The first European settlers who arrived in Maplewood around 1675 were primarily English, Dutch and French Puritans. In 1838 when the Morris and Essex railroad from Newark was extended to the area, a land speculator by the name of John Shedden built a railroad station in Jefferson Village and named it Maplewood.

Today, with a population of almost 23,000 residents and a convenient location about 20 miles from Manhattan, Maplewood remains the perfect community for many. Commuting to Manhattan and Hoboken is convenient from the Maplewood train station which is serviced by NJ Transit.

The community prides itself on being diverse and family-friendly, and in a number of surveys, it has been ranked among the most desirable places to live in the United States.
Many of the town's most recognizable buildings and spaces were the work of famous architects and landscape designers. The picturesque center of town is dominated by Memorial Park, a design of the Olmsted Brothers. The downtown area has its own movie theater, unique shops, a supermarket and a number of fine restaurants.

Maplewood schools are part of the unified South Orange-Maplewood school district, together with the neighboring community of South Orange. There are six elementary schools, and two middle schools (Maplewood Middle School and South Orange Middle School). The combined district features one public high school, Columbia High School.

This quaint town plays host to an abundance of recreational activities. Maplewood sits next to the south Mountain Reservation, a 2,000 acre preserve that includes hiking trails and picnic grounds. The town also features six parks and an award winning community pool.