Several square miles of awe-inspiring blue hills and spectacular green mountainsides can do wonders to stir the mind, body and soul. Take for instance the likes of influential novelist Upton Sinclair, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Kane, powerful media executive Geraldine Laybourne and Grammy award winner Todd Levy. All hail from Martinsville, which can lay its claim to fame as the mini Olympus of New Jersey where today's demigods of arts are born and raised.
Covering 12.4 square miles in Somerset County, Martinsville is a hilly part of the Bridgewater Township, a fast developing suburban area with telecommunications, financial and pharmaceutical businesses. It remains generally unspoilt by city living despite its proximity to New York via the Bridgewater Station of the NJ Transit and Interstate 78 (going to Upper East Side). Martinsville offers one of the best places to live if one opts for the practicality of switching to a suburban job or craving a green-living lifestyle with fresh scenery.
Moving to Town
Seek the help of an apartment locator service in Martinsville to help you find a professionally managed rental property, whether it's a two-year lease for an apartment to rent or a mortgage home. The best way to find one is through the local residents or in the Martinsville real estate services listings.
Be ready with your personal identification cards and a file that shows your capacity to pay well and on time such as payslips, your Form 1040 for individual income tax record and previous lease record. An endorsement from your employer, professional colleague or person of authority from your previous town will also make good background references.
Martinsville is a small place and hotels, malls and service shops are shared with Basking Ridge and Watchung communities. Exit 33 of Interstate 78 puts one in the midst of these communities. The nearest airports would be the Newark International and La Guardia for those flying into town. The best time to move is summer and early spring but expect road surprises with rains, heavy at times, and cold breeze for both seasons.
Get to Know the Neighborhoods
Compared to other Bridgewater communities like Thomae Park, Meadow Road Area, Milltown and Finderne which are flat, Martinsville's landscape is endowed with rolling slopes due to its location that passes through the Watchung Mountains or the Blue Hills. In some of these elevated spots, Martinsville neighborhoods offer amazing views of both New York and New Jersey skylines.
As a predominantly residential area, it is relatively easy to find property rentals in Martinsville, New Jersey. Choices range from one bedroom apartments to bigger home for rent. The areas have their fair share of hill views and are within short distance of the town proper.
Washington Valley Road: This is the busiest part of the community, where the commercial center and post office are located. Office spaces and studio apartments for rent can be found here.
Blazier Rd / Loft Dr.: Apartment rentals and townhouse style property rentalsabound here, so you're bound to find one to suit your lifestyle needs.
Brookside Dr. / Winslow Dr.: For bigger and more contemporary homes, the residential areas of Brookside Drive and Winslow Drive have nice gated lots for rent as well as mid-size contemporary homes.
Weemac Rd.: Finally, Weemac Road is an ideal place for smaller one bedroom apartments and studio apartments.
Living in Martinsville
Martinsville is among the so-called unincorporated areas in New Jersey, referring to well-defined communities that are part of a larger municipality. Law, order and organization is managed by a Township Committee.
Local non-profit organizations and civic groups teem with projects for a multitude of causes ranging from music and performance art promotion, pet protection, youth support to health and wellness programs.
Martinsville Shopping Center and the old post office (area code 908) is in Washington Valley Road, considered the town central. Diners in this strip include the Trio of Martinsville, Martinsville Deli and Marketplace, Gabriel's Fountain, Lombardi Pizza Co. and Joe's Pizza.
Park score rates high in Martinsville with the 715-acre Washington Valley Park. The Chimney Rock Hawk Watch is a popular bird-watching sanctuary today with rare sightings of broad-winged hawks, bald eagles, golden eagles and raptors.