Belleville, which means "beautiful town" in French, stands on the west bank of the Passaic River. At one time Belleville was a great center of industry and manufacturing; today it is largely residential and neighborhood commercial in nature. As of the 2000 census, Belleville had a population of approximately 36,000. A variety of housing types dot the landscape including charming 1920's and 1930's Colonial homes and 1950's and 1960's Ranches, Cape Cods and Split Levels. Belleville also has several garden apartment condominium complexes and numerous multi-family homes.
Belleville has a public school system consisting of nine schools, located throughout the township. There are seven elementary schools serving grades K-6, one middle school serving grades 7 and 8 and one high school serving grades 9-12.
Only 10 miles from Manhattan, Belleville is a commuter's dream. The newly remodeled Newark City Subway, just off Franklin Avenue, provides a convenient link to trains to mid-town Manhattan. Within minutes you can travel by car to the Garden State Parkway, Route 21 and Route 3 and Newark International Airport or the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels.
Belleville has several large supermarkets and a variety of shops. A full-time police department and a full-time fire department offer 23-hour emergency coverage. A full array of medical services is available at Clara Maas Hospital located in Belleville.