Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 38,977.
Montclair was first formed as a Township on April 15, 1868, from portions of Bloomfield Township. After a referendum held on February 21, 1894, Montclair was reincorporated as a Town, effective February 24, 1894.[1] In the late 1970s, after protesting for years at the inequities built into the formulas, Montclair joined several other communities to qualify for a pool of federal aid allocated only to Townships, that allowed townships to receive as much as double the revenue-sharing aid per capita received by the four other types of New Jersey municipalities — Borough, City, Town or Village.[2][3]
Geography
Montclair is located at 40°49′20″N 74°12′43″W / 40.82222°N 74.21194°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.822249, -74.211989)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.3 km² (6.3 mi²).
Montclair is bordered by Cedar Grove, Little Falls, Clifton, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, East Orange, Orange, West Orange, and Verona.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,388.7/km² (6,183.6/mi²). There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 951.8/km² (2,464.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 59.77% White, 32.06% African American, 0.19% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.12% of the population.
There were 15,020 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $74,894, and the median income for a family was $96,252. Males had a median income of $64,151 versus $43,520 for females. The per capita income for the township was $44,870. About 3.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Character
Montclair is located on the First Mountain of the Watchung Mountains. Most of the town is on the eastward-side of this ridge. Thus, many locations provide excellent views of the surrounding area and the New York City skyline, which is about 12 miles away. In the 19th century, George Inness, the Hudson River School painter, lived in town.
Montclair is noted for its historic architecture. It is home to six historic districts listed on the New Jersey and/or National Registers of Historic Places., some 92 individually listed landmarks, and two locally designated commercial districts. Works by significant architects include designs by Van Vleck and Goldsmith, Charles Follen McKim, McKim, Mead, and White, Henry Hudson Holly, Charles A. Platt, Alexander Jackson Davis, Dudley Van Antwerp, Effingham R. North, and Frances Nelson, among others.
Education
The Montclair Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are seven elementary schools (K-5, except as noted) — Bradford, Edgemont, Hillside (3-5), Nishuane (K-2), Northeast, Rand and Watchung — Three middle schools for grades 6-8 — Glenfield, Mount Hebron and Renaissance — and Montclair High School for grades 9-12.
Montclair is home to Montclair State University.
Montclair is also home to a host of private and parochial schools, including: Lacordaire Academy, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Immaculate Conception High School (Montclair), St. Cassian's School, Virginia Harkness Sawtelle Learning, Maria Montessori Early Learning, Montclair Cooperative School, Trinity Academy, and Deron School II.
Sports
- Home to the Montclair Rugby Club, also known as the Norsemen, of USA Rugby Division 2. They play at Codey Field.
- Home to the Minor league baseball New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League. The Jackals play at Yogi Berra Stadium.
- Former home to the New Jersey Pride of Major League Lacrosse.
Montclair is twinned with the following cities:
Notable residents
Some noted current and former residents include:
- Steve Adubato Jr., Anchor (PBS / WNET: Channel 13), Columnist (The Star-Ledger), Author (Speak From the Heart, Make the Connection)
- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut, second man to walk on the moon.[6]
- Jonathan Alter, Newsweek Magazine journalist
- Michael Barrow, NFL, Linebacker for New York Giants currently plays for Dallas Cowboys, former resident
- Yogi Berra, Baseball player and manager with the New York Yankees and New York Mets.[7]
- Eric Boehlert, Journalist, Author, frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, contributing editor to Rolling Stone
- Tim Bozik, President of Prentice Hall Higher Education, a division of Pearson Inc.
- Bobbi Brown, Makeup Artist.[8]
- Wendy Coakley-Thompson, Writer, author of Back to Life, set in Montclair
- Stephen Colbert, Host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report
- Ted Curson, jazz trumpeter.[9]
- Larry Doby, Second African-American to play professional baseball in MLB
- Olympia Dukakis Actress, former resident
- Christopher Durang, Contemporary playwright
- Frankie Faison, Actor in such films as The Silence of the Lambs
- Hussein Fatal, Rapper, former member of the Outlawz
- Bayard H. Faulkner, former mayor and chairman of the Commission on Municipal Government that created New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law, better known eponymously as the Faulkner Act
- Frank Field meteorologist, current resident
- Ian Frazier, Writer, Humorist, and Essayist
- Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, and their twelve children, featured in the autobiography Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr.
- Floyd Hall, CEO of K-Mart from 1995–2001
- Billy Hart, jazz drummer.[9]
- Sterling Hayden, Actor, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
- Janet Hubert-Whitten, Actress, Fresh Prince of Bel Air
- Billy "Brud" Johnson, Former New York Yankees third baseman
- Liz Keifer, actress
- Peter King, Sports Illustrated football writer who also appears on HBO's Inside the NFL
- Oliver Lake, alto saxophone player and composer.[9]
- Claude Lemieux, NHL forward played with the New Jersey Devils, Phoenix Coyotes, and others
- Joe McNally, prominent photographer
- Jim McNeely, Jazz pianist, composer and arranger; 7-time Grammy Award nominee
- Scott Niedermayer, NHL defenseman and captain of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks; former New Jersey Devil
- Christina Ricci, Actress, The Addams Family, Buffalo ’66
- Anwar Robinson, Singer, Contestant on American Idol.[10]
- Wallace Roney, trumpet player and jazz musician.[9]
- Adam Schlesinger, Musician, bass player for Fountains of Wayne and Ivy
- Michael Strahan, NFL defensive end for the New York Giants, holds single season sack record.[11]
- Dallas Townsend, CBS Anchor for the CBS World News Roundup.
- David Tyree, NFL Wide receiver for the New York Giants, graduate of Montclair High School, '98
- Joe Walsh, Musician/Songwriter,for the "James Gang" and the "Eagles".[12]
- A.C. Weary, actor, director
- Wendy Williams, Radio Host, "The Wendy Williams Experience"
- Jenny Owen Youngs, Singer/Songwriter
- Kim Zimmer, Actress, Guiding Light
- Louis Zorich, actor, former resident
Points of interest
- Montclair Art Museum
- Howard Van Vleck Arboretum
- Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
- Van Vleck House and Gardens
- Crane House and Museum
References
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 129.
- ^ "Opponent of Distribution Formula For Federal Aid Steps Up Attack; As South Orange Moves to Become Township, Montclair Aide Calls for Equitable Sharing", The New York Times August 29, 1977. p. 59.
- ^ History of Montclair, accessed January 1, 2007
- ^ Sister City Exchange With Barnet, England, accessed September 12, 2006
- ^ Nicaragua Sister City projects
- ^ Reflections on a Lifetime of Achievement, accessed December 21, 2006. "Buzz Aldrin has led an exciting and fascinating life. This timeline covers the highlights of his distinguished career, beginning with his early life in Montclair, New Jersey."
- ^ Life of Yogi, accessed December 21, 2006. "A resident of Montclair, NJ for over 40 years, Yogi Berra remains an inspiration to different generations."
- ^ ‘I am not Ms. Perfect. I am Ms. Normal’: Cosmetics guru Bobbi Brown honored for exemplary parenting, The Montclair Times, May 10, 2006. "Beauty innovator Bobbi Brown of Montclair stood out for her “what you see is what you get” natural style and classic, down-to-earth flair at the 28th Annual Outstanding Mother Awards luncheon held Thursday, May 4, at the Pierre Hotel in New York City."
- ^ a b c d The State of Jazz: Meet 40 More Jersey Greats, The Star-Ledger, September 28, 2004
- ^ "Anwar: Out!", The Montclair Times, April 28, 2005."A member of the MHS Class of 1997 and a township resident for five years, Robinson’s run from one of hundreds of thousands of contestants to the last seven finalists ended Wednesday, April 20, after he received the fewest votes among the remaining contestants."
- ^ Strahan home improvement a labor of love, NFL Insider, October 3, 2002
- ^ Artist Description for Joe Walsh, accessed December 4, 2006
External links
- Township of Montclair Official Website
- Montclair Public Schools
- School Performance Reports for the Montclair Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Montclair Public Schools
- Montclair Art Museum
- Hometown Newspaper: The Montclair Times
- Community blog: My Montclair
- GoToMontclairNJ - Montclair's On-Line Business and Community Directory
- Local Gossip & News: Baristanet
- Montclair Watercooler - Local Discussion by over 2,000 residents
- Gay and Lesbian Montclair Community
- 90.3 WMSC, Montclair State's Underground Radio