Wayne, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Wayne is a township in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Home to William Paterson University and located less than Template:Convert from Midtown Manhattan, the township is a bedroom suburb of New York City and regional commercial hub of North Jersey.<ref>Lynn, Kathleen."Living In Wayne, N.J.: Good Schools, Water Views and Retail Vacancies" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, August 8, 2018. Accessed August 25, 2022.</ref> As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 54,838,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 121 (+0.2%) from the 2010 census count of 54,717,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 648 (+1.2%) from the 54,069 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010 Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

Wayne was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 12, 1847, from portions of Manchester Township. Totowa was formed from portions of Wayne and Manchester Township on March 15, 1898.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 211. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref><ref>Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896–1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 312. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 22, 2015.</ref> Points of interest include William Paterson University, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Towne Center, High Mountain Park Preserve, and Dey Mansion.

History

In 1694, Arent Schuyler, a surveyor, trader and land speculator, was sent by the British into northwestern New Jersey to investigate rumors that the French were trying to incite the local Lenape Native Americans to rebel against them. He found no evidence of a rebellion, but discovered a fertile river valley where the Lenape grew crops. Schuyler reported his findings to the British and then convinced a group including Major Anthony Brockholst and Samuel Bayard to invest in the land he referred to as the Pompton Valley. The group chose Schuyler to be the negotiator with the Lenape and Bayard to negotiate with the East Jersey Company, the owner of the land rights from the King of England. The group completed their purchase of Template:Convert on November 11, 1695, and the area became part of what was then known as New Barbadoes Township in Bergen County.<ref name=WayneHistory>History of Wayne Template:Webarchive, Wayne Township Historical Commission. Accessed January 16, 2012. "Samual Bayard was chosen to deal with the East Jersey Company who had the land rights from the King of England. Approximately 5,000 acres were purchased for 250 pounds and wampum (shells the size and shape of a cigarette used for barter). The purchase of the land was concluded on November 11, 1695. The area now known as Wayne Township then became part of New Barbadoes in Essex County.... Over the years Wayne has had nationally known individuals as residents: namely Albert Payson Terhune, the famous writer of collie dog books; Cecil DeMille, the movie mogul; and LeGrand Parish, the inventor of the Westinghouse air brake, a coupling device, and fire brick boxes."</ref> Schuyler constructed the Schuyler-Colfax House at this time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1710, the area became part of Saddle River Township. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington made his headquarters at the Dey Mansion, first in July 1780, and again in October and November 1780. Alexander Hamilton, Washington's aide-de-camp, stayed at the house with him. Troops and generals were spread throughout the area during encampments, including the township's namesake Anthony Wayne and the Marquis de Lafayette, who made his headquarters at the nearby Van Saun House.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 22, 2015.</ref><ref>General Anthony Wayne Template:Webarchive, Township of Wayne. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Anthony Wayne – for whom Wayne Township is named – was born on New Year's Day, 1745, at Waynesborough, near Paoli, Pennsylvania."</ref> Near the end of the war, Arent Schuyler's granddaughter Hester Schuyler married William Colfax, a member of Washington's Life Guard, and they lived together at the Schuyler-Colfax House.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1837, Passaic County was formed from portions of Bergen County, and the area became part of the new Manchester Township. On April 12, 1847, the first township organization meeting was held, and the citizens voted to split from Manchester and named the new municipality Wayne.<ref>History of Wayne Template:Webarchive, Township of Wayne. Accessed March 12, 2020.</ref>

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Wayne remained predominantly agricultural, with some industry in the form of grist, saw, and cider mills, blacksmiths, and a Laflin & Rand gunpowder plant. Numerous farmsteads in the township employed slaves until gradual abolition began in New Jersey in 1804; however, the practice continued in some instances under the veil of "apprenticeship" until the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865.

In 1868, Milton H. Sanford, owner of the Preakness Stud, purchased a racehorse for $4,000, naming it Preakness, after the Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation established by him in the Preakness section of Wayne. On the horse's maiden start, he was entered into the inaugural "Dinner Party Stakes" at the new Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, winning the race on October 25, 1870. In 1873, Pimlico ran its first race for three year-olds and named it the Preakness Stakes, in honor of the first horse to win a race at the track. Today, the Preakness is the second race in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing.<ref>Meredith, Jon "Ferris". "Telling the Story of Preakness: Through the Eyes of the Filmmaker" Template:Webarchive, TAP into Wayne, October 6, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2020. "Sired by the famed thoroughbred stud Lexington and carried by a mare named Bay Leaf, Preakness was born in Kentucky in 1867, was purchased at auction by wealthy Jute manufacturer Milton Holbrook Sanford for $4,000 and named after Sanford's stables in Wayne, New Jersey."</ref>

The Morris Canal ran through the southwestern part of Wayne, carrying produce to markets and coal from Pennsylvania. The canal was replaced by the railroad at the end of the 19th century. In the early 20th century Wayne grew as a vacation retreat for wealthy New Yorkers who came by train to stay in bungalows along the area's lakes. New Jersey Route 23 and U.S. Route 46 were constructed across the township during the Great Depression.

During World War II, summer bungalows were converted to year-round residences to accommodate people moving to Wayne to work in war-related industries. Following the war, Wayne suburbanized as farmlands were turned into housing developments, and Interstate 80 was built through the southern part of the township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 25.14 square miles (65.11 km²), including 23.72 square miles (61.44 km²) of land and 1.42 square miles (3.67 km²) of water (5.64%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Wayne shares its borders with 11 neighboring municipalities: Haledon, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes and Totowa in Passaic County; Franklin Lakes and Oakland in Bergen County; Fairfield Township and North Caldwell in Essex County; and Lincoln Park and Pequannock Township in Morris County.<ref>Areas touching Wayne Template:Webarchive, MapIt. Accessed March 12, 2020.</ref><ref>Passaic County Map Template:Webarchive, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 12, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 8, 2022.</ref>

Neighborhoods and lake communities

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Barbours Mills, Barbours Pond, Lower Preakness, Mountain View, Packanack Lake, Pines Lake, Point View, Pompton Falls, Preakness and Two Bridges.<ref>Locality Search Template:Webarchive, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

Wayne has a number of lakes, with distinct communities and neighborhoods located around them. These include Packanack Lake, Pines Lake, Lions Head Lake, Tom's Lake and Pompton Lake (half of which is in Wayne). The Passaic River also flows through a portion of Wayne and often floods near Willowbrook Mall and riverside neighborhoods.

Demographics

2020 census

Wayne township, Passaic County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 1990<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	43,623	46,766	44,030	39,997	92.77%	86.49%	80.47%	72.93%
Black or African American alone (NH)	465	843	1,124	1,639	0.99%	1.56%	2.05%	2.99%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	29	41	34	26	0.06%	0.08%	0.06%	0.05%
Asian alone (NH)	1,437	3,056	4,441	5,167	3.06%	5.65%	8.12%	9.42%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	N/A	8	9	0	N/A	0.01%	0.02%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	24	47	103	218	0.05%	0.09%	0.19%	0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	N/A	554	641	1,352	N/A	1.02%	1.17%	2.47%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,447	2,754	4,335	6,439	3.08%	5.09%	7.92%	11.74%
Total	47,025	54,069	54.717	54,838	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 54,717 people, 19,127 households, and 14,230 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 19,768 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 86.07% (47,097) White, 2.28% (1,247) Black or African American, 0.09% (51) Native American, 8.18% (4,478) Asian, 0.02% (11) Pacific Islander, 1.80% (985) from other races, and 1.55% (848) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.92% (4,335) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 19,127 households, 33.0% had children under the age of 18; 62.9% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.6% were non-families. Of all households, 22.2% were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $100,638 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,630) and the median family income was $117,745 (+/− $5,252). Males had a median income of $80,420 (+/− $5,367) versus $54,413 (+/− $2,379) for females. The per capita income for the township was $40,875 (+/− $1,473). About 2.2% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wayne township, Passaic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 16, 2012.</ref>

Same-sex couples headed 105 households in 2010, an increase from the 75 counted in 2000.<ref>Lipman, Harvy; and Sheingold, Dave. "North Jersey sees 30% growth in same-sex couples", The Record, August 14, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 3, 2013. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref>

While Wayne has been and remains predominantly White, it has increased in diversity over the years. From 2000 to 2010, the percentage of every minority group has gone up. Some of the prevalent ethnic minority groups include Indian Americans at 3.0% and Korean Americans at 2.0%, while Puerto Ricans were 2.3% of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 54,069 people, 18,755 households, and 14,366 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,269.5/mi² (876.4/km²). There were 19,218 housing units at an average density of 806.7/mi² (806.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.05% White, 1.66% African American, 0.10% Native American, 5.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.09% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Wayne township, Passaic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Wayne township, Passaic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2012.</ref>

There were 18,755 households, out of which 34.4% had related children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.19.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the age distribution of the population shows 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $83,651, and the median income for a family was $95,114. Males had a median income of $61,271 versus $39,835 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,349. About 1.6% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

File:Willowbrook Mall - Wayne, New Jersey.jpg

Interior of Willowbrook Mall

Wayne was home to the Toys "R" Us United States corporate headquarters,<ref>About Toys "R" Us, Inc. Template:Webarchive, Toys "R" Us, Inc. Accessed August 22, 2014. "Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 employees worldwide."</ref> before it filed for Chaper 11 bankruptcy in September 2017 and ceased to operate as an independent, publicly-traded firm. Brands associated with the former toy-retailer firm were acquired by Tru Kids.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The former Toys "R" Us headquarters at One Geoffrey Way is now home to medical device manufacturer Getinge, housing their United States sales, service and training operations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wayne continues to host the headquarters of the Valley Bank (formerly Valley National Bank) corporate headquarters.<ref>Company Information Template:Webarchive, Valley National Bank. Accessed August 22, 2014. "Valley National Bancorp is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey with $16 billion in assets."</ref> JVC has their US office in Wayne and employ approximately 19,040.<ref>http://www.jvc.com Template:Webarchive › Company</ref>

Willowbrook Mall is a two-level indoor shopping mall in the township, the fourth-largest mall in the state, featuring 200 retail establishments and a gross leasable area of Template:Convert.<ref>Willowbrook Mall Template:Webarchive, Malls and Outlets. Accessed June 12, 2015.</ref> The Willowbrook Mall went through a renovation in 2018–19 that added new flooring, lighting, seating and a few new restaurants. Sears was closed and a Sears Tire Center was demolished; a 12-screen state-of-the-art Cinemark movie theater was built in its place.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Adjacent to it is the Wayne Towne Center regional shopping center, which features a movie theater under the AMC brand.

Sports

Wayne is the home of the 1970 Little League World Series Champions.<ref>Little League World Series Champions Template:Webarchive, FactMonster.com. Accessed January 16, 2012.</ref> The Preakness Stakes, a race in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, was named after a race horse from Wayne's Preakness Stud, who won the Dinner-Stakes race at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, sponsored by the Maryland Jockey Club on October 25, 1870.<ref>The History of Wayne Township Template:Webarchive, Wayne Township. Accessed August 25, 2007. "Another national celebrity was the Preakness horse. Purchased in 1868 by Milton Holbrook Sandford, owner of the Preakness Stud at the corner of Valley Road and Preakness Avenue, for $4,000. On his maiden start Preakness was entered into the 'Dinner Plate Stakes' at the new Pimlico race Track in Maryland. Preakness won the first race on October 25th, 1870. In 1873 the Maryland Jockey Club started a new racing classic for three-year-olds and named it The Preakness in honor of the first horse to win a race at Pimlico."</ref>

Wayne is home to the Ice Vault ice rink, where world-class figure skaters such as Johnny Weir and Stéphane Lambiel train and 1992 Olympic figure skating gold medalist Viktor Petrenko coaches.<ref>Ice Vault Figure Skating Pro Staff Template:Webarchive, Ice Vault. Accessed June 28, 2008.</ref><ref>SwissInfo.Ch: Lambiel Makes Coach Swap to Raise Stakes June 6, 2008</ref> The rink is also home to hockey teams such as the New Jersey Bandits, the New Jersey Hitmen and the William Paterson University ice hockey team.<ref>Home Page Template:Webarchive, Ice Vault. Accessed June 12, 2015.</ref>

Noted golf course architect Willie Tucker designed the Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne. Formed as a club in 1926, the golf course was completed in 1929.<ref name=Preakness>Club History Template:Webarchive, Preakness Hills Country Club. Accessed May 25, 2020. "Plans for the Preakness Hills course were drawn up in 1926. The full 18-hole course opened in April 1929, and played to a par of 72 at 6,400 yards."</ref>

Government

Local government

Wayne is governed under the Mayor-Council plan F system of municipal government under the Faulkner Act, as implemented on January 1, 1962, by direct petition.<ref name=Council/><ref>"The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 4, 2013.</ref> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the township council. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to serve a four-year term. The township council, which forms the legislative branch of the township government, is comprised of nine members elected to four-year terms of office, of which three council members are elected at-large and one member is elected from each of six wards. All members of the governing body are chosen on a partisan basis as part of the November general election in odd-numbered years, with the six ward seats up for election together, and two years later, the three at-large seats and the mayoral seat all up for vote.<ref name=DataBook>2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2006, p. 169.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" Template:Webarchive, p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, Wayne's mayor is Republican Christopher P. Vergano, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.<ref name=Mayor>Office of the Mayor Template:Webarchive, Township of Wayne. Accessed January 28, 2018.</ref> Members of the township council are Council President Franco Mazzei (R, 2023; Ward 3), Jason J. DeStefano (R, 2025; at-large), Jonathan Ettman (R, 2023; Ward 6), Richard Jasterzbski (R, 2023; Ward 1), Francine Ritter (D, 2023; Ward 5), Al Sadowski (R, 2023; Ward 2), Jill M. Sasso (R, 2025; at-large), Joseph Scuralli (R, 2023; Ward 4), and David Varano (R, 2025; at-large).<ref name=Council>Township Council Template:Webarchive, Township of Wayne. Accessed May 1, 2022. "On January 1, 1962, Wayne Township adopted the Mayor-Council Plan of the Optional Municipal Charter Law of New Jersey commonly known as the Faulkner Act.... The Mayor-Council Plan of the Faulkner Act is a 'strong mayor' form of government. A nine-member Council forms the Legislative Branch of the township government. One Council member is elected from each of the six wards and three are elected at-large each with a term of four years."</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Wayne. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=PassaicDirectory>Passaic County 2021 Directory Template:Webarchive, Passaic County, New Jersey, updated as of April 2021. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Passaic2021>2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results Template:Webarchive, Passaic County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Passaic2019>General Election November 5, 2019 Summary Report Passaic County Official Results, Passaic County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

Ritter's win in 2019, defeating then-incumbent Lucy "Aileen" Rivera, was the first time local voters elected any Democrats since Christopher McIntyre got defeated by Rivera in 2015;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> before McIntyre won in 1995, there had not been any Democrats on the council in at least 20 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $12,559, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.<ref>Marcus, Samantha. "These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties" Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 22, 2019. Accessed November 5, 2019. "The average property tax bill in New Jersey was $8,767 last year. But there can be big swings from town to town and county to county.... The average property tax bill in Wayne Township was $12,559 in 2018, the highest in Passaic County."</ref>

Emergency services

The Township's Police Department consists of 126 sworn officers and is led by Chief Joseph Rooney.<ref>Wayne Police Hiring Entry-Level Officer, August 14, 2024, Wayne NJ Patch. Accessed March 20, 2025.</ref>

The Wayne Fire Department is comprised of five volunteer companies, consisting of a total of eleven pumpers, three aerial towers/ladders, one brush pumper, one squad truck, multiple boats, one rescue truck, and one Special Emergency Response Team vehicle.<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive, Township of Wayne. Accessed October 4, 2022.</ref>

The Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad provides round the clock volunteer emergency medical services to the residents of Wayne, utilizing six ambulances, a mass casualty bus, a heavy rescue vehicle and boats, and operates out of 2 stations located in the township.<ref>[2] Template:Webarchive, Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad. Accessed October 4, 2022.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Wayne is located in the 9th and 11th Congressional Districts<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011–2020 Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Prior to the 2010 Census, Wayne had been part of the Template:Ushr, 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.<ref name=LWV2011>2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, p. 66, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 35,661 registered voters in Wayne, of which 8,538 (23.9% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 11,180 (31.4% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 15,933 (44.7% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 10 voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Passaic Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.2% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 83.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 54.8% of the vote (13,983 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 44.2% (11,283 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (243 votes), among the 25,709 ballots cast by the township's 37,431 registered voters (200 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 68.7%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 14,803 votes (53.9% vs. 37.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 11,853 votes (43.1% vs. 58.8%) and other candidates with 265 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 27,486 ballots cast by the township's 36,386 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Passaic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 15,013 votes (54.9% vs. 42.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 11,582 votes (42.4% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 190 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 27,331 ballots cast by the township's 35,463 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.1% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Passaic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|55.0% 16,252	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|40.9% 12,085	4.1% 1,077
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.0% 16,455	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|46.9% 15,125	2.1% 354
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|53.5% 14,180	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|42.7% 11,311	2.9% 763
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name="2012Election">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|54.8% 13,983	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|44.2% 11,283	1.0% 243
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">2008 Presidential General Election Results: Passaic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 11, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|53.9% 14,803	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.1% 11,583	1.0% 265
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">2004 Presidential Election: Passaic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 11, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|54.9% 15,013	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|42.4% 11,582	0.7% 190

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.2% of the vote (10,824 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.8% (5,364 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (168 votes), among the 16,595 ballots cast by the township's 37,825 registered voters (239 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 10,246 votes (57.1% vs. 43.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 6,623 votes (36.9% vs. 50.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 769 votes (4.3% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 101 votes (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 17,930 ballots cast by the township's 35,321 registered voters, yielding a 50.8% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Passaic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>

It is the only polity outside of the country of Georgia to officially recognize the Circassian genocide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Public schools

The Wayne Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Wayne Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Wayne Township Public Schools. Composition: The Wayne Township Public School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Wayne."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of 15 schools, had an enrollment of 7,746 students and 677.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Wayne Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Wayne Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are Preakness Early Childhood Center<ref>Preakness Early Childhood Center, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (198 students; in PreK), Randall Carter Elementary School<ref>Randall Carter Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (309; K–5), Theunis Dey Elementary School<ref>Theunis Dey Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (435; K–5), James Fallon Elementary School<ref>James Fallon Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (373; K–5), John F. Kennedy Elementary School<ref>John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (377; K–5), Lafayette Elementary School<ref>Lafayette Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (311; K–5), Packanack Elementary School<ref>Packanack Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (406; K–5), Pines Lake Elementary School<ref>Pines Lake Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (387; K–5), Ryerson Elementary School<ref>Ryerson Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (237; K–5), Albert P. Terhune Elementary School<ref>Albert P. Terhune Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (373; K–5), Schuyler-Colfax Middle School<ref>Schuyler-Colfax Middle School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (621; 6–8), George Washington Middle School<ref>George Washington Middle School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (508; 6–8), Anthony Wayne Middle School<ref>Anthony Wayne Middle School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (665; 6–8), Wayne Hills High School<ref>Wayne Hills High School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (1,182; 9-12 - serving students living on and north of Ratzer Road) and Wayne Valley High School<ref>Wayne Valley High School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.</ref> (1,241; 9–12 - serving students living south of Ratzer Road).<ref>2023–24 Public School Directory, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Wayne Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Wayne Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Passaic County Technical Institute is a regional vocational public high school that serves students from Passaic County.<ref>School Profile Template:Webarchive, Passaic County Technical Institute. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref> In 2018 PCTI inaugurated a new building specifically for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Private schools

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy Catholic School<ref>St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Accessed July 30, 2013.</ref> and DePaul Catholic High School serve students in grades 9–12,<ref>Home Page Template:Webarchive, DePaul Catholic High School. Accessed August 16, 2015.</ref> both operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.<ref>Passaic County Schools Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson Catholic Schools Office. Accessed August 16, 2015.</ref> Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, which had opened in 1959 for students in grades K–8 and had been recognized in 2007 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, closed at the end of the 2023–24 school year due to dropping enrollment and fiscal deficits.<ref>National Blue Ribbon School Template:Webarchive, Immaculate Heart of Mary School. Accessed July 30, 2013.</ref><ref>DeVencentis, Phil. "Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Wayne to shut down. Here's what we know", The Record, May 17, 2024. Accessed January 21, 2025. "Another Catholic school will permanently shut its doors after graduation next month due to low enrollment and a widening deficit. Immaculate Heart of Mary School near Packanack Lake on Ratzer Road is projected to have 135 students next year — 17 fewer than it has now.... The school, which opened in September 1959, serves pre-K through eighth grade."</ref>

Al-Ghazaly High School, an Islamic high school for students in seventh through twelfth grades, opened at a new facility in Wayne in September 2013, relocating from a site in Teaneck, where the school had been based since 1984.<ref>Burrow, Megan. "Al-Ghazaly Elementary School in Teaneck readies for opening" Template:Webarchive, Teaneck Suburbanite, August 29, 2013. Accessed October 4, 2013. "Iman El-Dessouky, a board member at Al-Ghazaly School, said the change was precipitated when the school secured a bigger building for its high school students in Wayne.... Originally, El-Dessouky said, the school planned to use the Teaneck campus for pre-kindergarten through first grade students, but after the school held an open house for parents and prospective students earlier this month, the board decided to expand its offerings up to third grade."</ref>

Pioneer Academy, a private school, is a regionally accredited independent school that serves grades K–12.<ref>Home Page Template:Webarchive, Pioneer Academy. Accessed April 12, 2017.</ref>

Post-secondary education

William Paterson University, founded in 1855, has over 11,500 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.<ref>"University Facts" Template:Webarchive. William Paterson University. Accessed March 4, 2014.</ref>

Passaic County Community College's Public Safety Academy (PSA) on Oldham Road offers training and facilities for fire fighting and emergency medical personnel.<ref>"Public Safety Academy" Template:Webarchive. Passaic County Community College. Accessed March 4, 2014.</ref> Adjacent to it is the Passaic County Police Academy, where police recruits and alternate route candidates are given basic police training.

Transportation

File:2021-06-16 15 18 31 View east along Interstate 80 (Bergen-Passaic Expressway) from the overpass for northbound New Jersey State Route 23 in Wayne Township, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg

Interstate 80 eastbound past Route 23 in Wayne

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Passaic County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Passaic County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.</ref>

Wayne is crisscrossed by several major roadways, including Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, U.S. Route 202, Route 23, County Route 502, and County Route 504.

Public transportation

File:Wayne-Route 23 station platform.jpg

Wayne Route 23 Train Station

Wayne is served by NJ Transit at the Mountain View<ref>Mountain View station Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref> and Wayne Route 23 stations,<ref>Wayne-Route 23 station Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref> offering service to Hoboken Terminal, with connections to Midtown Direct trains to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan on the Montclair-Boonton Line.<ref>Montclair-Boonton Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref> Wayne-Route 23 station opened in January 2008 and offers train service via the Montclair-Boonton Line. There is regular bus service into the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 194 Newfoundland-New York route and the 198 William Paterson University-New York route on weekends, with local service on the 748 Paterson-Willowbrook route (except Sunday).<ref>"NJ Transit Celebrates Opening Of New Wayne/Route 23 Transit Center; Intermodal facility opens to bus commuters on January 12; rail service begins January 14" Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit press release dated January 11, 2008. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref>

NJ Transit provides bus service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 191, 193, 194, 195 and 324; to Newark on the 11 and 28 (Saturday and Sunday only) routes, with local service provided on the 873, 704, 705, 712, 744, and 748 routes.<ref>Passaic County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref><ref>Passaic County System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed August 16, 2015.</ref> In September 2012, as part of budget cuts, NJ Transit suspended service to Newark on the 75 line.<ref>Rouse, Karen. "N.J. Transit bus No. 75, running from Passaic County to Newark, will no longer operate" Template:Webarchive, The Record, August 29, 2012. Accessed August 5, 2015. "Starting Saturday, the NJ Transit No. 75 bus – which runs from Butler through Pompton Lakes, Pequannock, Wayne and Little Falls on its way to Newark – will no longer operate as NJ Transit's plan to save $2.5 million in operating costs takes effect."</ref>

Wayne is Template:Convert from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth, and Template:Convert from LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens.

In popular culture

The indie rock band Fountains of Wayne took their name from a lawn ornament store that was located in the township on the westbound side of U.S. Route 46, though no members of the band are from the town. The store is now out of business.<ref>Tyrangiel, Josh. "The Rise Of Mom's Boys", Time (magazine), December 22, 2003. Accessed August 25, 2007. "What drove Fountains of Wayne to Stacy's Mom was the usual soul-killing nightmare of the music industry. Schlesinger and Collingwood, both 36, met as undergraduates at Williams College and soon after started Fountains of Wayne (named after a lawn-ornament store near Schlesinger's New Jersey home), adding bassist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young along the way."</ref> The same store was featured in an episode of HBO's The Sopranos, along with several other locations in Wayne.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In a Hans and Franz sketch from Saturday Night Live, the pair says they are opening up a gym in Wayne.<ref>Hans and Franz featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger Template:Webarchive, Saturday Night Live @ theTravisty.</ref>

The town is mentioned in the song "Jimmy Mushrooms' Last Drink: Bedtime in Wayne, NJ" by Will Wood and the Tapeworms

Evergreen trees from Wayne have been selected to serve as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City in 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2006. The 2005 tree, a Norway Spruce that stood Template:Convert tall and weighed Template:Convert, with a spread of Template:Convert wide, was one of the largest trees ever installed at Rockefeller Center.<ref>Staff. "Katrina victims help light New York tree" Template:Webarchive, Record-Journal, December 1, 2005. Accessed July 12, 2012. "The tree, a 74-foot-tall Norway spruce from Wayne, N.J., weighs 9 tons and has a 42-foot span."</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Wayne include:

• David Ackroyd (born 1940), actor, who first came to prominence in soap operas such as The Secret Storm and Another World<ref>Denis, Paul.Daytime TV's Star Directory Template:Webarchive, p. 30. Popular Library, 1976. Accessed July 21, 2019. "David Ackroyd Personal Life: Born in East Orange, N.J., David's family (of Irish-English background) moved to Wayne, N.J., when he was 12."</ref>
• Marina Alex (born 1990), professional golfer<ref>Mattura, Greg. "Marina Alex returns to Jersey playing best golf of her career" Template:Webarchive, July 7, 2017. Accessed May 18, 2020. "In April, Marina Alex had a hole-in-one while competing with friends, her first in more than a decade. In May, the Wayne native and LPGA veteran earned her first hole-in-one on the Tour."</ref>
• Ann Althouse (born 1951), law professor and blogger<ref>Althouse, Ann. "At the LBJ Library" Template:Webarchive, Althouse, April 7, 2007. Accessed October 22, 2015. "I remember where I was -- standing in the kitchen in our house in Wayne, New Jersey -- when I heard these words."</ref>
• Joseph Brain (born 1940), physiologist and environmental health researcher<ref>"Brain Awarded Physiology Doctorate", Paterson News, July 11, 1966. Accessed December 27, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Joseph D. Brain, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dow Brain of 9 Bertrand Drive, was awarded a doctor of science degree in physiology from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass."</ref>
• Bill Brennan, former firefighter, lawyer, gadfly and activist<ref>Presinzano, Jessica. "Wayne man who wants Christie tried for misconduct plans run for governor" Template:Webarchive, The Record, December 5, 2016, updated April 6, 2017. Accessed May 18, 2020. "Bill Brennan, the Wayne activist who filed a citizen's complaint accusing Governor Christie of official misconduct in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal, announced at a protest rally in Wayne on Monday that he is running for governor."</ref>
• Joseph Bubba (born 1938), politician who served for five terms in the New Jersey Senate, from 1982 to 1998<ref>Voreacos, David. "Passaic GOP Dumps Bubba -- Backs Freeholder For Senate In 34th ", The Record, January 19, 1997. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Passaic County Republicans leaders set the stage Saturday for a nasty primary election in the 34th Senate District, voting to deny reelection support to longtime Sen. Joseph Bubba of Wayne."</ref>
• Jonathan Cahn (born 1959), Messianic Jewish minister of the Beth Israel Worship Center<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Peter Cammarano (born 1977), 37th Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, serving from July 1 until July 31, 2009, resigning shortly after his arrest in the conspiracy probe known as Operation Bid Rig<ref>Fallon, Scott. "Hoboken mayor had fast rise to top", The Record, July 23, 2009. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Born in Wayne, Cammarano graduated from Boston University and received a law degree from Seton Hall in 2002."</ref>
• Chris Carter (born 1959), founding member and bass player of the alternative rock band Dramarama<ref name=Dramarama>Boehm, Mike. "O.C. Pop Music Review Dramarama's in Crisis Mode, but Who Can Tell? Coach House performances, which may have been the veteran band's last shows, are intense.", Los Angeles Times, January 10, 1994. Accessed December 27, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Should he stick with old buddies (everyone in Dramarama except drummer Clem Burke grew up together in Wayne, N.J.) or, in this era in which packaging can matter more than substance, should he opt for a gleaming new box labeled with those market-friendly words, 'new and improved?'"</ref>
• Mike Chlasciak (born 1971), guitarist for heavy metal band Halford<ref>Aberback, Brian. "New album creates buzz as Van Halen, with Roth, comes to Garden" Template:Webarchive, The Record, February 26, 2012. Accessed October 22, 2015. "'He's one of the greatest frontmen of all time,' said Wayne resident and guitarist 'Metal' Mike Chlasciak."</ref>
• Jay Della Valle (born 1979), filmmaker, singer and songwriter<ref>Winters, Debra. "Indie film continues production" Template:Webarchive, Wayne Today, February 4, 2010. Accessed February 21, 2011. "For Jay Della Valle and Chris Beatty, shooting films in Wayne is a no-brainer. Having grown up in the township of 55,000 this movie-making duo appreciates the vibrancy that their hometown offers and understands the importance of keeping it real."</ref>
• Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959), film director, producer (The Ten Commandments)<ref name=WayneHistory/>
• Nickolette Driesse (born 1994), soccer midfielder who plays for Orlando Pride of National Women's Soccer League<ref>Stiansen, Lauara Adams. "Wayne native Nickolette Driesse gets her kicks on Orlando's professional women's soccer team" Template:Webarchive, The Record, September 12, 2017. Accessed October 8, 2017.</ref>
• Lou Duva (1922–2017), Hall of Fame boxing trainer and manager<ref>Staff. "Keith Idec's boxing index" Template:Webarchive, The Record, March 18, 201. Accessed March 31, 2011. "Duva, a Wayne resident who trained and/or managed numerous world champions, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998."</ref>
• John Easdale (born 1961), lead singer and songwriter for the alternative rock band Dramarama<ref name=Dramarama/>
• Lisa Edelstein (born 1966), American actress known for her role as Dr. Lisa Cuddy on the television drama House. Currently stars in the television show Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce<ref>Vaughan, Bonnia. "Small-Screen Gem; Lisa Edelstein – The actress talks about her role on Relativity" Template:Webarchive, Entertainment Weekly, October 6, 2008. Accessed March 31, 2011. "Thanks to Relativity – and her role as lovelorn lesbian Rhonda – the Wayne, N.J., native has another opportunity to set a strong example."</ref>
• Theodore Ellenis, keyboard player for the alternative rock band Dramarama<ref name=Dramarama/>
• Mark Englert, guitarist for the alternative rock band Dramarama<ref name=Dramarama/>
• Lou Esa (born 1952), former professional heavyweight boxer<ref>Lou Esa Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Accessed May 18, 2020. "Birthplace: Wayne, New Jersey, USA"</ref>
• Jesse Farbman, drummer for the alternative rock band Dramarama<ref name=Dramarama/>
• Jazmine Fenlator (born 1985), bobsledder who was one of three pilots of the U.S. Olympic Bobsled team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi<ref>Sullivan, Tara. "Olympics: Wayne's Jazmine Fenlator finishes 11th in women's bobsled" Template:Webarchive, The Record, February 19, 2014. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Fenlator, who starred in track and field at Wayne Valley High School and Rider University, has often referred to the group of teammates as a 'wolfpack' on Twitter, a credit to their camaraderie and unity."</ref>
• John A. Ferraro (1946–2010), actor, television director and stage director<ref>Staff. "Passings: Dick Hoerner, L.A. Rams fullback, dies at 88; John A. Ferraro, actor, director and USC teacher, dies at 64" Template:Webarchive, Los Angeles Times, December 19, 2010. Accessed June 5, 2012. "Ferraro was born April 5, 1946, in Paterson, N.J., and grew up in Wayne, N.J."</ref>
• Alice Guy-Blaché (1873–1968), French pioneer, first female filmmaker<ref>Kuperinsky, Amy. "N.J.'s Alice Guy-Blache, the first female movie mogul, made millions in the 1910s. Why was she forgotten?" Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 27, 2019, updated May 1, 2019. Accessed May 18, 2020. "Guy-Blaché returned to New Jersey at the end of her life, living in Wayne. She struggled to find a home for her memoir, but it was published posthumously."</ref>
• Paulie Harraka (born 1989), stock car racing driver<ref>Keating, Peter. "The new investment vehicle: Young drivers can no longer break into the NASCAR scene on talent alone", ESPN The Magazine, March 21, 2012. Accessed June 5, 2012. "But one smart racer, 22-year-old Paulie Harraka, out of Wayne, N.J., has a plan to fund adroit drivers, whatever their economic standing. Harraka talks a mile a minute, thinks faster than he talks, and drives faster than he thinks."</ref>
• Daniel Im (born 1985), professional golfer<ref>Daniel Im Template:Webarchive, CBS Sports. Accessed May 18, 2020. "Birthplace: Wayne, United States"</ref>
• Brandon Jacobs (born 1982), running back who played for the New York Giants<ref>Branch, John. "Jacobs Is a Bull of a Runner and a Teddy Bear of a Father" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, January 6, 2008. Accessed October 22, 2015. "'It was worth every yard and every penny,' Brandon Jacobs said Thursday as he sat at his kitchen table in Wayne, N.J."</ref>
• Jack A. James Jr. (born 1968), United States Army major general<ref>"Military Notes", The Record, May 9, 1995. Accessed October 7, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Wayne: Army 1st Lt. Jack A. James, son of Sheila M. James of Wayne and Jack A. James of Sarasota, Fla., has arrived for duty at Wheeler Army Airfield, Oahu, Hawaii. He is a 1987 graduate of Wayne Valley High School and a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y."</ref>
• Nicholas Kaloukian (born 2003), professional football player who plays as a forward for Armenian Premier League club Urartu<ref>Nicholas Kaloukian, Michigan Wolverines men's soccer. Accessed March 23, 2025. "Hometown: Wayne, N.J. High School: Wayne Hills... High School: Wayne Hills. Did not play high school soccer"</ref>
• Jonathan Lebed (born 1984), stock trader prosecuted by the SEC at age 15 for stock manipulation<ref>Morley, Hugh R. "Texas company seeks to get a receiver appointed to run the Wayne company of former schoolboy stockpicker Lebed" Template:Webarchive, The Record, November 15, 2010. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Jonathan Lebed, who at the age of 15 was the youngest person ever targeted by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, is facing a creditor's challenge for control of his penny-stock promotion company. A Texas company that two years ago won a $2.56 million judgment against Lebed, now 26, of Wayne, has asked a federal judge to appoint a receiver to Lebed's company, Lebed Biz LLC, to protect its assets."</ref>
• Felicia Lee (born 1992), competition swimmer who has been a member of the U.S. National Team<ref>"Olympic Hopefuls: Felicia Lee" Template:Webarchive, The Brian Lehrer Show, March 2, 2012. Accessed November 27, 2017. "Swimmer Felicia Lee talks about following her Olympic dream from Wayne, NJ, to Stanford, and then to London if she makes the team."</ref>
• Barry Littlefield (1871–1936), thoroughbred racehorse trainer inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame<ref>B.T. (Barry) Littlefield Template:Webarchive, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Barry, who was born in Preakness, N.J., on June 16, 1871, was one of nine children of Charles Littlefield and his wife Adelia Sleeper, a native of Belleville, Ont."</ref>
• Tom Longo (1942–2015), defensive back who played three seasons in the National Football League with the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals<ref>Hague, Jim. "Obit: Ex-Giant Tom Longo dies, 73" Template:Webarchive, The Record, July 3, 2015. Accessed April 15, 2017. "Tom Longo, the former Lyndhurst High School great who went on to have a fine career at Notre Dame and later played in the NFL with the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, died Thursday in a hospice near his home in Wayne after a two-year-long battle with cancer."</ref>
• Ronny Machuga, drummer for the alternative rock band Dramarama<ref name=Dramarama/>
• Marc Maron (born 1963), stand-up comedian, podcaster, writer and actor<ref>Levin, Eric. "Comedian Marc Maron: The Stand-Up Notables Sit Down With; Marc Maron's must-hear podcast leads to a book and TV series." Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monthly, June 14, 2013. Accessed October 10, 2017. "New Jersey Monthly: Before your family moved to Albuquerque, you spent your first six years in Wayne. How Jersey do you feel? Marc Maron: I do feel attached to the place."</ref>
• Pellegrino Matarazzo (born 1977), soccer coach for VFB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga<ref>"Pellegrino Matarazzo Promoted to Assistant At TSG Hoffenheim; Matarazzo will coach in the highest league in German soccer." Template:Webarchive, Columbia Lions men's soccer, January 17, 2018. Accessed May 18, 2020. "Pellegrino Matarazzo has been at TSG Hoffenheim since July of last year, after arriving from a successful spell working with 1. FC Nürnberg's academy. Matarazzo, who was born in Wayne, New Jersey, and holds both American and Italian citizenship, got to know Julian Nagelsmann at the DFB's 62nd football coaching course."</ref>
• Gene Mayer (born 1956), former tennis player from the United States who won fourteen singles titles during his career. At Wayne Valley, he went unbeaten in his two years on the tennis team<ref>"Vilas Extended by Mayer" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, February 13, 1977. Accessed December 10, 2007. "Guillermo Vilas, the Argentine left hander, had unexpectedly strong opposition, but ousted young Gene Mayer of Wayne, N.J., 7-6, 7–6, 6–1, in the semifinals of the $50,000 Springfield International, a Grand Prix tennis tournament."</ref>
• Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels (born 1964), American musician and hip hop artist (Run-D.M.C.)<ref>Lustig, Jay. "Run-DMC hip-hops into Rock's Hall of Fame" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, January 15, 2009. Accessed October 22, 2015. "'People didn't look at rap as a legit part of music,' said McDaniels, a New York City native who now lives in Wayne. 'They thought it wasn't original, it wasn't creative. But people don't understand: we write, produce and arrange songs the same way any other songwriter would.'"</ref>
• Bryan Miller (born 1983), retired professional ice hockey defenseman<ref>Bryan Miller Template:Webarchive, NHL.com. Accessed October 22, 2015.</ref>
• Pete Muller, investment fund manager and quantitative trader who founded PDT Partners in 1993 as part of Morgan Stanley's trading division<ref>Staff. "This crossword puzzle writer and poker champ generating 20% returns; Peter Muller founded Morgan Stanley's successful PDT quant unit; dubbed 'brilliant' by Clifford Asness" Template:Webarchive, InvestmentNews, July 7, 2011. Accessed July 21, 2017. "The family moved into a shingled ranch house in the New Jersey suburb of Wayne, 21 miles (34 kilometers) west of New York."</ref>
• Ryan Neill (born 1982), football long snapper and defensive end who played for the Buffalo Bills<ref>Domingo, Odeen. "Rutgers' Neill gets his bowl game", USA Today, December 27, 2005. Accessed March 31, 2011. "When he started making his own mark on the field, Neill was a star who gave Schiano's first recruiting class legitimacy, at a time when you couldn't find a Rutgers hat in the stores of Neill's hometown of Wayne, N.J., an hour's drive from campus."</ref>
• Greg Olsen (born 1985), color commentator for Fox Sports Football broadcasts who played in the NFL as tight end for the Carolina Panthers<ref>Biggs, Brad. "Aromashodu says coaches can't expect everyone to be perfect: Receiver adds coaches sometimes call the wrong plays", Chicago Tribune, September 29, 2010. Accessed March 31, 2011. "Tight end Greg Olsen, who grew up in Wayne, N.J., not far from New Meadowlands Stadium, will be playing near home for the first time since high school."</ref><ref>Greg Olsen profile Template:Webarchive, Chicago Bears. Accessed April 29, 2007.</ref>
• Jessielyn Palumbo (born 1992), Miss New Jersey USA 2016, competed at MISS USA 2016 on FOX<ref>Jessielyn Palumbo Template:Webarchive, Miss Universe Organization. Accessed July 9, 2016. "Jessielyn is a resident of Wayne, where she grew up. She graduated with honors from Wayne Hills High School in 2010 & Cum Laude from The College of New Jersey in 2014."</ref>
• Chris Pantale (born 1990), tight end who played for the New York Jets<ref name=SL2013>Fensom, Michael J. "Jets Four Downs with Ryan Quigley: 'You can say we're like golfers'" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, December 1, 2013. Accessed December 13, 2013. "[Q] You live with tight end Chris Pantale and his family in Wayne.... [A] He found out Tuesday night. It was awesome. His family is so happy for him. His sister is in college so I use her room."</ref>
• Sam Porcello (1935–2012), food scientist who developed the Oreo cookie filling<ref>Staff. "Sam J. Porcello Obituary" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, May 14, 2012. Accessed August 22, 2014. "Sam was born and raised in Newark, N.J., and lived in Wayne, N.J., before moving to Toms River in 1974.</ref>
• Queen Latifah (born 1970), singer and actress<ref>Queen Latifah Template:Webarchive, Gale Cengage. Accessed January 16, 2012. "Although she found it necessary to live much of the year in Los Angeles during the taping of the show, Latifah maintained a home in Wayne, New Jersey, and never ceased to consider New Jersey her home."</ref>
• Storm Queen (stage name of Morgan Geist), DJ who released the single "Look Right Through" which topped the charts in the UK and Ireland in 2013<ref>Romano, Tricia. "Electro-Shock Techno Jock Morgan Geist Gives Clubland a Jolt" Template:Webarchive, The Village Voice, March 5, 2002. Accessed November 16, 2013. "When he was growing up in Wayne, New Jersey, Geist's initial exposure to dance music was limited to the odd track like Kevin Saunderson's 'Big Fun' and 'Good Life.'"</ref><ref>Staff. "Storm Queen debuts at number one" Template:Webarchive, Belfast Telegraph, November 10, 2013. Accessed November 16, 2013. "Storm Queen – aka Statesider Morgan Geist – was among a trio of new entries in the singles top 10, with former X Factor winners Little Mix and seasoned pop star Britney Spears – with her 22nd top 10 track – also dropping records."</ref>
• Ryan Quigley (born 1990), punter for the New York Jets<ref name=SL2013/><ref>Woo, Stu. "NFL Players Living With Mom and DadFootball Parents House Their Son and Take In the Team's Punter Too" Template:Webarchive, The Wall Street Journal, December 13, 2013. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Wayne, N.J.... This used to be Alana Pantale's room, but she's at college now. So her family is loaning the space to New York Jets punter Ryan Quigley."</ref>
• Norman M. Robertson (born 1951), Republican Party politician and attorney who served a single term in the New Jersey Senate, from 1998 to 2002<ref>Cowen, Richard. "Bergen Republicans pick DiGaetano in 40th District" Template:Webarchive, The Record, March 23, 2017. Accessed March 24, 2017. For the two assembly seats in the 40th District, the county committee endorsed DiGaetano's running mate, Norm Robertson of Wayne. It also gave the nod to Christopher DePhillips for the other assembly seat."</ref>
• Robert A. Roe (1924–2014), former member of the United States House of Representatives who served as mayor of Wayne from 1956 to 1961<ref>"Robert A. Roe" Template:Webarchive, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref><ref>Jackson, Herb. "Former Rep. Robert Roe, longtime congressman from Passaic County, dies at age 90" Template:Webarchive, The Record, July 15, 2014. Accessed July 16, 2014.</ref>
• Scott Rumana (born 1964), member of the New Jersey General Assembly, former mayor of Wayne (2002–2007) and councilman<ref>Republican Whip Scott T. Rumana Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Assembly Republicans. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Rumana graduated from Hartwick College in 1987 with a B.A. in Management, and from New York Law School in 1991. He served on the Wayne Township Council from 1994 to 1997."</ref>
• Francesca Russo (born 1995), fencer who represented Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, competing as part of the Women's Sabre team<ref>Schweich Handler, Cindy. "Francesca Russo has an Eye on the Olympics" Template:Webarchive, Wayne Magazine, Fall 2017. Accessed August 4, 2021. "Since fencing for Wayne Valley and Bergen Fencing Club, Francesca Russo has scored some memorable victories – among them, winning the sabre competition for the University of Notre Dame as a freshman, and a second National Collegiate Fencing Individual championship in the women's sabre last spring."</ref>
• Carl Sawatski (1927–1991), catcher who played in Major League Baseball and was an influential figure as an executive in Minor League Baseball<ref>"Carl Sawatski, ex-ballplayer from Wayne", The Record, November 27, 1991. Accessed August 15, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Funeral services will be held today for Carl Sawatski, a former Wayne resident and veteran of 11 major league seasons, who died Sunday of leukemia at 64."</ref>
• Cynthia Paige Simon (born 1970), visually impaired retired Paralympic judoka who competed in international level events<ref>Cindy Simon, Team USA. Accessed June 22, 2020. "Current Residence: Wayne, NJ"</ref>
• Danielle Staub (born 1962), cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey<ref>Hyman, Vicki. "'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Danielle Staub's home on the market, bidet, tanning bed and all" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, June 14, 2010. Accessed March 31, 2011. "Coldwell Banker agent Bob Lindsay got the listing through the courts. The Tudor-style house, in the tony Horizon Heights section of Wayne, is more than 3,000 square feet, with a two-story entry foyer and mirror staircases, a billiard room with wet bar, a pool and cabana, a gym and the requisite in-house tanning room."</ref>
• Major General Guy C. Swan III (born 1954), commanding general of the United States Army North<ref>Barry, Jan. "Army general from Wayne had key role at Ford funeral", The Record, January 1, 2007. Accessed July 28, 2016. "Swan, who grew up in Wayne, was the military escort for Betty Ford at the funeral ceremonies in California and in the nation's capital, where he is the commander of the Military District of Washington. Swan's widely televised role as Mrs. Ford's escort set off a buzz among former neighbors in the Pines Lake section where he grew up and among Wayne Hills High School classmates."</ref>
• Holly Taylor (born 1997), actress and dancer who performed in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical as Sharon Percy (Ballet Girl) and plays the role of Paige Jennings in the FX television series The Americans<ref>Ung, Elisa. "Wayne teenager now a big part of The Americans" Template:Webarchive, The Record, January 28, 2015. Accessed January 28, 2015. "As The Americans begins its third season tonight, the teenage character played by actress Holly Taylor will become a major focus of the critically acclaimed FX drama. But at Wayne Hills High School, Taylor is no big deal – just a petite 17-year-old junior who juggles honors English, AP environmental science, psychology and art.... 'Those are definitely spy qualities,' the actress said in a recent interview in the rental apartment in Wayne where her family has lived since she was 2."</ref>
• Albert Payson Terhune (1872–1942), author, dog breeder<ref name=WayneHistory/><ref>via Associated Press. "Jersey Park Urged On Terhune Estate" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, April 14, 1966. Accessed June 22, 2020. "Wayne, N.J., April 13 (AP) Sunnybank, the home of the late Albert Payson Terhune made famous in his book, "Lad: A Dog", and other books, is unoccupied."</ref><ref>"Albert P. Terhune, Noted Author, Dies; Writer of Stories About Dogs Stricken at Pompton Lakes – His Kennel Famous: Once Did Screen Work: Published 'Lad: A Dog,' First in Canine Series, in 1919 – Reporter on The World" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, February 19, 1942. Accessed June 22, 2020.</ref>
• David Tyree (born 1980), wide receiver for the New York Giants and a 2005 Pro Bowl selection<ref>Picker, David. "Montclair Celebrates One of Its Own" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, February 5, 2008. Accessed March 31, 2011. "That should not be difficult to arrange, since Tyree lives in nearby Wayne and has maintained close ties to the Montclair football program since departing in 1998 to begin his college career at Syracuse."</ref>
• Ryan Van Demark (born 1998), American football offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills<ref>Meredith, Jon "Ferris". "Wayne Valley's Ryan Van Demark – From High School Project to College Prospect to NFL Product" Template:Webarchive, TAPinto Wayne, May 8, 2022. Accessed September 6, 2023. "Ryan Van Demark was not the best football player for the Wayne Valley Indians before he graduated in 2016, but he had a lot of potential.... For the young man from Wayne, this is just another opportunity in a long series, where he has proved himself time and time again."</ref>
• Kathy Wakile (born 1965), cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey<ref>Hubbard, Daniel. "'Housewives' Haven't Spoken To Each Other Since Filming Wrapped" Template:Webarchive, WaynePatch, August 29, 2012. Accessed September 23, 2012. "Teresa Giudice has not spoken to any of the castmates, not even her brother Joe, sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, and cousin Kathy Wakile, of Wayne, since filming wrapped last year."</ref>
• Louise Currie Wilmot (born 1942), retired United States Navy rear admiral who was the first woman to command a United States Naval base and was the highest-ranking female Naval officer at the time of her retirement<ref>Louise C. Wilmot Papers, 1918-1999 (bulk 1964-1997): Finding Aid Template:Webarchive, United States Naval Academy, October 2010. Accessed November 5, 2017. "Louise Currie Wilmot was born on December 31, 1942, in Wayne, New Jersey to Woodrow and Dorothy Currie."</ref>
• Vikki Ziegler (born Template:Circa, class of 1990), lawyer and author who was the focus of the reality television show Untying the Knot<ref>Winters, Debra. "Former Wayne, current Little Falls resident helps couples ‘Untie the Knot’ on Bravo" Template:Webarchive, The Record, June 9, 2014, archived at VikkiZiegler.com. Accessed September 30, 2017. "The daughter of South African parents, Ziegler, 41, was born in New York City and relocated to Wayne in second grade. She lived in the Heritage Manor condominiums on Hamburg Turnpike before moving to the Pines Lake neighborhood."</ref>

External links

• Wayne Township Site
• Wayne Family History Wayne Historical Commission