Glen Ridge is a borough in Essex County, New Jersey, located about 20 miles west of Midtown Manhattan and immediately north of Montclair. With a population of roughly 7,800, it is a compact, largely residential community that developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a railroad and streetcar suburb of New York City. Its identity is inseparable from its architecture: more than 90 percent of the borough lies within the Glen Ridge Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The borough's streetscapes are among its defining features. Mature trees, wide lawns, and more than 600 gaslights frame a remarkable collection of residential architecture, including works attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright, Stanford White, and John Russell Pope. This preservation-minded character gives Glen Ridge a cohesive, turn-of-the-century appearance that is increasingly rare among New York-area suburbs. An active historic preservation commission and a local historical society help maintain that legacy. Glen Ridge is known for its own public school system, which is widely regarded as a primary reason families choose the borough. Students attend local elementary and middle schools and Glen Ridge High School within the compact borough, so many can walk to school. The town is small enough to be walkable, with a modest commercial area near the station and broader shopping and dining in adjacent Montclair and Bloomfield. For commuters, the borough's location on NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line is central to its appeal, with direct trains into New York Penn Station in roughly half an hour and service to Hoboken for PATH connections. Road access via the Garden State Parkway and nearby highways, plus the proximity of Newark Liberty International Airport, completes the transportation picture. Glen Ridge suits buyers and residents seeking historic homes, strong schools, and a quick rail commute in a small, self-contained municipality with a preservation-minded, close-knit character.