320 essex st, Long Hill Twp., NJ 07980

Measuring about 12 square miles, Long Hill Township in Morris County was named one of the state's "25 Great Towns" by New Jersey Monthly magazine in 1999. Living up to that accolade, this rural residential community is known for its open spaces, picturesque landscapes and small-town feel. It is situated in the southern part of the county bordering both Somerset and Union Counties.

Originally called Passaic Township starting in the 1800s, voters changed the name to Long Hill Township in 1992. Four sections of the township include the villages of Gillette, Stirling and Millington and the hamlet of Meyersville. Neighboring towns are Bernards Township, Bridgewater, Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains. It is bordered by the Passaic River on the south and west, and by the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge on the north.

Community Life

Involved citizens in Long Hill Township volunteer at local fire departments in Stirling and Millington or the First Aid Squad in Gillette, lend a hand at the Raptor Trust for injured birds, or attend special nature-themed events at The Great Swamp. Options for younger residents include Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, Police Explorers and the Long Hill Little League.

Events for all ages are sponsored by the Long Hill Community Center on Warren Avenue in Stirling, whose calendar includes an annual holiday party for children, seasonal festivals, a classic car show, flea markets and antique appraisal shows. The center also offers a selection of youth and adult programs for tennis, indoor soccer, aerobics and volleyball.

Long Hill Township's Recreation Department sponsors an annual Halloween parade, Christmas tree lighting in Meyersville, youth basketball program and hockey club. The 24-acre Riverside Park in Gillette was officially dedicated and opened in 2002. Located off Valley Road near the Town Hall and Library, facilities include tennis, bocce, horseshoe and basketball courts; a playground; sports fields; walking paths and a canoe launch into the Passaic River.

Long Hill Township has a public lake in Stirling for swimming and ice skating. Stirling Lake Park on Chestnut Street is staffed by lifeguards and offers a snack bar and picnic facilities.

Education

Public schools serving Long Hill Township residents include the Gillette School for kindergarten and grade one students at 759 Valley Road; the Millington School for grades 2 to 5 at 91 Northfield Road, and Central School for grades 6 to 8 at 90 Central Avenue. The school bell from the historic Elm Street School, formerly a wooden schoolhouse dating back to 1888, is now on view at the Gillette School.

A private school in the Stirling section of the township is St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic school for students in kindergarten through grade 8.

High school students in the township attend Watchung Hills Regional High School with students from Green Brook, Warren and Watchung.

Real Estate

Long Hill Township has an array of housing options to suit every need and price range. Newly-constructed luxury homes priced at $1.5 million and above on lots of two or three acres are joined by more modestly-priced traditional center hall Colonials, ranches and split level homes in established neighborhoods. There is a good selection of condominiums and town houses available as well.

Developed by L. Preston Gates in the 1920s, Homestead Park in the eastern section of town is Long Hill's first subdivision. Other attractive neighborhoods include Clover Hill, Colonial Woods, Sandalwood, Skyline Ridge, Sterling Ridge, Sherbrooke, Sherwood and Rose Wood Estates. These communities are composed of well-tended, single-family residential homes on tree-lined streets.

Long Hill's townhome and condominium communities include Meadowview in Millington, The Knoll, Chestnut Run, Sunrise at Gillette, Centennial Village and Riverside Village.

Transportation

Long Hill Township is easily accessible to Interstate 78 or Interstate 287 for an eastbound commute toward New York City. Millington, Stirling and Gillette also have train stations on New Jersey Transit's Gladstone Branch for Manhattan-bound service, a trip that takes about an hour.

Local Attractions

The Raptor Trust is a private bird rehabilitation center and sanctuary on White Bridge Road in the Millington section of Long Hill. Founded by Leonard J. Soucy, Jr., the Trust has a federal license to take in and care for large birds that are injured. Its outdoor aviaries are open to the public every day of the year.

The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge extends along the northern border of the Township. Its 7,455 acres are home to many animals and migrating birds. Operated by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior, the Great Swamp is a designated National Natural Landmark.