LIVINGSTON, NJ

ESSEX COUNTY

 

Welcome to the land of the Lancers!

Livingston is a lively and family-friendly suburban community located just 20 miles outside of New York City. This residential township boasts extensive shopping options, great schools, and activities for all ages.

Visit the Town Center for great restaurants and salons, stop into the Livingston Mall for any of your shopping needs, or hop on a bus and arrive in NYC Port Authority in just under an hour. 

Additionally, residents regularly enjoy the award-winning school district’s sports games, theatrical performances, and more! Spend your time perusing the beautifully renovated public library, a summer day at the community pool, puppy play-dates at the dog park, or a friendly tennis match at the sports complex!

Quick Facts:

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

Key Locations

Getting to Livingston + Commute

Though Livingston doesn’t have a train station, it offers an easy commute to New York. Read below to get the basics, and please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or would like more details. 

Direct Bus to NYC:

  • Community Coach Bus Service:

    • Livingston Mall pick-up and South Mountain Arena Parking Lot

    • Goes into Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC

    • 40-60 minutes. Express service offered.

  • NJ Transit:

    • Buses #70 and #73 (From Livingston Mall) to Newark Penn Station

    • Take Path/NJ Transit to NY Penn Station

NJ Transit Trains:

  • Take train from any stop along Midtown Direct Line - Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, and South Orange.

  • Livingston Express Shuttle picks up at the Livingston Mall and will take residents to the South Orange Train Station

NJ Path:

  • Drive and park at Harrison Train Station (reserved parking spots available)

  • Drive and park at Newark Penn Station (monthly parking pass available)

Livingston Schools

Livingston’s award-winning school district, currently ranked #5 in NJ by Niche, is one of the highlights of this community. Livingston School District’s mission is to empower all to learn, create, contribute and grow. Between all of the great athletic programs, the arts, and dozens of other extra-curricular activities and clubs, students can do just that!

Please note:

  • Livingston offers pre-school via the Community Kids Preschool Program space permitting. Visit their website here for more information, or scroll down for other private pre-school options.

  • Every elementary school in Livingston starts with full-day Kindergarten! For information on Kindergarten registration, click here.

  • Livingston offers subscription busing for eligible residents. Visit the website here to contact the administrators for more information.

  • Livingston residents are also eligible to apply for Essex County Vocational School District: visit the program website here for more details.

  • Click here for the district quick fact sheet.

Public Pre-School:

Elementary Schools: (Grades K-5)

Junior School: (Grade 6)

Middle School: (Grades 7-8)

High School: (Grades 9-12)

Livingston Recreation

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

Livingston, New Jersey Fun Traditions + Annual Events:

  • Celebrating Livingston Youth with activities throughout the week including intergenerational events, multi-cultural celebrations, LACD programs for children with special needs, Parents' Night Out mini-camp for kids, LEGO Building Blocks workshop for families, Family Festival Day at the Oval,Town-Wide Campout and Movie Under the Stars.

    Check for updates here.

  • Livingston's annual summer celebration, with food trucks, live music, a fishing derby, pool open house, craft fair, pet adoption, children's activities and more! Fun for the whole family, with 4 different bands this year; bands start at 1 pm and beer garden will be open from 1-5pm. Learn more…

  • A full day of celebration starting at 9 a.m. with the largest Auto Show in New Jersey and ending with a fabulous fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. Main Stage entertainment begins at 7:45 p.m. Auto show takes place in the Livingston High School in parking lot; overall celebration and other events are located around Memorial Oval. Learn more…

  • Enjoy your Summer evenings at the Memorial Field Gazebo on the Oval at 7pm. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in the Livingston High School Auditorium. Learn more…

  • Showcase your inner Lancer with Livingston High School’s spirit week that culminates into a huge Pep Rally!

  • Honor those who served with the rest of the Livingston community at the annual Memorial Day Parade. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. with a ceremonial service at the Oval to commemorate those who have died defending the United States. At 10 a.m. after the ceremony, the parade will start on S. Livingston Avenue and will end at Congressional Way. Learn More.

How to spend a perfect day in Livingston

  • 9:30am - Arrive in Livingston:

    • To explore Livingston to its fullest, you will need a car! You can rent a car for a day, or take the train into a nearby town and Uber your way through the day!

    • Grab a coffee at Twisted Tulip (try the Cortado or the House Chai!) or sit down for breakfast at Sweet Basil’s Cafe (the best french toast around!)

  • 11:00am - Explore the shopping and art scene:

    • Shop till you drop at Livingston Mall: There are so many great shopping options here from department stores to locally owned boutiques! (and a great Barnes & Noble!) A great rainy day activity!

    • Riker Park

    • Town Center: Explore the adorable brick-lined pathways through the shops and restaurants at Livingston Town Center.

  • 1:00pm - Grab Lunch at one of our favorites:

  • 2:00pm - Explore:

    • Visit the Force Homestead Museum for some Livingston history! It is open for tours given by members of the Society from 2 pm-4 pm usually every second Sunday of the month during March-June and September-December.

    • See gorgeous public art installations at Essex County Riker Hill Art Park. The park was a former United States Missile Tracking Base in Livingston. The 42-acre complex was purchased from the federal government for one dollar in 1974. The buildings, which once housed army facilities, have been transformed into 38 artist studios.

    • If you have kiddos, explore some nature walking trails or some playgrounds! Visit town trail information site here.

  • 4:00pm - Driving Tour:

    • Take a driving tour to learn about all of the different Livingston neighborhoods with a Price Group Buyer Specialist!

  • 6:00pm - Get dinner before heading out at one of our favorite places: 

  • *7:00pm - On Summer evenings enjoy concerts at the Gazebo in Memorial Park!

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

Back in time…

Livingston was named after William Livingston, the first governor of New Jersey.  Livingston served as governor for 13 terms before he died in 1790.

In 1702, settlers from Newark purchased a tract of land from the Lenni Lenape Indians that encompassed the areas now known as Caldwell, Livingston and West Essex.  By 1811, seven hamlets — including Teedtown (now Livingston Center), Northfield, Morehousetown (Livingston Circle), Cheapside (Livingston Mall), Washington Place and Squiertown (Route 10 Circle) got together and petitioned for the formation of The Township of Livingston.

The area became a commuting suburb after the invention of the automobile and the construction of hard-surfaced highways. After World War II, housing developments replaced farms and many people moved to Livingston. The town continues to grow due to its proximity to New York City and its highly-rated school system.

Visit the Historical Society website above to get information and tours of The Force Homestead/Cookhouse and Former Slave Cabin and the Ely Cemetery.