Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Berkeley Heights is a township in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located on a ridge in northern-central New Jersey, Berkeley Heights is a commuter town of New York City in the New York metropolitan area, nestled within the Raritan Valley region and also bordering both Morris and Somerset counties in the Passaic Valley region.<ref name=Thinking/><ref>Caldwell, Dave. "Living in Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Suburbia, but Not the Cookie-Cutter Kind", The New York Times, June 17, 2011. Accessed May 21, 2023.</ref> As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 13,285,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 102 (+0.8%) from the 2010 census count of 13,183,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 224 (−1.7%) from the 13,407 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 township was originally incorporated as New Providence Township by the New Jersey Legislature on November 8, 1809, from portions of Springfield Township, while the area was still part of Essex County. New Providence Township became part of the newly formed Union County at its creation on March 19, 1857. Portions of the township were taken on March 23, 1869, to create Summit, and on March 14, 1899, to form the borough of New Providence. On November 6, 1951, the name of the township was changed to Berkeley Heights, based on the results of a referendum held that day.<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. 237. Accessed May 7, 2012.</ref> The township was named for John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, one of the founders of the Province of New Jersey.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref>
The township has been ranked as one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2013–2017, township residents had a median household income of $147,614, ranked 15th in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents, almost double the statewide median of $76,475.<ref>Raychaudhuri, Disha. "The wealthiest towns in N.J., ranked", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 7, 2019. Accessed November 4, 2019. "The median household income in N.J. is $76,475, recent Census data shows.... A note about the data: The data comes from 2013-2017 American Community Survey conducted by U.S. Census Bureau. Smaller towns with less than 10,000 residents were excluded from the list.... 15. Berkeley Heights, Union County Median income: $147,614"</ref>
The township was listed as the fifth safest place in New Jersey<ref>Edwards, Rebecca. New Jersey’s 50 Safest Cities of 2022, SafeWise, September 29, 2022. Accessed February 3, 2023.</ref> as well as the ninth safest municipality in the nation according to a 2022 crime statistic compilation from Safewise.com.<ref>Edwards, Rebecca. 100 Safest Cities in the US, SafeWise, March 30, 2022. Accessed February 3, 2023.</ref>
History
[edit]The Lenape Native Americans were known to inhabit the region, including the area now known as Berkeley Heights, dating back to the 1524 voyage of Giovanni da Verrazzano to what is now Lower New York Bay.Template:Citation needed
The earliest construction in Berkeley Heights began in an area that is now part of the Template:Convert Watchung Reservation, a Union County park that includes Template:Convert of the township.<ref>Watchung Reservation, United States Geological Survey. Accessed May 7, 2012.</ref>
The first European settler was Peter Willcox, who received a Template:Convert land grant in 1720 from the Elizabethtown Associates. This group bought much of northern New Jersey from the Lenape in the late 17th century. Willcox built a grist and lumber mill across Green Brook.<ref name=Thinking/>
In 1793, a regional government was formed. It encompassed the area from present-day Springfield Township, Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights, and was called Springfield Township. Growth continued in the area, and by 1809, Springfield Township divided into Springfield Township and New Providence Township, which included present day Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.<ref name=Story/>
In 1845, Willcox's heirs sold the mill to David Felt, a paper manufacturer from New York. Felt built a small village around the mill aptly named Feltville. It included homes for workers and their families, dormitories, orchards, a post office and a general store with a second floor church.<ref name=Thinking/>
In 1860, Feltville was sold to sarsaparilla makers. Other manufacturing operations continued until Feltville went into bankruptcy in 1882. When residents moved away, the area became known as Deserted Village. Village remains consist of seven houses, a store, the mill and a barn. Deserted Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is undergoing restoration by the Union County Parks Department. Restoration grants of almost $2 million were received from various state agencies.<ref>Friedman, Alexi. "Union County approves $1.4M in renovations for historic barn", The Star-Ledger, July 31, 2009. Accessed July 3, 2011. "Union County Freeholders approved a $1.4 million contract to renovate a historic but dilapidated barn in the Watchung Reservation in an area known as the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park."</ref> Deserted Village, in the Watchung Reservation, is open daily for unguided walking tours during daylight hours.<ref>Deserted Village, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed December 25, 2023. "The grounds of the Deserted Village are open every day, dawn to dusk. The Visitor Center is open Saturdays and Sundays (and most holidays) from noon to 5pm."</ref>
On March 23, 1869, Summit Township (now the City of Summit) seceded from New Providence Township. On March 14, 1899, the Borough of New Providence seceded from New Providence Township. Present day Berkeley Heights remained as New Providence Township.<ref name=Story/> Many of the townships and regional areas in New Jersey were separating into small, locally governed communities at that time due to acts of the New Jersey Legislature that made it economically advantageous for the communities to do so.Template:Citation needed
Due to confusion between the adjacent municipalities of the Borough of New Providence and the Township of New Providence, the township conducted a referendum in 1952 and voted to change the name to Berkeley Heights Township. The origin of the township's name has never been fully established, but is believed to have been taken from an area of town that was referred to by this moniker, which itself was assumed to be derived from Lord John Berkeley, who was co-proprietor of New Jersey from 1664 to 1674.<ref>Hangout: A Short History of New Jersey - Colonial Times, State of New Jersey. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref>
Early life in Berkeley Heights is documented in the Littell-Lord Farmhouse Museum & Farmstead (31 Horseshoe Road in Berkeley Heights), an Template:Convert museum surrounding two houses, one of which was built Template:Circa and the other near the start of the 19th century.<ref>Littell-Lord Farmhouse, Township of Berkeley Heights. Accessed July 18, 2022. "The Littel-Lord Farmstead, located in Berkeley Heights, Union County, New Jersey, United States, is a pastoral site reminiscent of Union County's agricultural past. It was built around 1760 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1979."</ref> Among the exhibits are a Victorian master bedroom and a Victorian children's room, furnished with period antiques. The children's room also has reproductions of antique toys, which visitors can play with. The museum, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, also includes an outbuilding that was used as a summer kitchen, a corn crib dating to the 19th century and a spring house built around a spring and used for refrigeration.<ref>NEW JERSEY - Union County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref> The museum is open 2-4 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month from April through December, or by appointment.<ref>Littell-Lord Farmhouse Museum, VisitNJ.com. Accessed December 25, 2023.</ref>
The township owes its rural character to its late development. Until 1941, when the American Telephone and Telegraph Company built the AT&T Bell Laboratories research facility in the township, it was a sleepy farming and resort community.<ref name=Thinking/>
Berkeley Heights is host to a traditional religious procession and feast carried out by members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society. The feast is capped by one of the largest fireworks shows in the state. The Feast of Mt. Carmel has been a town tradition since 1909.<ref>Ness, Tracy. "Feast of Mt. Carmel this week in Berkeley Heights", Independent Press, July 12, 2010. Accessed June 17, 2015. "Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society was founded in 1909 in Berkeley Heights and celebrates annually on July 16, the Saint's day. 2009 celebrates 100 years of tradition."</ref>
In 1958, part of a Nike missile battery (NY-73) was installed in Berkeley Heights. The missiles were located in nearby Mountainside, while the radar station was installed in Berkeley Heights. It remained in operation until 1963, and remnants of the site are located adjacent to Governor Livingston High School.<ref>Harpster, Frank. "Missiles in Mountainside — Nike Battery NY-73" Template:Webarchive, from The Hetfield House of the Mountainside Historic Preservation Committee, November 2009. Accessed June 17, 2015. "Nike NY-73 had two parts. The launcher was in Mountainside at the entrance from Summit Lane.... The second part was located in Berkeley Heights on the hilltop next to Governor Livingston High School – this was the Missile Tracking Radar Station."</ref>
In 1960, the town’s seal was created via a contest in which local students could enter a design, and the best of these was officially named the seal, through an announcement on June 17, at Columbia Middle School.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Patricia Jean Taylor created the winning design, which was chosen from a pool of 150 entries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Free Acres
[edit]Another early Berkeley Heights community of note is the Template:Convert Free Acres, established in 1910 by Bolton Hall, a New York entrepreneur and reformer who believed in the idea of Henry George, the economist, of single taxation, under which residents pay tax to the community, which, in turn, pays a lump sum to the municipality. Among the early residents of Free Acres were the actor James Cagney and his wife, Billie.<ref name=Thinking/>
Residents of Free Acres pay tax to their association, which maintains its streets and swimming pool, approves architectural changes to homes and pays a lump sum in taxes to the municipality.<ref name=Thinking/>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 6.26 square miles (16.21 km2), including 6.22 square miles (16.11 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of water (0.59%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> Certain portions of Berkeley Heights are located in various flood zones.
The township is located partially on the crest of the Second Watchung Mountain and in the Passaic River Valley, aptly named as the Passaic River forms the township's northern border. The township is also located partially in the Raritan Valley region, in which the Green Brook (a tributary of the Raritan River) forms the township's eastern border near the Watchung Reservation. Berkeley Heights is located in northwestern Union County, at the confluence of Union, Morris, and Somerset Counties. Berkeley Heights is bordered by New Providence, Mountainside and Summit to the east, Scotch Plains to the southeast, Chatham to the north, Watchung to the south, and Warren Township and Long Hill Township to the west.<ref>Areas touching Berkeley Heights, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>Union County Municipal Profiles, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Benders Corners, Glenside Park, Stony Hill and Union Village.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>
Downtown
[edit]Downtown Berkeley Heights is located along Springfield Avenue, approximately between the intersections with Plainfield Avenue and Snyder Avenue. Downtown is home to more than 20 restaurants which join with the Downtown Beautification Committee to hold an annual Restaurant Week each September.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, a post office, the Municipal Building, police station, train station, and other shops and services are located in this downtown section.
A brick walk with personalized bricks engraved with the names of many long-time Berkeley Heights residents runs from near the railroad station towards the planned Stratton House development, at the site of the former Kings. A memorial to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks adjoins a wooded area alongside Park Avenue, just southwest of downtown.<ref>Berkeley Heights 9/11 Memorial, Living Memorial. Accessed July 18, 2017.</ref>
Certain portions of Berkeley Heights are located in flood zones. Residential homes, as well as some commercial areas along the downtown Springfield Avenue area, are impacted by flooding.<ref>Township of Berkeley Heights; and Passaic River Coalition. Natural Resources Inventory, p. 29. Township of Berkeley Heights, 2005. Accessed July 2, 2015.</ref>
Surrounding areas
[edit]Demographics
[edit]2020 census
[edit]The 2020 United States census counted 13,285 people, and 3,718 families in the township. The population density was 2,135.8 per square mile. There were 4,660 households (4,484 of which were occupied).<ref name=Census2020/>
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 11,611 | 10,760 | 9,278 | 86.60% | 81.62% | 69.84% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 143 | 186 | 242 | 1.07% | 1.41% | 1.82% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 10 | 3 | 5 | 0.07% | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,055 | 1,372 | 2,065 | 7.87% | 10.41% | 15.54% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 18 | 14 | 84 | 0.13% | 0.11% | 0.63% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 76 | 173 | 470 | 0.57% | 1.31% | 3.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 494 | 675 | 1,140 | 3.86% | 5.12% | 8.58% |
| Total | 13,407 | 13,183 | 13,285 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 13,183 people, 4,470 households, and 3,580 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,596 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 85.64% (11,290) White, 1.49% (197) Black or African American, 0.02% (3) Native American, 10.43% (1,375) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.75% (99) from other races, and 1.66% (219) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.12% (675) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 4,470 households, 41.7% had children under the age of 18; 71.1% were married couples living together; 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.9% were non-families. Of all households, 17.6% were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.26.<ref name=Census2010/>
26.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $132,089 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,331) and the median family income was $150,105 (+/− $17,689). Males had a median income of $105,733 (+/− $10,158) versus $55,545 (+/− $11,985) for females. The per capita income for the township was $56,737 (+/− $5,135). About 0.8% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 0.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Berkeley Heights township, Union County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 7, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 13,407 people, 4,479 households, and 3,717 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,562 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 89.65% White, 1.11% African American, 0.08% Native American, 7.87% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.68% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Berkeley Heights township, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Berkeley Heights township, Union County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref>
There were 4,479 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the township the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the township was $107,716, and the median income for a family was $118,862. Males had a median income of $83,175 versus $50,022 for females. The per capita income for the township was $43,981. About 1.5% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Economy
[edit]Berkeley Heights is home to the Murray Hill Bell Labs headquarters of Nokia.<ref>Locations: Murray Hill, New Jersey, US, Nokia Bell Labs. Accessed July 18, 2022. "The global headquarters of Nokia Bell Labs hosts the first end-to-end 5G lab"</ref> The transistor, solar cell, laser, and AT&T Unix (precursor to Unix) were invented in this facility when it was part of AT&T.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Berkeley Heights is also home to L'Oréal USA's New Jersey headquarters.<ref>O'Neill, Erin Eileen. "L'Oreal moves into 'second headquarters' in Berkeley Heights", The Star Ledger, September 30, 2009. Accessed July 3, 2011. "L'Oréal has nearly completed consolidating a handful of its New Jersey operations into a new Berkeley Heights office complex near Route 78. The 156,000 square-foot facility, located in the Connell Corporate Park, can accommodate about 600 employees. More than 400 staff members from L'Oréal USA's offices in Clark, Cranbury, Cranford, South Brunswick and Westfield, as well as some employees from the cosmetic giant's U.S. headquarters in Manhattan, are working on the color-themed floors of the four-story building."</ref>
In 2003, Summit Medical Group signed a lease<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> to build its main campus on the site of the former D&B Corporation headquarters located on Diamond Hill Road. Summit Medical Group merged with CityMD in 2019 to form Summit Health, which has 2,500 health care providers in the New York City area and Oregon.<ref>About, Summit Health. Accessed February 18, 2022. "Summit Health is a physician-driven, patient-centric network committed to simplifying the complexities of health care and bringing a more connected kind of care. Formed by the 2019 merger between Summit Medical Group, one of the nation's premier independent physician-governed multispecialty medical groups, and CityMD, the leading urgent care provider in the New York metro area, Summit Health delivers a more intuitive, comprehensive, and responsive care experience for every stage of life and health condition through high-quality primary, specialty, and urgent care. Summit Health has more than 2,500 providers, 12,000 employees, and over 340 locations in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Central Oregon."</ref>
Arts and culture
[edit]Musical groups from Berkeley Heights include the alternative rock band, BEDlight for BlueEYES.<ref>Graney, Jen. "EMO: Bedlight for Blue Eyes (6/28)", City Newspaper, June 25, 2008, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 29, 2008. Accessed January 6, 2012. "This Berkeley Heights band (which I keep dyslexically thinking of as Bluelight for Bed Eyes) plays straightforward emo rock. If an emo formula exists, Bedlight follows it."</ref>
Parks and recreation
[edit]
Located in Berkeley Heights are many municipal parks, including the largest one, Columbia Park (located along Plainfield Avenue). Columbia Park boasts tennis courts, two baseball fields, basketball courts, and a large children's play area. It is operated by the Recreation Commission. In addition to those located at each of the schools, athletic fields are located along Horseshoe Road (Sansone Field) and along Springfield Avenue (Passaic River Park).
There are three swimming clubs located in Berkeley Heights: the Berkeley Heights Community Pool (Locust Avenue), the Berkeley Swim Club (behind Columbia Park), and Berkeley Aquatic (off of Springfield Avenue).
The Watchung Reservation and Passaic River Parkway are in the township and maintained by Union County. The Watchung Reservation has hiking trails, horseback riding trails, a large lake (Lake Surprise), the deserted community of Feltville and picnic areas.<ref>Watchung Reservation Trail Map, Department of Parks, Recreation & Facilities, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]
In accordance with a ballot question that was passed in November 2005, Berkeley Heights switched from a Township Committee form to a Mayor-Council-Administrator form of government under the Faulkner Act.<ref name=DataBook>2011 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, June 2012, p. 95.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 15. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. "The Mayor-Council-Administrator Form of municipal government was added to the Optional Municipal Charter Law in 1981. As of July 1, 2011 only three municipalities, the townships of Berkeley Heights, North Brunswick and West Milford, had adopted it."</ref> The township is one of three municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<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 switch took effect on January 1, 2007. In the elections in fall 2006, all seats were open. Under the new form of government, the mayor is directly elected to a four-year term. The Township Committee has been replaced with a Township Council comprised of six members elected to staggered, three-year terms. With all six Township Council seats open in 2006, two councilpersons were elected to one-year terms, after which those seats were open for three-year terms in 2007. Two other seats were open for two-year terms in 2006. The final two were open for three-year terms from the beginning. The responsibilities of the Township Administrator are unchanged.<ref>Levoy, Laurie. "Five battle it out in Berkeley Heights primaries", Courier News, May 15, 2009. Accessed June 5, 2011. "The municipality changed its governance in January 2007 to a mayor-council-administrator form after residents voted for the change in the November 2006 election."</ref>
Template:As of, the Mayor of Berkeley Heights is Democrat Angie D. Devanney, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026.<ref name="Mayor">Mayor, Berkeley Heights Township. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref> Members of the Township Council are Council President John Foster (R, 2027), Council Vice President Susan Poage (D, 2025), Manuel Couto (R, 2025), Margaret Illis (D, 2026), Bill Machado (D, 2026) and Andrew Moran (D, 2027).<ref>Township Council, Berkeley Heights Township. Accessed January 9, 2025. "The Township of Berkeley Heights is governed by the Mayor / Council / Administrator form of local government. Term Overview: As a variant of the Faulkner Act, the Mayor is directly elected by the voters and serves a term of four years. Council members are elected to serve three year terms. Council terms are staggered so that two Council seats are up for election each year."</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Budget, Berkeley Heights Township. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>Union County Elected Officials, Union County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2024>General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref>
The Council President serves as Acting Mayor in the Mayor's absence; the Council Vice President serves as Acting Mayor in the absence of both the Mayor and the Council President.
The Berkeley Heights Municipal Complex, located at 29 Park Avenue, was completed in December 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Berkeley Heights 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 Union County Commissioners
Politics
[edit]As of May 18, 2017, there were a total of 9,558 registered voters in Berkeley Heights Township, of which 2,387 (25.0% vs. 45.2% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 3,368 (35.2% vs. 14.9%) were registered as Republicans and 3,780 (39.5% vs. 39.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 23 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 68.8% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 94.2% 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 4, 2013.</ref><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 4, 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 3,482 votes (48.23% vs. 65.94% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,359 votes (46.53% vs. 30.47% countywide), and other candidates with 378 votes (5.1% vs 3.6% countywide) among the 7,325 ballots cast by the township's 9,775 voters, for a turnout of 74.9%<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 3,897 votes (57.3% vs. 32.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,799 votes (41.1% vs. 66.0%) and other candidates with 76 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 6,802 ballots cast by the township's 9,400 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.4% (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 5, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results – Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 5, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 4,011 votes (55.3% vs. 35.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,094 votes (42.7% vs. 63.1%) and other candidates with 93 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 7,248 ballots cast by the township's 9,375 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.3% (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 4, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 4,146 votes (57.1% vs. 40.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 3,019 votes (41.6% vs. 58.3%) and other candidates with 60 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 7,258 ballots cast by the township's 9,121 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.6% (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 4, 2013.</ref>
In the 2021 gubernatorial election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli received 2,688 votes (50.3% vs. 37.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 2,625 votes (49.1% vs. 61.6%), and other candidates with 30 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,405 ballots cast by the township's 10,415 registered voters, for a turnout of 51.9%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 2,173 votes (49.4% vs. 32.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 2,076 votes (47.1% vs. 65.2%), and other candidates with 154 votes (3.5% vs. 2.1%), among the 4,522 ballots cast by the township's 9,678 registered voters, for a turnout of 46.7%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.2% of the vote (3,145 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.4% (1,150 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (63 votes), among the 4,457 ballots cast by the township's 9,193 registered voters (99 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.5%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,136 votes (60.0% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,589 votes (30.4% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 409 votes (7.8% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,223 ballots cast by the township's 9,201 registered voters, yielding a 56.8% 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 4, 2013.</ref>
Education
[edit]Public schools
[edit]
The Berkeley Heights Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Board of Education Bylaws 0110 - Identification, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades kindergarten through 12 in the Berkeley Heights School District, and preschool children identified for special education as required by statute. Composition: The Berkeley Heights School District is comprised of all area within the municipal boundaries of Berkeley Heights."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 2,499 students and 230.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Berkeley Heights School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Berkeley Heights Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center<ref>Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2022.</ref> with 304 students in Pre-K–2 grade, William Woodruff Elementary School<ref>William Woodruff Elementary School, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2022.</ref> with 180 students in grades K–2, Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School<ref>Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2022.</ref> with 264 students in grades 3–5, Mountain Park Elementary School<ref>Mountain Park Elementary School, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2022.</ref> with 243 students in grades 3–5, Columbia Middle School<ref>Columbia Middle School, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2022.</ref> with 544 students in grades 6–8 and Governor Livingston High School<ref>Governor Livingston High School, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2022.</ref> with 960 students in grades 9–12.<ref>District Map, Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Accessed February 28, 2021.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Berkeley Heights School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Berkeley Heights Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
The district's high school serves public school students of Berkeley Heights, along with approximately 300 students from neighboring Borough of Mountainside who are educated at the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Mountainside School District that is covered by an agreement that runs through the end of 2021–2022 school year.<ref>Berkeley Heights Public School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 7, 2016. "In addition to serving the public school students of Berkeley Heights, high school students from the neighboring Borough of Mountainside are educated at Governor Livingston High School."</ref><ref>Mustac, Frank. "Contract Signed to Continue Sending Mountainside Students to Governor Livingston High School", TAP into Mountainside, October 12, 2016. Accessed February 5, 2020. "With the Berkeley Heights Board of Education's recent approval of a renegotiated send/receive agreement, new terms are now in place by which the Mountainside School District will be sending its students in grades nine through 12 to Governor Livingston High School.... The new contract runs for five years from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022, with a renewal option for an additional five years... The business administrator explained that 30 percent of the Mountainside School District annual budget goes to paying the Berkeley Heights district for sending about 300 students who live in Mountainside to Governor Livingston High School."</ref> Governor Livingston provides programs for deaf, hard of hearing and cognitively-impaired students in the district and those who are enrolled from all over north-central New Jersey who attend on a tuition basis.<ref>Baum, Victoria. "Governor Livingston High School’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program Celebrates 42 Years of Innovation and Excellence", TAP into Mountainside, October 29, 2019. Accessed February 5, 2020. "Since 1976, Governor Livingston High School’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program has been offering unique opportunities for high school students throughout the state of New Jersey. This award-winning program is a part of the fabric of Governor Livingston High School and offers a comprehensive curriculum, extensive electives and a variety of extracurricular activities to ensure an outstanding high school experience for all enrolled students. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at GLHS offers exceptional opportunities to qualifying deaf and hearing-impaired students within the Berkeley Heights School District, as well as other students who attend from neighboring districts through a tuition-based program."</ref>
Governor Livingston was the 30th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 305 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2018 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Private schools
[edit]There are four private pre-kindergarten schools in Berkeley Heights. The Westminster Nursery School is located at the corner of Plainfield Avenue and Mountain Avenue, the Union Village Nursery is located bordering Warren Township at the corner of Mountain Avenue and Hillcrest Road, the Diamond Hill Montessori is located along Diamond Hill Road opposite McMane Avenue and Primrose on Springfield Avenue.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
FlexSchool, a private school for twice-exceptional and gifted fifth through twelfth graders, is the only private secondary school in Berkeley Heights.<ref>About Us, FlexSchool. Accessed April 1, 2020. "FlexSchool is a unique learning network for gifted and twice exceptional (2e) middle and high school students. At this time two campuses serve the Tristate area, one in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey and another in Bronxville, New York."</ref>
Infrastructure
[edit]Transportation
[edit]Roads and highways
[edit]_from_the_overpass_for_Union_County_Route_640_(McMane_Avenue)_in_Berkeley_Heights_Township,_Union_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Union County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Union County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
The most significant highway serving Berkeley Heights is Interstate 78, which runs from New York City to Pennsylvania. Other major roads in Berkeley Heights include Springfield Avenue, Mountain Avenue, Snyder Avenue, Plainfield Avenue, and Park Avenue. Springfield Avenue and Mountain Avenue run east–west, Snyder Avenue and Plainfield Avenue run north–south, while Park Avenue runs northeast–southwest. Each of these roads is heavily residential (except parts of Springfield Avenue) with only one travel lane in each direction.
Public transportation
[edit]
NJ Transit provide service at the Berkeley Heights station<ref>Berkeley Heights station, NJ Transit. Accessed December 1, 2014.</ref> serving Hoboken Terminal, Newark Broad Street Station, and Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan as part of the Gladstone Branch. Berkeley Heights is also in close proximity of the Summit station, which provides frequent commuter rail service to New York City.
NJ Transit offers local bus service on the 986 route.<ref>Union County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref> Lakeland Bus Lines also provides commuter bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and a connection to Gladstone.
Freight rail transportation had been provided by Norfolk Southern via off-peak use of New Jersey Transit's Gladstone Branch line until a final run on November 7, 2008, after 126 years of service. The Berkeley Heights plant of Reheis Chemical located on Snyder Avenue was the last freight customer on the Gladstone Branch, receiving shipments of hydrochloric acid.<ref>Reilly, Frank T. "Last freight leaves Stirling station ", Eoes-Sentinel, November 14, 2008. Accessed August 26, 2013. "One-hundred twenty-six years of freight service on the NJ Transit Gladstone Branch came to an end on Friday morning, Nov. 7, when Norfolk Southern Railway locomotive 3010 hauled six tank cars from the last remaining freight customer on that branch, ending railroad freight service in southern Morris and northwestern Union counties.... But the sole customer, Reheis Chemical in Berkeley Heights, needed large tank cars of hydrochloric acid, a very profitable commodity for the railroad."</ref>
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately Template:Convert east of Berkeley Heights.
Healthcare
[edit]The Summit Medical Group, located on Mountain Avenue, is the main medical facility in Berkeley Heights.<ref>Berkeley Heights Campus, Summit Medical Group. Accessed August 26, 2013.</ref>
Public library
[edit]Originally opened in 1949, Berkeley Heights Public Library closed its doors to the public at its 290 Plainfield Avenue location. It was moved to a temporary home at 110 Roosevelt Avenue, otherwise known as the Little Flower Church Rectory.<ref>History, Berkeley Heights Public Library. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> The library is a member of the Infolink region of libraries, the Morris Union Federation (MUF) and the Middlesex Union Reciprocal Agreement Libraries (MURAL).<ref>M.U.R.A.L. (Middlesex Union Reciprocal Associated Libraries) Borrowing, Hillside Public Library. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>
Berkeley Heights Police Department
[edit]
The Berkeley Heights Police Department is located at the Municipal Building, 29 Park Avenue.<ref>Police, Township of Berkeley Heights. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> The Berkeley Heights Police Department celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2024. The first police officer was Dominick Russo, who was appointed in 1924. He would later serve as its first Chief of Police. Today, the Berkeley Heights Police Department consists of 28 sworn officers and is led by Chief of Police William A. Ives. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Berkeley Heights Fire Department & Rescue Squad
The Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad, founded in 1942, is located at the corner of Snyder Avenue and Locust Avenue. The closest trauma centers are Morristown Medical Center (in Morristown) and University Hospital in Newark. The closest hospital emergency room is Overlook Hospital in Summit. The all-volunteer Rescue Squad provides emergency medical services to the township seven days per week. As of April 2019, the squad had 60 riding members including college and high school students of which 32 are certified EMTs.
The Berkeley Heights Fire Department is a volunteer fire department commanded by Chief James Hopkins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition to fire suppression, the department has members trained to respond to technical rescue and hazardous materials releases.
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Berkeley Heights include:
- Al Aronowitz (1928–2005), rock journalist who claimed that Bob Dylan wrote his famous "Mr. Tambourine Man" in Aronowitz's former Berkeley Heights home<ref>Miller, Stephen. "Al Aronowitz, 77, a Writer Of 1960s Scene" Template:Webarchive, The New York Sun, August 4, 2005. "Aronowitz claimed that Mr. Dylan composed "Mr. Tambourine Man" during a long night of repeated listenings to Marvin Gaye's "Can I Get a Witness" at Aronowitz's home in Berkeley Heights, N.J."</ref>
- Steve Balboni (born 1957), former New York Yankee<ref>Allen, Maury. YANKEES: Where Have You Gone? By Maury Allen, p. 164, Sports Publishing LLC, 2004. Template:ISBN. Accessed February 27, 2011. "'I grew up in Massachusetts and I was a Red Sox fan of course,' said Balboni from his home in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey."</ref>
- Dennis Boutsikaris (born 1952), actor<ref>Staff. "Play It Again, Dennis: In This Week's Mia Farrow TV Bio, Dennis Boutsikaris Shows He Nose Woody", People, March 6, 1995. Accessed February 27, 2011. "His own life doesn't much resemble Allen's. He grew up in Berkeley Heights, N.J., the son of an ad exec and a homemaker."</ref><ref>Mann, Virginia. "The Good Doctor Next Door", The Record, May 14, 1991. Accessed August 26, 2013. "There are several reasons why "Barney Miller" creator Danny Arnold wanted Dennis Boutsikaris for the lead in his new hospital sitcom Stat (9:30 tonight, Channel 7).... The actor, who was raised in Berkeley Heights and graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., began his acting career with John Houseman's Acting Company."</ref>
- Griffin Maxwell Brooks (born 2000), college diver, TikTok influencer, and self-described "digital club kid" and socialite<ref>Kagan, Sam. "In a Manhattan nightclub, Griffin Maxwell Brooks comes alive", The Daily Princetonian, April 22, 2022. Accessed March 27, 2023. "They grew up just an hour north of Princeton in sleepy Berkeley Heights, a community Brooks calls 'semi-conservative.'”"</ref>
- Jim Brown, soccer player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- James Cagney (1899–1986), actor who resided in Free Acres<ref name=Thinking>Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In / Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Quiet Streets Near River and Mountain", The New York Times, October 11, 1998. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Among the early residents of Free Acres were the actor James Cagney and his wife, Billie."</ref>
- David Cantor (born 1954), actor<ref>Keill, Liz. "Chatham Playhouse Glengarry Glen Ross delivers Mamet's rapid dialogue in story of sales office gone awry", Independent Press, March 9, 2011. Accessed July 3, 2011. "David Cantor of Berkeley Heights, Robert Mackasek of Union and Michael King of New Providence, from left, play real estate brokers chasing a sale, in the Chatham Players' production of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, directed by Chase Newhart of Chatham."</ref>
- John Carlini, jazz guitarist<ref>Staff. "Music Best Bets", Courier News, May 8, 2003. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Jazz and progressive bluegrass great John Carlini of Berkeley Heights will perform with his quartet Friday at Watchung Arts Center, 18 Stirling Road."</ref>
- Ronald Chen (born 1958), former Public Advocate of New Jersey, nominated to fill the position on January 5, 2006, by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine<ref>Meet Ron Chen, New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 8, 2009. Accessed January 6, 2012. "A child of Chinese immigrants who came to this country after World War II, Chen has lived most of his life in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey."</ref>
- Christopher Durang (born 1949), playwright and actor<ref>Drake, Sylvie. "The Gospels According to Durang and Shepard", Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1977. Accessed February 27, 2011. "There's gotta be a law against it, but it hasn't caught up with Christopher Durang. Chances are it never will. At 28, this 5-foot-6 black-haired, blue-eyed, babyfaced Irish Catholic lad from Berkeley Heights. N.J. is a fraud."</ref>
- Cathy Engelbert (born 1965), CEO of Deloitte, first female CEO of a major U.S. accounting firm<ref>Staff. "Berkeley Heights Resident Engelbert Elected First Female CEO of a Major U.S. Professional Services Firm by Deloitte LLP ", TAPintoSummit, March 3, 2015. Accessed March 19, 2015. "Cathy Engelbert, a resident of Berkeley Heights, was recently elected chief executive officer of Deloitte LLP, becoming the first female CEO of a major audit and consulting firm in the U.S."</ref>
- Lauren Beth Gash (born 1960), lawyer and politician who served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001<ref>Kuczka, Susan. "Politics Just Part Of Gash's Resume", Chicago Tribune, October 30, 2000. Accessed June 21, 2017. "Gash, who was born in Summit, N.J., and grew up in nearby Berkeley Heights, became a fixture in Highland Park after the family moved there in 1986, the same year their second child, Ben, was born."</ref>
- Gina Genovese (born 1959), businesswoman and politician who has served as mayor of Long Hill Township<ref>Magyar, Mark J. "Profile: The Woman Who Wants to End NJ's 'Multiple Municipal Madness'", NJ Spotlight, April 30, 2014. Accessed July 11, 2017. "Born in Union, she moved to Berkeley Heights with her family at the age of 12."</ref>
- Scott M. Gimple (born 1971), television and comic book writer<ref>LePoidevin, Michelle H. "From Berkeley Heights to Berkeley, Gimple Finds Justice With Fillmore!" Template:Webarchive, The Westfield Leader, September 26, 2002, p. 24. Accessed February 27, 2011. "As the Creator and Executive Producer of Walt Disney Television Animation's new Saturday morning program, Fillmore!, Berkeley Heights native Scott Gimple has brought a new duo of crime-solving intermediate school superheroes to the screen – minus the violence.... Gimple, who attended fifth grade through senior year in Berkeley Heights, graduated Governor Livingston High School."</ref>
- Bolton Hall (1854–1938), founder of Free Acres<ref name=Thinking/>
- MacKinlay Kantor (1904–1977), screenwriter and novelist, formerly resided in Free Acres<ref name=Utopia>Buchan, Perdita. "Utopia, NJ", New Jersey Monthly, February 7, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Free Acres had some famous residents in those heady early days: actors James Cagney and Jersey City–born Victor Kilian, writers Thorne Smith (Topper) and MacKinlay Kantor (Andersonville), and anarchist Harry Kelly, who helped found the Ferrer Modern School, centerpiece of the anarchist colony at Stelton in present-day Piscataway."</ref>
- Harry Kelly (1871–1953), anarchist<ref name=Utopia/>
- Victor Kilian (1891–1979), actor<ref name=Utopia/>
- P. F. Kluge (born 1942), novelist<ref>Zatzariny, Tim. "On The Road Again / Eddie and the Cruisers Makes Another Comeback", The Press of Atlantic City, June 27, 2000. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Kluge, 58, grew up in Berkeley Heights, Union County."</ref>
- Mary Jo Kopechne (1940–1969), political aide who drowned off Chappaquiddick Island when Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) drove his car off a bridge on July 18, 1969 and failed to seek help<ref>Santiago, Katherine. "U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy's career connected to N.J.", The Star-Ledger, August 26, 2009. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Kopechne, 28, and her family moved to New Jersey when she was an infant and resided in Berkeley Heights."</ref>
- John R. Pierce (1910–2002), communications engineer, scientist, and father of the communications satellite<ref>"Satellite Scientist: John Robinson Pierce", The New York Times, August 13, 1960. Accessed June 4, 2007. "Then he drove thirty-five miles to his home on McMane Avenue, Berkeley Heights, N.J."</ref><ref>Kamin, Arthur Z. "State Becomes a Part of Celebrating Marconi's Achievements", The New York Times, October 23, 1994. Accessed July 24, 2013. "The recipient in 1979 was Dr. John R. Pierce, then of the California Institute of Technology who had been with AT&T Bell Laboratories at Murray Hill and at Holmdel. Dr. Pierce had lived in Berkeley Heights and now lives in Palo Alto, Calif."</ref>
- Jerry Ragonese (born 1986), professional lacrosse player for the Redwoods Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League<ref>Jerry Ragonese, Premier Lacrosse League. Accessed July 15, 2020. "Jerry Ragonese is a Berkeley Heights, NJ native who attended Governor Livingston High School."</ref>
- Juliette Reilly (born 1993), singer and YouTube personality<ref>Staff. "Juliette Reilly Wins SongDoor 2015", BroadwayWorld.com, January 22, 2016. Accessed January 8, 2017. "The winners of the SongDoor 2015 International Songwriting Competition have been announced: the Grand Award has gone to Juliette Reilly of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey for her song, 'Hero,' which also won the Pop category."</ref>
- Dennis Ritchie (1941–2011), creator of the C programming language and co-inventor of the UNIX operating system<ref>Lohr, Steve. "Dennis Ritchie, Trailblazer in Digital Era, Dies at 70", The New York Times, October 14, 2011. Accessed October 17, 2011. "Dennis M. Ritchie, who helped shape the modern digital era by creating software tools that power things as diverse as search engines like Google and smartphones, was found dead on Wednesday at his home in Berkeley Heights, N.J. He was 70."</ref>
- Bertha Runkle (1879–1958), novelist and playwright<ref>Famous Women Authors: Bertha Runkle. Accessed February 27, 2011. "The mind of Miss Bertha Runkle was first stimulated to literary expression at Berkeley Heights, New Jersey; a small place, a quiet place, and a distinctly suburban place..."</ref>
- Peter Sagal (born 1965), playwright, screenwriter, actor, and host of the National Public Radio game show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!<ref>Peter Sagal, National Public Radio. Accessed February 27, 2011. "A native of Berkeley Heights, N.J., he attended Harvard University and subsequently squandered that education while working as a literary manager for a regional theater, a stage director, an actor, an extra in a Michael Jackson video, a travel writer, an essayist, a ghost writer for a former adult film impresario and a staff writer for a motorcycle magazine."</ref>
- Jill Santoriello, playwright and author of the Broadway musical A Tale of Two Cities, graduated from Governor Livingston High School<ref>Gurewitsch, Matthew. "Realizing a Musical Dickensian Dream", The New York Times, September 16, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Still in grade school in Berkeley Heights, N.J., Ms. Santoriello got a first taste of Broadway when her mother took her to Shenandoah and the first revival of The King and I, still starring Yul Brynner."</ref>
- Thorne Smith (1892–1934), author<ref name=Utopia/>
- Zenon Snylyk (1923–2002), soccer player<ref>Staff. "Zenon Snylyk, former editor of The Weekly, Svoboda, passes away at age 69", The Ukrainian Weekly, February 4, 2002. Accessed February 27, 2011. "Mr. Snylyk passed away in the early morning hours of January 21 at his home in Berkeley Heights, N.J."</ref>
- Katie Stout (born 1989), artist and designer whose work has been described as "naive pop."<ref>Tewfik, Ibrahim. "Designer of the Day: Katie Stout; The Brooklyn designer on work that makes you feel good naked, naïve pop, and her current show at R & Company.",Surface, October 2, 2017. Accessed August 16, 2022. "Hometown: Berkeley Heights, New Jersey"</ref>
- Betty Wilson (born 1932), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1974 to 1976<ref>Melloan, Joan. "Betty Wilson: Busy Bee in Assembly", The New York Times. July 14, 1974. Accessed July 15, 2020. "When the Legislature meets in special session tomorrow, primarily to consider a state income tax, the position of Assemblyman Betty Wilson will come as no surprise.... Five years ago, the Wilson family bought their first house in Berkeley Heights, a hilly, semirural suburb in western Union County.... Soon after she became a teacher at Governor Livingston, Mrs, Wilson became the first woman to be elected to the Berkeley Heights Township Committee."</ref>
References
[edit]External links
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