About West Caldwell, NJ
West Caldwell Township is a suburb of New York City with a population of 10,872. West Caldwell Township is in Essex County and is one of the best places to live in New Jersey. Living in West Caldwell Township offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many retirees live in West Caldwell Township. The public schools in West Caldwell Township are highly rated.
History of West Caldwell, NJ
At the time of the Horseneck Riots in 1745, James Caldwell, after whom the Caldwells are named, was a young boy of about 11 years. By the time of the Revolution, though, he was a man – a minister, in fact, who had endeared himself to the people of Horseneck by journeying over the mountains to preach to them. During the War for Independence not long afterwards, Caldwell earned the nickname “the Fighting Parson” because of his aid to Washington’s men as they battled in various parts of Horseneck. Following the Revolution, a local chapel was finally erected – and in memory of the Fighting Parson who had stood with them since colonial times, the citizens of Horseneck in 1798 renamed their home “Caldwell.” Caldwell Township flourished throughout the 1800’s. Franklin and Westville (what would eventually become known as West Caldwell) began to grow as well. Westville, owned predominantly by the Crane and Harrison families (whose historical homes still exist), was the site of farming lands and the local sawmill. Franklin, on the other hand, was the principal business center of Caldwell Township and had an economy supported by farms, a store, two factories, a cider mill and distillery. By 1904, the population of Caldwell Township had grown and become so spread out that public renovations could never be approved by residents on both sides of town. To alleviate the problem, on February 16, 1904, West Caldwell was incorporated as an individual borough comprised of 3,175 acres and 410 people. Over this century, West Caldwell has come to be considered one of the most beautiful residential areas in all of Essex County. It has been designated since 1982 as a Township.
