Its name comes from the Old English Wōdnesfeld meaning Woden's Field, open land belonging to, or holy to, the high god of the Germanic Pantheon.

Wednesfield lies at 52°35′59″N 2°04′58″W / 52.5998°N 2.0827°W / 52.5998; -2.0827 (52.5998°, −2.0827°), and is located to the northeast of Wolverhampton city centre on the northern fringe of the West Midlands conurbation.

[6] With reference to the Local Government Act 1858, it was a regulatory body responsible for standards of hygiene and sanitation in the township, and replaced an earlier Sanitary Committee that was established in 1856.

[13] It is part of the Wolverhampton North East constituency and is represented in the House of Commons by Sureena Brackenridge (a member of the Labour Party) following the 2024 general election.

[15] The Guru Nanak Gurdwara was opened in 1979 and is also located in the town centre, and caters for the local Sikh community, many of whom are descendants of those who immigrated to the area in the 1950s and onwards.

A part of the Gurdwara suffered fire damage in 2002 so the committee decided to demolish the original building and the rebuild was ready by 2004.

The leisure component is in the form of a multiplex cinema and bowling alley together with fast food outlets, a pub, numerous restaurants, whilst there is 14,700 m2 of retail space which includes a fitness gym.

Wednesfield is part of a network of lower order Black Country town centres, providing principally convenience shopping facilities for a local catchment area and it is surrounded by centres with a similar role including Bilston to the south, Willenhall to the south east and Bloxwich to the east.

In September 2011 retailer TK Maxx announced plans to close its city centre store in Wolverhampton and relocate to Bentley Bridge.

[18] Whilst the retail park thrives, local independent traders on the high street continue to suffer due to economic circumstances.

The station was replaced by Wolverhampton High Level in the city centre, and closed to passengers in 1873 whilst remaining open for goods traffic until 1965.

National Express West Midlands service 9 (previously 60) operates between Walsall, Pelsall, Bloxwich and Wolverhampton half hourly.

The 71 bus route by Chaserider (previously Arriva) provides an hourly link to Essington, Great Wyrley and Cannock.