East Orange is a city in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 69,612, an increase of 5,342 (+8.3%) from the 2010 census count of 64,270, which in turn reflected a decline of 5,554 (−8.0%) from the 69,824 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. The city was the state's 17th most populous municipality in 2020,Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022. after having been ranked 20th in 2010 and 14th statewide in 2000.The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed November 3, 2019. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 69,556 for 2023, making it the 544th-most populous municipality in the nation.Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 20,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2023 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023, United States Census Bureau, released May 2024. Accessed May 30, 2024. Note that townships (including Edison, Lakewood and Woodbridge, all of which have larger populations) are excluded from these rankings.

History East Orange had its origins in Connecticut's New Haven Colony. In 1666, a group of 30 of New Haven's families traveled by water to found "a town on the Passayak" River. They arrived on territory now encompassing Newark, the Oranges, and several other municipalities. The area was situated in the northeast portion of a land grant conveyed by King Charles II of England to his brother James, Duke of York. In 1664, James conveyed the land to two proprietors, Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. Since Carteret had been Royal Governor of the Isle of Jersey, the territory became known as New Jersey.

East Orange was initially a part of Newark and was originally known as Newark Mountains. On June 7, 1780, the townspeople of Newark Mountains officially voted to adopt the name Orange.Pierson, David Lawrence. History of the Oranges to 1921: Reviewing the Rise, Development and Progress of an Influential Community – Volume 1. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1922. OCLC 3884577. See Chapter XXIX – The Name Orange Adopted, Page 155. Available via Google Books At the time, there was a significant number of people in favor of secession from Newark. However, this would not occur until November 27, 1806, when the territory now encompassing all of the Oranges was finally detached. On April 13, 1807, the first government was elected, but not until March 13, 1860, was Orange officially incorporated as a city. Immediately, the new city began fragmenting into smaller communities, primarily because of local disputes about the costs of establishing paid police, fire, and street departments. South Orange was organized on January 26, 1861; Fairmount (later to become part of West Orange) on March 11, 1862; East Orange on March 4, 1863; and West Orange (including Fairmount) on March 14, 1863. East Orange was reincorporated as a city on December 9, 1899, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.

East Orange was known, at one time, for the shade trees that lined the city's residential streets. This is still evident today, as many of the tall trees still stand.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 3.93 square miles (10.17 km2), all of which was land.

East Orange shares borders with the Essex County municipalities of Newark to the east and south, South Orange to the southwest, Orange to the west, and Glen Ridge and Bloomfield to the north.Areas touching East Orange, MapIt. Accessed March 29, 2020.Municipalities, Essex County, New Jersey Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed March 29, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Ampere and Brick Church.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 4, 2015.

Neighborhoods

East Orange is officially divided into five wards, but is also unofficially divided into neighborhoods, still with many well maintained streets and homes. Ampere: Anchored by the now defunct train station of the same name, The Ampere section was developed on land owned by Orange Water Works, after the construction of the Crocker Wheeler Company plant spurred development in the area. The station was named in honor of André-Marie Ampère, a pioneer in electrodynamics and reconstructed as a new Renaissance Revival station in 1907 and 1908. Roughly bounded by the Ampere North CDP in Bloomfield to the north, Lawton Street and Newark to the east, 4th Avenue to the south, and North Grove Street to the West. Greenwood (Teen Streets)"An Energy Plan For The City of East Orange, New Jersey" , Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, October 2010. Accessed November 4, 2014.: So named after Greenwood Avenue and the "teen" streets that run through it. It is often grouped together with Ampere. This area was severely disturbed by the construction of Interstate 280 and the Garden State Parkway. The Grove Street station of the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad was located at Grove and Main streets. Roughly bounded by 4th Avenue to the North, North 15th Street/Newark to the east, Eaton Place/NJ Transit Morris & Essex Lines, and North Grove Street to the eest. Presidential Estates: Recently designated due to the streets in this area being named after early presidents of the United States. There are many large well kept homes situated on streets lined with very old, very large shade trees in this neighborhood that are characteristic of the northern section of the city. Roughly Bounded by Bloomfield to the North, Montclair-Boonton Line and North Grove Street to the east, Springdale Avenue to the South and the Garden State Parkway to the West. Elmwood: Located in the southeastern part of the city. Elmwood Park serves this section of the city, with 7 tennis courts on Rhode Island Avenue, a basketball court on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Oak Street, a swimming pool with a pool house, a walking track, a baseball field, a softball field and a renovated field house.Parks and Maintenance, City of East Orange. Accessed January 22, 2026. The area holds one of the surviving Carnegie Libraries, the Elmwood Branch of the East Orange Public Library, opened in 1912.Hart, Bill. East Orange in Vintage Postcards, P. 28. Arcadia Publishing, 2000. . Accessed November 4, 2014. Doddtown (Franklin): Named after John Dodd, who founded and surveyed the area of the "Watsessing Plain".Daniel Dodd settles on land near Watsessing Plain, East Orange Interactive Museum. Accessed November 4, 2014. The former campus of Upsala College is located here. It was converted into the new East Orange Campus High School on the east side of Prospect Street, and an adjacent new housing subdivision. Roughly bounded by Bloomfield to the North, the Garden State Parkway to the East, Park Avenue to the South and Orange to the West.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +East Orange city, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010% 1990% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)4,5961,8741,4221,3886.25%2.68%2.21%1.99%Black or African American alone (NH)65,09861,60455,70254,68988.51%88.23%86.67%78.56%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2871301861640.39%0.19%0.29%0.24%Asian alone (NH)4492944365010.61%0.42%0.68%0.72%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)N/A37296N/A0.05%0.05%0.01%Other race alone (NH)1412883355700.19%0.41%0.52%0.82%Mixed-race or multiracial (NH)N/A2,3131,0653,262N/A3.31%1.66%4.69%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,9813,2845,0959,0324.05%4.70%7.93%12.97%Total73,55269,82464,27069,612100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, East Orange had a population of 69,612. The median age was 36.6 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 77.5 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 27,410 households in East Orange, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 23.4% were married-couple households, 23.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 46.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 30,357 housing units, of which 9.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,054 3.0% Black or African American 55,873 80.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 355 0.5% Asian 517 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 15 0.0% Some other race 5,315 7.6% Two or more races 5,483 7.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 9,032 13.0%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 64,270 people, 24,945 households, and 14,742 families in the city. The population density was 16,377.1 per square mile (6,323.2/km2). There were 28,803 housing units at an average density of 7,339.5 per square mile (2,833.8/km2). The racial makeup was 4.13% (2,657) White, 88.51% (56,887) Black or African American, 0.39% (248) Native American, 0.72% (465) Asian, 0.06% (38) Pacific Islander, 3.69% (2,370) from other races, and 2.50% (1,605) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.93% (5,095) of the population.

Of the 24,945 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18; 23.3% were married couples living together; 29.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.9% were non-families. Of all households, 35.8% were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.33.

25.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 81.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 75.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $40,358 (with a margin of error of ± $1,873) and the median family income was $50,995 (± $2,877). Males had a median income of $38,642 (± $1,851) versus $39,843 (± $2,187) for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,298 (± $746). About 17.8% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 8, 2012.

2000 census