Cedar Grove is a residential township in the western part of Essex County, New Jersey, set between the ridge of the Second Watchung Mountain and the Peckman River valley, roughly 12 miles west of Manhattan. The township covers a little more than four square miles and is bordered by Verona and Montclair to the east and south, North Caldwell to the west, and Little Falls in Passaic County to the north. The community traces its municipal history to the nineteenth century, when it was formed from portions of the former Caldwell Township, and it later separated from the neighboring township of Verona. Today it is primarily a bedroom community whose residents commute to New York and to nearby employment centers in Essex and Passaic counties. Cedar Grove's built environment reflects its mid-twentieth-century suburban growth: tree-lined residential streets of Cape Cod, ranch, and split-level homes, with newer townhouse developments added in recent decades. Commercial activity is concentrated along Pompton Avenue, the township's main artery, with additional shopping and dining in the bordering communities of Montclair, Verona, and Little Falls. The township is known for its strong local school system, community recreation programs, and preserved open space. Cedar Grove Park, Mills Reservation, and the Cedar Grove Reservoir anchor a landscape that combines suburban convenience with woodland and water views. Along the western edge, the township climbs the Second Watchung Mountain, where hillside streets offer views toward the New York skyline and access to wooded trails. With roughly 13,000 residents, Cedar Grove retains the feel of a small, close-knit community while remaining within easy reach of the region's larger urban centers.