 Thomas Edison National Historic Site |
In recent years, many public and private groups have been formed to provide facilities for special-interest clubs and workshops for various crafts and the performing arts. Both Livingston and West Orange attract many members to their active theater and creative art groups.
Some of New Jersey's finest restaurants are located here.
Shopping facilities are excellent in both Livingston and West Orange. Huge shopping centers, the Essex Green Shopping Plaza, the Mall at Short Hills and the Livingston Mall are conveniently located and easily accessible by car. Other main shopping districts in the center of the towns can be reached by car or bus. The stores here offer an abundance of merchandise to fill every household and personal need.
Municipal Government and Facilities
The Town of West Orange is governed by a Mayor and Council of elected and appointed officials. Livingston has an elected Township Council form of government and an appointed Town Manager.
 West Orange Municipal Building |
Highly rated and efficient fire departments maintain an outstanding fire prevention and fire protection record. Excellent Civil Defense Units are also a source of pride to the communities.
Public and traffic safety, fire protection, education, recreation, parks, roads, and well-equipped free public libraries are all under the management of the municipal government.
All residents of West Orange and Livingston benefit from these public services.
Transportation
Livingston and West Orange are within easy commuting distance to New York and Newark by public transportation. Midtown New York can be reached in approximately 50 minutes by express bus and 30 minutes by car. Both towns are served by numerous bus routes which provide convenient transportation to neighboring towns and cities. Newark International Airport is about 20 minutes away.
 Edison Middle School |
About the Township of West Orange
West Orange is part of the metropolitan area that surrounds Newark and New York, lying west of both cities in the center of Essex County, New Jersey. Its 12.15 square miles spread over two ridges and two valleys of the Watcbung Mountains; the rolling terrain gives variety to the township and is responsible for its division into several neighborhoods.
About one-fifth of the land is open space, consisting of municipal and county parks and playgrounds, private and public golf courses and undeveloped acreage. Portions of Essex County's South Mountain and Eagle Rock Reservations contain public areas, hiking trails, ball fields and bridle paths in the woods. Turtle Back Zoo and South Mountain Skating Arena are in South Mountain Reservation. Eagle Rock Reservation includes a lookout from which one can see the skyscrapers of New York, the Statue of Liberty, and the George Washington and Verazzano bridges. On a clear night, the view is spectacular.
West Orange also boasts the fact that Llewellyn Park, the first residential park in the United States built according to a plan in 1853, and still over 400 acres, lies within its borders.
It also claims Thomas Edison as it's most famous citizen. He lived at Glemont, (in Llewellyn Park) and worked in West Orange from 1886 until his death in 1931. His laboratories now comprise the Edison Historical Site located on Main Street and are administrated by the National Park Service under the U.S. Department of the Interior. Ectison was most recently named as "Man of the Millenium" by the prestigious publication Life Magazine.
West Orange is a 300-year-old multi-faceted, politically active, suburban community whose residents reflect wide variation in income, ethnic backgrounds, education and interest.
West Orange at a Glance:
· Population: 40,802
· Population density: 3,228 per square mile
· Housing Units: 14,821
· Labor Force: 21,336
· LandArea: 12.15 square miles
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