Wayne occupies a broad section of western Passaic County, where suburban neighborhoods, commercial corridors, wooded areas, and river valleys meet. Routes 23, 46, and 202 cross the township, and Interstate 80 runs along its southern edge, giving Wayne direct connections to Paterson, Morris County, and the rest of northern New Jersey. The township is home to William Paterson University, Willowbrook Mall, several business and retail districts, and a large system of parks and recreation facilities. The Passaic, Pompton, and Pequannock rivers shape parts of the local landscape, while nearby hills mark the transition toward the Highlands. Wayne developed from a collection of smaller settlements into one of Passaic County’s largest suburban municipalities. Its neighborhoods range from compact areas near older town centers to lower-density sections with larger lots, lakes, and wooded surroundings.