The borough is home to much of the Murray Hill neighborhood with the remainder lying in neighboring Berkeley Heights. Service on the NJ Transit is available at the New Providence[23] and Murray Hill stations.[24] More than 9% of New Providence's land is publicly-owned and protected parkland.
The written history of New Providence begins in 1664 when James, Duke of York and brother to King Charles II, purchased the land that became known as the Elizabethtown Tract from the LenapeNative Americans. Its first European settlers were members of a Puritan colony established in 1720, which was the first permanent settlement of its type.[25] The settlement was originally called "Turkey" or "Turkey Town", due to the presence of wild turkeys in the area.[26][27]
The Presbyterian Church established in 1737 was a focal point for the community, and the lack of serious injuries when the church's balcony collapsed in 1759 was deemed to be an example of divine intervention, leading residents to change the area's name to New Providence.[27][28]
According to local tradition, George Washington spent the night in a local home, which still stands to this day. Supposedly, the local stream, Salt Brook, is named for an incident when the salt supply of the colonial village was dumped into the brook to prevent passing British soldiers from taking it. Ironically, the British Army never crossed the Watchung Mountains into this region. Salt Brook winds through town, starting near the eponymous Salt Brook Elementary School.
On April 14, 1794, Springfield Township was formed, which included the present-day township, along with the towns of Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.[29] Growth continued in the area, and on November 8, 1809, New Providence Township was formed from within Springfield Township. It included what is now Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.[29] On March 23, 1869, Summit withdrew from the New Providence Township and reincorporated as a township without any other town.[29]
On March 14, 1899, New Providence also withdrew from New Providence Township and was reincorporated as a borough.[29] With Boroughitis sweeping across the state, many communities within townships were reverting to small, locally governed communities (mostly reincorporating as boroughs) due to acts of the New Jersey Legislature that made it economically advantageous for communities so do so. New Providence Township was renamed to Berkeley Heights as of November 6, 1951.[29]
The cultivation of roses played an important role in the local economy in the 1900s.[30]
New Providence had long been a semi-dry town, under which there were no bars and no restaurants permitted to sell alcoholic beverages. Retail liquor sales were legal and restaurant-goers may bring their own alcoholic beverages. In 2011, the borough announced that it was considering issuing on-premises liquor licenses, which could bring in as much as $500,000 for each bar granted a license, with plans to use the money raised to pay for improvements to recreation areas.[31] Liquor licenses were granted in 2015 to a pair of restaurants, ending a 100-year period in which the borough had no on-premises liquor licenses.[32]
The 2011 film Win Win is set at New Providence High School, having been written by Tom McCarthy and Joe Tiboni, two former students at the school.[33]
Nokia Bell Labs, formerly known as Bell Telephone Laboratories, is located in the New Providence neighborhood of Murray Hill. Researchers at this facility were credited with the development of radio astronomy, the transistor, the laser, the photovoltaic cell and other advances in technology. Nine Nobel Prizes have been awarded for work completed at this facility.[34]
The Presbyterian Church is a large, white, historic church in the center of town.
The Village Shopping Center is a shopping center that takes up the majority of downtown New Providence.
New Providence School District currently links together the computer networks of its buildings by using a wirelessLAN which includes Yagi antennas at two towers by the large copper pyramid-shaped roof.
Our Lady of Peace is a Roman Catholic church and school located on South Street. The parking lot at OLP becomes the home of the town's OLP fair, held for three days each spring, complete with rides, games, food, and an indoor auction/junk fest.
The Salt Box Museum, located at 1350 Springfield Avenue, is an 18th-century farmhouse owned by the New Providence Historical Society.[35]
According to the United States Census Bureau, New Providence borough had a total area of 3.71 square miles (9.61 km2), including 3.69 square miles (9.55 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.57%).[1][2]
Much of the Murray Hill neighborhood lies in New Providence, with the remainder in Berkeley Heights; Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include Tall Oaks, Johnsons Bridge, and West Summit.[39]
The borough lies on the western slope of Second Watchung Mountain. There are several creek beds carved into the landscape, most of which are forks and branches of Salt Brook. These creeks join near the center of town then flow into the Passaic River, along the banks of which Passaic River Parkway is found. Over nine percent of New Providence's land area is permanently protected, publicly owned parkland. Most of this land is wooded floodplain adjacent to the Passaic. Union County owns much of the riverfront parkland and New Providence owns the remainder. There are several borough-owned parks that bracket Salt Brook, including Veterans Memorial Park on South Street, Lions Park on Livingston Avenue, and Clearwater Park near the end of Central Avenue.[40]
Of the 4,408 households, 39.2% had children under the age of 18; 66.2% were married couples living together; 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.8% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.20.[20]
27.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.4 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $113,542 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,769) and the median family income was $144,837 (+/− $13,137). Males had a median income of $103,237 (+/− $7,256) versus $60,029 (+/− $10,693) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $53,564 (+/− $3,739). About 3.2% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.[48]
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 11,907 people, 4,404 households, and 3,307 families residing in New Providence. The population density was 3,236.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,249.8/km2). There were 4,485 housing units at an average density of 1,219.2 per square mile (470.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.77% White, 0.88% African American, 0.03% Native American, 7.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.50% of the population.[45][46]
There were 4,404 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.[45][46]
In New Providence the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.[45][46]
The median income for a household in the borough was $90,964, and the median income for a family was $105,013. Males had a median income of $72,926 versus $46,948 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,995. About 1.3% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.[45][46]
New Providence is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[49] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The borough form of government used by New Providence is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[50][51]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of New Providence is Republican Allen B. Morgan, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the New Providence Borough Council are Council President Peter C. DeSarno (R, 2024), Diane Bilicska (R, 2025), Matthew E. Cumiskey (R, 2024), Nadine Geoffroy (R, 2026), Alex Kogan (R, 2025), and Lisa McKnight (R, 2026).[3][52][53][54][55][56][57]
In January 2022, the borough council appointed Diane Bilicska to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that became vacant after Michele Matsikoudis resigned from office to take a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.[58]
Republican, served seven terms. Oakwood Drive and Oakwood Park in New Providence are named after Mayor Oakwood.
Ellsworth R. Hansell
1947
1952
Republican, served three terms.
Robert Badgley
1953
1954
Republican, served one term. Badgley Drive in New Providence is named after the Badgley family.
Charles Johnson
1955
1956
Republican, served one term.
Francis R. Farley
1963
1966
Democrat. In the 1962 election, Farley and Republican John C. Clay tie at 1,707 votes each. The recount goes to the New Jersey Superior Court. Farley is declared winner in February 1963. Farley is the most recent Democrat Mayor in New Providence.
Edward Bien
1967
1978
Republican, served four terms totaling 12 years. The first two terms (1967-1970) were under the old form of the Borough system of local government where mayors were elected to two-year terms. All regular elections after 1970 for mayor were for four-year terms.
Republican, Morgan served as mayor for two terms between 1999 and 2006, when he initially announced his bid for re-election, and then withdrew from the campaign.
Republican, Served as mayor for one term. Was denied the town's GOP endorsement for re-election in 2010, which instead went to Morgan, who went on to lose the primary to J. Brooke Hern. Thoms launched an unsuccessful bid for re-election as an independent, losing to Hern in the general election by a 2-1 margin.
Republican, re-elected following Hern's decision to not seek a second term. In 2022 he won re-election to a third consecutive. Morgan won 3,000 votes to the Democrat's 2,643.
Union County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, whose nine members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis with three seats coming up for election each year, with an appointed County Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of the county. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.[72] As of 2024[update], Union County's County Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (D, Union Township, 2025),[83][84]
Sheriff Peter Corvelli (D, Kenilworth, 2026)[85][86] and
Surrogate Christopher E. Hudak (D, Clark, 2027).[87][88]
As of September 16, 2022, there were a total of 9,997 registered voters in New Providence, of which 3,190 (31.9% vs. 48% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,852 (28.5% vs. 15.98%) were registered as Republicans and 3,889 (38.9% vs. 34.78%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 66 voters registered to other parties, such as Libertarians or Greens.[89] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 82.3% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 89.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).[90][91]
In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 3,084 votes, ahead of Republican Donald Trump who had 2,517 votes, with others getting 261 votes; this is the first time in recent years that a Democrat carried New Providence in the past four elections.[92] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 3,267 votes (53.7% vs. 32.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,726 votes (44.8% vs. 66.0%) and other candidates with 68 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 6,080 ballots cast by the borough's 8,493 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.6% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).[93][94] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,367 votes (52.8% vs. 35.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,914 votes (45.7% vs. 63.1%) and other candidates with 64 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 6,372 ballots cast by the borough's 8,086 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.8% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).[95] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,443 votes (55.5% vs. 40.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,674 votes (43.1% vs. 58.3%) and other candidates with 52 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 6,202 ballots cast by the borough's 7,801 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.5% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).[96]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.3% of the vote (2,468 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.0% (935 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (60 votes), among the 3,516 ballots cast by the borough's 8,298 registered voters (53 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.4%.[97][98] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,559 votes (58.8% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,361 votes (31.3% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 393 votes (9.0% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 21 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,351 ballots cast by the borough's 7,961 registered voters, yielding a 54.7% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).[99]
The New Providence School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[100] As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,382 students and 189.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.6:1.[101] Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[102]) are
Allen W. Roberts Elementary School[103] with 676 students in grades PreK–6,
Salt Brook Elementary School[104] with 607 students in grades K–6,
New Providence Middle School[105] with 398 students in grades 7–8 and
New Providence High School[106] with 666 students in grades 9–12.[107][108] The middle school and high school share a common building and some of the same facilities (art rooms, auditorium, east wing, west wing, gyms, music rooms, TV production room, cafeteria).
During the 2007–08 school year, New Providence Middle School was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[109] the highest award an American school can receive.[110][111] The district's high school was the top-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 328 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 5th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[112]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 50.88 miles (81.88 km) of roadways, of which 44.58 miles (71.74 km) were maintained by the municipality and 6.30 miles (10.14 km) by Union County.[115]
No state, U.S. or Interstate highways directly serve New Providence. The most prominent road through the borough is County Route 512 known as Springfield Avenue.[116]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with New Providence include:
Andrew Fastow (born 1961), convicted CFO of Enron, went to NPHS and grew up in New Providence on the same street as the Allen W. Roberts Elementary School[122]
^Meola, Patricia E. "Data reveal much about life in New Providence", Independent press, December 16, 2008. Accessed July 25, 2012. "Once named Turkey Town, the more modern New Providence contains an abundance of older homes, with 84% constructed prior to 1969 and the majority of the homes built in the mid-1950s."
^Neavill, Mike. "Council ponders cocktail mixing booze, Open Space", The Independent Press, April 8, 2011. Accessed April 8, 2011. "Sobered by a thirst for improved recreational facilities coupled with limited funds, the governing body is taking the unprecedented move of shifting the borough from 'dry' to 'wet'. Although there are package stores in New Providence, there are no on-premises consumption licenses. Basically, the borough has been a 'bring your own' town. 'We're looking for ways to generate income for turf fields,' Mayor J. Brook Hern said."
^Ivers, Marianne. "Two New Providence Restaurants to Obtain Liquor Licenses", TAP Into New Providence, December 23, 2015. Accessed June 28, 2016. "Councilman Robert Robinson noted that the borough has been without a liquor license for more than 100 years."
^Angelo, Megan. "Just Like the Good Old Days in the Ring", The New York Times, March 18, 2011. Accessed July 25, 2012. ""I just called Joe and said, 'Let's develop a movie based on New Providence wrestling,' " Mr. McCarthy said.... Because of tax credits, they shot on Long Island rather than in New Providence. But they scouted locations tirelessly, most notably the office and home that Mr. Giamatti's character shuttles between.... Though the locations might have been fudged, the filmmakers kept New Providence High School in the film by using its banners, uniforms and wrestling mats, an effort facilitated by one of their former classmates, who's now the school's principal."
^Ivers, Marianne. "Council Reorganizes: Cumiskey, DeSarno and Bilicska Sworn in; Geoffroy Elected Council President", TAP into New Providence, January 5, 2022. Accessed April 30, 2022. "The Borough Council held its reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Re-elected Councilmen Matthew Cumiskey and Peter DeSarno were sworn in for their second three-year terms. Diane Bilicska was sworn in to serve the remainder of Assemblywoman-elect Michele Matsikoudis’ term, ending Dec. 31, 2022."
^"CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
^Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post, September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
^Pagano, Jennifer. "The First New Providence Carved Pumpkin Contest Exceeds All Expectations as 500 Residents Attend the Festivities", TAP into New Providence, October 23, 2017. Accessed December 10, 2017. "New Providence Centennial Park was entirely transformed Saturday night into a picture-perfect Autumn evening as the first New Providence Pumpkin Carving Contest kicked off its inaugural event to a massive crowd of over 500 residents all strolling among the spooky and adorable jack-o’-lanterns showcased around the park."
^Staff. "Former President Stumps For Stender"Archived July 28, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, NJToday.net, October 30, 2008. Accessed July 27, 2019. "U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-New Providence) currently holds the seat, but he announced last year that he would step down at the end of his current term."
^Meola, Patricia E. "Free concert series in New Providence kicks off July 9", Independent Press, July 6, 2009. Accessed February 3, 2011. "Mr. Grob, who designed Centennial Park, is a lifelong New Providence resident and was the drummer in the 1970s rock group Looking Glass, who recorded 'Brandy, You're a Fine Girl.' It sold more than a million copies, and was the nation's number one record in August 1972."
^Staff. "Battery signs Fire's Lewis", The Post and Courier, March 16, 2002. Accessed February 3, 2011. "The Charleston Battery has signed former Major League Soccer defender Andrew Lewis for the upcoming A-League season... The New providence, N.J., native was drafted in the ninth round of the 1997 MLS expansion draft, by Chicago."
^"Crew freshmen", Courier News, April 7, 1975. Accessed February 6, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "David Volker of Hillsborough, and Scott Rivkees and Unsoeld Olaf of New Providence are members of the Rutgers University freshmen lightweight crew team."
^Catino, Rich. "Rat Skates – Former Drummer for Overkill", Metal Asylum, March 17, 2008. Accessed July 27, 2019. "I would say "Born in the Basement" is my story about growing up in suburbia New Providence, going to high school, starting to make music, the beginnings of Overkill and then what happened when I left and why."
^Stedman, Thomas L., ed. "News of the Week: Obituary Notes", p. 783, Medical Record (journal), May 20, 1905. William Wood & Company, 1905. Accessed September 10, 2015. "Dr. Gideon A. Weed, a pioneer physician of the Pacific Coast, and a man who, as twice Mayor of Seattle, and a prominent citizen of Washington State, did much toward the upbuilding of the Northwest, died at his home in Berkeley, Cal., on April 21. He was born in New Providence, N. J., in 1833 and was graduated from the Rush Medical College Chicago, in 1856."