Cranford is a township in Union County with a population of approximately 23,000 and a total area 4.8 miles. There are eight municipalities bordering the township: Garwood and Westfield to the west, Springfield to the north, Kenilworth to the northeast, Roselle Park to the east, Linden to the southeast and Clark to the south.
The Minisink Train once went across the area now occupied by this attractive town. At one time, there were 11 mills on the Rahway River, and during the Revolution, grain for George Washington’s army was ground here. Known at the turn of the 19th Century, as ‘the Venice of New Jersey’, Cranford grew up around the Rahway River. In 1871, Cranford was incorporated as a township, but for many who built their homes along Rahway, the river quickly lost its charm. There was frequent flooding until the late 1970’s when the town, along with aid from the Army Corps of Engineers, solved the problem by building detention basins and dredging the river. Pretty, tree-lined streets host singlefamily homes, homes along the Rahway River are again popular, but Victorian homes command the most money.
The shopping center has undergone a beautification program and today, with its Colonial-look gas lantern replicas, brick sidewalks, and freshly renovated storefronts, the shopping district is the pride of Cranford and a model for other aspiring downtowns. It is also one of the prime attractions for prospective homeowners.
Another draw is Cranford’s newly remodeled railway station with direct access to Newark where a connection can be made to Manhattan. Easy access to the Garden State Parkway and Newark International Airport makes the town popular with commuters.
The town has 400 acres of parkland, including Nomahegan Park, which includes playgrounds, soccer and baseball fields, and a picnic area. The Rahway River, which runs through the community, is a regular for fishing and the Cranford Canoe Club is an historic spot where residents can rent canoes to use on the river. Cranford has two public swimming pools, which residents can join for the summer.
There is a successful public school system: Cranford High School is ranked as one of the top 75 high schools in New Jersey and has won a series of national and statewide awards for its innovative curriculum. There are four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. There are several private religious schools in Cranford, including St. Michael’s, a major Roman Catholic parochial school and the Solomon Schechter Day School, a Jewish school.
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