Montclair, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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[edit] Geography
Montclair is located at (40.822249, -74.211989)GR1.
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.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 42,017 |
|
|
| 1940 | 39,807 | -5.3% | |
| 1950 | 43,927 | 10.3% | |
| 1960 | 43,129 | -1.8% | |
| 1970 | 44,043 | 2.1% | |
| 1980 | 38,321 | -13.0% | |
| 1990 | 37,729 | -1.5% | |
| 2000 | 38,977 | 3.3% | |
| Est. 2005 | 37,798 | [4] | -3.0% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[5] | |||
As of the censusGR2 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.
Montclair has attracted many who work for major media organizations in New York City, including The New York Times and Newsweek. A March 11, 2007 posting in the blog Gawker [1]listed some of those who work in the media and live in Montclair.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Montclair is governed under the Faulkner Act's Council-Manager form of municipal government.
The Faulkner Act provides for several forms of government. In 1980, the Township voted to adopt the “council-manager” plan. In the council-manager plan there is only one directly elected power center: the council. The manager, while chief executive and administrative officer of the municipality, is appointed by the council and can be suspended and removed by a majority vote of the council. The manager’s function is to carry out the will of the council.
The council members in the council-manager plan serve a four-year term. In Montclair, council members serve concurrent terms and all terms expire at the same time (except for vacancies). The power and function of the council in the council-manager plan is short and to the point: All powers of the municipality and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the municipal council, except as otherwise provided by this act, or by general law. The council-manager plan is a legislative supremacy, and thus the setting of policy is the responsibility of the council alone.
The Mayor under the Council-Manager Plan is a member of the council. The Mayor presides over the council and, as a member, and has a voice and vote in its proceedings. Aside from the power to appoint the trustees of the public library, and the members of the board of education in council-manager communities which have appointed boards, the mayor in the council-manager plan has no executive powers and is simply first among equals on the council.[6]
Members of the Montclair Township Council are:[7]
- Ed Remsen - Mayor
- Joyce R. Michaelson - Deputy Mayor and Councilor-At-Large
- Ted Mattox - Councilor-At-Large
- Gerald C. Tobin - Ward 1 Councilor
- Robin Schlager - Ward 2 Councilor
- Jerold Freier - Ward 3 Councilor
- Sandra Lang - Ward 4 Councilor
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Montclair is split between the Eighth and Tenth Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 34th Legislative District.[8]
New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Passaic County and northern sections of Essex County, is represented by Bill Pascrell Jr. (D, Paterson). New Jersey's Tenth Congressional District, covering portions of Essex County, Hudson County, and Union County, is represented by Donald M. Payne (D, Newark). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 34th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nia Gill (D) and in the Assembly by Thomas P. Giblin (D, Montclair) and Sheila Y. Oliver (D, East Orange). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Essex County's County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Essex County's Freeholders are Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson, Freeholder Vice President Ralph R. Caputo, Freeholders-At-Large Johnny Jones, Donald M. Payne, Jr., and Patricia Sebold, Freeholder District 1 Samuel Gonzalez, Freeholder District 2 D. Bilal Beasley, Freeholder District 3 Carol Y. Clark, Freeholder District 4 Linda Lordi Cavanaugh and Freeholder District 5 Ralph R. Caputo.
[edit] Politics
On the national level, Montclair leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry received 79% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 20%.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Sister cities
Montclair is twinned with the following cities:
[edit] 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.[11]
- 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.[12]
- Eric Boehlert, Journalist, Author, frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, contributing editor to Rolling Stone
- Bill Bradley, former forward for the New York Knicks, U.S. Senator and prospective presidential candidate.[13]
- Bobbi Brown, Makeup Artist.[14]
- Wendy Coakley-Thompson, Writer, author of Back to Life, set in Montclair
- Stephen Colbert, Host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report.[15]
- Ted Curson, jazz trumpeter.[16]
- Larry Doby, Second African-American to play professional baseball in MLB
- Olympia Dukakis Actress, former resident
- Christopher Durang, Contemporary playwright
- Thomas Alva Edison, inventor
- 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
- Don Garber comissioner of Major League Soccer
- 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
- Alfred Starr Hamilton, poet
- Billy Hart, jazz drummer.[16]
- 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
- The Amazing Kreskin, paranormalist/TV personality.[17]
- Oliver Lake, alto saxophone player and composer.[16]
- Nicole Leach, actress
- Claude Lemieux, NHL forward played with the New Jersey Devils, Phoenix Coyotes, and others
- Katherine Levy Actress, former resident
- Joe McNally, prominent photographer
- Jim McNeely, Jazz pianist, composer and arranger; 7-time Grammy Award nominee
- Joe Morton, actor
- Scott Niedermayer, NHL defenseman and captain of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks; former New Jersey Devil.[18]
- Christina Ricci, Actress, The Addams Family, Buffalo ’66
- Anwar Robinson, Singer, Contestant on American Idol.[19]
- Wallace Roney, trumpet player and jazz musician.[16]
- Adam Schlesinger, Musician, bass player for Fountains of Wayne and Ivy
- Steven Spielberg, film director
- Michael Strahan, NFL defensive end for the New York Giants, holds single season sack record.[20]
- Dallas Townsend, CBS Anchor for the CBS World News Roundup.[21]
- 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".[22]
- A.C. Weary, actor, director
- Wendy Williams, Radio Host, "The Wendy Williams Experience"
- Jenny Owen Youngs, Singer/Songwriter
- Kim Zimmer, Actress, Guiding Light.[23]
- Louis Zorich, actor, former resident
[edit] Points of interest
- Montclair Art Museum
- Howard Van Vleck Arboretum
- Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
- Van Vleck House and Gardens
- Crane House and Museum
[edit] 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
- ^ Census data for Montclair township, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Montclair's Form of Government, accessed June 27, 2006
- ^ Montclair Township Government, accessed March 14, 2007
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 60, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ 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."
- ^ Random House Author Spotlight: Bill Bradley, accessed December 21, 2006. "Mr. Bradley is the author of Life on the Run, The Fair Tax, and Time Present, Time Past. He is married and has one daughter and lives in Montclair, New Jersey."
- ^ ‘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."
- ^ Joyce words: As he prepares to move on from The Daily Show, the host of the upcoming Colbert Report gets his Ulysses on, Time Out New York by David Cote, June 9, 2005. "Alternating goofy with grave, Colbert chatted by cell from his home in Montclair, New Jersey."
- ^ a b c d The State of Jazz: Meet 40 More Jersey Greats, The Star-Ledger, September 28, 2004
- ^ Prepare to be dazzled by the Amazing Kreskin, Dallas Morning News, March 22, 2007. " Born in Montclair, N.J., Kreskin was fully fascinated with magic by the age of five."
- ^ Stanley Cup Journal, accessed April 7, 2007. "Scott enjoyed a day with the Stanley Cup on Monday. Although not his official twenty-four hour visit, which will likely involve a visit to Cranbrook, British Columbia later this summer, Scott and his wife hosted a neighbourhood party in their Montclair, New Jersey backyard."
- ^ "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
- ^ Dallas Townsend, 76, CBS Radio News Anchor, The New York Times, June 2, 1995. "Dallas S. Townsend Jr., who wrote and anchored the morning CBS radio news roundup for 25 years, died yesterday at Montclair Community Hospital in New Jersey. A former resident of Montclair, he was 76 and lived in Sarasota, Fla., after retiring in 1985."
- ^ Artist Description for Joe Walsh, accessed December 4, 2006
- ^ MSU's state-of-the-art theater celebrated at MSU's annual dinner, Montclair State University, press release dated May 9, 2002. ""Also attending the third annual dinner was Kim Zimmer, a Montclair resident who appears as “Reva Shane” in the long-running soap opera, “Guiding Light.” "
[edit] External links
- Township of Montclair Official Website
- Montclair Public Schools
- Montclair Public Schools's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Montclair Public Schools
- MHS Class of 1961
- 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
- Gay and Lesbian Montclair Community
- 90.3 WMSC, Montclair State's Underground Radio
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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(County seat: Newark) |
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| Boroughs | Caldwell | Essex Fells | Glen Ridge | North Caldwell | Roseland |  |
| Cities | East Orange | Newark | |
| Towns | ||
| Townships | Belleville | Bloomfield | Cedar Grove | City of Orange | Fairfield | Irvington | Livingston | Maplewood | Millburn | Montclair | Nutley | South Orange Village | Verona | West Caldwell | West Orange | |
| Neighborhoods | Broadway | Downtown Newark | Fairmount | Forest Hill | Ironbound | Llewellyn Park | Roseville | Seventh Avenue | Springfield/Belmont | University Heights | Vailsburg | Weequahic | |
