Whether it’s the incredible public parks, abundance of art museums and other community resources, or the amazing restaurant scene, everyone has their reasons for moving to Montclair. Of course, being The Montclair Girl, we’re a bit biased, but we want to roll out the welcome mat for newcomers. We’ve put together your guide to moving to Montclair, New Jersey. Read on for more, and let us be the first to welcome you to this special place in Essex County.
About Montclair
Before Montclair became Montclair it was known by many names: Cranetown, Speertown, and even West Bloomfield. Like neighboring Bloomfield and Glen Ridge, Montclair was part of Newark for some time. As time went on, the Crane family settled in Cranetown which would become a predominantly English community. What is now Upper Montclair was a predominantly Dutch settlement named Speertown after John Speer. On March 23rd, 1812, the Bloomfield portion of Newark became its own township and Cranetown became known as West Bloomfield. On April 15th, 1868, Montclair was incorporated from portions of Bloomfield Township. Montclair means “clear mountain” in French.
All of Essex County was originally populated by The Lenape, also known as the Lënapeyok, Lenni Lenape, and Delaware. The Lenape are an Algonquian language-speaking Indigenous people native to Lenapehoking. Lenapehoking, meaning the “homelands of the Lenape,” comprises the entirety of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, New York City, Long Island, New York’s Hudson River Valley, and a portion of Delaware. The Lenape language belongs to the Algonquian language family, specifically the Eastern Algonquian subgroup. The Lenape of New Jersey spoke Munsee and Unami. Those who inhabited Essex County were Munsee speakers who had many sub-tribes such as the Yantacaw, Acquackanonk, Rumanchenank, Tappan, Hackensack, and Pompton, which were spread out across Northern New Jersey.
Transit and industry transformed this mostly agrarian community to something closer to a suburb in the mid to late 1850s, according to the Montclair History Center. “Several successful businessmen living in Montclair wanted to establish a railroad line so that they could work in Manhattan and commute to Montclair by steam engine railroad. The proposed line would take the commuter from the north end of Montclair to ferry terminals in Jersey City and Hoboken.”
Read More: Your Guide To A Solo Saturday In Montclair
The town is divided into six main districts: Montclair Center, Walnut Street, Watchung Plaza, Upper Montclair, South End, and Valley Road. All are listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places, with approximately 100 individually listed landmark buildings.
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Whether you’re renting or buying, here for a season or a lifetime, we’re excited for you to explore. In fact, we even have a Montclair Real Estate Guide for you to check out listings. Here’s our Ultimate Montclair Bucket List to guide your explorations. Don’t forget to join our Facebook group to connect with neighbors.
The Basics
Groceries
Whether you’re setting up for cooking for a crowd or just a grab-and-go coffee station for busy mornings, you probably need to get some basics.
- Whole Foods | 710 Bloomfield Avenue
- Acme | 510 Valley Road
- Kings | 650 Valley Road
Every Saturday at the Walnut Street train station, 86 Walnut Street, Montclair:
- Summer Season: June-November, 8AM-2PM
- Winter Season: December-May, 9AM-1PM
Hospital
Mountainside Medical Center is part of the Hackensack Meridian Medical Center and has a 24/7 Emergency Services Department.
- Mountainside Hospital | 1 Bay Avenue, Montclair
Parking
The township of Montclair requires vehicles to be registered, which can be completed online. Metered street parking in town uses the ParkMobile App to pay for parking. There are four parking decks available for guests and visitors:
- Bay Street Parking Deck | 21 Pine Street
- Crescent Parking Deck | 13 The Crescent
- Midtown Parking Deck | 202 Glenridge Avenue
- North Fullerton Parking Deck | 10 North Fullerton Avenue
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
Some services can be completed online, while others have to be taken care of in person. The nearest service locations are:
- Vehicle Service Center | 183 South 18th Street, Suite B, East Orange
- Licensing Center | 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark
Post Office
Whether sending a postcard with your new address or getting your forwarded mail squared away, there are three local post offices to get it done:
- 125 Glenridge Avenue
- 128 Watchung Avenue, Suite 2
- 572 Valley Road, Suite 2
Public Transit
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NJ Transit operates the bus and rail services that run in Montclair. Riders should download the NJ Transit App for the latest updates on service disruptions and changes.
From north to south, Montclair’s six NJ Transit stations are Montclair Heights, Mountain Avenue, Watchung Avenue, Walnut Street, and Bay Street.
See More: Moving to Hoboken? Here Is Everything You Need to Know
The Fun Stuff
Once you’re settled in, it’s time to get out and explore everything there is to do in Montclair and beyond. Here are some of our go-to recommendations to get you started.
- Best of Montclair 2023
- Things to Do on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair
- Things to Do on Walnut Street in Montclair
- How to Spend a Day in Upper Montclair
- These Restaurants + Bars in Montclair Will Wow Your Visitors
- A Guide to the Best BYOB Restaurants in Montclair
- Where to Find Vegan Food in Montclair
- 8 Italian Food Spots in Montclair with Old-School Vibes
- The Best Delis in Essex County, New Jersey
- A Guide to Sushi Spots in Montclair
- A Guide to Montclair’s Best Coffee Shops
- The Best Brunch Spots in Montclair
- Best Spots for Remote Work in the Montclair Area
- A Guide to the Best Nail Salons in Montclair
- Montclair Area Hairstylists You Should Know About
- A Guide to Skincare Studios in Montclair + Beyond for Ultimate Self-Care
- A Guide to Workout Studios in Montclair
- Where to Go Hiking in the Montclair Area
- A Guide to Dog Parks in Montclair + Beyond
- A Trip to the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve in Montclair
- Eagle Rock Reservation: The Essex County Park With Historic Roots
- The Presby Iris Gardens, Montclair’s Crown Jewel
- Outdoor Date Ideas in the Montclair Area
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Your Montclair Home
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