New Providence 

The New Providence Real Estate Market

 

 

History

The written history of New Providence begins in 1664 when James, Duke of York and brother to King Charles II, purchased the land from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. This acquisition was known as the Elizabethtown Tract.

Its first European settlers were members of a Puritan colony established in 1720, which was the first permanent settlement of its type. The settlement was originally called Turkeytown, due to the presence of wild turkeys in the area.

By 1737, the Presbyterian Church was formed and became the center of this growing community.

In 1759, the balcony of the Presbyterian Church in the town collapsed. The lack of serious injuries was declared by Divine Providence, and the town was renamed to New Providence.

According to local tradition, George Washington spent the night in a local home, which still stands to this day. Supposedly, the local stream, Salt Brook, is named for an incident when the salt supply of the colonial village was dumped into the brook to prevent passing British soldiers from taking it. Ironically, the British Army never crossed the Watchung Mountains into this region. Salt Brook winds through town, starting near the eponymous Salt Brook Elementary School.

On April 14, 1794, Springfield Township was formed, which included the present-day township, along with the towns of Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.

Growth continued in the area, and on November 8, 1809, New Providence Township was formed from within Springfield Township. It included only Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.

On March 23, 1869, Summit withdrew from the New Providence Township and reincorporated as a township without any other town. It remained under a township form of government until April 11, 1899, when Summit reincorporated as a city.

On March 14, 1899, New Providence also withdrew from the New Providence Township and was reincorporated as a borough. With Boroughitis sweeping across the state, many communities within townships were reverting to small, locally-governed communities (mostly reincorporating as boroughs) due to acts of the New Jersey Legislature that made it economically advantageous for communities so do so.

Only present day Berkeley Heights retained the name of New Providence Township, a name it kept until November 6, 1951.

 

Location and Transportation

Nestled in the Watchung Mountains, New Providence is home to 12,000 residents and covers 3.6 square miles in northwestern Union County connecting Summit to Berkeley Heights. The borough is roughly 15 miles southwest of Newark and approximately 28 miles south of New York City. Traveling is made simple with two easily accessible train stations within the town as well as its close proximity to I-78, the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and Newark International Airport.

 

Corporate/Residential Community

New Providence is mostly a residential community consisting of owner occupied, single- family dwellings, with garden apartments and condominiums. A majority of New Providence’s residents hold professional, managerial or other executive positions in their business or industry with an above average salary.
Corporate businesses include companies with worldwide reputations in their field. New Providence hosts corporate and executive offices of C.R. Bard (leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of health care products), Reed International (one of the world’s top publishing and information companies), BOC Group (worldwide industrial gases, vacuum technologies and distribution services company), Aromat Corporation (subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Works Ltd.), and Lucent Technologies.

 

Recreation

The New Providence Recreation Department, which provides a wide variety of programs for children and adults, is run by a seven-person commission, who are appointed by the mayor for five year terms. New Providence possesses three playgrounds, an ice-skating rink, eight ball fields, and eight public tennis courts. Two pools, which are approximately Olympic size, are also available through the New Providence Community Pool Corporation.

 

Education

There are two public K-6 schools, as well as one parochial elementary school. The middle school is adjacent to the high school, and consists of grades 7-8. New Providence High School has approximately 550 students enrolled and was recently ranked 7th overall of schools in New Jersey. Students in the New Providence School District are known for their academic achievements and excellence in athletics.

 

New Providence NJ School Information

 

PUBLIC SCHOOL INFORMATION:

 

In partnership with students, parents, and community, the mission of the New

Providence School District is to educate all students to meet high academic

standards and to prepare them to be responsible citizens in the dynamic global society

of the 21st century.

 

New Providence enjoys a long tradition of excellence, with an ongoing commitment to

academics, the arts, athletics, community service, and character education. The

district has earned recognition at the national, state, county, and local levels for the

achievements of students and staff. Approximately 97% of the 2008 graduates will

continue their education, and of particular note, more than 91% will be attending a

four year university or college. Student assessment scores remain among the

highest in the area.

 

Offering a comprehensive Pre-K to Grade 12 educational program, the district serves

a high school, middle school, and two elementary schools. Our programs of study are

carefully aligned to the Core Curriculum Content Standards, with a strong emphasis

on technology integration. Our co-curricular activities offer all students with many

opportunities to meet their needs and interests. Participation in a well-rounded

curriculum is encouraged.

http://www.npsd.k12.nj.us/

 

Elementary Schools

 

New Providence Public Elementary Schools include:

 

Allen W. Roberts Elementary School (K-6) 80 Jones Drive, New Providence, NJ

(908)-464-4707

 

Salt Brook Elementary School (K-6) 40 Maple Street New Providence, NJ

(908)-464-7100

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL: (7-8)

 

New Providence Middle School: 35 Pioneer Drive, New Providence, NJ

(908) 273-1190

 

The mission of New Providence Middle School is to ensure an educational

environment that meets the developing physical, intellectual, and social-emotional

needs of the early adolescent while promoting individual success. By providing an

education built on a foundation of interdisciplinary teaming, technology integration,

and career exploration, we are committed to meeting the needs of every student within

our educational community.

 

At New Providence Middle School, students are offered a comprehensive curriculum

that offers challenge and variety to meet the needs of all students. Recognizing our

interdisciplinary focus, we emphasize the importance of strong writing skills in all

content areas. We have met all "No Child Left Behind" standards; our achievements

are recognized in the top 10% statewide; and we were in the top 10% in our economic

group. The New Providence academic program is supplemented by a full exploratory

program of cycle courses. Our programs include robotics, language arts, performing

arts, practical arts, visual arts and research.

 

An active arts program enables our students to utilize their talents in many areas of

fine arts and music. Over 75% of the student body participates in one or more of our

outstanding music ensembles, band or orchestra and our students consistently

distinguish themselves at music festivals throughout the area. Additionally, many

students choose to participate in one or more of our co-curricular activities, including

ceramics club, yearbook, literary magazine, student services organization, jazz band,

girls' ensemble, boys' ensemble, dance club, technology club, math club, peer

leadership, and student council.

 

Through class discussion and proactive participation, New Providence Middle School

students are encouraged to reach out to citizens, both in our own community, and

beyond. Activities for 2005-2006 included fundraisers for Hurricane Katrina Recovery,

Pennies for Patients, the annual "St. Jude's Math-a-Thon", "Classrooms in a Box",

"Bridges", "Toys for Tots" for the US Marines, and the "Community Food Bank of New

Jersey".

 

HIGH SCHOOL:

 

New Providence High School: 35 Pioneer Drive, New Providence, NJ

(908) 273-1190

 

Recognized for excellence in academics, the arts, athletics and community service,

New Providence High School provides students with a wide range of experiences and

opportunities designed to promote intellectual, social, and emotional growth. This

year marks the 50th year of the school and New Providence High School continues to

uphold the values that were created in the school’s original mission statement created

in 1958, “Let this school be dedicated to the process of acquiring knowledge, skills

and understanding of our culture, so that all students can achieve a foundation for

further intellectual growth and attain civic competence through the active pursuit of

citizenship.”

 

NPHS students are able to choose from a wide array of academic course offerings

designed to challenge them at appropriate levels of ability. Eighteen Advanced

Placement and nineteen Honors classes are offered. Advanced Placement courses

offer students the challenges of a college level course as well as the opportunity to

accumulate college credits.

 

New Providence High School remains committed to maximizing student opportunities

for growth, evidenced by our continuing exploration of local, state, and global

partnerships.

 

Instruction is offered in five world languages. Ongoing international continue with

Italy, Japan and France and we are exploring a new partnership with a school from

Spain.

 

Academic achievement continues to flourish. Mean verbal, writing and math SAT

scores of 548, 549 and 588, respectively, are higher than both the New Jersey and

national means. Fifteen members of the class of 2008 were recognized as Bloustein

Distinguished Scholars; nine were National Merit Scholarship Commended Students,

one students was recognized as a National Merit Semi-Finalist and one was named a

National Merit Finalists. Eighty-nine percent of students taking AP tests in 2008

scored a 3 or higher. Ninety-one percent of the class of 2008 is pursuing postsecondary

education at four-year colleges and six percent at two-year colleges;

ninety-seven percent of 2008 graduates are pursuing further education.

 

Committed to maximizing student opportunities for personal growth, NPHS offers

extensive programs in the visual, performing, practical and related arts. This past

year, close to 250 students participated in the International Azalea Festival in Norfolk,

Virginia.

 

Incorporating service learning opportunities into the fabric of educational process

provides students with challenges and experiences both within and outside the

traditional classroom. Student-sponsored food and clothing drives, choral

performances at local senior citizens centers, volunteer tutoring programs, invitations

to design banners and logos for community organizations and decorating windows of

local businesses with seasonal decorations both challenge and reward student’s

creativity. Intergenerational projects such as working with senior citizens to prepare

foods for a local health fair allowed students to interact with community members in a

variety of positive ways. High school students invited elementary students to their

classes to perform a series of science experiments, while members of the musical

cast read to students in the elementary schools during Read Across America week.

These activities give New Providence High School students an opportunity to give

back and show appreciation for all they are given. Furthermore, these experiences

demonstrate what can be achieved when parents, students, teachers and community

members work cooperatively.

 

Our co-curricular offerings, from discipline specific clubs to athletics to drama, are

designed to allow students the opportunity to pursue their interests and achieve new

heights. Offering twenty-three athletic teams and close to fifty co-curricular activities,

over 89% of the student body is involved in the school’s athletic and co-curricular

opportunities.

 

New Providence High School will continue to prepare students to meet the challenging

demands of today’s changing world. The school’s successes reflect positively on the

continued support of the community. This support is much appreciated and welcomed

as NPHS continues to function in the forefront of schools in Union County and in the

state of New Jersey.

 

Parking Permit

Restricted parking areas are well marked in New Providence. The New Providence Police Department asks that you observe all parking signs and comply with the regulations.

 

Overnight Parking Prohibited

 

No vehicle may be parked on any street, highway or municipally maintained and designated public parking lot between the hours of 2-6 AM.

 

Commuter Parking Lots

 

New Providence maintains two parking areas for local commuters. They are located at the New Providence and the Murray Hill Railroad Stations. Quarterly through Annual parking permits are available through the Municipal Clerks Office.

 

Call 908-665-1400 or contact the Borough Clerk's Office via our webform for further information about rates. Limited daily parking is also available at each parking lot.

 

New Providence Resources

New Providence Quarterly Newsletter