About Summit

Welcome to the City of Summit:
We hope you enjoy browsing through the City of Summit web site, and that it provides you with information you need about our fair and futuristic family-oriented community. Primarily directed at our own residents, this site is meant to provide valuable information and a quick means of communication within this wonderful residential and business community.

Summit has over 21,000 residents comprised of an international group speaking 39 languages with a broad economic and ethnic cross-section, largely mirroring the makeup of the nation as a whole. Housing is available to all levels of income including subsidized housing for senior citizens, and low- and middle-income families. For the 2000 census information click here.

Summit History:
The region passed from Indian to Colonial possession by purchase on October 28, 1664 for "twenty fathoms of trading cloth, two made coats, two guns, two kettles, ten bars of lead and twenty handfuls of powder."

Summit's earliest settlers came here about 1710. Most of the founding fathers brought Puritan heritage from the British Isles, and from neighboring New England, Connecticut and Long Island. Finding a true paradise, the Summit area was abundant in timber for building cabins, rabbits for food and pelts, plentiful turkey, and a fertile valley for growing wheat and corn. Plus the Passiac River was full of fish to eat and water to float boats.

Where did "Summit" get its name?
In 1837, the railroad came over the "The Summit" hill, whose name was later shortened to Summit. During the Revolutionary period and for some time afterwards Summit was called the "Heights over Springfield" and was considered a part of New Providence. The original name of Summit was "Turkey Hill" to mark it apart from "Turkey", as New Providence was known until 1750.

In 1869, Summit separated itself from New Providence and became the "Township of Summit". Thirty years later on April 11 1899, The City of Summit was incorporated. Click here for the City of Summit Charter.

From then till now
Originally, Summit was a cozy farming community populated by about 300 people until 1837. The community began to change from a rural farming and milling to quasi-commercial. After the Civil War, Summit became a summer resort area because of its crisp, clean mountain air and convenient proximity to New York City. Summit attracted extremely wealthy people who built extensive summer estates.

The landscape has had a definite influence in the development of Summit. This tree-dense suburban community is nestled in the hills of the Watchung Reservation with six square miles of broken hills at a 450-foot elevation. Summit sits above Springfield, to the east of Millburn, and just northwest, Chatham joins Summit to pinch the broad valley of the Passaic River.

Summit is a family-oriented residential community with light industry. Many Summit settlers and current residents have attributed significantly to the world's business, industrial and government affairs. More importantly, their relentless dedication for volunteerism has made the Summit community a leader in civic mindedness. The governing body has sought out experts on economics, communications, education, government administration, physical and mental health, recreation, social planning, transportation and safety; all adding to the great growth of Summit, then and now.

Major Transportation Hub
Rail and bus links to Newark and Manhattan, Routes 24 and 78 and the Garden State Parkway and Newark-Liberty International Airport, commuters find this thriving community a perfect place to settle. The Summit Train Station has the Mid-Town Direct train -a less than 30 minute ride - from Summit to Penn Station. The City of Summit has numerous parking garages and lots supplying ample parking for resident commuters and downtown employees.

Summit grows with the times - State-of-the Art Downtown
In 1925, way a head of its time, Summit was the first city to bury utility wires underground. More recently, in 2000 the city's downtown business district underwent a complete utility infrastructure and beautification project. Upgrade of underground utility wiring, widening of sidewalks for pedestrian traffic, improved street and sidewalk lighting, festive space for markets and special events with street-lined trees and seasonal plantings. Summit recognizes the importance of the downtown business district to the overall quality of life in the community. The project cost over 4 million dollars with more than 50% funding acquired from state and county grants and zero-interest loans.

Summit's Downtown Business District is a tapestry of retail and commercial businesses with an abundance of specialty and gift shops, clothing stores, home furnishings, restaurants, bakeries, fine wine outlets, movie theatre and ample free parking all within short walking distances. Please be sure to visit and enjoy our downtown Summit. Click here for the Summit Downtown, Inc. web site.

Education is a priority for Summit
The schools of Summit-public, private and parochial-have continually molded good and able young people with 92 % of the students going onto college, contributing much to the community's development. Just recently, Summit High School was ranked the 6th best high school in the State of New Jersey. Many students return to live and raise a family in their home town of Summit.

Summit's public education system includes five kindergarten-through grade 5 elementary schools, a middle school for grades 6 to 8 and Summit High School. As Summit grew into a beautiful resourceful city for families, so too did the need to provide top-rated education and state-of-the-art school facilities for Summit's children. In 2003, the newly renovated Summit High School was dedicated after a $22.4 million capital expansion project. The project comprised of a new wing, library/media center, gymnasium, and the addition of academic courses, cultural arts, athletic and social club programs; all providing an enriched educational experience for all current and future Summit students.

Arts, Recreational, Cultural and Spiritual Enrichments
Summit offers an array of programs, facilities, and events to capture and educate the community in arts, recreation, cultural and spiritual guidance.

The Summit Boards of Recreation and Education, the Summit YMCA and many other non-profit organizations enable residents of all ages the ability to participate in leisure and health-related programs. Summit has numerous playing fields to include baseball, football, soccer, basketball, tennis, running track and a 9-par Golf Course and a Municipal Pool.

Artistic and cultural traditions are strong in Summit, with its roots in the visual arts dating back to Whorthington Whittredge, a painter of the Hudson River School who lived in Summit from 1880 - 1910. The New Jersey Center for the Visual Arts is a commitment to the arts offering cultural activities, ranging from art exhibits and jazz concerts to courses for budding artists. The Summit Free Public Library offers an adverse array of cultural readings, movies, special events and free internet access for all ages.

For nature lovers, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum is a great place to visit with formal gardens and woodlands on its 12.5 acres site and is a New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. Nature classes and seasonal events are available for both children and adults.

Summit is also diverse with an array of Houses of Worship providing churches for all and a definite spiritual life in the Summit community.

Summit Landmarks
Overlook Hospital was founded in 1906 as a 30-bed private hospital on its present site. In 1914, Overlook became a public institution and now serves as one of the leading hospitals in the New York metropolitan area and a very integral public service to the Summit area.

The Grand Summit Hotel, originally known as the Blackburn, played an important role in drawing people to Summit for summer retreats in Summit's early years and continues to be a preferred dining and hotel destination.

The Summit Historical Society is housed in the town's oldest house built in 1747 located at 90 Butler Parkway which is also the home of the town archives.

The Summit Opera House erected in 1894 as a "dry entertainment" hall currently houses a restaurant Winberries, and several other businesses and residences.

Thanks for visiting Summit!

The "History of Summit" was formulated from the following sources:

E. Robin Little, Summit's Story (A Chronicle for the City of Summit on the Occasion of its Fiftieth Anniversary), City of Summit, April 11, 1949.

Edward S. Olcott, 20th Century Summit 1899 - 1999, Howell and Williams, Summit New Jersey, 1998.

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