Cedar Grove is a township in northwestern Essex County along the First Watchung Mountain. It borders Little Falls, North Caldwell, Verona, Montclair, and Clifton, creating close connections with both Essex and Passaic counties. Route 23 is the main north-south corridor, while local roads lead toward Route 46, Interstate 80, and the business districts of Montclair and the Caldwells. The township is largely residential, with schools, parks, houses of worship, professional offices, shopping areas, and healthcare facilities. Mills Reservation and other wooded lands preserve portions of the Watchung ridge, while the Peckman River valley shapes lower areas. Cedar Grove developed from rural settlements and institutional properties into an established suburb with a compact commercial center. Its hilly terrain, open space, and access to nearby transportation corridors distinguish it from the denser municipalities closer to Newark and Paterson.