South Orange

South Orange is a beautiful, engaging community that’s 2.8 square miles and retains many vestiges of village life. Just read the New York Times profile of the town. The streets are lined with mature trees and gas street lighting and the homes are mostly authentic Tudor, Colonial and Victorian — providing an abundance of old world charm. The downtown is anchored by one of the two train stations in town, the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) and Seton Hall University. When you venture downtown, you can shop, eat, take in a movie or a show, stop at the luxurious Eden Gourmet for groceries and visit the many specialty stores and conveniences. These are some of the reasons why South Orange was named the first Transit Village in new Jersey in recognition of a major redevelopment effort that started in 1994.

Many are able to walk to one of the two train stations or just catch the shuttle service that quickly takes them to the station. Some parking is also available. There’s an easy commute to New York City from the Midtown Direct Train Line or the New Jersey Transit train through Hoboken.

While many people like to venture into the South Mountain Reservation residents know they can enjoy any of the town’s 10 parks that total approximately 78 acres.
The South Orange Montrose Park District was designed as an Historic District at both the state and national levels in 1997. Sixty-two acres of parkland, two thirds of which consist of Meadowland Park and adjacent Cameron Field, provide South Orange with five baseball diamonds, 15 lighted tennis courts, a soccer field, duck pond, playgrounds, Baird Community Center, and an outdoor pool complex.

There are four main residential neighborhoods in town that provides for a variety of prices from around $200,000 to over $2 million. There’s the historic Montrose area located north of South Orange Avenue and east of Vose Avenue. Most of the homes here date back from the late 19th centuryand are architecturally grande, mature homes on large lots. Several of the streets were originally developed by John Gorham Vose and Henry A. Page in the 1860s and 1870s as part of a residential development, called Montrose, intended to bring wealthy New York businessmen to the area. Many of these homes have been renovated to their original splendor, others are awaiting a personal touch.

Another neighborhood is Newstead. This is considered ‘up top’ between Glenview Road and Crest Drive. Most of home were developed in the post-war era and are colonials or expanded ranches. There are exquisite and expansive view of Manhattan and a feeling of being far away from it all — like a personal alcove — although you’re just minutes from downtown.

Tuxedo Park is a third neighborhood in the village. The homes here are mostly 1920ish colonials that are smaller, some can be considered “starter homes”, and offer nice architectural details. This area is south of South Orange Avenue, close to Seton Hall University and downtown. Many like the centrality of it all.

The last neighborhood area to consider is above Wyoming, right by South Mountain along Wyoming Avenue. There are a variety of early to mid-1900 housing styles here, with mostly a penchant for colonials.

The two towns of Maplewood and South Orange are interconnected in many ways. Amongst other things, they share a quality school system
- six elementary schools, two middle schools and Columbia High School. All are supported by active parent and teacher organizations.