BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ

UNION COUNTY

 
 
 

Welcome to Berkeley Heights!

Nestled in the Watchung Mountains, Berkeley Heights is a commuter’s dream - it has a close-knit community feel yet is just 28 miles from New York City. Ranked #6 in “Best Places to Live-America’s Top 50 Small Towns” report by CNN/Money Magazine in 2013, Berkeley Heights continues to be ranked as one of the best small towns and safest place to live and raise a family in New Jersey.

In close proximity to many major highways and major airports, Berkeley Heights has direct rail and bus access to Manhattan, yet is just a quick car-ride away from beautiful hiking trails, mountain views, wineries, farms, popular Jersey Shore destinations, and even Philadelphia.

Berkeley Heights abounds with community pride and charm. It’s an ideal sized town - just over 4,000 households with a vibrant, close-knit, active population. There’s always something going on in town - no matter who you are – adults, families, teens, small children, and our active senior community, too. The town is known for its decades-old annual traditions and community celebrations that draw crowds from surrounding towns - the Annual Feast of Mt. Carmel in July, the Summer Street Fair, summer concerts in the park, and the Annual Winter Walk in early December - just to name a few. Other favorite events include the annual PBA Fishing Derby, Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, “Police Santa,” Lunar New Year celebration, and charity 5K.

The new Municipal Complex, which opened in December 2020, combined the Town Hall municipal offices, Police Department, Recreation Department and Public Library, and now offers ample public meeting spaces, as well as space for the vibrant senior community to gather.

The schools in Berkeley Heights are top notch. Berkeley Heights is consistently rated as one of the best school systems in New Jersey, with just over 2,500 students across all six schools – four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. A special feature of the Berkley Heights school system is the Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center, which brings together the entire town’s kindergarten and first-grade students.

Berkeley Heights has spacious parks and outstanding recreational programs for all ages. From Pee-Wee Tee-Ball and ball hockey, to a robust Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Basketball, Football, Fencing, Cheer, and Swimming program, as well as the ever-popular “Playground Camp” and summer teen programs, there are sports programs for all kids. In addition, the Recreation Department offers after-school activities such as Chess, cooking, robotics, creative movement and Lego Club. There is a wide variety of adult programs available too, including painting and exercise class for seniors, as well as the ever popular table tennis for middle schoolers. As well as the popular Playground Camp and Teen Scene Summer camp for kids. So much opportunity for anyone to grow athletically and academically!

Berkeley Heights also has a vibrant downtown. There are over 20 restaurants to find your next favorite dining spot, a place to catch up with friends, celebrate milestones and so much more – Thai, Argentinian, Italian, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Jewish Deli, Japanese, Portuguese cuisines are available, to name a few. Diversity is so much of what makes Berkeley Heights a special town.

The quaint shopping downtown offers an array of local mom-and-mom shops and services - florists, chiropractors, wellness centers, hair salons, car-repair shops, garden centers, print shops, and more. And there are plenty of grocery stores, pharmacies, banking options and other day-to-day services you always need.

The town has always been a special place, and has a rich history. Saw mills and sarsaparilla manufacturers produced products for eighteenth century consumers. And in the seventeenth century, this agricultural community sent brave residents to fight for freedom in the American Revolution. Berkeley Heights is home to the Littel-Lord Farmstead, a pastoral site reminiscent of Union County's agricultural past. It was built around 1760 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1979. It currently serves as the home and public museum of the Berkeley Heights Historical Society. Berkeley Heights nurtured the invention of the transistor, solar cell, and laser at Bell Labs Murray Hill. Early in the twentieth century, the town spawned a supportive, environmentally conscious community called Free Acres, still home to thriving families today.  

 

Quick Facts:

Check out some “Quick Facts” here, or scroll down for a deeper look at the ins and outs of Berkeley Heights!

Key Locations

Getting to Summit + Commute

Berkeley Heights is an easy commute to either New York City or Hoboken by train or bus.  

Train service is provided by NJ Transit via the Gladstone Branch of the Morris and Essex train line.  Bus service is provided by Lakeland Bus Lines.

Direct Train to NYC:

  • The Berkeley Heights Train Station is located on Sherman Avenue, at the corner of Plainfield Avenue, just one block east of Springfield Avenue.

  • NJ Transit Trains from Berkeley Heights Station travel directly to Hoboken.  Transit from Berkeley Heights to Penn Station requires a transfer at Newark Broad Street.   Train ticket to New York Penn costs $11.75/ride or $336for a monthly pass. Click here for other fare options.

    · Trains average at 70 minutes

    · Earliest train usually at 6:50 AM

    · Latest train back usually at 10:03 PM

    You may access an interactive schedule here. 

Lakeland Bus:

Lakeland Bus Lines offers weekday rush hour service to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal.  View the schedule here.

Other Commute Options:

Train Station Parking:

  • During the hours of 6 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday, parking in the municipal parking lots is for valid Parking Permit holders only.   Violators are subject to ticketing.

  • Please note that parking in these lots is on a first come first serve basis and a parking permit does not guarantee a parking space.

  • For more information on, and to apply for, a parking permit, visit the Parking Permits page.

  • Parking at the train station parking lot is by permit only during the hours of 6 am and 6 pm, Monday through Friday, except on weekends and Holidays.

Berkeley Heights Schools

The wonderful Berkeley Heights school system is made up of six (6) fabulous schools. The school district serves the children of Berkeley Heights from Pre K through 12th grade. 

Berkeley Heights School District ranked #43 in the state by Niche in 2023.  For more details on district rankings click here.  For the Berkeley Heights School District website click here.  

Early Childhood Center:

 
 

Elementary Schools: (Grades 1-5)

 

Middle School: (Grades 6-8)

High School: (Grades 9-12)

Summit Downtown + Recreation

Berkeley Heights, NJ is such a special place to call home. Read below for some of our favorite local traditions and events, plus information on recreation, art, the local dining/shopping scene, and more.

Berkeley Heights, New Jersey Fun Traditions + Annual Events:

  • Join for four days packed full of delicious food, wine and brew, non-stop entertainment, great crowds, amusements, games, and fun for the whole family. For adults, a beer and wine garden will be available. For Berkeley Heights, New Jersey the “Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel” held on July 16 is a holiday embedded in their roots. Over 100 years ago, founders from Berkeley Heights created the Mt. Carmel Society, the host of this annual tradition.

  • The Winter Walk, this free event that runs downtown from 3-6 pm. Set along Springfield Ave, thousands will stroll through the winter wonderland of fun featuring 80 family-friendly attractions and activities to enjoy, including performances courtesy of Berkeley Heights businesses, civic groups, and performance groups. Along the route, you will also find holiday-themed photo stations; a chance for children to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, an ice-skating rink in the Town Hall parking lot, games, live music, free hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn, cotton candy, food trucks and much more! Please visit http://www.berkeleyheightsdowntown.com/ for a full list of activities.

  • Open to the public, with free rides and activities for kids, the block party is a celebration of everything that is Berkeley Heights – businesses, schools – public and private – restaurants, youth groups, clubs, service organizations, churches, sports groups, township departments, and first responders. For more information click here.

  • Berkeley Heights Recreation Department hosts popular Summer Concerts in the Park - one of the best parts of summer in Berkeley Heights. Also available at each concert will be food trucks, face painting, balloon artists and much more. More information can be found here.

  • The Berkeley Heights Police PBA Local #144 hosts its annual youth Fishing Derby in April at Horseshoe Pond. The derby is open to Berkeley Heights residents in third through sixth grade. No fishing experience needed, PBA members will be on hand to help. More info can be found here.

  • Calling all ghouls and goblins! Don't miss the Berkeley Heights PBA #144 annual 'Trunk or Treat' bash in October. Deck out your trunk and create unforgettable Halloween memories! More info can be found on the PBA’s Facebook page.

  • Be on the lookout in Berkeley Heights. The Berkeley Heights Police Department escorts Santa Claus and the Grinch throughout the town annually in December. Details on the PBA’s Facebook page.

  • Join a spectacular celebration of culture and community at the 4th annual Lunar New Year Festival at the Berkeley Heights YMCA! Come and celebrate the new year with your loved ones and enjoy fun activities like the lion dance, Kung Fu Stick Fighting demonstrations, fashion shows, musical performances, arts and crafts, cultural snack tastings, food vendors, and more! Details available on the YMCA website.

  • This unique small town event draws runners, walkers and spectators alike to Veterans Memorial Park to join in the festivities. Approximately 400 Runners race through tree-lined neighborhoods in the Berkeley Heights 5K, sanctioned by the USA Track and Field Association. Non-runners and families can enjoy the fun by entering the 1.5-mile fitness walk, which winds through sections of the tree-lined residential 5K course. The Free Tot Trot and Fun Runs for children ages 2-11 round out the day with over 150 smiling children dashing across Veterans Memorial Park. Click here for more information.

How to spend a perfect day in Berkeley Heights

Then head back home, and reminisce on your amazing day spent in Berkeley Heights - and call your Price Group agent to start booking home tours!

Back in time…

Berkeley Heights was originally incorporated as New Providence Township by the New Jersey Legislature on November 8, 1809, from portions of Springfield Township, while the area was still part of Essex County. New Providence Township became part of the newly formed Union County at its creation on March 19, 1857. Portions of the township were taken on March 23, 1869, to create Summit, and on March 14, 1899, to form the borough of New Providence. On November 6, 1951, the name of the township was changed to Berkeley Heights, based on the results of a referendum held that day. The township was named for John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, one of the founders of the Province of New Jersey.

The earliest construction in Berkeley Heights began in an area that is now part of the 1,960 acres Watchung Reservation, a Union County park that includes 305 acres of the township.

The first European settler was Peter Willcox, who received a 424 acres land grant in 1720 from the Elizabethtown Associates. This group bought much of northern New Jersey from the Lenape in the late 17th century. Willcox built a grist and lumber mill across Green Brook.

In 1793, a regional government was formed. It encompassed the area from present-day Springfield Township, Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights, and was called Springfield Township. Growth continued in the area, and by 1809, Springfield Township divided into Springfield Township and New Providence Township, which included present day Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.

In 1845, Willcox's heirs sold the mill to David Felt, a paper manufacturer from New York. Felt built a small village around the mill aptly named Feltville. It included homes for workers and their families, dormitories, orchards, a post office and a general store with a second floor church.

In 1860, Feltville was sold to sarsaparilla makers. Other manufacturing operations continued until Feltville went into bankruptcy in 1882. When residents moved away, the area became known as Deserted Village. Village remains consist of seven houses, a store, the mill and a barn. Deserted Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is undergoing restoration by the Union County Parks Department. Restoration grants of almost $2 million were received from various state agencies. Deserted Village, in the Watchung Reservation, is open daily for unguided walking tours during daylight hours.

On March 23, 1869, Summit Township (now the City of Summit) seceded from New Providence Township. On March 14, 1899, the Borough of New Providence seceded from New Providence Township. Present day Berkeley Heights remained as New Providence Township. Many of the townships and regional areas in New Jersey were separating into small, locally governed communities at that time due to acts of the New Jersey Legislature that made it economically advantageous for the communities to do so.

Due to confusion between the adjacent municipalities of the Borough of New Providence and the Township of New Providence, the township conducted a referendum in 1952 and voted to change the name to Berkeley Heights Township. The origin of the township's name has never been fully established, but is believed to have been taken from an area of town that was referred to by this moniker, which itself was assumed to be derived from Lord John Berkeley, who was co-proprietor of New Jersey from 1664 to 1674.

Littel-Lord Farmhouse Museum & Farmstead

Early life in Berkeley Heights is documented in the Littell-Lord Farmhouse Museum & Farmstead (31 Horseshoe Road in Berkeley Heights), an 18-acre museum surrounding two houses, one of which was built in the 1750s and the other near the start of the 19th century.

Among the exhibits are a Victorian master bedroom and a Victorian children's room, furnished with period antiques. The children's room also has reproductions of antique toys, which visitors can play with. The museum, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, also includes an outbuilding that was used as a summer kitchen, a corn crib dating to the 19th century and a spring house built around a spring and used for refrigeration. The museum is open 2-4 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month from April through December, or by appointment.

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 in the township, it was a sleepy farming and resort community.

Berkeley Heights is host to a traditional religious procession and feast carried out by members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society. The feast is capped by one of the largest fireworks shows in the state. The Feast of Mt. Carmel has been a town tradition since 1909.

In 1958, part of a Nike missile battery (NY-73) was installed in Berkeley Heights. The missiles were located in nearby Mountainside, while the radar station was installed in Berkeley Heights. It remained in operation until 1963, and remnants of the site are located adjacent to Governor Livingston High School

Free Acres

Another early Berkeley Heights community of note is the 67-acre Free Acres, established in 1910 by Bolton Hall, a New York entrepreneur and reformer who believed in the idea of Henry George, the economist, of single taxation, under which residents pay tax to the community, which, in turn, pays a lump sum to the municipality. Among the early residents of Free Acres were the actor James Cagney and his wife, Billie.

Residents of Free Acres pay tax to their association, which maintains its streets and swimming pool, approves architectural changes to homes and pays a lump sum in taxes to the municipality.