Livingston, in Essex County, New Jersey was named in honor of William Livingston, the first governor of New Jersey and a framer of the United States Constitution. The Township of Livingston was incorporated in 1813.
Livingston began as a farming and lumber community. Shoemaking became a major industry during the Civil War, followed by the dairy business well into the 20th century. Saint Barnabas Medical Center is a major presence in town.
Mt. Pleasant Avenue, which runs through Livingston, was the first toll road in New Jersey and was the stagecoach route in the 1800s between Newark and Morristown. After World War II, housing developments replaced farms and Livingston’s population grew very quickly. The 2010 census reported 29,358 residents in this family-oriented community, with a median household income of approximately $129,000.
Livingston residents and workers in the corporate office parks there enjoy easy access to New York City and other areas of New Jersey via Interstates 80 and 280, the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, and Route 24.
Livingston’s highly rated public school system started with a one-room schoolhouse on Northfield Road in 1783. Today, Livingston has six elementary schools, two middle schools and a Blue Ribbon high school.
The center of town along Livingston Avenue is a main shopping and dining area. Livingston is also home to Livingston Mall and is close to the distinctive Short Hills Mall. The Route 10 corridor on Livingston’s western side has many big-box retailers and restaurants.
Livingston has many single-family homes in a range of styles and sizes, with prices from the $300,000s up to nearly $2 million, with many in the $500,000 to $700,000 range. Elegant condo/townhouse communities are also available.
Livingston’s many recreational facilities and programs include: two community pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, jogging track, dog park, skating pond, youth and adult athletics, and three in-town fitness facilities. There are parks with hiking trails and natural woodlands, and Livingston is just one mile from the South Mountain Reservation recreation area. Nearby are Francis Byrne Golf Course (West Orange) and Millburn Municipal Golf Course (Millburn Township).
The Riker Hill Complex (Riker Hill Park) comprises Riker Hill Art Park (a former Nike Missile control area site), Walter Kidde Dinosaur Park (a national natural landmark), and Becker Park.
For residents who prefer civic engagement, there are over 40 volunteer boards and committees. Livingston offer many assistance programs and activities for seniors.
Arts enthusiasts will appreciate Livingston’s community-based arts organizations: Livingston Symphony Orchestra, Livingston Community Players and Children’s Theatre of Livingston, New Jersey Ballet and New Jersey School of Ballet. The Art Council of Livingston has a gallery at Livingston Town Center. The Arts Association includes the NJ State Opera Guild-West Essex Chapter and Livingston Camera Club. Working artists have studios at Riker Hill Art Park, and many studios offer art classes for adults and children.