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The town
Livingston is a township in Essex County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 27,391.
Although largely a bedroom community, there are numerous stores and restaurants located in Livingston. They include chain stores such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, Old Navy, and restaurants such as The Original SoupMan, as well as department stores in The Livingston Mall (e.g., Macy's, Lord & Taylor, the Gap). Additionally, there are many local, independent stores. Construction on the new walkable town center and the housing complex next to it has been completed.
Livingston has a cable television station (Livingston TV on Comcast TV-34 and Verizon FiOS 26), which is maintained by Livingston High School Students as well as the LPBC (Livingston Public Broadcasting Committee).
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Transportation
Livingston is a wonderful community located about 22 miles from New York City. There is a Coach USA (Community Coach) bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. This commute by bus into New York City is approximately 45 minutes. New Jersey Transit bus service 70, 71, and 73 travel between Livingston and Newark Penn Station stopping at other towns and shopping malls on the way. At Newark Penn Station the commuter can catch a NJ transit train to NYC, a NJ Path train to Hoboken, NYC or Jersey City and the new NJ Transit Light Rail. Those who would prefer to commute to New York by train directly can take a quick trip down South Orange Ave and catch the NJ Transit Train located South Orange.
In and near Livingston are Eisenhower Parkway, County Route 508, County Route 527, Interstate 280, Route 10 and the Morristown and Erie Railway.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,391 people, 9,300 households, and 7,932 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,973.1 people per square mile (761.9/km²). There were 9,457 housing units at an average density of 681.2/sq mi (263.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.64% White, 14.54% Asian, 1.20% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.
According to the 2002 results of the National Jewish Population Survey, there are 12,600 Jews in Livingston, approximately 46% of the population. This is one of the higher percentages of Jews in any American municipality.
There were 9,300 households out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.0% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.7% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township is $98,869, and the median income for a family was $108,049. Males had a median income of $77,256 versus $41,654 for females. The per capita income for the town was $47,218. About 1.1% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
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Education 
The Livingston Public Schools serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are six K-5 elementary schools — Burnet Hill School (417 students), Collins (419), Harrison (486), (442), Mount Pleasant (385) and Riker Hill (440) — Mount Pleasant Middle School or grade 6 (364), Heritage Middle School for grades 7 and 8 (826) and Livingston High School for grades 9-12 (1,588).
For the 1997-98  school year, Livingston High School received the Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. Livingston High School was the 14th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2006 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools.
Livingston's schools participate in many county, interschool, state, and national competitions. Some of these include the popular "Cognetics" program, Math Counts, various national, state, and county math contests, debate contests, Academically Speaking (a county competition to test broad knowledge), Knowledge Master Open (KMO, a national computer-based contest to test broad knowledge), and many more.
 Aquinas Academy is a private coeducational Roman Catholic school that serves students from preschool through eighth grade. Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy is a private coeducational Jewish day school that serves preschool through eighth grade. Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School is a four-year yeshiva high school for grades 9-12. Newark Academy is a private coeducational day school for grades 6-12.
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Noted residents 
Noted residents current and past:
• Erin Abrahamson, Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2001, Miss New Jersey USA 2007.
• Jason Alexander (1959-, originally Jay Greenspan), actor best known for his role as George Costanza of the long-running television show, Seinfeld.
• Bruce Beck, sportscaster on WNBC. • Ilene Beckerman, author of Love, Loss, and What I Wore, What We Do For Love, Mother of the Bride, and Makeovers at the Beauty County of Happiness".
• Martin Brodeur (born 1972), goalie for the New Jersey Devils, lived briefly in Livingston.
• Mona Charen, political columnist who grew up in Livingston, where she was close friends with future Washington Post journalist Ruth Marcus.
• Christopher J. Christie, who serves as the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and before that as a Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
• Harlan Coben, The New York Times best-selling author of Promise Me, Tell No One and No Second Chance.
• Alan Cooper, founding member of Sha Na Na and Professor of Bible at Union Theological Seminary and Jewish Theological Seminary.
• Faith Evans also had a brief stay in the town as she rented a home there while a new house of hers was being renovated.
• James Florio (born 1937), former Governor of New Jersey
• Justin Gimelstob (born 1977), professional tennis player who won 13 doubles titles and reached 1 final in singles
• Barry Halper, baseball memorabilia collector and businessman, who was once a limited partner in the Yankees' ownership with George Steinbrenner; lived in Livingston for a number of years, died at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. 
• Chelsea Handler (born 1975), American stand-up comedian and star of Chelsea Lately on E!.
• Rich Harris, standup comedian grew up in Livingston and graduated from Livingston High School.
• Chris Jacobs, swimming medalist at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• The Keans: Robert Kean (Congress 1939-1950), Thomas Kean (Assembly 1968-78, Speaker 1971-72, Governor, 1982-90), Tom Kean Jr. (Assemblyman 2001-03; State Senate 2003-date; 2006 G.O.P. failed nominee for U.S. Senate.
• Brevin Knight (born 1975), professional basketball player on the Charlotte Bobcats who was born in Livingston and went to school at Seton Hall Preparatory School and then Stanford University.
• Leslie Kritzer (born 1977), Broadway actress in Legally Blonde: The Musical, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, and A Catered Affair with Harvey Fierstein.
• Charles Kushner, a real estate mogul and Democratic fundraiser who pleaded guilty in 2004 to tax violations and charges related to witness tampering.
• Andrea Lavinthal (born 1979), editor at Cosmopolitan and co-author of The Hookup Handbook: A Single Girl’s Guide to Living It Up (2005) and Friend or Frenemy? A Guide to the Friends You Need and the Ones You Don’t (2008).
• Ruth Marcus, Washington Post op-ed columnist who grew up in Livingston, where she was close friends with future political columnist Mona Charen.
• Julia Montgomery (born 1960), actress who appeared in Revenge of the Nerds.
• Tommy Page (born 1970), American singer known for his song, I'll Be Your Everything, in collaboration with New Kids on the Block. He is a graduate of Livingston High School. Page's brother, James, is also a Mathematics teacher at Livingston High School.
• Claudio Reyna (born 1973), professional soccer player who played for European premier teams and is currently on the World Cup squad since 1994, was born in Livingston.
• Glenn K. Rieth, who is the Adjutant General of New Jersey in Governor Jon Corzine's cabinet.
•  Larry Ripley, (who once lived on Fellswood Dr.), was a replacement musician with the 1910 Fruitgum Company
• Byron Scott (born 1961), lived here while he was coach of the New Jersey Nets. However, he left after becoming the coach of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.
• David Tepper (born 1957), founder of the hedge fund Appaloosa Management, lives in Livingston. Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business is named after him.
• Roger Y. Tsien (born 1952), chemist.
• David Tyree (1980–), NFL wide receiver for the New York Giants.
• Nina Mitchell Wells, Secretary of State of New Jersey since 2006.
• Ted Wells, criminal defense lawyer.
• Thea White (born 1953), female voice actress, best known for her role as Muriel in Courage the Cowardly Dog.
• Jason Zimbler (born 1977), the actor who played the role of Ferguson Darling on the Nickelodeon television show Clarissa Explains It All, has lived in Livingston since his late childhood.
• Richie Zisk (born 1949), who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and other major league baseball teams.
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History
 In 1702, settles from Newark purchased a tract of land, which encompassed the areas known today as Caldwell, Livingston and West Essex. Because the tract resembled the shape of a horse’s neck, the area was named “horse neck”. A major controversy immediately arose over the ownership of the land. The settlers claimed that the land belonged to them since they had negotiated with the Indians for it, while the Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, backed by the English Crown, claimed the region as theirs under the royal title. Riots broke out and the bitterness continued until 1776, when the issue was finally settled during the American Revolution.
In 1811, seven hamlets got together and petitioned the legislature for the formation of a new township. On February 5,1813, the legislature adopted the formation of the township of Livingston, which included the small villages of Centerville, Cheapside, Morehousetown, Northfield, Squiretown, Teedtown, and Washington Place. The new Township was named in honor of William Livingston, the first Governor of New Jersey, who had supported the settler’s claims during the House neck riots.
Farming & lumbering were the main sources of income for the Township, although shoemaking was a major industry in the area during the civil War. The dairy business became Livingston’s leading industry after the civil War and remained so well into the 20th century. Milk delivery wagons from Livingston made daily rounds in Orange and Newark.
 The Township was linked to the market in Orange and Newark by roads, which today are still the town’s main arteries. Northfield Road, which is an extension of the Indian Minisink Trail, is thought to be the oldest thoroughfare. In 1806, the Newark and Mt. Pleasant Turnpike, now known as Route 10, became one of New Jersey’s first turnpikes.
Because it was located between primary rail lines and was also on the wrong side of the mountains, Livingston’s population grew slowly. From 1813 to 1920, the population had only grown from 1,000 to 1,500.
The area changed into a commuter’s suburb following the construction of hard-surfaced highways. Housing developments began in the 1920’s and by 1930; Livingston’s population had doubled. Today, Livingston is a developed community, which has nearly reached its targeted population of 35,000.
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Links To Township Sites Of Interest
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