Westfield Westfield is an attractive suburban community located about 25 miles southwest of New York City. It offers a small town environment with many diverse historical, cultural, recreational, educational, and social activities. Westfield has a rich Colonial history, and is noted for its beautiful downtown area, excellent school system and its convienient commute to New York City and the shore. It offers all the classic features of small town life: friendly tree-lined streets with single family colonial and Victorian homes, a New England style village green, and an old-fashioned atmosphere. In 1664 English Long Islanders purchased the Elizabethtown tract from the Leni Lenape indians, and in 1693 officially became Elizabeth Township. By 1720 Westfield had become a distinct settlement. 41 years later Elizabeth was chartered as a Borough, in which Westfield was a voting ward. During the American Revolution the patriots of the West fields of Elizabethtown evacuated livestock into the Watchung mountains as the British Army passed nearby in December of 1776. The British General Information Incorporated: Population: Area: County: Websites: Worship 1794 28,870 6.29 Sq. Mi. Union www.westfieldnj.gov www.westfieldnj.com www.westfieldtoday.com www.unioncountynj.org Places School Report Cards Westfield High (9-12) Roosevelt Intermediate (6-8) Thomas Edison Intermediate (6-8) Franklin (K-5) Jefferson (K-5) McKinley (K-5) Tamaques (K-5) Washington (K-5) Wilson (K-5) Westfield Schools Website Demographics Westfield 07090 attacked Springfield that same month, with one column passing through Westfield. Westfield was maintained as a command post for much of this period. On June, 1777, the village was occupied and looted by the main British Army. The Westfielders later participated in the victorious Battle of Springfield in 1780. In 1794 Westfield spun off to become a separate municipality and in 1903 was formerly incorporated with a Township form of government. Westfield has easy access to NYC with its own train station (Rail Service: Amtrac, Metroliner, NJ Transit, and Path) as well as area bus service (Grayhound, NJ Transit, and Surburban Transit). Westfield is located conveniently near several major highways. The Garden State Parkway, I-78, I-287 and the New Jersey Turnpike are all only minutes away. This access makes New York City and many other key destinations easy to reach. Newark International Airport is only 20 minutes away. Westfield is also served by New Jersey Transit, one of the most widely used commuter rail lines in America. Downtown Westfield has a popular shopping and entertainment center with many top quality restaurants of which several have been favorably reviewed by the New York Times and the Newark Star Ledger . Along with a movie theater, the restaurants make downtown Westfield an active and lively. Culturally there is much to enjoy in Westfield. The town has its own symphony orchestra, theatrical and dance groups and more than 50 clubs and organizations. Each Memorial Day weekend, approximately 3,000 families visit to participate in the Westfield Memorial Soccer Cup. Merchants and restaurateurs work cooperatively to bring visitors from the soccer fields to downtown. On warm summer nights, Westfielders enjoy open-air concerts in Mindowaskin Park, one of several area parks totalling 211 acres. The annual Festifall Street Fair attracts 30,000 visitors. After Thanksgiving, Westfield kicks off a month-long holiday celebration, "Welcome Home to Westfield," with the lighting of the Town tree.