Wayne, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wayne, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Township
|
||
|
High Mountain Park Preserve
Montclair-Boonton Line crossing the Passaic River
Wayne Route 23 Transit Center
Hobart Manor at William Paterson University
|
||
|
||
Map of Wayne in Passaic County. Inset: Location of Passaic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
|
||
Census Bureau map of Wayne, New Jersey
<mapframe text="Interactive map of Wayne, New Jersey" zoom="8" width="300" height="300"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geoshape", "ids": "Q1088629" } </mapframe> |
||
 Wayne, New Jersey
Location in Passaic County, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County | Passaic | |
| Incorporated | April 12, 1847 | |
| Named for | Anthony Wayne | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 25.14 sq mi (65.11 km2) | |
| • Land | 23.72 sq mi (61.44 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.42 sq mi (3.67 km2) 5.64% | |
| Area rank | 107th of 565 in state 3rd of 16 in county |
|
| Elevation | 400 ft (100 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 54,838 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
52,764 | |
| • Rank | 33rd of 565 in state 4th of 16 in county |
|
| • Density | 2,311.7/sq mi (892.6/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 269th of 565 in state 12th of 16 in county |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes |
07470, 07474
|
|
| Area code(s) | 862/973 | |
| FIPS code | 3403177840 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882314 | |
| Website | ||
Wayne is a township in Passaic County, New Jersey. It's home to William Paterson University and is less than 20 miles (32 km) from Midtown Manhattan. Wayne is a bedroom suburb of New York City and a big shopping area in North Jersey. In 2020, about 54,838 people lived here.
Wayne became a township on April 12, 1847. It was created from parts of Manchester Township. Later, Totowa was formed from parts of Wayne and Manchester Township in 1898. Some cool places to visit in Wayne include William Paterson University, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Towne Center, High Mountain Park Preserve, and Dey Mansion.
Contents
History of Wayne Township
Early Days and the Revolutionary War
In 1694, a surveyor named Arent Schuyler explored this area. He found a rich valley where the Lenape Native Americans grew crops. Schuyler and others bought 5,000 acres (20 km²) of land in 1695. This area became part of New Barbadoes Township.
During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington used the Dey Mansion as his headquarters. He stayed there in July 1780, and again in October and November 1780. Alexander Hamilton, who worked for Washington, also stayed at the house. Soldiers and generals, including Anthony Wayne (who the township is named after) and the Marquis de Lafayette, were spread out in the area.
Becoming a Township and Growth
In 1837, Passaic County was created. The area that is now Wayne became part of Manchester Township. On April 12, 1847, citizens voted to separate and named their new town Wayne.
For many years, Wayne was mostly farmland. There were also mills for grinding grain, sawing wood, and making cider. A gunpowder factory was also here.
The Preakness Horse Race Connection
In 1868, Milton H. Sanford, who owned the Preakness Stud in Wayne, bought a racehorse. He named the horse Preakness. This horse won a big race in Maryland in 1870. In 1873, a new race was named the Preakness Stakes to honor this horse. Today, the Preakness is the second race in the famous Triple Crown series.
Modern Development
The Morris Canal once ran through Wayne, moving goods and coal. Later, railroads took its place. In the early 1900s, wealthy New Yorkers came to Wayne for vacations, staying in bungalows by the lakes. After World War II, many summer homes became year-round residences. Farmlands were developed into housing, and Interstate 80 was built through the southern part of the township.
Geography and Nature
Wayne covers about 25.14 square miles (65.11 km²). About 1.42 square miles (3.67 km²) of this is water.
Wayne shares its borders with 11 other towns. These include Haledon, Little Falls, and Totowa in Passaic County. It also borders towns in Bergen, Essex, and Morris Counties.
Lakes and Communities
Wayne has several beautiful lakes with communities built around them. These include Packanack Lake, Pines Lake, Lions Head Lake, Tom's Lake, and Pompton Lake. The Passaic River also flows through Wayne. Sometimes, areas near the river and Willowbrook Mall can experience flooding.
Climate
Wayne has a climate with warm summers and cold winters.
| Climate data for Wayne, New Jersey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38 (3) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
61 (16) |
72 (22) |
80 (27) |
86 (30) |
83 (28) |
76 (24) |
64 (18) |
54 (12) |
42 (6) |
62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20 (−7) |
21 (−6) |
30 (−1) |
40 (4) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
64 (18) |
63 (17) |
55 (13) |
42 (6) |
34 (1) |
25 (−4) |
42 (6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.14 (105) |
2.99 (76) |
4.28 (109) |
4.34 (110) |
4.81 (122) |
4.45 (113) |
4.59 (117) |
4.34 (110) |
5.30 (135) |
3.92 (100) |
4.43 (113) |
3.91 (99) |
51.50 (1,308) |
Population and People
Wayne has grown steadily over the years. In 2020, the population was 54,838.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,162 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,355 | 16.6% | |
| 1870 | 1,521 | 12.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,757 | 15.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,004 | 14.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,985 | * | −0.9% |
| 1910 | 2,281 | 14.9% | |
| 1920 | 2,302 | 0.9% | |
| 1930 | 4,469 | 94.1% | |
| 1940 | 6,868 | 53.7% | |
| 1950 | 11,822 | 72.1% | |
| 1960 | 29,353 | 148.3% | |
| 1970 | 49,141 | 67.4% | |
| 1980 | 46,474 | −5.4% | |
| 1990 | 47,025 | 1.2% | |
| 2000 | 54,069 | 15.0% | |
| 2010 | 54,717 | 1.2% | |
| 2020 | 54,838 | 0.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 52,764 | −3.6% | |
| Population sources: 1850–1920 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
|||
Diversity in Wayne
Wayne has become more diverse over time. From 2000 to 2010, the number of people from minority groups increased. Some groups include Indian Americans and Korean Americans.
Economy and Shopping
Wayne used to be home to the main office for Toys "R" Us in the United States. Now, a medical device company called Getinge is located there. Valley Bank also has its main office in Wayne.
Willowbrook Mall is a large indoor shopping mall in Wayne. It has two levels and about 200 stores. It's one of the biggest malls in New Jersey. The mall was updated in 2018–2019 with new floors, lights, and restaurants. A 12-screen Cinemark movie theater was also built there. Next to the mall is the Wayne Towne Center, which has another movie theater.
Sports and Recreation
Wayne has a proud sports history. The town was home to the 1970 Little League World Series Champions. The famous Preakness Stakes horse race is named after a horse from Wayne's Preakness Stud.
The Ice Vault in Wayne is a popular ice rink. World-class figure skaters like Johnny Weir train here. It's also home to hockey teams, including the William Paterson University ice hockey team.
The Preakness Hills Country Club, with its golf course, was designed by Willie Tucker. It opened in 1929.
Education in Wayne
Wayne has a strong public school system. The Wayne Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. There are 15 schools in the district.
Public Schools
- Preakness Early Childhood Center (PreK)
- Ten elementary schools (Kindergarten to 5th grade): Randall Carter, Theunis Dey, James Fallon, John F. Kennedy, Lafayette, Packanack, Pines Lake, Ryerson, and Albert P. Terhune.
- Three middle schools (6th to 8th grade): Schuyler-Colfax, George Washington, and Anthony Wayne.
- Two high schools (9th to 12th grade): Wayne Hills High School and Wayne Valley High School. Students go to one or the other based on where they live.
Passaic County Technical Institute is a regional high school for students interested in vocational and technical subjects. It has a new building for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs.
Private Schools
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School (K–8)
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy Catholic School (K–8)
- DePaul Catholic High School (9–12)
- Al-Ghazaly High School, an Islamic high school (7–12)
- Pioneer Academy, a private school (K–12)
Higher Education
William Paterson University, founded in 1855, is a large university in Wayne. It has over 11,500 students in its college programs.
Passaic County Community College also has a Public Safety Academy in Wayne. It trains firefighters and emergency medical workers. There's also a Police Academy for police recruits.
Transportation
Wayne has many roads and highways that help people get around.
Major Roads
Major roads in Wayne include Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, U.S. Route 202, and Route 23.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit offers train service from Wayne at the Mountain View and Wayne Route 23 stations. These trains go to Hoboken Terminal, where you can connect to trains going to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
Buses also provide service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Local bus routes connect different parts of Wayne and nearby towns.
Wayne is also close to major airports. It's about 25.9 miles (41.7 km) from Newark Liberty International Airport and 30 miles (48 km) from LaGuardia Airport.
Notable People from Wayne
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Wayne. Here are a few:
- David Ackroyd (born 1940), an actor.
- Marina Alex (born 1990), a professional golfer.
- Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959), a famous film director.
- Lisa Edelstein (born 1966), an actress known for the TV show House.
- Jazmine Fenlator (born 1985), an Olympic bobsledder.
- Alice Guy-Blaché (1873–1968), a French pioneer and one of the first female filmmakers.
- Brandon Jacobs (born 1982), a running back who played for the New York Giants.
- Jonathan Lebed (born 1984), a stock trader.
- Marc Maron (born 1963), a comedian and podcaster.
- Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels (born 1964), a hip hop artist from Run-D.M.C..
- Greg Olsen (born 1985), a former NFL tight end and now a sports commentator.
- Sam Porcello (1935–2012), a food scientist who helped develop the Oreo cookie filling.
- Queen Latifah (born 1970), a famous singer and actress.
- Ryan Quigley (born 1990), a punter for the New York Jets.
- Robert A. Roe (1924–2014), a former U.S. Representative and mayor of Wayne.
- Francesca Russo (born 1995), an Olympic fencer.
- Danielle Staub (born 1962), a cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
- Holly Taylor (born 1997), an actress known for the TV series The Americans.
- Albert Payson Terhune (1872–1942), an author known for his dog stories.
- David Tyree (born 1980), a wide receiver for the New York Giants.
- Kathy Wakile (born 1965), a cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
See also
In Spanish: Wayne (Nueva Jersey) para niños
