Mahwah

Mahwah is a township in northern New Jersey at roughly 75 meters (245 feet) elevation, covering about 67 square kilometers (26 square miles). The settlement combines residential districts with wooded areas and open spaces, especially toward the western part of its territory.

The township emerged from Hohokus Township in 1849 and received its current name through a legislative act in 1944. During the second half of the 20th century, the arrival of large industrial operations fundamentally changed the economic structure of the area.

The name comes from the Lenape word mawewi, marking the site as a crossroads of Indigenous paths. This meaning still holds today, as the township sits at the junction of several routes and serves as a passage between different regions.

The township operates public schools that serve students from preschool through twelfth grade. Visitors can access hiking trails and natural areas in the western section, while residential neighborhoods occupy the central and eastern parts.

Between 1955 and 1980, the Ford Motor Company ran the largest automobile plant in the United States here. The site, which once produced thousands of vehicles each week, later became a mixed residential and commercial development.

Location: Bergen County

Elevation above the sea: 75 m

Shares border with: Hillburn, Ringwood, Oakland, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Allendale, Ramsey, Upper Saddle River

Website: https://mahwahtwp.org

GPS coordinates: 41.08861,-74.14389

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:33