Rockaway

About Rockaway

Rockaway may be officially considered a borough of New Jersey, but its proximity to the Big Apple has made it a part of the Greater New York City. It's a relatively small town, home to several thousand people and spanning about 2 square miles. However, the community is growing as more people move to Rockaway for its convenient location, strong economic base, and access to arts, culture and quality education.

The History of Rockaway

The borough of Rockaway was incorporated in 1894, but it had existed as a village for 160 years prior to that. Rockaway Village was long a center of trade and manufacturing,as well as a major hub of Revolutionary War stronghold activity. In fact, you can still see many Revolutionary period homes throughout the borough. In 1904, the town expanded slightly as a result of annexations of portions of Rockaway Township.

The borough's name is derived from a Native American phrase that holds several meanings, including place of sands, creek between two hills and difficult to cross.

Living in Rockaway

People move to Rockaway for different reasons, but the biggest factors may have something to do with the borough's employment opportunities and low crime rate. Its amenities may be somewhat limited because of its small size, but the nearby cities of New York City and Newark have more than enough shopping, dining and entertainment to offer. Rockaway is well-connected via public transportation, so it's easy to travel around the greater metro area for work or fun.

Larger Rockaway Township offers parks, recreational programs and community services. Various youth sports are available, and senior citizen programs are also very popular. Many locals visit Mount Hope Pond and Frog Falls Aquatic Park in the warmer summer months.

Rockaway Schools

The Rockaway Borough School District and the Rockaway Township Schools District serve the schools of Rockaway and the surrounding area. If you're looking for a private school for your child, you can find a few options in neighboring communities.

Resources for Moving to Rockaway

Here's some useful information to simplify your move to Rockaway:

• Utilities: Rockaway's primary utility providers are Jersey Central Power & Light, New Jersey Natural Gas and the Rockaway Township Municipal Utility.
• Garbage and Recycling: The township provides monthly bulk pick-up and recyclables collection every other week. However, you'll need to arrange with a private company for waste collection.
• Transportation: Although there are no New Jersey Transit stops within Rockaway, you can easily access nearby stations in Denville and Dover. Lakeland Bus Lines provides bus service along Rockaway's Main Street, with New York's Port Authority a major destination.

Rockaway Housing

Although it's a small borough, Rockaway has five constituent neighborhoods with a mix of home styles and residents. Housing is fairly expensive, but less pricey than in communities nearer Manhattan. You'll find more homes for sale than for rent, but the few apartment communities in Rockaway do offer attractive amenities including pools and gyms.