About the Borough of Bernardsville, New Jersey
In Bernardsville you’re just as likely to see a lavish ten-acre estate as a Cape Cod on a modestly-scaled village lot. It’s that dichotomy which makes this picturesque town such a unique place to live. Located in Somerset County about an hour from New York City, Bernardsville has a population of about 7,300 people who appreciate its nostalgic small-town feel and leafy country byways. With a bustling downtown featuring a double screen movie theater, historic train station and eclectic shopping and dining opportunities, Bernardsville has attracted residents from all walks of life for decades.
At the turn of the last century, the Bernardsville Mountain was a place where expansive mansions presided over acreage which might have included a private race track or polo grounds. Some of the owners of these storied estates included Charles Pfizer, the pharmaceutical magnate, and John Dryden, founder of the Prudential Insurance Company. Although a wonderful variety of these stately manors still exist today, many were sold or sub-divided after the Great Depression. In their place are equally grand but newer mansions which have taken design cues from their more established neighbors.
In addition to the captains of industry who settled in the area during the late 1800s, other celebrated residents of Bernardsville through the years have included Bernardsville High School graduate Meryl Streep, Big Band-era bandleader Tommy Dorsey and U.S. Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick.
Encompassing an area of about 12 square miles, Bernardsville is bordered by Mendham, Harding, Peapack-Gladstone, Bedminster and Basking Ridge/Bernards Township. Its prime location in the central part of the state is about 40 miles from midtown Manhattan, which can be reached by a network of highways or local rail service. Newark Liberty International Airport is about 20 miles from Bernardsville.
Bernardsville’s Polo Grounds provide 30 acres of parkland behind the Marion T. Bedwell Elementary School and the borough’s middle school. Football and soccer fields and three baseball diamonds are well-used by residents. The town’s Olympic-sized pool adjacent to the Polo Grounds has been a welcome Summertime respite for generations of citizens.
From lavish estates with fascinating histories to a mixture of charming Victorian, Colonial, mid-century and newly constructed homes, Bernardsville offers a plethora of housing options and price ranges. Just as significantly, it offers an exceptional quality of life.
