Montclair is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 38,977.
Montclair was first formed as a Township on April 15, 1868, from portions of Bloomfield Township.

Geography
As of the census

Demographics

Government
Montclair is governed under the Faulkner Act's Council-Manager form of municipal government.
The Faulkner Act provides for several forms of government. In 1980, the Township voted to adopt the "council-manager" plan. In the council-manager plan there is only one directly elected power center: the council. The manager, while chief executive and administrative officer of the municipality, is appointed by the council and can be suspended and removed by a majority vote of the council. The manager's function is to carry out the will of the council.
The council members in the council-manager plan serve a four-year term. In Montclair, council members serve concurrent terms and all terms expire at the same time (except for vacancies). The power and function of the council in the council-manager plan is short and to the point: All powers of the municipality and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the municipal council, except as otherwise provided by this act, or by general law. The council-manager plan is a legislative supremacy, and thus the setting of policy is the responsibility of the council alone.
The Mayor under the Council-Manager Plan is a member of the council. The Mayor presides over the council and, as a member, and has a voice and vote in its proceedings. Aside from the power to appoint the trustees of the public library, and the members of the board of education in council-manager communities which have appointed boards, the mayor in the council-manager plan has no executive powers and is simply first among equals on the council.

Ed Remsen - Mayor
Joyce R. Michaelson - Councilor-At-Large
Ted Mattox - Councilor-At-Large
Gerald C. Tobin - Deputy Mayor and Ward 1 Councilor
Robin Schlager - Ward 2 Councilor
Jerold Freier - Ward 3 Councilor
Sandra Lang - Ward 4 Councilor Local government
Montclair is split between the Eighth and Tenth Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 34th Legislative District.
New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Passaic County and northern sections of Essex County, is represented by Bill Pascrell Jr. (D, Paterson). New Jersey's Tenth Congressional District, covering portions of Essex County, Hudson County, and Union County, is represented by Donald M. Payne (D, Newark). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 34th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nia Gill (D) and in the Assembly by Thomas P. Giblin (D, Montclair) and Sheila Y. Oliver (D, East Orange). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Essex County's County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Essex County's Freeholders are Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson, Freeholder Vice President Ralph R. Caputo, Freeholders-At-Large Johnny Jones, Donald M. Payne, Jr., and Patricia Sebold, Freeholder District 1 Samuel Gonzalez, Freeholder District 2 D. Bilal Beasley, Freeholder District 3 Carol Y. Clark, Freeholder District 4 Linda Lordi Cavanaugh and Freeholder District 5 Ralph R. Caputo.

Federal, state and county representation
On the national level, Montclair leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry received 79% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 20%.

Politics
Montclair is located on the First Mountain of the Watchung Mountains. Most of the town is on the eastward-side of this ridge. Thus, many locations provide excellent views of the surrounding area and the New York City skyline, which is about 12 miles away. In the 19th century, George Inness, the Hudson River School painter, lived in town.
Montclair is noted for its historic architecture. It is home to six historic districts listed on the New Jersey and/or National Registers of Historic Places., some 92 individually listed landmarks, and two locally designated commercial districts. Works by significant architects include designs by Van Vleck and Goldsmith, Charles Follen McKim, McKim, Mead, and White, Henry Hudson Holly, Charles A. Platt, Alexander Jackson Davis, Dudley Van Antwerp, Effingham R. North, and Frances Nelson, among others.

Character
The Montclair Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are seven elementary schools (K-5, except as noted) — Bradford, Edgemont, Hillside (3-5), Nishuane (K-2), Northeast, Rand and Watchung — Three middle schools for grades 6-8 — Glenfield, Mount Hebron and Renaissance — and Montclair High School for grades 9-12.
Montclair is home to Montclair State University.
Montclair is also home to a host of private and parochial schools, including: Lacordaire Academy, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Immaculate Conception High School (Montclair), St. Cassian's School, Virginia Harkness Sawtelle Learning, Maria Montessori Early Learning, Montclair Cooperative School, Trinity Academy, and Deron School II.

Education

Home to the Montclair Rugby Club, also known as the Norsemen, of USA Rugby Division 2. They play at Codey Field.
Home to the Minor league baseball New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League. The Jackals play at Yogi Berra Stadium.
Former home to the New Jersey Pride of Major League Lacrosse. Sports
Montclair is twinned with the following cities:

Barnet, England