Pompton Lakes is a borough in northern Passaic County where several rivers and streams meet near the edge of the New Jersey Highlands. The community developed around waterpower, mills, manufacturing, and regional road connections. Wanaque Avenue forms the traditional downtown, with shops, restaurants, civic buildings, schools, houses of worship, and residential streets. Route 23 and Interstate 287 are nearby, providing access toward Wayne, Oakland, Mahwah, and the wider region. Pompton Lake and the river corridors contribute to recreation and local scenery while also shaping development and floodplain areas. The borough contains a mix of older homes, apartment buildings, local businesses, parks, and industrial properties. Pompton Lakes borders Riverdale, Pequannock, Wayne, Wanaque, and Oakland, placing it at an important transition between suburban Passaic County and the more wooded Highlands communities to the north.