The History
Berkeley Heights is known to have been part of the region inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. The first European settler was Peter Willcox, who received a 424 acre land grant in 1720 from the Elizabethtown Associates. In 1793, a regional government was formed. Berkeley Heights was originally incorporated as New Providence Township in 1809. Portions were taken in 1869 to form Summit and in 1899 to create the borough of New Providence. In 1951, the name of the township was changed to Berkeley Heights based on the results of a referendum. The township owes its rural character to its late development. Until 1941, when the American Telephone and Telegraph Company built the AT&T Bell Laboratories research facility, which later became Lucent Technologies, in the township, it was a sleepy farming and resort community.
The township, area 6.3 square miles, and is located in northwestern Union County, at the confluence of Union, Morris and Somerset Counties. Berkeley Heights is bordered by New Providence and Summit to the east, Scotch Plains to the southeast, Chatham to the north, Watchung to the south, and Warren Township and Long Hill Township to the west. In 2013, Berkeley Heights was named Number 6 in "Best Places to Live - America's Top 50 Small Towns" by CNN/Money Magazine.
Real Estate
Real Estate in Berkeley Heights is diverse. The general effect of the town, nestled in the Watchung mountains, remains very much small town and almost rural. It's very much a town that will appeal to you if you would like to live in the country but also want to live close to work. If you are looking for anything from a condominium development to a large luxury home, Berkeley Heights can provide you with a choice. Much of the town offers tree-lined streets with Colonials, Split-Levels, Capes and vintage homes. If you are looking for a newer home, check out Cinnamon Ridge, a section with a selection of newer brick Colonials.
Another early Berkeley Heights community of note is the 67 acre “Free Acres” which was established in 1910 and originally designed as an artist retreat. In Free Acres, residents own their houses, but not the land the houses sit on, they lease it. They pay taxes to the community, which, in turn, pays a lump sum to the municipality and use the Public School system and participate in township organizations. However, the enclave owns and operates its water system, a swimming pool and maintains Free Acre’s streets. There are no lights or lamp posts in the streets to preserve the rural and rustic ambiance of the area.
Real Estate asking prices currently range from about $250,00 for a condominium up to about $1,500,000 for a large luxury home.
Schools
Berkeley Heights boasts an excellent school system (see NJ School Report Card). There is an early-childhood center for pre-kindergarten children through 1st Grade, three Elementary Schools, one Middle School and one High School. Elementary Schools include William Woodruff, Thomas Hughes, Mountain Park. Intermediate School is Columbia Middle School and the High School is Governor Livingston High School.
Berkeley Heights public preschool at Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center is a student-centered program that utilizes The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, an award-winning curriculum which is fully aligned with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework and state early learning standards. Using exploration and discovery as a way of learning, The Creative Curriculum for Preschool enables children to develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills.
The district's high school serves public school students of Berkeley Heights, along with those from neighboring Borough of Mountainside who are educated at the high school as part of a relationship with Mountainside. Governor Livingston also provides programs for deaf, hard of hearing and cognitively-impaired students who are enrolled from all over north-central New Jersey. Governor Livingston was the 36th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 328 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 24th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.
The Commute
New Jersey Transit provide service at the Berkeley Heights station serving Hoboken Terminal, Newark Broad Street Station, and Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan as part of the Gladstone Branch. Berkeley Heights is also in close proximity of the Summit train station, which provides frequent commuter rail service to New York City. There is a waiting list for parking at the station.
NJ Transit offers local bus service on the 986 route to Summit Train Station with a direct train into Manhattan. Lakeland Bus Lines also provides commuter bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the West Side.
Recreation
Berkeley Heights is surrounded by open space. There are also many municipal parks, including the largest one, Columbia Park (located along Plainfield Avenue) which boasts tennis courts, two baseball fields, basketball courts, and a large children's play area. It is operated by the Recreation Commission. In addition to those located at each of the schools, athletic fields are located along Horseshoe Road (Sansone Field) and along Springfield Avenue (Passaic River Park).
There are ttwo swimming clubs located in Berkeley Heights: the Berkeley Heights Community Pool (Locust Avenue) and the Berkeley Swim Club (behind Columbia Park).
The Watchung Reservation and Passaic Valley Park are in the township and maintained by Union County. The Watchung Reservation has hiking trails, horseback riding trails, a large lake (Lake Surprise), the deserted community of Feltville. and picnic areas.
Berkeley Heights also has a busy Recreation Department offering many programs for residents. Among other things, programs offer a playground camp for students, concerts and movies, tennis camps and lessons, table tennis and gymnastics and several adult fitness programs.
What makes Berkeley Heights special when it comes to recreation? The answer is The Mount Carmel Feast, five days of rides, games, food and entertainment - oh and Fireworks. This event is run by the Mt Carmel Society and is an annual event. The Feast includes a parade through the streets carrying the Virgin Mary Statute with members dressed in sashes to designate the members and a mass at Little Flower Church after the parade. All are welcome to join the parade and there is a picnic lunch afterwards. The main firework display are provided by the Garden State Fireworks/Santore Family and people come from far and wide to see it.
Private and Parochial Schools Near Berkeley Heights: There are many excellent private and parochial schools in the area. Some of those options are:
- Delbarton
- The Far Brook School
- Golda Och Academy
- Kent Place School
- Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child
- Oratory Prep
- The Peck School
- The Pingry School
- Saint Peter’s Prep
- Saint Rose of Lima School
- Holy Trinity School
Preschools Near Berkeley Heights: There are also many excellent preschool options in the area. A few of the many options are:
- Spring Academy Warren
- Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center
- Westminster Nursery School
- Primrose School of Berkeley Heights
Unique to Town
- Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
- Watchung Reservation
- The Deserted Village
- Passaic River Park
- Union County Dog Festival
- YMCA Berkeley Heights
- The Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery
- Delicious Heights
Other Useful Links: