[23][24] Livingston's history dates back to 1699 when 101 settlers from Newark wanted to move westward.

They set up a committee to negotiate with Lenni Lenape Native Americans for the purchase of the Horseneck Tract which today includes Livingston and eight other municipalities in northern Essex County.

For some unknown reasons, the Newark settlers did not obtain a grant from the proprietors before negotiating with the native tribes.

[25] The dispute came to a breaking point in September 1745 when the East Jersey proprietors began to evict a settler only six months after a house fire in Newark completely destroyed the original deed, which was the only evidence of the purchase.

[27] This series of events caused the settlers, led by Timothy Meeker, to form a group to riot against the British government.

As a suburb of Newark, the town experienced many housing developments especially after World War II with its peak in 1970 of more than thirty thousand residents.

[21] During this growth period, many services were organized including public library in 1916, volunteer Fire Department in 1922, first regular police chief in 1923, an ambulance unit in 1937 which became first aid squad in 1949.

[32][33] Today, around 30,000 people live in this suburban community, which lies around an hour's drive from New York City.

Within Essex County it is bordered by Roseland to the north, West Orange to the east, and Millburn/Short Hills to the south.

[47][48] Although largely a bedroom community, there are many stores and restaurants located in Livingston, in three main shopping areas.

With the addition of Livingston Town Center, classified as mixed-use development, new restaurants have opened as well, adding to the large number of locally owned establishments.

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, a 597-bed hospital established in 1865, is located in the southern side of the town near West Orange and Millburn.

This brings to about 25% of total land in the town that is in its natural conditions with habitats of eight threatened or endangered species.

[69][70] There are smaller parks and open space areas dedicated to recreation and sports, mostly centered around the town's public schools.

Livingston has an active open space trust fund that continues to acquire more lands for preservation and recreation.

The recreation department's variety of services and programs for adults ages 62+ includes educational, sports, special events, concerts, and locally available transportation via several new vans.

The recreation department has proven innovative in working to provide programs and services safely throughout the pandemic.

[3][79][80][81][82] In February 2024, Ketan Bhuptani, the township's first Asian-American councilmember, was sworn in to fill the seat expiring in December 2026 that became vacant after Rosy Bagolie stepped down from council and took office in the New Jersey General Assembly the previous month.

[98] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

[100] For the 2024-2025 session, the 27th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John F. McKeon (D, West Orange) and in the General Assembly by Rosy Bagolie (D, Livingston) and Alixon Collazos-Gill (D, Montclair).

As of 2025[update], the County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[103] Essex County's Commissioners are: Robert Mercado (D, District 1 – Newark's North and East Wards, parts of Central and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[104] A'Dorian Murray-Thomas (D, District 2 – Irvington, Maplewood and parts of Newark's South and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[105] Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper (D, District 3 - Newark: West and Central Wards; East Orange, Orange and South Orange; East Orange, 2026),[106] Leonard M. Luciano (D, District 4 – Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange; West Caldwell, 2026),[107] President Carlos M. Pomares (D, District 5 – Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley; Bloomfield, 2026),[108] Brendan W. Gill (D, at large; Montclair, 2026),[109] Romaine Graham (D, at large; Irvington, 2026),[110] Wayne Richardson (D, at large; Newark, 2026),[111] Patricia Sebold (D, at-large; Livingston, 2026).

When Robert Kean ran for the Senate, losing to Harrison A. Williams in 1958, Livingston's Congressman became George M. Wallhauser, a Republican.

When Peter Frelinghuysen retired in 1974, he was succeeded by Millicent Fenwick, who beat Tom Kean in a Republican primary by about 80 votes.

[155] Approximately 26.7% of the township's population 25 years and older have attained professional, Masters or Doctorate degrees.

[159] Founded as Saint Philomena School in 1952 and given its current name in 1987, Aquinas Academy is a private coeducational Roman Catholic school that serves students from preschool through eighth grade and operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.

[166] The Condit Family Cook House was built as a stand-alone summer kitchen of a farm home near the current location of Livingston Mall.

[171] OurBus company also operates a commuter route to New York City serving Livingston and West Orange.

[173][174] Rail service is accessible via the NJ Transit Morristown Line, which has several stops in adjacent communities such as Short Hills, Millburn, and South Orange.

The township provides a fee-based direct shuttle service called Livingston Express Shuttle for a 15-minute ride between Livingston Mall and South Orange station for Morristown Line trains to Midtown Manhattan and Hoboken.