Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, set on the Rahway River in the New York metropolitan area, about 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island. Its population is roughly 30,000. The city's history and geography have long been defined by the river and, more recently, by its rail connection to New York. Rahway's early economy centered on the navigable Rahway River, which supported industry and artisanal manufacturing. For much of its history the city was a working industrial center, with mills and factories drawing generations of residents. Over time, as heavy industry declined, Rahway transitioned into a commuter-oriented community, and its downtown has been deliberately reshaped around transit and the arts. The Union County Performing Arts Center, housed in the restored Rahway Theatre — a downtown landmark since 1928 — anchors a growing arts district that has brought theaters, restaurants, and multi-family housing to the center of the city. Housing ranges from single-family homes in the surrounding neighborhoods to apartments and mixed-use buildings near the train station. Transit is Rahway's defining asset. NJ Transit's Rahway Station is a junction where the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines meet, providing direct rail service to New York, Newark, and the Jersey Shore. That connection, combined with the city's location in the Rahway Valley, places residents within convenient reach of the region's employment centers. Education is provided by the Rahway Public Schools, and the city sits near Kean University and Union County College for higher education. Rahway's blend of a revitalized downtown, riverfront history, and rail access gives it a distinct position among Union County's municipalities, balancing its industrial heritage with an emerging role as a transit- and arts-focused destination.