Union County · Queen City · Raritan Valley Line · Historic Districts
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is one of Union County’s largest and most architecturally distinctive communities, combining an active downtown, established residential neighborhoods, two NJ TRANSIT rail stations, historic districts, parks and a diverse local dining and business scene.
Use this NJTGO guide to explore city services, schools, parks, history and culture, then move into the dedicated directories for shopping, food, real estate, visiting, classifieds and jobs.
Plainfield City Hall. Photo by Zeete via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
About Plainfield
Known as the “Queen City,” Plainfield grew into a regional center with the arrival and expansion of rail service, and today its streets include notable examples of Victorian, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Shingle and other architectural styles. The city’s downtown, South Avenue corridor and neighborhood commercial areas support a broad mix of retail, services and restaurants.
City Government
515 Watchung Avenue
Plainfield, NJ 07060
Main city information: 908-753-3000
City Clerk: 908-753-3222
Tax Assessor: 908-753-3203
Tax Collector: 908-753-3214 / 3215
Health Division: 908-753-3092
Municipal Court: 908-753-3062
Education
Plainfield Public Schools operates elementary, middle and high school programs across the city.
1200 Myrtle Avenue
Plainfield, NJ 07063
908-731-4200
Charles and Anna Booker, Clinton, Emerson, Evergreen, F.W. Cook, Jefferson, Stillman and Washington Community School.
Hubbard Middle School, Maxson Middle School, Plainfield Academy for Arts and Advanced Studies, Pinnacle Academy High School and Plainfield High School.
Plainfield Public Library
The city library serves as a community, research and technology hub and maintains substantial local-history and genealogy resources.
800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
908-757-1111
The library’s local-history collections are particularly useful for researching Plainfield homes, neighborhoods, families and historic properties.
Historic Plainfield
Plainfield has one of New Jersey’s most substantial concentrations of designated historic properties. Ten residential historic districts and hundreds of locally designated properties make preservation a meaningful part of life in the city.
602 West Front Street. Built in 1746; the house is associated with Revolutionary War activity and now serves as the Historical Society of Plainfield’s museum.
225 Watchung Avenue. The Quaker meetinghouse dates to 1788 and is among the city’s important 18th-century structures.
Crescent Area, Hillside Avenue, North Avenue Commercial and Van Wyck Brooks are among the city’s notable designated districts.
Parks & Recreation
A major Union County park with an Olmsted Brothers design legacy, athletic areas, paths and the Shakespeare Garden.
Community recreation complex with athletic fields, courts, play areas and seasonal aquatic amenities.
Plainfield’s recreation system also includes neighborhood parks, playgrounds, fields and community programming throughout the city.
Arts & Culture
1030 Central Avenue. A longstanding New Jersey arts institution offering studio, exhibition and creative programming.
Architecture, storefronts, rail history and cultural activity make the downtown and North Avenue Commercial Historic District central to Plainfield’s identity.
City, library, school and neighborhood organizations provide recurring cultural, civic and seasonal programming.
Places of Worship
225 Watchung Avenue
A landmark church associated with Plainfield’s historic Watchung Avenue corridor.
Both are part of Plainfield’s historic religious and architectural landscape.
Getting Around
Raritan Valley Line service near North Avenue between Watchung and Park avenues.
Raritan Valley Line service near South and Belvidere avenues.
Rail and bus services connect Plainfield with Union County, Newark and other regional destinations. Always check current NJ TRANSIT schedules before travel.
Explore more of Plainfield
Use the dedicated NJTGO pages for the city’s business directory, restaurants and markets, housing information, visitor planning, classifieds and employment resources.
Business & ShoppingFood & DrinkPlan a Visit