39 briarwood drive east, Warren Twp., NJ 07059

In 2009, CNN-Money.com ranked Warren #6 out of the 100 Best Small Towns in America, noting their exceptional schools, family-oriented community events and open spaces as the outstanding criteria. Measuring about 19 square miles, the township is approximately 35 miles from Manhattan in Somerset County. With a population of around 16,000 residents, this semi-rural location is conveniently located near Routes 22, 78, 202 and 287.

Settled in the 1720s, Warren is named for Revolutionary War hero Major General Joseph Warren who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The township was formally established in 1806 when it separated from parts of Bernards and Bridgewater Townships . Farming, cattle raising and lumber were top industries until the middle of the 20 ^th century, when the township became more residential in nature. Nevertheless, there are still scores of working farms in Warren today.

Community Life

The county-run Warrenbrook Park on Warrenville Road is a wonderful recreational resource for residents. There are swimming pools, an 18-hole golf course with pro shop and clubhouse, and the county's Multi-Purpose Senior Center for classes, trips, programs and hot lunches. Several township parks include the Municipal Grounds behind the library and police station. This 25-acre property has sports courts, lighted fields, a pavilion, picnic areas, a playground and tennis courts. It also hosts summer concerts. Dealaman Nature Trail and pond on Mount Horeb Road is the venue of the annual Fishing Derby each May. Dubois Road fields, the East County Reserve athletic complex and Greenwood Meadows Park have sports and practice fields. Elm Avenue Park offers toddler and children's play areas off Liberty Corner Road.

Shopping centers, restaurants and services are among the hundreds of businesses located in Warren. Commercial zones are found on Sterling Road, Mount Bethel Road and Mountain Boulevard Warren is the headquarters of Chubb Insurance, and also has a large Citigroup office.

Education

Warren Township's public school system contains four elementary schools for students in kindergarten through grade five at the Central School, Mount Horeb School, Woodland School and Angelo L. Tomaso School. Grades six to eight attend classes at the Warren Middle School. Watchung Hills Regional High School serves students in the neighboring towns of Green Brook, Long Hill and Watchung as well as those in Warren.

Colleges and universities nearby include Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, Drew University in Madison and the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station.

Transportation

Ideally situated near some of the state's most traveled highways, Warren is near Routes 22, 78, 202 and 287 for commuters. International and domestic flights are available at Newark International Airport, 18 miles east of Warren.

Nearby train stations in Gillette and Stirling provide NJ Transit service along the Gladstone line to Hoboken, or transfer in Summit for a trip to midtown Manhattan. Lakeland Bus Lines also serve the township for a trip to Port Authority in New York City.

Real Estate

Warren contains mainly single-family homes, with a select number of town house and condominium properties. There are well-kept neighborhoods of ranch, Cape Cod and Colonial homes from the mid-century, more recent contemporary homes and new construction within the township. Luxury homes at the upper-end of the market are priced from the $800s to well over a million dollars and are usually custom-built residences on large parcels of land.

Local Attractions

The Kirch-Ford House was built around 1740 and purchased by Warren Township in 1980. It has been restored by the Historic Sites Committee, and among its features is a "secret room" thought to have been part of the Underground Railroad.

The King George Inn is another historic site in town, dating back to around 1790. It was a stage coach stop in the 1870s, and home to Metropolitan Opera singer Josephine Blimm in the 1880s.

Gardens, walking trails and educational programs are part of the 92-acre Wagner Farm Arboretum, Gardens and Learning Center at 197 Mountain Avenue . The arboretum is situated on a former dairy farm which was owned by the Wagner family for several generations. It was sold to the township in 2001 and offers special events like nature programs, plant sales, birdhouse contests and art exhibits.