Livingston is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 31,330, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 1,964 (+6.7%) from 29,366 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,975 (+7.2%) from the 27,391 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. In 2025, the Population Estimates Program by the United States Census Bureau calculated that the township had a population of 32,223.
Livingston was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township (now Fairfield Township) and Springfield Township (now in Union County). Portions of the original township were later taken to form Fairmount (March 11, 1862, now part of West Orange) and Roseland (March 10, 1908).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 128. Accessed May 29, 2024.
The township was named for William Livingston, the first Governor of New Jersey; his family's coat of arms served as the township's seal for many years.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 3, 2015.
The community has been one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2013–2017, township residents had a median household income of $153,381, ranked 14th in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents, more than double the statewide median of $76,475.Raychaudhuri, Disha. "The wealthiest towns in N.J., ranked", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 7, 2019. Accessed November 4, 2019. "The median household income in N.J. is $76,475, recent Census data shows.... A note about the data: The data comes from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey conducted by U.S. Census Bureau. Smaller towns with less than 10,000 residents were excluded from the list.... 14. Livingston, Essex County Median income: $153,381"B19013 - Median Household Income in The Past 12 Months (in 2017 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) Universe: Households from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for New Jersey municipalities , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 4, 2019.
History Livingston's history dates back to 1699 when 101 settlers from Newark wanted to move westward. They set up a committee to negotiate with Lenni Lenape Native Americans for the purchase of the Horseneck Tract which today includes Livingston and eight other municipalities in northern Essex County. Between 1698 and 1702, the rules for property ownership were unclear. There were many disputes between settlers and the English proprietors. For some unknown reasons, the Newark settlers did not obtain a grant from the proprietors before negotiating with the native tribes. They finally obtained the deed directly from Lenni Lenape in 1702 for £130. The settlements began until around the 1740s as the dispute between the proprietors and the settlers continued.James Hoyt, The Mountain society:" a history of the First Presbyterian Church, Orange, N. J., New York, C. M. Saxton, Barker, 1860, p.43
The dispute came to a breaking point in September 1745 when the East Jersey proprietors began to evict a settler only six months after a house fire in Newark completely destroyed the original deed, which was the only evidence of the purchase.Max K. Vorwerk, A History of the Horseneck Riots, Caldwell Bicentennial Committee, Caldwell, New Jersey, 1948 During that period, William Livingston who was one of the few landed aristocrats joined the settlers against the proprietors. Livingston owned land around today's south western corner of the Township of Livingston. His land, like other settlers, was levied with quit rents in the amount 40 shillings per acre. He defended many settlers who were jailed for refusing to pay the quit rents.Livingston Township's Namesake: William Livingston, First Governor of New Jersey, West Essex Tribune, August 25, 2011, p.B-8
This series of events caused the settlers, led by Timothy Meeker, to form a group to riot against the British government. The Horseneck Riots lasted for 10 years from 1745 to 1755. The group was also one of the first colonial militia which had periodic battles for 32 years leading up to the Revolutionary War as the group joined the Continental Army in 1776.A Brief History Of Livingston, New Jersey, West Essex Tribune, August 27, 2009, p.A-10
After the American Revolutionary War, more permanent settlements took place with the first school built in 1783. In 1811, a petition was filed to incorporate the township from about 100 people who lived in seven distinct areas: Centerville (separated to become Roseland, in 1908), Cheapside (now Livingston Mall), Morehousetown (now Livingston Circle), Northfield (now Northfield Center), Squiretown (now the Cerebral Palsy Institute of New Jersey on Old Road), Teedtown (now Livingston Center), and Washington Place (now near the border with Millburn). On February 5, 1813, the township was officially incorporated. The first town meeting was held on the same day and they decided to run the township by a Township Committee system.
During the 1800s, lumber and farming were major industries in the town. Shoemaking and dairy farming became major industries during and after the Civil War. However, the population grew slowly because it was not easily accessible. Mt. Pleasant Avenue—which was one of the first turnpikes in New Jersey—was the only primary access to the town through stagecoaches.
The population grew quickly after the 1920s when automobiles became more accessible. As a suburb of Newark, the town experienced many housing developments especially after World War II with its peak in 1970 of more than thirty thousand residents. During this growth period, many services were organized including public library in 1916, volunteer Fire Department in 1922, first regular police chief in 1923, an ambulance unit in 1937 which became first aid squad in 1949. Some major relocations took place during this period of growing population shift. Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (formerly Saint Barnabas Medical Center) and Newark Academy moved from Newark to Livingston in 1964.
The last surviving Harrison Cider Apple tree, the most famous of the 18th-century Newark cider apple trees, was rescued from extinction in 1976 in Livingston.McManus, Fran. "Lost & Found; The rise, fall and rebirth of the Harrison cider apple", Edible Jersey, Fall 2010. Accessed August 5, 2013. "In September 1976, Paul Gidez, an orchardist and fruit collector from Vermont, came to Essex County to search for the Harrison apple. Stopping at a bagel shop, he asked if there were any old cider mills in the area. He was directed to Nettie Ochs Cider Mill in Livingston, where he found a large Harrison tree that, according to the owner, had been planted around the turn of the century."Coxe, William Jr. A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees and the Management of Orchards and Cider, M. Carey and son, 1817. Accessed September 3, 2015.
Today, around 30,000 people live in this suburban community, which lies around an hour's drive from New York City. Its school system—which has been nationally recognized since 1998—and other programs have been drawing new residents to the town. Its population has maintained a level of diversity while the residents continue the tradition of community volunteerism.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 14.12 square miles (36.57 km2), including 13.79 square miles (35.7 km2) of land and 0.33 square miles (0.86 km2) of water (2.37%). Livingston is in the New York metropolitan area. It is in southwestern Essex County. Within Essex County it is bordered by Roseland to the north, West Orange to the east, and Millburn (including Short Hills) to the south. To the west it is bordered by Morris County communities Florham Park and East Hanover. The western border is the Passaic River.Areas touching Livingston, MapIt. Accessed February 26, 2020.Municipalities, Essex County, New Jersey Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed February 26, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cedar Ridge, Cheapside, Moorehoustown, Northfield, Washington Place and West Livingston.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
Demographics
According to the 2002 results of the National Jewish Population Survey, there were 12,600 Jews in Livingston, approximately 46% of the population, one of the highest percentages of Jews in any American municipality. The neighboring towns of South Orange and Millburn also have high Jewish populations.Jewish Population in the United States, 2002, National Jewish Population Survey. Accessed May 11, 2006.
In a report performed by the United Way of Northern New Jersey based on 2012 data, around 14% of Livingston households were classified as "Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed" households (below a threshold of $50,000 for households below 65, below $35,000 for those over 65), struggling with basic necessities, such as housing, childcare, food, health care, and transportation, compared to 38% statewide and 47% in Essex County."ALICE Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed: Study of Financial Hardship", United Way of Northern New Jersey, September 2014. Accessed September 18, 2014. "In total, 1.2 million households in New Jersey – fully 38 percent – struggled to support themselves in 2012."
2020 census +Livingston Township, Essex County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)21,53518,81273.33%60.04%Black or African American alone (NH)6329532.15%3.04%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)9120.03%0.04%Asian alone (NH)5,6099,01419.10%28.77%Pacific Islander alone (NH)540.02%0.01%Some Other Race alone (NH)431770.15%0.56%Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)3417751.16%2.47%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,1921,5834.06%5.05%Total29,36631,330100.00%100.00%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 29,366 people, 9,990 households, and 8,272 families in the township. The population density was . There were 10,284 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 76.17% (22,367) White, 2.26% (663) Black or African American, 0.07% (20) Native American, 19.21% (5,642) Asian, 0.02% (5) Pacific Islander, 0.86% (254) from other races, and 1.41% (415) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% (1,192) of the population.
Of the 9,990 households, 41.5% had children under the age of 18; 73.5% were married couples living together; 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.2% were non-families. Of all households, 15.2% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.
27.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.1 males.