Essex County Town Guide

Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair combines six distinct business districts, a major arts and cultural scene, historic neighborhoods, extensive parks, six NJ TRANSIT rail stations and the community identity of Upper Montclair.

Use this flagship NJTGO guide for civic information, schools, parks, history, places of worship, cemeteries and direct access to the town’s deeper Business, Food & Drink, Real Estate, Visiting, Classifieds and Jobs guides.

CountyEssex County

ZIP Codes07042 and 07043

Rail AccessSix NJ TRANSIT stations

Business DistrictsSix township-recognized districts

At a Glance

Montclair CenterThe township’s largest commercial district, centered around Bloomfield Avenue, Church Street, arts, entertainment, shopping and services.

Upper MontclairHistoric Tudor-style commercial buildings, Bellevue Avenue, Valley Road, the Upper Montclair station and neighborhood retail.

Arts & CultureMontclair Art Museum, live performance, film, galleries, community arts and a long tradition of creative activity.

Parks & RecreationApproximately 175 acres of municipal parks, playgrounds, athletic facilities, nature preserves and passive recreation.

Government & Civic Resources

Township of Montclair205 Claremont Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
973-744-1400

Public SafetyPolice, fire, emergency management and municipal services are administered through the Township.

Planning & DevelopmentTownship departments provide zoning, construction, historic-preservation, land-use and property-related guidance.

Recreation & Cultural AffairsMunicipal recreation programs, park permits and cultural programming serve residents throughout the year.

Official Township Website

Schools & Education

Montclair Public Schools operates a magnet-oriented public-school system serving preschool through high school. Central offices are at 22 Valley Road, Montclair, NJ 07042; 973-509-4000.

Montclair Early Learning Academy (MELA)Montclair Public Schools

Bradford Elementary SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Charles H. Bullock Elementary SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Edgemont Elementary SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Hillside Elementary SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Nishuane Elementary SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Northeast Elementary SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Watchung Elementary SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Buzz Aldrin Middle SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Glenfield Middle SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Renaissance at RandMontclair Public Schools

Montclair High SchoolMontclair Public Schools

Registration: The district uses an online registration process. Families should verify current school assignment, magnet procedures, required documents and school-year calendars directly with Montclair Public Schools.

Montclair Public Schools

Montclair’s Six Business Districts

Upper MontclairTudor-style storefronts, Bellevue Avenue and Valley Road shopping, Upper Montclair Station, neighborhood services and destination retail.

Watchung PlazaIndependent shops and services centered around Watchung Avenue and the NJ TRANSIT station.

Frog HollowA compact Valley Road district near Edgemont Memorial Park with neighborhood-oriented businesses and services.

Walnut-GroveWalnut Street and Grove Street galleries, shops, services and the seasonal Montclair Farmers’ Market.

Montclair CenterThe township’s largest business district, with Bloomfield Avenue, Church Street, arts, retail, services, entertainment and public parking.

South EndA smaller neighborhood district with independent businesses, community gathering places and the MLK Peace Garden.

Parks, Nature & Recreation

Montclair maintains approximately 175 acres of municipal parkland. Major spaces include Edgemont Memorial Park, Nishuane Park, Mountainside Park, Canterbury Park and the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve.

Edgemont Memorial ParkValley Road park with pond, memorial landscape, play and recreation areas.

Nishuane ParkA major recreation area serving sports, play and community use.

Mountainside ParkWooded terrain, nature-trail access and outdoor recreation.

Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife PreserveNature trails, bird watching and passive recreation along the Third River.

Official Parks Information

History & Historic Places

Montclair was formed as a township in 1868 from part of Bloomfield and was reincorporated as a town in 1894. Its built environment reflects railroad-era growth, late-19th- and early-20th-century residential development, historic commercial districts and a strong preservation tradition.

Montclair History CenterHistoric resources at 108–110 Orange Road include the Clark House, Crane House & Historic YWCA and Nathaniel Crane House.

Crane House & Historic YWCABuilt in 1796 and later used by a segregated YWCA serving Black women and girls before becoming a museum.

Upper Montclair Business Historic DistrictA commercial district with historic structures dating largely from the 1880s through the 1930s.

Town Center Historic DistrictHistoric commercial architecture forms part of Montclair Center’s walkable streetscape.

Historic Church Street building in Montclair — Historic Church Street commercial architecture

Clark House in Montclair — Clark House, Montclair History Center

Nathaniel Crane House in Montclair — Nathaniel Crane House

Station Square in Montclair — Station Square

Arts & Entertainment

Montclair Art Museum3 South Mountain Avenue. Founded in 1914, the museum stewards more than 14,000 works of American and Native American art.

Performing Arts & MusicMontclair Center supports concerts, theater, live music and cultural programming throughout the year.

Film & CinemaMontclair has a strong film culture spanning independent cinema, festivals and neighborhood theaters.

Galleries & Creative BusinessesWalnut-Grove, Montclair Center and other districts support galleries, studios, design and creative retail.

Getting Around

Montclair has six NJ TRANSIT stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line: Bay Street, Walnut Street, Watchung Avenue, Upper Montclair, Mountain Avenue and Montclair Heights. NJ TRANSIT bus service and private commuter options supplement rail travel.

Rail schedules, weekend service patterns, parking rules and bus routes can change. Check NJ TRANSIT and Township transportation information before traveling.

Official Montclair Transit Guide

Places of Worship

Montclair includes a wide range of long-established and newer faith communities. The listings below are local directory references; confirm current services and accessibility directly with each congregation.

Central Presbyterian Church46 Park Street
973-744-5340

Christ Church68 Church Street
973-746-4016

Emanuel AME Church15 Hartley Street
973-744-5144

First Congregational Church of Montclair40 South Fullerton Avenue
973-744-4856

First Lutheran Church of Montclair153 Park Street
973-744-6043

First United Methodist Church24 North Fullerton Avenue
973-744-4086

Immaculate Conception Church30 North Fullerton Avenue
973-509-1111

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church94 Pine Street
973-744-1074

Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair53 Norwood Avenue
973-746-3854

St. James Episcopal Church581 Valley Road
973-744-0270

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church73 South Fullerton Avenue
973-744-6220

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair67 Church Street
973-744-6276

Cemeteries

Rosedale Cemetery408 Orange Road
Montclair, NJ 07042
973-673-0127

Immaculate Conception Cemetery712 Grove Street
Montclair, NJ 07043
973-744-5939

Cemeteries are active places of burial and remembrance. Visitors should respect posted rules, service activity and private family observances.

Explore the Full Montclair Guide

Business & ShoppingDeep directory of retail, healthcare, professional services, automotive, home services, personal care and more. Food & DrinkCurrent restaurants, cafés, bakeries and verified GF/DF options. Real EstateCurrent market snapshot, living context and property resources. Visiting & LodgingHotels, attractions, transit and trip planning. ClassifiedsCommunity marketplace categories and posting guidance. JobsEmployment sectors and official career resources.

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Updated September 2026 using current Township of Montclair, Montclair Public Schools, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair History Center, NJ TRANSIT-related Township resources and NJTGO local directory research.