Nutley is a compact township in northern Essex County along the Third River and the Passaic County border. It is primarily residential but includes neighborhood business districts, schools, parks, apartment communities, offices, and a major healthcare and research campus on former industrial land. Franklin Avenue serves as the main commercial corridor, while Route 21 runs along the eastern side and provides access to Newark, Clifton, and the regional highway network. The township maintains an extensive chain of parks and greenways following the river, giving many neighborhoods direct access to recreation space. Nutley developed from earlier mill and manufacturing settlements into a close-knit suburban community. It borders Clifton, Bloomfield, Belleville, Lyndhurst, and North Arlington. Its location places it near New York City transportation routes, major Essex County institutions, and employment centers throughout the Meadowlands and Newark region.