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New Providence, New Jersey

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

New Providence is a borough on the northwestern edge of Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located on the Passaic River, which forms the county boundary with Morris County bordering Chatham Township. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 13,650,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 1,479 (+12.2%) from the 2010 census count of 12,171,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected increase of 264 (+2.2%) from the 11,907 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

The borough is home to much of the Murray Hill neighborhood with the remainder lying in neighboring Berkeley Heights. Service on the NJ Transit is available at the New Providence<ref name=NJTransitNP/> and Murray Hill stations.<ref name=NJTransitMH/> More than 9% of New Providence's land is publicly-owned and protected parkland.

History

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The written history of New Providence begins in 1664 when James, Duke of York and brother to King Charles II, purchased the land that became known as the Elizabethtown Tract from the Lenape Native Americans. Its first European settlers were members of a Puritan colony established in 1720, which was the first permanent settlement of its type.<ref>History of Union County Template:Webarchive, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed July 25, 2012.</ref> The settlement was originally called "Turkey" or "Turkey Town", due to the presence of wild turkeys in the area.<ref>Meola, Patricia E. "Data reveal much about life in New Providence", Independent press, December 16, 2008. Accessed July 25, 2012. "Once named Turkey Town, the more modern New Providence contains an abundance of older homes, with 84% constructed prior to 1969 and the majority of the homes built in the mid-1950s."</ref><ref name=History>History Template:Webarchive, Borough of New Providence. Accessed July 25, 2012.</ref>

The Presbyterian Church established in 1737 was a focal point for the community, and the lack of serious injuries when the church's balcony collapsed in 1759 was deemed to be an example of divine intervention, leading residents to change the area's name to New Providence.<ref name=History/><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 10, 2015.</ref>

According to local tradition, George Washington spent the night in a local home, which still stands to this day. Supposedly, the local stream, Salt Brook, is named for an incident when the salt supply of the colonial village was dumped into the brook to prevent passing British soldiers from taking it. Ironically, the British Army never crossed the Watchung Mountains into this region. Salt Brook winds through town, starting near the eponymous Salt Brook Elementary School.

On April 14, 1794, Springfield Township was formed, which included the present-day township, along with the towns of Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 239 re New Providence, p. 241 re Springfield Township. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> Growth continued in the area, and on November 8, 1809, New Providence Township was formed from within Springfield Township. It included what is now Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.<ref name=Story/> On March 23, 1869, Summit withdrew from the New Providence Township and reincorporated as a township without any other town.<ref name=Story/>

On March 14, 1899, New Providence also withdrew from New Providence Township and was reincorporated as a borough.<ref name=Story/> With Boroughitis sweeping across the state, many communities within townships were reverting to small, locally governed communities (mostly reincorporating as boroughs) due to acts of the New Jersey Legislature that made it economically advantageous for communities so do so. New Providence Township was renamed to Berkeley Heights as of November 6, 1951.<ref name=Story/>

The cultivation of roses played an important role in the local economy in the 1900s.<ref>New Providence community profile, EPodunk. Accessed October 10, 2007.</ref>

New Providence had long been a semi-dry town, under which there were no bars and no restaurants permitted to sell alcoholic beverages. Retail liquor sales were legal and restaurant-goers may bring their own alcoholic beverages. In 2011, the borough announced that it was considering issuing on-premises liquor licenses, which could bring in as much as $500,000 for each bar granted a license, with plans to use the money raised to pay for improvements to recreation areas.<ref>Neavill, Mike. "Council ponders cocktail mixing booze, Open Space", The Independent Press, April 8, 2011. Accessed April 8, 2011. "Sobered by a thirst for improved recreational facilities coupled with limited funds, the governing body is taking the unprecedented move of shifting the borough from 'dry' to 'wet'. Although there are package stores in New Providence, there are no on-premises consumption licenses. Basically, the borough has been a 'bring your own' town. 'We're looking for ways to generate income for turf fields,' Mayor J. Brook Hern said."</ref> Liquor licenses were granted in 2015 to a pair of restaurants, ending a 100-year period in which the borough had no on-premises liquor licenses.<ref>Ivers, Marianne. "Two New Providence Restaurants to Obtain Liquor Licenses", TAP Into New Providence, December 23, 2015. Accessed June 28, 2016. "Councilman Robert Robinson noted that the borough has been without a liquor license for more than 100 years."</ref>

The 2011 film Win Win is set at New Providence High School, having been written by Tom McCarthy and Joe Tiboni, two former students at the school.<ref>Angelo, Megan. "Just Like the Good Old Days in the Ring", The New York Times, March 18, 2011. Accessed July 25, 2012. ""I just called Joe and said, 'Let's develop a movie based on New Providence wrestling,' " Mr. McCarthy said.... Because of tax credits, they shot on Long Island rather than in New Providence. But they scouted locations tirelessly, most notably the office and home that Mr. Giamatti's character shuttles between.... Though the locations might have been fudged, the filmmakers kept New Providence High School in the film by using its banners, uniforms and wrestling mats, an effort facilitated by one of their former classmates, who's now the school's principal."</ref>

Landmarks

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File:Bell Laboratories at New Providence, New Jersey (7235324892).jpg
Bell Laboratories, New Providence
  • Nokia Bell Labs, formerly known as Bell Telephone Laboratories, is located in the New Providence neighborhood of Murray Hill. Researchers at this facility were credited with the development of radio astronomy, the transistor, the laser, the photovoltaic cell and other advances in technology. Nine Nobel Prizes have been awarded for work completed at this facility.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • The Presbyterian Church is a large, white, historic church in the center of town.
  • The Village Shopping Center is a shopping center that takes up the majority of downtown New Providence.
  • New Providence School District currently links together the computer networks of its buildings by using a wireless LAN which includes Yagi antennas at two towers by the large copper pyramid-shaped roof.
  • Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic church and school located on South Street. The parking lot at OLP becomes the home of the town's OLP fair, held for three days each spring, complete with rides, games, food, and an indoor auction/junk fest.
  • The Salt Box Museum, located at 1350 Springfield Avenue, is an 18th-century farmhouse owned by the New Providence Historical Society.<ref>Salt Box Museum, New Providence Historical Society. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref>

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, New Providence borough had a total area of 3.71 square miles (9.61 km2), including 3.69 square miles (9.55 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.57%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

New Providence is bordered by Berkeley Heights to the southwest and south, and by Summit to the east in Union County; and to the north by Chatham Township, across the Passaic River, in Morris County.<ref>Areas touching New Providence, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.</ref><ref>Union County Municipal Profiles, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Much of the Murray Hill neighborhood lies in New Providence, with the remainder in Berkeley Heights; Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include Tall Oaks, Johnsons Bridge, and West Summit.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 7, 2015.</ref>

The borough lies on the western slope of Second Watchung Mountain. There are several creek beds carved into the landscape, most of which are forks and branches of Salt Brook. These creeks join near the center of town then flow into the Passaic River, along the banks of which Passaic River Parkway is found. Over nine percent of New Providence's land area is permanently protected, publicly owned parkland. Most of this land is wooded floodplain adjacent to the Passaic. Union County owns much of the riverfront parkland and New Providence owns the remainder. There are several borough-owned parks that bracket Salt Brook, including Veterans Memorial Park on South Street, Lions Park on Livingston Avenue, and Clearwater Park near the end of Central Avenue.<ref>Recreation - Parks and Facilities Template:Webarchive, Borough of New Providence. Accessed April 7, 2015.</ref>

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 12,171 people, 4,408 households, and 3,337 families in the borough. The population density was 3,343.4 per square mile (1,290.9/km2). There were 4,537 housing units at an average density of 1,246.3 per square mile (481.2/km2). The racial makeup was 85.98% (10,465) White, 1.27% (155) Black or African American, 0.10% (12) Native American, 9.78% (1,190) Asian, 0.04% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.22% (148) from other races, and 1.61% (196) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.43% (783) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 4,408 households, 39.2% had children under the age of 18; 66.2% were married couples living together; 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.8% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.20.<ref name=Census2010/>

27.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $113,542 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,769) and the median family income was $144,837 (+/− $13,137). Males had a median income of $103,237 (+/− $7,256) versus $60,029 (+/− $10,693) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $53,564 (+/− $3,739). About 3.2% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for New Providence borough, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 25, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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File:New Providence NJ leafy street on a summer day.jpg
A residential street

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 11,907 people, 4,404 households, and 3,307 families residing in New Providence. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,485 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 89.77% White, 0.88% African American, 0.03% Native American, 7.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.50% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for New Providence borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 25, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for New Providence borough, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 25, 2012.</ref>

There were 4,404 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In New Providence the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $90,964, and the median income for a family was $105,013. Males had a median income of $72,926 versus $46,948 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,995. About 1.3% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

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Local government

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File:New Providence NJ view of municipal building and streets.jpg
Municipal building

New Providence is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 94.</ref> The borough form of government used by New Providence is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of New Providence is Republican Allen B. Morgan, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the New Providence Borough Council are Council President Peter C. DeSarno (R, 2024), Diane Bilicska (R, 2025), Matthew E. Cumiskey (R, 2024), Nadine Geoffroy (R, 2026), Alex Kogan (R, 2025), and Lisa McKnight (R, 2026).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Borough Council, Borough of New Providence. Accessed April 30, 2022.</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of New Providence. Accessed April 30, 2022.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>Union County Elected Officials, Union County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed April 30, 2022.</ref><ref name=Union2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Union2020>General Election November 3, 2020 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated December 14, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Union2019>General Election November 5, 2019 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated December 5, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=Union2018>General Election November 6, 2018 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 16, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.</ref>

In January 2022, the borough council appointed Diane Bilicska to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that became vacant after Michele Matsikoudis resigned from office to take a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.<ref>Ivers, Marianne. "Council Reorganizes: Cumiskey, DeSarno and Bilicska Sworn in; Geoffroy Elected Council President", TAP into New Providence, January 5, 2022. Accessed April 30, 2022. "The Borough Council held its reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Re-elected Councilmen Matthew Cumiskey and Peter DeSarno were sworn in for their second three-year terms. Diane Bilicska was sworn in to serve the remainder of Assemblywoman-elect Michele Matsikoudis’ term, ending Dec. 31, 2022."</ref>

List of mayors

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Template:Incomplete list

Mayor Term Begins Term Ends Notes
John W. Oakwood 1933 1946 Republican, served seven terms. Oakwood Drive and Oakwood Park in New Providence are named after Mayor Oakwood.
Ellsworth R. Hansell 1947 1952 Republican, served three terms.
Robert Badgley 1953 1954 Republican, served one term. Badgley Drive in New Providence is named after the Badgley family.
Charles Johnson 1955 1956 Republican, served one term.
Francis R. Farley 1963 1966 Democrat. In the 1962 election, Farley and Republican John C. Clay tie at 1,707 votes each. The recount goes to the New Jersey Superior Court. Farley is declared winner in February 1963. Farley is the most recent Democrat Mayor in New Providence.
Edward Bien 1967 1978 Republican, served four terms totaling 12 years. The first two terms (1967-1970) were under the old form of the Borough system of local government where mayors were elected to two-year terms. All regular elections after 1970 for mayor were for four-year terms.
Harold Weideli, Jr. 1978 1998 Republican, served as mayor for five terms.
Allen B. Morgan<ref name="Morgan">Template:Cite web</ref> 1999 2006 Republican, Morgan served as mayor for two terms between 1999 and 2006, when he initially announced his bid for re-election, and then withdrew from the campaign.
John Thoms<ref name="Thoms">Template:Cite web</ref> 2007 2010 Republican, Served as mayor for one term. Was denied the town's GOP endorsement for re-election in 2010, which instead went to Morgan, who went on to lose the primary to J. Brooke Hern. Thoms launched an unsuccessful bid for re-election as an independent, losing to Hern in the general election by a 2-1 margin.
J. Brooke Hern<ref name="Horn">Template:Cite web</ref> 2011 2014 Republican, upset Morgan in the primary, served one term and chose not to seek re-election after serving 10 years in elected office.
Allen B. Morgan<ref name="Morgan" /><ref name="Morgan2022">Template:Cite web</ref> 2015 Incumbent Republican, re-elected following Hern's decision to not seek a second term. In 2022 he won re-election to a third consecutive. Morgan won 3,000 votes to the Democrat's 2,643.

Federal, state, and county representation

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New Providence is located in the 7th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Template:NJ Congress 07 Template:NJ Senate

Template:NJ Legislative 21

Template:NJ Union County Commissioners

Politics

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As of September 16, 2022, there were a total of 9,997 registered voters in New Providence, of which 3,190 (31.9% vs. 48% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,852 (28.5% vs. 15.98%) were registered as Republicans and 3,889 (38.9% vs. 34.78%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 66 voters registered to other parties, such as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=UnionCountyVoterRegistration>VoterSummary, Union County Clerk Board of Elections, September 16, 2022. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 82.3% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 89.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Union, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref> Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |}

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 3,084 votes, ahead of Republican Donald Trump who had 2,517 votes, with others getting 261 votes; this is the first time in recent years that a Democrat carried New Providence in the past four elections.<ref name=twsNJcom4949>Astudillo, Carla. "The 53 N.J. towns that flipped from Obama to Trump", NJ.com, November 17, 2016. Accessed January 31, 2017, "... New Providence -- Clinton 52% Trump 43% in 2016...(hover mouse over graphic)"</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 3,267 votes (53.7% vs. 32.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,726 votes (44.8% vs. 66.0%) and other candidates with 68 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 6,080 ballots cast by the borough's 8,493 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.6% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,367 votes (52.8% vs. 35.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,914 votes (45.7% vs. 63.1%) and other candidates with 64 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 6,372 ballots cast by the borough's 8,086 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.8% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,443 votes (55.5% vs. 40.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,674 votes (43.1% vs. 58.3%) and other candidates with 52 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 6,202 ballots cast by the borough's 7,801 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.5% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref>

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 1,968 votes (49.0% vs. 32.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 1,937 votes (48.2% vs. 65.2%), and other candidates with 111 votes (2.8% vs. 2.1%), among the 4,131 ballots cast by the borough's 8,823 registered voters, for a turnout of 46.8%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.3% of the vote (2,468 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.0% (935 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (60 votes), among the 3,516 ballots cast by the borough's 8,298 registered voters (53 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,559 votes (58.8% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,361 votes (31.3% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 393 votes (9.0% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 21 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,351 ballots cast by the borough's 7,961 registered voters, yielding a 54.7% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 21, 2013.</ref>

Education

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File:New Providence NJ elementary school with lamppost.jpg
Salt Brook Elementary School

The New Providence School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>New Providence Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, New Providence School District. Accessed October 15, 2024. "Composition: The New Providence School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of New Providence."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,382 students and 189.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for New Providence School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the New Providence School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are Allen W. Roberts Elementary School<ref>Allen W. Roberts Elementary School, New Providence School District. Accessed October 15, 2024.</ref> with 676 students in grades PreK–6, Salt Brook Elementary School<ref>Salt Brook Elementary School, New Providence School District. Accessed October 15, 2024.</ref> with 607 students in grades K–6, New Providence Middle School<ref>New Providence Middle School, New Providence School District. Accessed October 15, 2024.</ref> with 398 students in grades 7–8 and New Providence High School<ref>New Providence High School, New Providence School District. Accessed October 15, 2024.</ref> with 666 students in grades 9–12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the New Providence School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the New Providence School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> The middle school and high school share a common building and some of the same facilities (art rooms, auditorium, east wing, west wing, gyms, music rooms, TV production room, cafeteria).

During the 2007–08 school year, New Providence Middle School was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,<ref>No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools Program: 2007 Schools, United States Department of Education. Accessed October 15, 2007.</ref> the highest award an American school can receive.<ref>"CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."</ref><ref>Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post, September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."</ref> The district's high school was the top-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 328 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 5th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.<ref>Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed March 18, 2015.</ref>

Serving students in Pre-K–3 through Grade 8, The Academy of Our Lady of Peace is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.<ref>Union County Catholic Elementary Schools Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed July 20, 2016.</ref> The school was one of eight private schools recognized in 2017 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program as an Exemplary High Performing School by the United States Department of Education.<ref>Pries, Allison. 17 "New Jersey schools earn National Blue Ribbon Award", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2017. Accessed October 18, 2017.</ref>

Transportation

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Roads and highways

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File:2018-06-21 10 20 58 View west along Union County Route 512 (Springfield Avenue) at Maple Street in New Providence, Union County, New Jersey.jpg
CR 512 in New Providence

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Union County.<ref>Union County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

No state, U.S. or Interstate highways directly serve New Providence. The most prominent road through the borough is County Route 512 known as Springfield Avenue.<ref>County Route 512 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated November 2012. Accessed July 21, 2022.</ref>

Public transportation

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File:New Providence Station.jpg
Commuter train station

Service on the NJ Transit Gladstone Branch of the Morris & Essex Lines is available at the New Providence station<ref name=NJTransitNP>New Providence, NJ Transit. Accessed August 4, 2016.</ref> and Murray Hill station,<ref name=NJTransitMH>Murray Hill, NJ Transit. Accessed August 4, 2016.</ref> offering service to Hoboken Terminal and to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. Two Gladstone Branch trains each weekday morning offer one-seat rides to Manhattan, and two evening trains leave New York and stop at both of New Providence's stations on the way to Gladstone. All other rail service is to or from Hoboken. These trains connect at Summit or Newark Broad Street with Manhattan-bound trains.

New Jersey Transit offer local bus service on the 986 route.<ref>Union County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 26, 2010. Accessed July 25, 2012.</ref>

Lakeland Bus Lines offers weekday rush hour service from stops along Springfield Avenue to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal.<ref>Route 78 Timetable, Lakeland Bus Lines. Accessed August 4, 2016.</ref>

Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately Template:Convert east of New Providence.

Economy

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Companies based in New Providence include the publishers Martindale-Hubbell and R. R. Bowker.

Community activities

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People and local businesses in New Providence are active in organizing community activities.

In 2017, a first annual Carved Pumpkin Contest was organized.<ref>Pagano, Jennifer. "The First New Providence Carved Pumpkin Contest Exceeds All Expectations as 500 Residents Attend the Festivities", TAP into New Providence, October 23, 2017. Accessed December 10, 2017. "New Providence Centennial Park was entirely transformed Saturday night into a picture-perfect Autumn evening as the first New Providence Pumpkin Carving Contest kicked off its inaugural event to a massive crowd of over 500 residents all strolling among the spooky and adorable jack-o’-lanterns showcased around the park."</ref> In 2016 and 2017, Scarecrow Contest was organized.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Notable people

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Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with New Providence include:

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References

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