Millburn/Short Hills

About Millburn/Short Hills

Historic Millburn-Short Hills is a prestigious suburban community located about15 miles from Manhattan in southwestern Essex County.  Short Hills is located within Millburn Township, but the two names are often used interchangeably to define this 10-square mile locale. 

In the late 1800s, wealthy businessman Stewart Hartshorn purchased 1,552 acres in Short Hills to create the first planned commuter suburb in the United States.  Up until this time, Hartshorn was best-known for inventing the automatic roll-up window shade.

Today, Millburn has a population of about 20,000 residents.  Lining the local streets are daily reminders of the township’s colorful history, namely the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary (named for Stewart Hartshorn’s daughter), the Paper Mill Playhouse and two historic districts in the Wyoming Short Hills Park sections.

Community Life

Residents take advantage of local recreational offerings such as a township swimming pool, par three golf course and community-sponsored sports programs and activities.  Within the township are a movie theater, the acclaimed Paper Mill Playhouse for Broadway-caliber productions and numerous shopping and dining options.

One of the township’s most-visited landmarks is The Mall at Short Hills, an upper-end retail center which re-creates a Fifth Avenue shopping experience with stores like Tiffany & Company, Henri Bendel, Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Cartier and Saks.

Education

Millburn Township is recognized for its exceptional public schools. New Jersey Monthly magazine named it one of the top three school districts in the state, and in 2008, the publication rated Millburn High School the best public high school in New Jersey.  Those results were based on the number of students going to college after graduation, SAT scores and the high number of students registered in accelerated or Advanced Placement courses.  The high school was also named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education during the 2007-2008 school year, and included on a list of the Top 100 High Schools in the country by U. S. News and World Report.

There are five schools for kindergarten through fifth grade students in the township, including Glenwood, Wyoming, Deerfield, Hartshorn and South Mountain Elementary Schools.  Middle school students attend Millburn Middle School for grades six to eight, and the aforementioned Millburn High School contains grades nine to 12.

Private elementary schools in Millburn include the Far Brook School, the Pingry School and St. Rose of Lima School.

Real Estate

Wide-ranging choices of upscale homes are found in distinct neighborhoods throughout Millburn Township.  Although single-family homes dominate the market, there are several condominium communities located near the train stations and commercial areas.  Grand old manor homes on tree-lined streets and mixed in with newly constructed estates that often mimic the area’s stately architecture.  

Some of the established neighborhoods in Short Hills include Knollwood, Glenwood, Brookhaven, Country Club, Merrywood, Deerfield-Crossroads, Mountaintop, White Oak Ridge and Old Short Hills Estates.  Millburn contains the historic Wyoming district as well as the South Mountain and Millburn village areas.

Transportation

Midtown Direct service to New York City is available at two local New Jersey Transit train stations.  The Millburn stop on the Morristown Line is located near the Millburn library at Essex Avenue and Lackawanna Place.  The Short Hills station is situated between Chatham Road and Hobart Avenue.  This station is also home to the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society’s museum. 

A network of highways close to the township includes the Garden State Parkway, Route 24, Interstate 78 and the New Jersey Turnpike.  There are also several bus lines for service to Newark, Livingston or local stops.

Local Attractions

Portions of the 2,047-acre South Mountain Reservation are in Millburn, parkland it shares with West Orange and Maplewood.  As the largest park in Essex County, there are many amenities to choose from including the popular Turtle Back Zoo, Hemlock Falls, fishing at Diamond Mill Pond, the Richard Codey Arena with two indoor ice skating rinks, picnic areas, a Girl Scout camp, Washington Rock lookout, an archery range, and miles of trails for hiking, walking, jogging, horseback riding and cross country skiing.

The Paper Mill Playhouse had its first production in 1938 after an abandoned mill was extensively restored.  Legendary performers have graced this regional stage throughout its illustrious history, including Lillian Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, Gene Wilder, Ben Vereen, Mickey Rooney, Helen Hayes, Julie Harris, Basil Rathbone and countless others.

The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum is a showcase of biodiversity within 16 ½ picturesque acres.  Visitors can find over 150 different species of wildflowers, 100 bird species, 45 species of trees (including 275-year-old tulip trees) and other remarkable examples of native flora and fauna.  The circa 1933 Stone House contains indoor nature exhibits.  Open all year, the arboretum has a network of scenic walking trails traversing through its natural woodlands.

Map of Community