Manville

Located at the heart of New Jersey’s Raritan Valley, the small borough of Manville is a hidden oasis of culture, cuisine, and convenience.

Manville takes its name from the Johns-Manville Corporation, a New York-based roofing material company that once operated a large factory in the borough. Manville was established in 1929 as American industry boomed, and its factory jobs attracted immigrants from Ukraine and Poland, whose legacy lives on in the town’s restaurants and the Sacred Heart Summer Festival. The town retains some traces of industry, from its iron works to the convergence of railroads at the town’s eastern end.

Perhaps due to its location in a semi-rural section of Somerset County, Manville has retained its vintage look a century later. Realtor Stephen Strickland of Strickland Realty says, “The typical home styles are bi-levels and split-levels; you find good houses for good prices.” Manville’s homes tend to sell for between $375,000 and $400,000, making this community one of the least expensive locales in New Jersey, and especially in the New York commuter belt. Homes dating to the early decades of the 20th century sit beside more recently-constructed ranch-style and bungalow homes, and many residences feature the classic colonial aesthetic.

Manville’s character brings together its industrial past with its small-town present. “It’s a great commuter town with a really nice downtown and Main Street area, a big draw here,” says Strickland. “It’s one of the smaller towns in Somerset County; I wouldn’t call it a city, but it’s more city-like than most towns in Somerset County.” Main Street serves as the town’s retail hub, with around a dozen restaurants lining this major thoroughfare. Among the most popular is Manville Pizza & Restaurant, a fixture of the community since 1969. This pizzeria not only sells New York-style pizzas and calzones, but also its own homemade tomato sauce. Another hidden gem of this community is Grub Hut Unique BBQ & Mexican Grill, a small restaurant with big portions.

Manville’s retail scene is unique for a small town; not only does the Marketplace at Manville feature a Walmart and a hibachi buffet, but this town is also home to a Reading Cinemas theater that sells beer and cocktails in addition to fresh popcorn for a classy movie-watching experience. A taste of Manville’s rich history can be had at the Polish Pickle Deli, a decades-old supermarket with an “Old World” feel. Visitors who enter this shop will see freshly made Polish kielbasa sausages hanging in the kitchen with other deli meats ready for sale, while this store’s isles are well-stocked with Eastern European classics from goulash to sauerkraut. This store also bakes its own bread and pastries, topping off its gourmet selection.

Manville’s low-key nature, yet vibrant character contributes greatly to this community’s appeal. Strickland says, “It’s a cool, casual place to be and just walk; you can pick up coffee at one place and dessert at another. It’s not that big, but it’s a cool, happening place.” Among residents’ favorite places to engage in outdoor recreation are the riverside Dukes Park, popular for fishing, and the sprawling, 2,700-acre Duke Farms park, home to a historic farm as well as vast swathes of trails and flora.

Local students attend Weston and Roosevelt Elementary Schools, Alexander Batcho Intermediate School for middle school, and Manville High School, one of the highest-performing public high schools in the state.

Tucked into New Jersey’s interior, Manville allows for residents to commute into both New York City and Philadelphia within an hour and a half’s drive.

A small town rich in culture, nature, and opportunities for both work and fun, Manville has a character and charm with a unique appeal.

Written By

Hannah Rainey

Video By

Grace Kim