About The Caldwell’s
Caldwell, West Caldwell and North Caldwell are
collectively known as The Caldwell’s. Their combined
population is just under twenty thousand. With the
exception of some overlapping school districts, they
are governed separately. West Caldwell is the
largest (pop. 11,000). North Caldwell is the
smallest borough (pop. 7,400) and - with very modest
commercial activity - it is a leafy community with
winding roads and is dominated by single family
residences. Caldwell and West Caldwell have lovely
secluded neighborhoods as well, with a beautiful
stock of homes, but there is commerce - most of
which is located on or near two major thoroughfares.
Bloomfield Ave which runs east/west, and on Passaic
Avenue which runs north/south.
What’s in The Caldwell’s
The central business district along Bloomfield
Ave has everything you’ll need locally. There are a
number of choices for dining, from intimate
restaurants to lively pub-style venues for salads,
wraps and hamburgers. There are all kinds of shops
from the in-town grocery store to clothing, jewelry,
antiques and collectibles, stationary and many other
items. The Caldwell Movie Theater is a big draw with
four screens. Also on Bloomfield Ave is the highly
regarded Caldwell College. For larger retail stores
and big restaurants, Passaic Avenue has quite a bit
to offer - not to mention Essex County Airport which
services very small aircraft. There are beautiful
historical buildings in town including the
birthplace of Grover Cleveland and some magnificent
stone churches.
Parks and Recreation
The West Caldwell Civic Center and Parks and
Recreation Department, with over 80 programs, is one
of the bigger and more comprehensive in the state.
Its amenities, such as its two municipal pools,
pond, playgrounds, ice skating, tennis courts,
platform tennis, bocce and shuffleboard courts,
horse shoe pits, soccer and baseball fields, and
jogging trails are for the enjoyment of Caldwell and
West Caldwell residents. There are 9 parks including
the beautiful Grover Cleveland Park which is a
heavily wooded 42 acre park with open space for
recreation and athletic facilities and Crane Park
which is very popular for its Gazebo Concerts.
The Caldwell Community Center which services
children, adults and seniors is absolutely top notch
and centrally located just off Bloomfield Ave. Not
only does it have all kinds of sports and a fitness
center, it has programs in music, dance, science and
the arts. It also offers Red Cross Training, scout
programs, babysitting services, a healing center,
swim school, adult pick-up basketball games and even
its own Caldwell Cares Bike Team which competes in
races all around the metropolitan region.
North Caldwell’s Community Pool is immensely popular
and is on par with some private facilities in the
area with its 6 lane/25 meter pool with diving
board, 2 fun slides, tennis courts and snack bar.
There is also the old fashioned Caldwell-West
Caldwell Street Fair which has been a huge draw for
20 years. Sponsored by the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs,
it raises funds for the community. And of course,
don’t forget The Caldwell Public Library which has
many programs and events for both children and
adults.
Commuting From the Caldwell’s
Many residents of The Caldwell’s make the daily
commute into Manhattan. Some take the bus to New
York Port Authority via Route 280 - or Route 3,
while others drive a short distance out Rte 280 to
Harrison, where they park and ride the train to New
York’s Penn Station. There is also midtown direct
train service from nearby Montclair, although
parking there is somewhat of a challenge for
non-residents.
The Caldwell’s School System
North Caldwell has its own elementary school (The
Grandview School, Pre-K through 3rd grade) and
middle school (The Gould School, 4th through 6th
grade). In 7th grade, they move into the West Essex
Regional School District which draws students form
Fairfield, Roseland and Essex Fells. That district
is made up of two schools - the West Essex Regional
Junior High School and Senior High School. Both are
located in the Borough of North Caldwell.
Caldwell and West Caldwell share a public school
district. There are four elementary schools (grades
K-5) - Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson and Wilson.
Grover Cleveland Middle School services all
students, grades 6-8. James Caldwell High School is
very highly regarded and serves grades 9-12. There
are also many private schools in the Essex County
area.
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