Montvale Borough Hall

About the Montvale, New Jersey Area 

Home to about 8,000 residents, Montvale is an historic north Jersey town with a pretty town center, excellent schools, an outstanding recreation program, and easy access to regional shopping centers, entertainment, and cultural life. A well balanced suburban community, Montvale benefits from decades of sensitive government that has ensured business growth while protecting residential peace and character. A recently redeveloped downtown provides Montvale residents with an exciting community center, with good restaurants and entertainment. 

Superb infrastructure guarantees Montvale residents ease of access to surrounding New Jersey and New York state centers, including New York City, which is only 25 miles away. New Jersey Transit’s Pascack Valley Line has a stop at Montvale and runs into NYC; connecting services spread across the Hudson and Bergen County region. 

Location
Montvale is a small borough in the picturesque Pascack Valley of northeastern Bergen County, New Jersey. The New York State line lies directly north and east of the town and New York City is about 25 miles southeast across the Hudson. 

Geography/Terrain
Covering about 4 square miles of mostly flat land, Montvale is a green settlement, with lush parks and ample deciduous trees in thickets and lining the streets. Several lakes and numerous creeks dot the surrounding landscape and the Hudson River is a short drive east. 

Distance to 3 Closest Major Cities
Several major cities are found within a short distance of Montvale, including Ramapo, NY, which is about 10 miles north; Jersey City, about 22.5 miles south, and New York, about 25 miles southeast. 

Jobs
Montvale’s local economy has long been a prosperous one, thanks to a combination of considered civic planning, a strong economic base at the county level, and New Jersey’s superb infrastructure. 

Careful town planning and zoning since the early nineteen-sixties have ensured a balance between quality living and ample employment opportunities in Montvale, and smart local government has maintained one of the lowest tax rates in the Pascack Valley. The town has a diverse mix of corporate campuses and smaller business and commercial centers; large employers and national corporate headquarters are found here, alongside a range of entrepreneurial concerns. Financial institutions serving Montvale include Summit Bank, Commerce Bank, Hudson United Bank, Chase Home Mortgage Corp., Interchange Bank, First Union and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.  

While many Montvale residents enjoy working close to home, others choose to take convenient commutes to nearby centers to work. Options abound, thanks to Bergen County’s overall prosperity and New Jersey’s superb transport infrastructure and services. From its central location in northern Bergen County, Montvale is only 20 miles from New York City via the George Washington Bridge, and the Garden State Parkway provides easy access to the regions key roadways including the New Jersey Turnpike, the New York Thruway, I 80, the Palisades Interstate Parkway and State Highway 17. New Jersey Transit offers an affordable rail service from the Montvale Station. 

Housing
Experts all agree that now is a perfect time to buy in Montvale, as recently completed housing developments have led to there being a wide range of new homes on the market. Incorporated in 1894, the town has lovely historic homes, and single family dwellings in a wide range of architectural styles from Victorian to the present. While multiple dwellings are in the minority, there are some contemporary apartment and condominium developments in Montvale, increasing the choices for the buyer. 

Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
Montvale is a well planned community, with plenty of open space, ball fields, parks, and recreational facilities. The town’s four large parks have ball fields and courts alongside picnic spots and playgrounds, and the Borough Recreation Committee runs an excellent program of diverse activities for all ages. The annual community “Day in the Park” each June is a highlight. 

In addition to Borough run activities, Montvale has the privately run Montvale Swim Club, a superb outdoor pool facility, and the Montvale Athletic League, which offers an outstanding range of youth sports, including baseball, softball, soccer, football and cheerleading. The Montvale Senior Club is a popular social organization, offering a wide range of recreation, trips and social events to its members. The Montvale Roller Rink is one of the nation’s largest indoor skating spots, and hosts skating and hockey lessons and events. Montvale also has a stables (Mar-Bel) that offer horseback riding lessons and a stabling service, and a bowling lane. 

The Hudson River Valley is a short trip east by car and can be explored by kayak, canoe and boat. Pretty Wood Dale County Park is just south of Montvale with a peaceful lake, tennis courts, a children’s playground, a bike path, and fishing. 

Special Attractions/Events
Montvale has a beautifully redeveloped downtown area that is known for its fine restaurants and top shopping. The town’s four shopping centers are comprehensive and Montvale also has a farm outlet on Grand Avenue, stocked with fresh produce from a local farm, one of the few remaining in Bergen County. 

As if this weren’t enough, Montvale is also close to many of New Jersey’s largest and best shopping complexes, the Paramus Park Mall, Garden State Plaza, Riverside Square, Bergen Mall and Willowbrook Mall. Just across the nearby border in New York State are the Nanuet Mall, Palisades Center and Woodbury Commons.  

While large enough to have such amenities, Montvale is still small enough to retain a real sense of community, and locals enjoy sharing seasonal sporting and cultural events. 

Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Long the home of the Lenape Indians, the Montvale area was first settled by early Dutch settlers and incorporated in 1894. Montvale has several lovely historic properties from its earliest days, including 9 formally designated as historic landmarks. These include the Nicholas Holdrum-Van Houten House on Spring Valley Road, J.J. Blauvelt octagon House on West Grand Ave, the Andrew M. Hopper Homestead, the Eckerson House, the Eckerson-Lawrence-Taylor Homestead, J. Duryea House, the Clymbers, St. Paul's Episopal (Old Stone) Church and Serrell's Mushroom Caves, an unusual agricultural landmark.
 

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