The muddy footprints of Revolutionary War soldiers have long since disappeared in Garfield, New Jersey, but historical markers remain. On Outwater Lane, a patinaed plaque honors Gen. George Washington's 1776 march near the town. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, textile and chemical manufacturing plants boomed next to the Passaic River. Today, the city has over 30,000 residents, its own public school system and an impressive collection of pizza places, each with a loyal fanbase. Mary Jo Jennings, the director of the Garfield Public Library, also speaks to the town's thriving Polish community. “The Polish church in town does the Pulaski Parade every year,” she says, adding, “We always have representation in New York City’s Pulaski Day Parade." Along with a thriving community, Garfield is sought-after for its proximity to Manhattan. There are two train stations, a bus station and easy access to major thoroughfares like state Route 9A and U.S. Route 46. On a standard weekday, it takes about 40 minutes to get into Midtown. “We’ve got everything in just about 2 square miles,” says Jennings.
Century-old homes on gridded streets
Gridded streets with single-family and multifamily homes bump against local schools, manufacturing facilities and malls. The median price is $510,000, above the national median of $406,100 reported by the National Association of Realtors. Many properties are over a century old and cottages, American Foursquares and Cape Cods are popular. Sidewalks typically line both sides of the street, allowing residents to walk to nearby restaurants or parks. The CAP Index crime score is a 3 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Garfield School District gets a B-minus
The Garfield School District receives a B-minus from Niche. The district has seven elementary schools, which feed into Garfield Middle School and Garfield High School. The school district also has a preschool.
Shopping and dining in Garfield
Small shops and restaurants are scattered throughout Garfield, making retail one of the largest industries in the area, next to health care and manufacturing. Like other former plants in the area, Kalama Chemical Site is currently being cleaned and could be redeveloped for businesses to use. Garfield also offers grocery shopping as well as big-box retailers like Walmart Supercenter.
The community's emphasis on pizza shows in its dining scene. Jennings says Santoni’s Pizzeria and Restaurant on Outwater Lane is a community staple. Barcelona’s Restaurant & Bar has been open since 1933 and is also popular for its thin-crust pizza, garlic bread and pasta. Rose’s Pizza also has a following. Beyond pizza, the Firehouse Family Restaurant & Bar is a go-to for sports fans on game night.
Two train stations and highway access
“Garfield is a hub of transportation,” says Jennings. “Not only do you have two train stops in town, but we also have the bus station that brings you into New York. You’re a stone’s throw away from the Garden State Parkway. You can hop on any major highway.” The Garfield station is at the Corner of Midland Avenue and Pasaic Street, and Plauderville station is farther north. New Jersey Public Transit services both, specifically the Bergen County Line, which runs from Hoboken to Suffern. About 20 miles away via Interstate 95 is Newark Liberty International Airport. Commuters can use state Route 3 to reach New York City, 18 miles away. Kindred Hospital East New Jersey is about 3 miles away. Hackensack University Medical Center is also nearby.
Read to a dog at the Garfield Public Library
The Garfield Public Library is located on a stretch of road Jennings likes to call Society Row. Along with the library, there’s a Boys & Girls Club and rec center, both popular community gathering places. There’s a family storytime every week at the library, and younger kids can be partnered with middle school and high school reading buddies. Tina, the therapy dog, sits for Read to a Dog, where children can sign up for 15-minute slots. Dahnert's Lake County Park has an ice rink during the colder months, and 20th Century Field is home to baseball fields, playgrounds and walking paths.
Garfield experiences all four seasons with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters.
Meet-and-greets at the Bat-Cave
Less than half a mile south of the public library, residents can visit the small wildlife conservation and education center, also known as the Bat-Cave. Visitors may attend lectures on bats, reptiles and rainforests — some programs even feature meet-and-greets with live animals.
Religious holidays and services are held at Mount Virgin Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints, Albanian American Islamic Center and others in and around the area.
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