NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ

UNION COUNTY

Overview
recreation
 
map
visit
Commute
history
Schools
homes

Welcome to New Providence!

New Providence is a beautiful suburb in Union County, listed as one of the best places to live in New Jersey!  

Nestled in the Watchung Mountains, approximately 28 miles west of New York City, New Providence is home to 13,000 residents and covers 3.6 square miles in northwestern Union County, connecting Summit to Berkeley Heights. Traveling is made simple with two easily accessible train stations within the town, as well as its close proximity to I-78, the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike and Newark International Airport.


New Providence public schools are highly rated serving grades Pre-K-12.  New Providence also boasts many restaurants, coffee shops, and parks including several spectacular spots such as Lenape Park perfect for outdoor activities or Salt Brook Park perfect for biking and fishing.

Quick Facts:

Check out some “Quick Facts” here, or scroll down for a deeper look at the ins and outs of Livingston!

  • 13,570 in 2023

  • Average time to NY Penn is 56 minutes via the Midtown Direct Train Line. Express 52 min trains offered M-F.

  • New Providence Public School District ranked #15 in the state by Niche in 2023!

    • 2 Elementary Schools K-6

    • 1 Middle School

    • 1 High School

    For more details on district rankings click here. For the New Providence School District website click here.

    Private schools

    1 Parochial School PK-8

  • New Providence has several playgrounds, an ice-skating rink, two Olympic-sized swimming pools, and public tennis courts. The nearby Watchung Reservation offers nature-packed activities and has hiking trails, streams, and picnic grounds. There are also several local private swim and tennis clubs.

    Visit the New Providence Recreation Department website here:

Key Locations

Getting to New Providence + Commute

Located just 28 miles west of New York, the daily commute to New York City is manageable. There are two train stations  (New Providence Station and Murray Hill Station), weekday buses, and easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and I-78. The NJ Transit Gladstone Branch train line has service to Hoboken where commuters can transfer and continue into New York City. 

The other option is to take the Lakeland Rt. 78 bus from South Street to the Summit Park & Ride and take the Midtown Direct line into NY Penn Station. Commuters that stay on the Lakeland bus can get off at the Port Authority Bus Station in Manhattan.

NJ Transit:

  • Service on the NJ Transit is available at the New Providence and Murray Hill stations.

  • Service on the NJ Transit Gladstone Branch of the Morris & Essex Lines is available at the New Providence station and Murray Hill station, offering service to Hoboken Terminal and to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. 

  • Two Gladstone Branch trains each weekday morning offer one-seat (direct) 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 to reach NYC.

  • Train ticket to New York Penn costs $9.75/ride or $298 for a monthly pass. Click here for other fare options.

    · Express trains average at 51 minutes

    · Local trains average at 60 minutes

    · Earliest train usually at 5:07 AM

    · Latest train back usually at 12:02 AM

    You may access an interactive schedule here.

Train Station Parking:

New Providence has two train stations for resident permit holders; the New Providence station and the Murray Hill station. Permits are made available to residents upon request and can be used at either train station. Parking is available first come-first served. The New Providence train lot generally fills up first. Once the lot is filled, you may park at the Murray Hill Railroad lot. Parking permit form is available here.

NJ Transit Bus/Lakeland Bus Lines:

  • New Jersey Transit offers local bus service on the 986 route.

  • Lakeland Bus Lines offers weekday rush hour service from stops along Springfield Avenue to New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal.  View the schedule here.

Other Commute Options:

New Providence Schools

New Providence is home to two public K-6 schools, as well as one parochial elementary school. The middle school is adjacent to the high school, and consists of grades 7-8. New Providence High School has approximately 650 students enrolled. Students in the New Providence School District are known for their academic achievements and excellence in athletics.  New Providence School DIstrict ranked #15 in the state by Niche in 2023.  For more details on district rankings click here. For the New Providence School District website click here.

Elementary Schools: (Grades K-6)
Allen W. Roberts School
Salt Brook School

Middle School: (Grades 7-8)

New Providence Middle School

High School: (Grades 9-12)

New Providence High School

New Providence Town and Recreation

The New Providence Recreation Department, which provides a wide variety of programs for children and adults, is run by a seven-person commission, who are appointed by the mayor for five year terms. New Providence owns three playgrounds, an ice-skating rink, eight ball fields, and eight public tennis courts. Two pools, which are approximately Olympic size, are also available through the New Providence Community Pool Corporation.

New Providence, New Jersey Fun Traditions + Annual Events:

  • Featuring kids’ crafts, interactive booths, information about living a more sustainable lifestyle, and the awarding of the Pioneer Green awards. Fun for the whole family!

  • This family-friendly event is co-sponsored by New Providence P.B.A. Local Number 132 and New Providence Recreation. Children aged 15 years and younger are welcome to participate and compete for generous prizes provided by the P.B.A. For more information, view the 2023 Fishing Derby Flyer (PDF).

  • The parade takes place rain or shine! Refreshments will be served after the parade at the American Legion Post Number 433.

  • The borough sponsors a fantastic fireworks show in celebration of Independence Day. The fireworks will be launched near South Street beginning at 9:30 pm and should be visible from most locations within the borough. So grab your lawn chair and settle into your favorite viewing spot around town! The July 3rd fireworks have been a longstanding tradition in town.

  • National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. First responders including police, firefighters, and EMS display their equipment and interact with the community. This is an opportunity for the entire family to meet not only the people who serve and protect them but also the local businesses and organizations that help New Providence thrive.

  • This annual event includes prizes, food trucks, a vendor showcase, and a 50/50 raffle. Proceeds go to members' goods and welfare funds as well as families of fallen officers. For more information, see the Event Flyer (Facebook).

  • Be a part of the Scarecrow Stroll through Downtown New Providence! Create your own unique family-friendly scarecrow or a scarecrow representing your organization, sport, or business. It can be wild, funny, furry, silly, or ridiculous. Use your imagination!! Free to enter but space is limited! This is your chance to express yourself, your organization, or your business! More info here.

  • Sustainable New Providence’s annual FreeCycle event, where members of the community can donate used (but working/usable) items that other people can take and reuse for free.

  • Trick or Treat with local businesses will be held in downtown New Providence. Wear your costumes and look for the stores with an orange pumpkin in the window or on the door! This event is Rain or Shine.

  • This family-friendly event features Santa’s arrival at Provident Bank on South Street and his parade through downtown with the NPHS Marching Band. There’ll be activities and giveaways, along with fireworks! Come out to support New Providence’s beloved merchants and enjoy the festivities and fireworks! Find more information on this event by visiting the New Providence Business Community Holiday Festival Event Page.

  • Visit the Salt Box Museum, formerly called the Garrison/Dickinson/Genung House, has an interesting history unto itself. However, today it is a treasure trove of fascinating artifacts and memorabilia, some dating back to before the American Revolution. Free admission. For more information, click here.

  • Based in New Providence, the New Jersey Youth Symphony offers concerts throughout the year, as well as a summer camp for young musicians. For performance details, click here.

  • Enjoy three summer concerts at Centennial Park offering music and entertainment for the whole family. For details, click here.

How to spend a perfect day in New Providence

  • 9:30am - Arrive in New Providence:

    • Arrive by train to either New Providence or Murray Hill Train Stations

    • Grab Starbucks or enjoy a locally brewed craft coffee and hand-rolled bagel at Bagel Cafe in downtown New Providence

Then head back home, and reminisce on your amazing day spent in New Providence - and call your Price Group agent to start booking home tours!

Reach out to schedule your tour of Livingston

Back in time…

The history of New Providence can be first traced back to 1664 when James, Duke of York and brother to King Charles II, purchased the land from Native Americans. Its first settlers were a Puritan colony that came to the area in 1720. The abundance of large flocks of wild turkeys led to the initial name for the area of "Turkey". By 1737, the Presbyterian Church was formed and was the center of life in the small settlement. In 1759, a crowded church balcony collapsed. It was considered a miracle that no one was seriously injured in the disaster. The miracle was soon referred to as a divine act of "providence." The small town thereafter became known as "New Providence" and included present-day Summit and Berkeley Heights. According to legend, when British soldiers were marching to Morristown to engage the Revolutionary Army led by George Washington, colonists dumped salt (a precious commodity in those days) into the local brook to keep it undesirable to the soldiers. That brook, depicted on the borough seal, became known thereafter as the Salt Brook.

In 1869 Summit seceded from New Providence Township over disagreement with town management and also because of its rapid increase in population and businesses due to its railroad facilities. New Providence Borough was formed in 1899 and present-day Berkeley Heights retained the name New Providence Township until 1952.