Mountainside, NJ

Mountainside was incorporated in 1895, separating from Westfield. For much of its early history, it was a sparsely populated, rugged area used for logging and small-scale farming before transitioning into a desirable, wealthy suburb post-World War II. During the late 19th century, Mountainside was a popular resort destination for wealthy New Yorkers seeking clean mountain air, featuring several large hotels and sanatoriums that have since vanished.

The borough today is home to high-earning professionals, executives, and retirees who value space and low density. Commercial activity is strictly limited to a tiny stretch on Mountain Avenue and the Route 22 corridor, which runs along the town's southern border. Mountainside is best known for its incredible parks system — housing large portions of both Echo Lake Park and the Watchung Reservation — and its highly rated, shared school district with Berkeley Heights.

Mountainside stands out in Union County for its near-total rejection of high-density or mixed-use development, maintaining a strict, large-lot suburban aesthetic. A local would want an outsider to know that living here means trading walkability for tranquility; it's a place where you know your neighbors but can't see their houses through the trees.