Discover Bloomfield
How to Get Around; where to Dine; Schools and Parks, and more
Nestled between Montclair, Glen Ridge, Belleville and Nutley in New Jersey’s Essex County, Bloomfield is just 11 miles outside of New York City, making it perfect for Manhattan commuters and urban transplants who don’t want to stray too far from the city.
The Old First Church
the township
Population: just over 50,000
Households: over 18,000 households.
Median Household Income: $75,000.
Local news sources:
Bloomfield Patch
Baristanet
Bloomfield Center
Bloomfield Buzz is a twice-per-year printed newsletter sent to all Township households twice a year. Residents can also sign up for the monthly email edition.
Town History
Bloomfield was originally home to the Yantecaw, a sub-tribe of the Leni-Lenape Indians. The English settlers founded Newark in 1666 and expanded, settling in the southern end of town while Dutch settlers set up farms in what we now know as Brookdale.
The Old First Church, now Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green, was formed in 1796. The parish was named in honor of General Joseph Bloomfield, a Revolutionary War hero who eventually became the governor of New Jersey.
The Green was bought for a mere $200 in 1797, and served as a training ground for General Washington’s Army during the Revolution. Today, the Green is part of a 15-block historic district that includes the 11-acre campus of Bloomfield College and Bloomfield’s downtown area.
recreation
Bloomfield is home to two county parks, 121-acre Brookdale Park (off Watchung Avenue) and Watsessing Park (at Bloomfield Avenue and Conger Street), which together total more than 190 acres. You can do everything from lounging in the sunshine to playing softball, running the track, playing football, soccer, archery, tennis or biking. In 2019, Watsessing Park opened a state-of-the-art playground for children of all abilities.
With lots of playgrounds, an amazing rose garden, and a weekly summer concerts in the evenings, there are always outdoor activities for you to enjoy in Bloomfield.
Click here for more information about area parks.
dining
23 Skidoo Café. A menu of coffee drinks, teas and pastries makes it a prime stop on the way to the train station.
Aki Asian House. Sushi, ramen, hibachi, tempura and teriyaki are among its dishes. Anthony’s Cheesecake. A full restaurant in addition to the best cheesecake selection around.
Anthony’s Cheesecake. A full restaurant in addition to the best cheesecake selection around.
Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery. Open since 1939, this old-fashioned ice-cream parlor is known for delicious homemade ice cream and chocolates. It even got a starring cameo in the final episode of “The Sopranos.”
The Nevada Diner. A good old-fashioned diner – with a bar! – open 24 hours a day. Family owned and operated since 1981.
Stamna Greek Taverna. Popular for its authentic Greek dishes.
schools
The Bloomfield school system is made up of eight elementary schools, Bloomfield Middle School and Bloomfield High School. Eighty-five percent of graduating seniors go on to continuing education. There are also four private schools within the town limits and several more in nearby towns.
Bloomfield College: Ranked 14th most diverse liberal arts college in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, more than half its students identify themselves as first-generation Americans, and first in their families to attend college.
transportation
Train: On weekdays, NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct service along the Montclair/Boonton line can take you to New York Penn Station in 35 minutes. There are two Midtown Direct train stations in town: Bloomfield and Watsesssing Avenue. On weekends, trains run on a limited schedule (with a transfer at Newark Broad Street), starting around 7 a.m. from either train station and ending around 1 a.m. from New York. There’s also frequent service to and from Hoboken.
Click here for scheduling information.
Bus: Bloomfield has a shuttle bus that picks up commuters (M-F) and transports them to the newly-renovated Bloomfield Station at Lackawanna Plaza. Daily bus service on NJ Transit can bring you to Newark International Airport or the Port Authority in Manhattan.
Click here for scheduling information.
Car: Bloomfield is bisected by the Garden State Parkway, which can take you to the George Washington Bridge via interstate 80, and the Lincoln Tunnel via NJ Route 3.
Important Numbers and Links:
Town Website
Township Main number: 973-680-4000
Mayor: 973-680-4077
Police Department: 973-680-4141
Library: 973-566-6200
Board of Education: 973-680-5800
New Jersey: fun facts
New Jersey has more racehorses than Kentucky.
Two-thirds of the world’s eggplants are grown in New Jersey.
New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production.
In 1642, America’s first brewery opened in Hoboken.
Les Paul invented the first solid-body electric guitar in Mahwah, New Jersey.
We saved the best for last – Bruce Springsteen is our native son! (But then again, don’t we all know that?)