Clifton, NJ

Clifton is a city in northern New Jersey, situated on the Passaic River. The population of the city is roughly 80,000. Clifton is perhaps best known to people outside of New Jersey as the location of numerous scenes from the television series "The Sopranos." The city was also once the home of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Neighborhoods and districts of Clifton accommodate more than 31,000 houses, of which more than 30,000 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, about 60 percent are owner-occupied while renters occupy the remainder.

Some of Clifton's notable neighborhoods and districts include:

• Aquackonack Gardens is an old defense worker neighborhood located north of Van Houten Avenue and east of Valley Road. This area is characterized by narrow winding roads without sidewalks.
• Athenia has historically been known by several different names, such as Cloverack, Centreville, and West Clifton.
• The Botany District in east Clifton proudly tells its story in the many plaques found along its village-style streets. This unique area of Clifton preserves Clifton's historic style, which dates back to the early 1900s.
• Other popular residential neighborhoods include Allwood, Montclair Heights, and Lakeview.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

For years, Clifton's economy was anchored by Linens 'n Things, a bed and bath accessory store, which had its headquarters in the city. However, the company closed its physical stores in late 2008 and now only operates as an online retailer. Two of the largest employers in the city are ITT Aerospace Communications and Whatman Inc..

SHOPPING

Clifton Commons is the newest addition to Clifton's shopping options. This open-air shopping complex is situated on approximately 34 acres of land. The Clifton Commons includes popular department stores, smaller retailers, and a movie theater.

EVENTS

• Comic Book Shows, held once a month at the Community Recreation Center, feature an assortment of comic books for sale. Residents are also welcome to bring their own comics to trade.
• Clifton Day at Floyd Hall Ice-Skating Arena is a family-oriented celebration held at the beginning of each winter. All attendees receive a skate rental, two hours of skating and a surprise goodie bag.
• Dinner and a Movie offers residents a fun and affordable night out, including dinner, a family-friendly movie and popcorn at the Recreation Center.
• The Tri-Star Basketball Competition is for kids 8-13 years old. Future basketball stars compete in various athletic challenges at the Community Recreation Center.
• Easter Events in Clifton begin with a morning breakfast featuring a much-anticipated visit from the Easter Bunny. Clifton also hosts an Easter egg hunt and the Easter Bonnet Parade and Contest. Participants compete for the best bonnet while promenading around the park. Finally, the Hound Dog Egg Hunt is designed for the city's four-legged friends.

FAMILY FUN

The city of Clifton has nearly 40 parks. All of them are open daily and offer visitors many features, including ball fields and playgrounds, skating and hockey rinks, and walking trails. Morris Canal Park & Nature Preserve is notable for its numerous picnic areas and grills. The Department of Parks and Recreation offers residents a number of organized sports activities including hockey, football, cheerleading, wrestling, lacrosse and tennis. The parks and recreation department also sponsors the garden club, camera club, coin club, stamp society, and the artist association. All of these clubs and activities are open to all interested residents and each meets regularly.

The Hamilton House Museum is located in a Dutch-style home built in the 1800s. The Hamilton and Van Wagoner families owned the house from 1856 to 1970. Now located in Surgent Park, the house is open for tours and visitors can explore the home and experience a different period of history in each room.

SPORTS TEAMS

The New Jersey Pride Professional Lacrosse Club is a member of the Eastern Conference for Lacrosse and plays home games at Yurcak field.

EDUCATION

• The Capri Institute offers education in cosmetology, skin care, nail technology, and hair design. This school participates in federal financial aid programs and offers scholarships to qualified students. The Capri Institute typically has more than 100 full-time students.
• Worldwide Education Services Inc. offers a certificate program in either accounting or administrative and secretarial fields. This education center caters to a select group of registered, full-time students.
• Dover Business College offers one- or two-year programs in healthcare, information technology and business. This school is nationally accredited and participates in federal financial aid programs.