Welcome to West Caldwell
Often touted as one of the most beautiful places to reside in Essex County, this leafy suburb is located only 16 miles west of New York City. You may actually recognize the neighborhoods of West Caldwell from the famed HBO television series, the Sopranos, which was filmed here. Perfect for families, because of a number of excellent hiking trails, bike paths, fishing streams, observation blinds, and other activities found in town, West Caldwell offers plenty of outdoor parks including the 41 acre Grover Cleveland Park, a county park named in honor of the President of the United States who was born in the neighboring town of Caldwell. With a top-notch school district, tasty restaurants, lush green spaces, and a flourishing Recreation Program, it is no wonder families are flocking to this suburb.
Schools
The Township of West Caldwell shares a consolidated School District with Caldwell
- Elementary Schools - 3 in West Caldwell, 1 in Caldwell (Jefferson Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, Wilson Elementary School)
- Grover Cleveland Middle School - Caldwell
- James Caldwell High School - West Caldwell
Commute
While there's no train service in town, commuters can drive to stops in nearby Montclair (where there's a direct train to Penn Station). Commuters can also take the New Jersey Transit bus route 29 to Glen Ridge and transfer there to a New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station in Manhattan. Also, DeCamp Bus Lines’ route 33 runs along Bloomfield Avenue and makes the trip to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan in 50 to 60 minutes.
Restaurants and Shopping
On Bloomfield Avenue, the main street in Caldwell, residents can enjoy a variety of bars, taverns, and a mix of ethnic restaurants, including Italian, Filipino, Thai, and Japanese. There are also several yoga and martial-arts studios. Calandra’s Italian Village, run by the family that owns the well-known Calandra’s Bakery in Newark, offers a deli, bakery, and restaurant under one roof.
Only a few miles away, residents can take advantage of the vibrant cultural activities, restaurants, and boutiques in the city of Montclair.
Recreation
West Caldwell is especially proud of its extensive Recreation Program which is considered one of the finest and most comprehensive in New Jersey. Programs include youth and adult sports leagues, senior activities, sports and academic camps, festivals, and many parades throughout the year. West Caldwell is also home to two municipal pools at Cedar Street and Westville which are open to West Caldwell residents in addition to residents of Caldwell. Reopening in the Spring of 2022, Caldwell Community Center offers an indoor recreation center including an indoor pool, workout facility, and studios.
Nature lovers can stroll through the 41 acre Grover Cleveland Park (also partially located in Caldwell and Essex Fells), a county park named in honor of the President of the United States who was born in the neighboring town of Caldwell. Athletic fields and courts, jogging paths, picnic areas, ice skating, and fishing ponds are located throughout the park. Additionally, West Caldwell contains a number of smaller parks and land preserves, such as Memorial Park and Francisco Park. Hatfield Swamp, located in the western section of the town along its borders with the towns of Fairfield, Roseland, and East Hanover, is a protected preservation that usually very little building is allowed to be done on.
- Camp Wyanokie - Gifted to the towns of Caldwell, Fairfield, North Caldwell, Roseland, and West Caldwell for use by residents. Set in 150 acres of hiking and picnicking at the edge of Norvin Green State Forest, the camp surrounds a sparkling five acre lake. In all seasons, Camp Wyanokie is an ecological wonderland, offering an opportunity to relax and enjoy nature at its best.
Caldwell University, a Catholic liberal-arts school, offers lectures and performances throughout the year.