Cedar Grove is a township in north central Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

Portions of the township were taken to create Verona borough, based on the results of a referendum held on April 30, 1907.

[22][23] The township's name derives from the Eastern Red Cedar trees that once covered its valley and hillsides.

In 1702, settlers purchased the 14,000 acres (57 km2) Horseneck Tract—so-called because of its irregular shape that suggested a horse's neck and head from the Lenape Native Americans for goods equal to $325.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Cedar Grove became one of the destination suburbs in Essex County among those looking to escape urban living from Newark and New York City.

[citation needed] Cedar Grove was once home to Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook Ballroom, located on Route 23, which regularly hosted well-known bands and vocalists, including Buddy Rich, Glenn Miller, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, and Jo Stafford.

The center of the township is in a valley that is about 280 feet (85 m) above sea level; however, many sections of Cedar Grove are well above 400 feet (120 m), including the Park Ridge Estates, the abandoned Essex County Hospital Center, and the eastern, southeastern and southern sections of Cedar Grove.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Lindsley and Overbrook.

A notable part of the north end of town is the Park Ridge Estates, which contains million-dollar homes.

Cedar Grove's population density is less than the surrounding towns of Montclair, Verona, and Little Falls, mainly because significant portions of Cedar Grove are owned or previously owned by county or city governments.

Mills Reservation is a county-owned park, and the Cedar Grove Reservoir property is owned by the City of Newark.

The climate is slightly colder overall during the summer and winter than in New York City because the urban heat island effect is not as prevalent.

From April to June and from September to early November, Cedar Grove enjoys temperatures from the lower 60s to upper 70s.

Snowfall is common from mid January to early March and nor'easters can bring a lot of snow.

[citation needed] The 2010 United States census counted 12,411 people, 4,523 households, and 3,216 families in the township.

The central business district starts at about Sweetwood Drive and extends to Little Falls Road just after the railroad bridge.

Cedar Grove operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under Council-Manager plan B form of municipal government, as implemented as of July 1, 1955, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission.

[49] Cedar Grove's governing body is comprised of a five-member Township Council, whose members are elected at-large for four-year terms by the voters of the municipality on a non-partisan basis as part of the municipal elections held on the second Tuesday in May in odd-numbered years.

[3][52][53][54][55] Michele Mega was elected to fill the council seat with a term expiring in June 2025 that had been held by Joseph Zichelli until he resigned from office to that the position as township manager.

[60] In August 2015, the Township Council selected Michael Maffucci to fill the vacant seat of John Zunic expiring in December 2017, who left office to serve as a New Jersey Superior Court judge.

[66][67][68] Prior to the 2010 Census, Cedar Grove had been part of the 8th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

[69] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

[71] For the 2024-2025 session, the 40th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kristin Corrado (R, Totowa) and in the General Assembly by Al Barlas (R, Cedar Grove) and Christopher DePhillips (R, Wyckoff).

As of 2025[update], the County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[74] Essex County's Commissioners are: Robert Mercado (D, District 1 – Newark's North and East Wards, parts of Central and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[75] A'Dorian Murray-Thomas (D, District 2 – Irvington, Maplewood and parts of Newark's South and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[76] Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper (D, District 3 - Newark: West and Central Wards; East Orange, Orange and South Orange; East Orange, 2026),[77] Leonard M. Luciano (D, District 4 – Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange; West Caldwell, 2026),[78] President Carlos M. Pomares (D, District 5 – Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley; Bloomfield, 2026),[79] Brendan W. Gill (D, at large; Montclair, 2026),[80] Romaine Graham (D, at large; Irvington, 2026),[81] Wayne Richardson (D, at large; Newark, 2026),[82] Patricia Sebold (D, at-large; Livingston, 2026).

[116] St. Catherine of Siena School, founded in 1958, is located on Bradford Avenue and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.

[120] Cedar Grove is also centrally located to New York City, Newark, Paterson, and Morristown.

[122] In September 2012, as part of budget cuts, NJ Transit suspended service to Newark on the 75 line.