About the Millburn/Short Hills , New Jersey Area--A Perfect Location.

Millburn Township is a beautiful and bucolic residential community, located only 20 miles from New York City in the southwest corner of Essex County. Set among the rolling, short hills of north-central New Jersey's South Mountain reservation, the township offers the charm of a small-town setting with the sophistication of big-city living. With a population of nearly 20,000, Millburn Township features an abundance of sought-after community amenities (such as fine dining and shopping; thriving entertainment and business environments; a highly ranked school system; convenient transportation; and proximity to New York City) while preserving the comforts of suburban life. Home to a large number of local businesses and large corporations and accessible to the many corporate headquarters nearby, Millburn Township offers an attractive way of life, all within an easy commute.
Short Hills is a section within Millburn Township. They have separate zip codes but are part of the same township and have the same school system. Short Hills is situated north of Millburn Avenue, west of South Mountain Reservation and bordered east by Route 24 and Summit. Millburn is located in the areas around downtown Millburn, south of Millburn Avenue and along Wyoming Avenue bordering Maplewood.
With winding streets and lush landscaping, each neighborhood throughout Millburn and Short Hills has its own appeal. The Wyoming and South Mountain sections of Millburn are steeped in the town's history, and they offer friendly, welcoming neighborhoods within walking distance of downtown.

Millburn-Short Hills is home to numerous points of interest sure to enchant everyone from nature enthusiasts to die-hard shoppers to dedicated patrons of the arts. Throughout the township, it is easy to appreciate the beauty of the natural surroundings. One of the most prominent places to enjoy the outdoors is through the South Mountain Reservation (the largest parkland in Essex County), which extends through Millburn Township as well as the surround municipalities of West Orange, Maplewood and South Orange. The more than 2,000-plus acres of reservation include hiking trails, waterfalls, creeks and ponds, as well as magnificent vistas from 550 feet above Millburn.

Short Hills is also home to the 16.5-acre Cora Hartsborn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that serves as a cultural and educational center for the residents of greater Millburn Township for the purpose of fostering awareness and respect for nature and the environment through demonstration and participation.

Greenwood Gardens, a new non-profit public garden located adjacent to Old Short Hills Park, has recently opened to the public. The once private retreat was the country estate of 20th century real estate auctioneer Joseph P. Day. Today the 22-acre campus includes formal gardens, teahouses, fields, ponds and woodlands.

Throughout town, visitors can enjoy a walk back in time through the historic sites along the Veterans Memorial Path. This is a 4 1/2 mile trail with 17 points of interest -- including Revolutionary battlegrounds, Civil War gravesites and WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials.

A great sense of history and community spirit is evident in every aspect of the township, particularly with numerous annual town-wide events and activities. Hundreds of people celebrate Independence Day with festivities, fireworks and a fishing derby, organized by an independent volunteer Fourth Of July Committee. Throughout the year there are also celebrations such as the Halloween Parade, Holiday Parade, Easter Egg Hunt, Car Show, Street Fair, 5K Run and Art Fair for residents and visitors of all ages to delight in.

ESSEX COUNTY

Essex County, one of New Jersey's original four counties, is a study in contrasts. Its 127 square miles is not only the setting for three of the nation's major transportation centers, Newark Liberty International Airport, Port Newark and Penn Station, it is the location of some of the nation's most desirable suburban communities. Geographically, Essex County runs from the waterfront of Port Newark, among the world's largest containerized shipping facilities, to the southern edges of the Watchung Mountain range, the setting for luxurious housing and carefully maintained nature preserves.

Thoughtful preservation of the county's unique natural beauty also factors into the choice position many Essex County communities hold as most desirable suburban locations. Essex County created the first County Park System in the United States. It all started in 1895 when 60 acres (now increased to approximately 360 acres) were acquired from the city of Newark to carve out Branch Brook Park. Famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of New York City's Central Park, designed 20 of the county's parks.

Today, the county has dedicated 5,745 acres to greenspace. This includes vast reservations, developed parks, golf courses, tennis courses, ice and roller skating complexes and a zoo. Among the most noted are Eagle Rock Reservation, South Mountain Reservation and, the first of them all, Branch Brook Park.

From picnicking in idyllic settings; hiking, jogging, cross-county skiing and horseback riding along well-defined trails through archery areas and ice skating in two indoor rinks, the county provides a most dimensional selection of recreational facilities and learning opportunities for the entire family. Turtle Back Zoo, located in South Mountain Reservation, presents numerous special programs along with its general visual delights. It is home to 200 animals representing 100 species. The zoo's sanctuary focuses on animals native to New Jersey; however, non-native, exotic animals including penguins, wolves, cougars, bobcats and squirrel monkeys are found here.

Essex County is also a world-class cultural arts center. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, located in Newark - the county's largest city - stages a year-round array of dance and musical offerings showcasing artists of national and international fame.

Essex County traces its history back to 1666 when Robert Trent arrived with 30 Connecticut families and settled along the banks of the Passaic River. A year later, they bought land from the Lenni Lenape Indians and founded the settlement that became Newark.

Home rule is a strong concept in New Jersey. County government provides many services, but a large portion of the governing and administrative services overseen by larger governing entities in other states is left to the municipalities. That is why the 22 cities, townships, boroughs and villages that fall under the umbrella of Essex County have developed very individual personalities.

Transportation

Outstanding transportation facilities are at the heart of Essex county's desirability. They have aided in the growth of the economy, shifting it from a manufacturing base to a service-oriented one, attracting many corporate giants. They are also among the major contributing factors to a quality lifestyle for suburban living. Easy access to Manhattan's midtown and downtown, urban workplaces throughout the state and international travel are facilitated by major highways and railroad service criss-crossing the county. Accessible to Essex County are the Garden State Parkway; the New Jersey Turnpike; Interstates 78,80 and 280 and Routes 1-9, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 46.