Montclair is a quaint community on a large scale, just 12 miles west of Manhattan. Within its 6.2 square mile area you will find approximately 40,000 residents, proud of its unique heritage, its tremendous creative energy and numerous cultural programs. Its charming shopping areas, many with the faintly European flavor of a Tudor era English village, feature restaurants serving everything from tacos to sushi to fois gras. At ten public parks residents can enjoy activities as varied as jogging, archery or watching summer opera under the stars. Three public swimming pools, an indoor ice-skating rink, as well as twenty-one public tennis courts are also available.
One of the most appealing aspects of Montclair is its unique "Magnet" school system. There are a total of eleven schools in the Montclair School System consisting of seven elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school.In Montclair, children do not necessarily attend the school closest to their home. Each of the elementary and middle schools has specialized programs designed to closely suport the individual learning style of each student. Children may attend any school their parents choose as long as space is available. Bus transportation is provided for some students.
Nearby Route 3 or the Garden State Parkway provide access to the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln or Holland Tunnels and Newark Airport. DeCamp buses operate daily to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan with a commuting time of approximately 45 minutes. NJ Transit trains provide weekday service to mid-town Manhattan or to Hoboken with connecting PATH service. A town operated jitney service provides most residents south of Bloomfield Avenue with access to the Bay Street train station during rush hours.
Montclair has a full-time police and fire department and a volunteer rescue squad. In addition to the superb main public library, Montclair also has a nicely equipped branch library. Mountainside Hospital is located in Montclair/Glen Ridge.