South Orange & Maplewood
South Orange & Maplewood
Located in the southern most part of Essex County, Maplewood and South Orange are primarily residential communities distinguished by their vibrant downtown villages, beautiful tree-lined, gas lamp lit streets and charming older homes. The residents are proud of the towns’ diversity and strong sense of community – there are more than 30 block associations. While they are two distinct communities, they have a combined public school system. Columbia High School located in Maplewood, just on the border of South Orange, is ranked one of the leading secondary schools in the nation.
New Jersey Transit provides train service from both towns to midtown Manhattan. And, because parking is limited at the towns’ train stations, a jitney shuttle service is available in both towns.
Maplewood is slightly larger than South Orange in both land, 3.8 square miles, and population which is about 24,000. Maplewood residents find the town an ideal blend of city and suburb. Tall trees and winding roads dominate this lovely town nestled next to South Mountain. Cozy Maplewood Village, voted one of the "10 Best Downtowns in NJ" by New Jersey Monthly Magazine (April 2007), has an old-fashioned quality as well as some nice restaurants and shops.
The northern and southern parts of town are separated by Maplewood’s large recreational park which includes a community swimming pool and playgrounds. The Burgdorff Cultural Center features a number music and theater performances throughout the year.
A charming and comfortable suburban community, South Orange is 2.8 square miles and home to about 17,000 residents as well as 1,500 glowing gas street lamps. The town is unofficially divided into three residential sections: the older Victorian homes in the Southeast corner referred to as the Montrose area, mid-priced residences fill in the valley from Seton Hall Univeristy on the east to South Mountain on the west, and the mountain itself where newer, bigger and more expensive homes have been terraced into the mountainside.
In recent years, the bustling downtown, the site of one of the town’s two train stations, has seen a major revitalization with new street scapes, fine restaurants, charming boutiques and the new South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with music, theater, a filmplex and dance events. South Orange residents can also participate in events at Seton Hall University or in the 62-acre Meadowland Park with its duck pond, playgrounds, town pool, tennis courts and the Baird Community Center home to Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre.
Town and School Information: www.southorange.org & www.twp.maplewood.nj.us
Community Organizations & Information sites: www.twotowns.org; www.maplewoodonline.com
Seton Hall Univeristy: www.shu.edu
South Orange Performing Arts Center: sopac.vpsland.com
South Orange Information http://www.city-data.com/city/South-Orange-New-Jersey.html
Maplewood Information http://www.city-data.com/city/Maplewood-New-Jersey.html
