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.^[1] After a referendum held on February 21, 1894, Montclair was reincorporated as a Town, effective February 24, 1894.^[2] 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.^[3][4]

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Politics

Character

Education

Sports

Notable residents

Points of interest

References

External links

Geography

Montclair is located at (40.822249, -74.211989).
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 census 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.com listed some of those who work in the media and live in Montclair.^[5]

Government

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 - Councilor-At-Large

★ Ted Mattox - Councilor-At-Large

★ Gerald C. Tobin - Deputy Mayor and Ward 1 Councilor

★ Robin Schlager - Ward 2 Councilor

★ Jerold Freier - Ward 3 Councilor

★ Sandra Lang - Ward 4 Councilor

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]

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%.

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.
==Sister cities==
Montclair is twinned with the following cities:

★ 'Barnet, England'^[9]

★ 'Cherepovets', Russia

★ 'Graz', Austria

★ 'Pearl Lagoon', Nicaragua^[10]

Notable residents

Some noted current and former residents include:

★ Bradley Abelow, Treasurer of the U.S. State of New Jersey. He was appointed Treasurer by Governor of New Jersey, Jon Corzine and took office on January 23, 2006."Governor Taps Brad Abelow As Chief Of Staff", Governor of New Jersey press release dated August 7, 2007. Accessed August 7, 2007. "Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that effective September 1, 2007 State Treasurer Bradley Abelow will serve as his new chief of staff.... Abelow earned an M.B.A. from the Yale University School of Management and a B.A. from Northwestern University. He and his family live in Montclair."

★ Steve Adubato Jr., Anchor (PBS / WNET: Channel 13), Columnist (''The Star-Ledger''), Author (''Speak From the Heart'', ''Make the Connection'')

★ Buzz Aldrin (1930-), Astronaut, second man to walk on the moon.^[11]

★ Jonathan Alter, ''Newsweek'' Magazine journalist.^[12]

★ Jim Axelrod, chief White House correspondent for CBS News, and reports for the ''CBS Evening News''.^[13]

★ Michael Barrow, NFL, Linebacker for New York Giants currently plays for Dallas Cowboys, former resident

★ Yogi Berra (1925-), Baseball player and manager with the New York Yankees and New York Mets.^[14]

★ Eric Boehlert, Journalist, Author, frequent contributor to ''The Huffington Post'', contributing editor to ''Rolling Stone''.^[15]

★ Bill Bradley (1942-), former forward for the New York Knicks, U.S. Senator and prospective presidential candidate.^[16]

★ Bobbi Brown (1957-), Makeup Artist.^[17]

★ Wendy Coakley-Thompson (1966-), Writer, author of ''Back to Life'', set in Montclair

★ Stephen Colbert (1964-), Host of Comedy Central's ''The Colbert Report''.^[18]

★ William Couper (1853-1942), sculptor

★ Ted Curson (1935-), jazz trumpeter.The State of Jazz: Meet 40 More Jersey Greats, ''The Star-Ledger'', September 28, 2004.

★ Larry Doby, Second African-American to play professional baseball in Major League Baseball.^[19]

★ Olympia Dukakis Actress, former resident.^[20]

★ Christopher Durang, Contemporary playwright.^[21]

★ Thomas Alva Edison, inventor

★ Frankie Faison, Actor in such films as ''The Silence of the Lambs''.^[22]

★ 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.^[23]

★ Frank Field meteorologist, current resident

★ Ian Frazier, writer, humorist, and essayist

★ Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer.^[24]

★ 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.

★ Brian Hart, Millionaire, 2008 Mayoral Candidate

★ Sterling Hayden, Actor, ''

★ Janet Hubert-Whitten, Actress, ''Fresh Prince of Bel Air''

★ Billy "Brud" Johnson, Former New York Yankees third baseman

★ Sean T. Kean (1963-), represents the 11th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly.^[25]

★ Liz Keifer, actress

★ Peter King, Sports Illustrated football writer who also appears on HBO's Inside the NFL

★ The Amazing Kreskin, paranormalist/TV personality.^[26]

★ Oliver Lake, alto saxophone player and composer.

★ 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

★ Sliz Miller, most famous and only living member of the Iron Society

★ Trevor Moore, sketch club & TV comedian, satirist, cartoonist, writer, director; founded NYC-based sketch comedy troupe Whitest Kids U Know.

★ Joe Morton, actor

★ Scott Niedermayer, NHL defenseman and captain of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks; former New Jersey Devil.^[27]

★ Christina Ricci, Actress, ''The Addams Family'', ''Buffalo ’66''^[28]

★ Anwar Robinson, Singer, Contestant on ''American Idol''.^[29]

★ Wallace Roney, trumpet player and jazz musician.

★ Adam Schlesinger, Musician, bass player for Fountains of Wayne and Ivy

★ Steven Spielberg, film director.^[30]

★ Michael Strahan, NFL defensive end for the New York Giants, holds single season sack record.^[31]

★ Dallas Townsend, CBS Anchor for the ''CBS World News Roundup''.^[32]

★ Edward W. Townsend (1855-1942), represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1911 to 1913, and the 10th district from 1913-1915.^[33]

★ David Tyree, NFL Wide receiver for the New York Giants, graduate of Montclair High School, '98.^[34]

★ Joe Walsh, Musician/Songwriter for the "James Gang" and the "Eagles".^[35]

★ A.C. Weary, actor, director

★ Wendy Williams, Radio Host, "The Wendy Williams Experience"

★ Jenny Owen Youngs, Singer/Songwriter

★ Kim Zimmer, Actress, ''Guiding Light''.^[36]

★ Louis Zorich, actor, former resident.^[37]

Points of interest

★ Montclair Art Museum

★ Howard Van Vleck Arboretum

★ Presby Memorial Iris Gardens

★ Van Vleck House and Gardens

★ Crane House and Museum

★ Mount Hebron Cemetery

References

1. History of Montclair, Montclair Township. Accessed August 5, 2007. "When Bloomfield authorities declined to authorize a bond issue to underwrite another railroad, Montclair residents were successful in securing from the State legislature a charter for a separate township. Thus in 1868, the Township of Montclair was created."
2. "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 129.
3. "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.
4. History of Montclair, accessed January 1, 2007.
5. Where They Weekend: Montclair, NJ, Gawker.com, March 11, 2007. Accessed July 3, 2007.
6. Montclair's Form of Government, Montclair Township. Accessed June 27, 2006.
7. Montclair Township Government, Montclair Township. Accessed March 14, 2007.
8. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 60. Accessed August 30, 2006.
9. Sister City Exchange With Barnet, England, accessed September 12, 2006.
10. Nicaragua Sister City projects
11. 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'."
12. Brubaker, Paul. "Journalism from both sides now: Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter speaks on making news and touching history", ''The Montclair Times'', June 16, 2005. Accessed June 6, 2007. "''I prepared sedulously for the interview,'' Alter remembered, sitting in the living room of his Upper Mountain Avenue home, taking a break from a book he is writing on President Franklin D. Roosevelt."
13. Jim Axelrod: CBS Chief White House Correspondent, CBS News. Accessed August 12, 2007.
14. Life of Yogi, accessed December 21, 2006. "'A resident of Montclair, NJ for over 40 years', Yogi Berra remains an inspiration to different generations."
15. Namecheck, The Huffington Post, July 27, 2006. Accessed June 6, 2007. "Boehlert, who recently published "Lapdogs: How The Press Rolled Over for Bush," will be based out of his home in Montclair, NJ and will start by the end of the summer."
16. 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'."
17. ‘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."
18. 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."
19. MSU Professor Featured in Showtime Special on Baseball Great and Civil Rights Pioneer Larry Doby, Montclair State University press release dated January 26, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "Doby lived in Montclair for many years before his death in 2003 and received an honorary degree from Montclair State University in 1987."
20. Nash, Margo. "Olympia Dukakis and Memories of Montclair", ''The New York Times'', August 10, 2003, accessed April 23, 2007. "Profile of and interview with actress and theater director Olympia Dukakis, who comments on her career, her years in Montclair, NJ..."
21. Smith, Dinitia. "Christopher Durang Explores the Afterlife, Including His Own", ''The New York Times'', November 26, 2005. Accessed June 6, 2007. "For Mr. Durang, there is always the memory of the silent pain that permeated his childhood home in Montclair, N.J."
22. Beckerman, Jim. "It's ugly, but Frankie Faison enjoys life on 'The Wire'", ''The Record (Bergen County)'', January 28, 2007, accessed April 23, 2007. "The veteran actor, who's in his 50s and has been a Montclair resident for 19 years, was already a familiar face in movies..."
23. "What Do You Think?", ''Time (magazine)'', February 26, 1940, accessed April 23, 2007. "Citizens of Montclair, N. J. had a mighty pretty letter in their mail last week. The letter, from Mayor William E. Speers and Director of Revenue and Finance Bayard H. Faulkner, said that the town treasury had a surplus of half a million dollars."
24. Cooper, Darren. "The Commissioner Next Door: Don Garber Leaves Montclair Every Day To Run Major League Soccer", ''The Montclair Times'', September 25, 2002. Acecssed July 3, 2007. "It is this puzzle that MLS Commissioner Don Garber grapples with every day. A Montclair resident for the past 10 years, Garber looks at his town, the place where he and his wife Betsy chose to raise his two kids, and sees endless possibilities for soccer."
25. Assembly Member Sean T. Kean, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 9, 2007.
26. 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."
27. 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."
28. Christina Ricci, ''Fort Worth Star-Telegram'', December 7, 1993. "Hometown: Born in Santa Monica; moved to Montclair, N.J. as a child"
29. "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."
30. Famous people from New Jersey, State of New Jersey. Accessed July 3, 2007.
31. Strahan home improvement a labor of love, ''NFL Insider'', October 3, 2002.
32. 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."
33. Edward Waterman Townsend biography, United States Congress. Accessed July 31, 2007.
34. David Tyree player profile, National Football League Players Association. Accessed July 24, 2007. "Hometown: Montclair, NJ... Attended Montclair (N.J.) High…Blue Chip Illustrated All-America…Super Prep, Tom Lemming and Prep Star All Regional selection."
35. Artist Description for Joe Walsh, accessed December 4, 2006.
36. 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.”"
37. Klein, Alvin. "Too Hot for 'Antigone,' so They Compromised", ''The New York Times''. July 27, 1997. Accessed June 6, 2007. "Olympia Dukakis returns to New Jersey more than once a year. She lives here, with her husband, Louis Zorich."

External links

★ Township of Montclair Official Website

★ Montclair Public Schools

★

★ 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