, Northeast, and Watchung.
• Middle Schools: Buzz Aldrin Middle School and Renaissance Middle School.
• High School: Montclair High School.

Main entrance to Montclair State University

Montclair is also home to Montclair State University. It was founded in 1908 as the New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair.

There are also private schools in Montclair. These include Immaculate Conception High School (coed) and Lacordaire Academy (for girls). St. Cassian School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2016 for its academic excellence. Other private schools include Montclair Kimberley Academy and Montclair Cooperative School.

Transportation and Infrastructure

County Route 506 (Bloomfield Avenue) westbound in Montclair

Montclair is a "commuter suburb" for New York City. This means many people live in Montclair and travel to New York City for work. The average commute is about 38 minutes each way. About 24% of commuters use public transportation, which is much higher than the national average.

Roads and Highways

Montclair has over 100 miles (160 km) of roadways. The main road is County Route 506, also known as Bloomfield Avenue. There is a taxi stand near Bloomfield Avenue in eastern Montclair.

Public Transportation Options

NJ Transit provides public transportation in Montclair.

Bus Services

Several NJ Transit bus routes run through Montclair, mostly along Bloomfield Avenue:

• #11: Travels from Downtown Newark to Willowbrook Mall in Wayne.
• #28: Goes north along Park Street, Watchung Avenue, and Valley Road to Montclair State University.
• #29: Connects West Caldwell and Newark.
• #34: Goes to Newark or Bloomfield.
• #97: Travels from Montclair Center south through the Oranges.
• #191: Connects Willowbrook Mall to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
• #705: Runs from Passaic to Willowbrook Mall, passing through Montclair State University.

Many of these bus routes were originally trolley lines. The township also has its own jitney service in the evening.

Train Services

The former Lackawanna Railroad terminal, photographed when it housed a Hollywood Video store

Montclair-Boonton Line at Montclair Heights station

The Montclair-Boonton Line train runs through Montclair. It connects to New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal to the east. To the west, it goes to Hackettstown.

Seven NJ Transit Rail stations serve Montclair: Bay Street, Walnut Street, Watchung Avenue, Upper Montclair, Mountain Avenue, and Montclair Heights. The Montclair State University station is nearby in Little Falls. Only Bay Street station has weekend train service.

Montclair has a long history with railroads. The first railroad was built in 1856. In 2002, the two main railway lines were connected, making travel easier.

Healthcare Services

Mountainside Medical Center

Mountainside Medical Center, also known as Mountainside Hospital, is a hospital in Montclair. It has 398 beds and serves Northern Essex County. It is part of Hackensack Meridian Health. The hospital offers 12 specialties and trains medical students.

Historic Architecture and Housing

WNJN-TV transmitter site

Montclair is famous for its historic buildings. It has six historic districts listed on state and national registers. There are also 92 individually listed landmarks. Many famous architects designed buildings in Montclair.

In 2018, Bobbi Brown (founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics) and her husband opened The George. This is a 32-room hotel that was originally a private home built in 1902.

Sister Cities Around the World

Montclair has "sister city" relationships with other cities around the world. These partnerships promote cultural exchange and understanding.

• Aquilonia, Italy
• Barnet, London, United Kingdom
• Graz, Austria

In 2022, Montclair ended its sister city relationship with Cherepovets, Russia, due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Places to Visit in Montclair

Van Vleck House and Gardens

Montclair has many interesting places to visit:

• Montclair Art Museum
• Howard Van Vleck Arboretum
• Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
• Van Vleck House and Gardens
• Crane House and Museum
• The Montclair History Center, which includes the Crane House and Historic YMCA and Clark House.
• Yogi Berra Stadium and the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center
• Revolutionary War site markers for where Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington supposedly stayed. (Note: There's no written proof Washington was there, but the story has been passed down.)
• Brookdale Park
• Parks and dining in Upper Montclair

Historic Sites to Explore

The Anchorage

Central Presbyterian Church

The House that Lives

Charles S. Shultz House

Montclair is home to many places listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• The Anchorage
• Anderson Park
• Joseph Bardsley House
• Bradner's Pharmacy
• Carnegie Library
• Casa Deldra
• Central Presbyterian Church
• J. M. Chapman House
• Cliffside Hose Company No. 4
• Congregational Church
• Israel Crane House
• Eastward
• Egbert Farm
• Henry Fenn House
• First Methodist Episcopal Church
• Free Public Library, Upper Montclair Branch
• Frank Goodwillie House
• Haskell's Bloomfield Villa
• House at 147 Park Street
• The House that Lives
• Marlboro Park Historic District
• Marsellis House
• Miller Street Historic District
• George A. Miller House
• Montclair Art Museum
• Montclair Railroad Station
• Mountain Avenue station
• Mountain District
• Mulford House
• Pine Street Historic District
• Post Office Building, Upper Montclair
• Presby Memorial Iris Gardens Horticultural Center
• M. F. Reading House
• Red Gables
• Charles S. Shultz House
• S. C. Smith House
• St. Luke's Church
• Stone Eagles
• Upper Montclair station
• Van Reyper-Bond House
• Von Schmid House
• Watchung Avenue station
• Allyn Wight House

Notable People from Montclair

Many famous people have lived in Montclair. You can find a full list in the List of people from Montclair, New Jersey article.

See also

In Spanish: Montclair (Nueva Jersey) para niños