Discover Glen Ridge

HOW TO GET AROUND; WHERE TO DINE; SCHOOLS AND PARKS, AND MORE

Nestled alongside Montclair in New Jersey’s Essex County, Glen Ridge is just 11 miles west of New York City, making it ideal for commuters and city transplants who don’t want to stray too far away. Glen Ridge’s mostly Colonial, Tudor, and Victorian-style homes dot the landscape from one end of town to the other. This charming community is characterized by its gas-lit street lamps and a friendly, small-town atmosphere.

the township

Population: about 7,600
Households: over 2,200
Median Household Income: $197,000

Local News Source: Baristanet

Town History
Glen Ridge was originally home to the Lenape Indians. English settlers founded Newark in 1666 and expanded westward, creating a settlement that included the future towns of Bloomfield, Montclair, Belleville, and Nutley. When Bloomfield seceded in 1812, Glen Ridge was a section “on the hill” that was made up of mostly farms and woodlands with the exception of a thriving industrial area along the Toney’s Brook in the Glen.

Glen Ridge's architectural legacy includes homes—still privately owned and occupied—by generations of internationally renowned architects. The most notable is a hexagonal contemporary “Usonian” home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1951. Three homes of an earlier generation are attributed to Stanford White, and one Georgian home is the work of John Russell Pope.

recreation

The Glen Ridge Community Pool is a family-friendly pool offering a variety of swimming and recreational activities throughout the summer. 

The Glen Ridge Athletic Association is committed to providing the children of Glen Ridge (K-8) with the opportunity to participate in and enjoy organized sports regardless of their level of ability. The organization also is committed to providing more-advanced athletes the opportunity to participate at a serious level of play.

Freeman Rose Gardens: Small enough to fit within a city block, but large enough to showcase a formal rose garden and an array of flowering plants, shrubs, and trees, Freeman Rose Gardens (644 Hawthorne Ave.) is a popular spot for weddings and theatre productions.

The Women’s Club of Glen Ridge: This thriving women’s organization hosts yoga and exercise classes, book discussions, dance parties, writing workshops, theatrical readings and documentary-film presentations. It also holds several major fundraisers every year. If you want to be an active player in the community, this group is definitely for you.  

Ashenfelter 8K Classic: A United States Track & Field-NJ Championship Road Race that’s open to everyone – walkers, joggers, runners and racers. Named after Horace Ashenfelter, a Glen Ridge resident who won the gold medal at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, the run is a Glen Ridge tradition. The turn-out is huge and proceeds go to the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation to fund innovative programs in the Glen Ridge Public Schools.

dining

Fitzgerald’s 1928. This comfy, nostalgic pub is a neighborhood staple. Its walls are lined with black-and-white photos of Glen Ridge’s history, and with its craft beer and delicious brunch offerings, you’re not really a local until you’ve been to Fitzgerald’s.

Café Moso. Located just adjacent to Glen Ridge at the south end of Montclair (MoSo), this café offers American classics, with a both seafood and beef offerings, plus a big selection of burgers and sandwiches for lunch.

Diesel & Duke. A burger for all tastes – nine varieties include the classics, a breakfast burger, a vegetarian version, and S.P.B.S.: Sriracha, peanut butter & bacon. Leave room for the fried Oreos for dessert.

Nicolo’s Italian Bakery and Deli. This family-owned establishment has been open since 1967: It’s a bakery, with breads, pastry, muffins and desserts. It’s a deli with specialty sandwiches, salads, soup, pasta, cheeses and meats. It’s an Italian grocery with beverages, pastas and sauces. Come here for all your cravings!

schools

Glen Ridge is regularly recognized for its excellent school system. It is made up of three elementary schools, an upper elementary school and a combined middle and high school. Ninety-six percent of graduating seniors go on to further education.

Click here for more information on Glen Ridge’s public schools.

transportation

By train: On weekdays, NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct service can take you to New York Penn Station in 35 minutes. On weekends, trains run on a limited schedule (with a transfer at Newark Broad Street), starting at 7 a.m. from Glen Ridge and ending around 1 a.m. from New York. 

Click here for train and bus schedules.

There’s also a town-operated jitney service that provides transportation to the Glen Ridge Train Station, allowing almost every resident to commute to Manhattan. Click here for ticket sales and schedules.

By car: Easy access to Route 3 and the Garden State Parkway can get you to wherever you need to go: the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln or Holland Tunnels, Newark Liberty International Airport, the Jersey Shore, and so much more.

Important numbers and links

Town Website
Mayor: (973) 748-8400 x220
Municipal building: (973) 748-8400
Police Department: (973) 748-5400
Public Library: (973) 748-5482
Board of Education: (973) 429-8300
Volunteer EMS: (973) 748-7721

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?)