Location of Fairfield Township in Essex County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Essex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey
The first Europeans to settle in the area were Dutch and the place was called Gansegat. Later it was part of Horse Neck and officially part of Newark Township. What is now Fairfield was formed on February 16, 1798, as Caldwell Township from portions of Acquackanonk Township and Newark Township. The area was named for Rev. James Caldwell. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to create Livingston (February 8, 1813), Fairmount Township (March 11, 1862, now part of West Orange), Caldwell borough (February 10, 1892), Verona Township (February 17, 1892, now known and including what is now Cedar Grove), North Caldwell (March 31, 1898), Essex Fells (March 31, 1902) and West Caldwell (February 24, 1904). On November 6, 1963, Caldwell Township was renamed as Fairfield Township, based on the results of a referendum passed the previous day. Fairfield was reincorporated as borough on June 8, 1964.[22] In 1978, the borough passed a referendum reincorporating itself as a township, becoming the second of more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships in order take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid to municipalities on a per capita basis.[23][24][25]
The Dutch, including many acculturated French Huguenots, initially settled this area of the Passaic River Valley after purchasing it from the Native Americans. They named it "Gansegat" which is Dutch for "duck's pond".[26]
The Horseneck Tract was an 18,000-acre (7,300 ha) area that consisted of what are now the municipalities of Fairfield, Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Verona, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Roseland, and portions of Livingston and West Orange. Later in 1702, English settlers purchased 14,000 acres (57 km2) of the Horseneck Tract without approval of the Proprietary Authorities from the LenapeNative Americans for goods equal to $325. When Proprietary Authorities began eviction proceedings against the settlers, the Horseneck Riots took place. This purchase encompassed much of western Essex County, from the First Mountain to a point on the Passaic River at Pine Brook NJ. The reason for the Horseneck name has never been determined, but historians agree that it is not because of its shape.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 10.35 square miles (26.80 km2), including 10.13 square miles (26.23 km2) of land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km2) of water (2.14%).[1][2] Fairfield has the lowest population density of any municipality in Essex County.[10] Fairfield Township is located in the northwest corner of Essex County. The township is bisected by Interstate 80 and Route 46.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Clinton and Clinton Park.[29]
Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey – Racial and Ethnic Composition (NH = Non-Hispanic) Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Of the 2,645 households, 31.6% had children under the age of 18; 67.0% were married couples living together; 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.5% were non-families. Of all households, 18.0% were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.22.[19]
22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.8 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $97,361 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,797) and the median family income was $117,004 (+/− $7,881). Males had a median income of $69,081 (+/− $15,627) versus $51,198 (+/− $6,668) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,615 (+/− $5,217). About 0.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.[48]
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 7,063 people, 2,296 households, and 1,981 families residing in the township. The population density was 675.8 inhabitants per square mile (260.9/km2). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 222.5 per square mile (85.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.63% White, 0.52% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.[43][44]
There were 2,296 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.7% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.7% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.29.[43][44]
In the township the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.[43][44]
The median income for a household in the township was $83,120, and the median income for a family was $90,998. Males had a median income of $56,106 versus $39,032 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,099. About 2.3% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.[43][44]
Fairfield Township operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Small Municipality plan C form of New Jersey government, as implemented as of January 1, 1962, based on direct petition.[52] The township is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available to municipalities with less than 12,000 residents at the time of adoption.[53] The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the four-member Township Council. Members are elected at-large in partisan elections in a three-year cycle, with two council seats up for vote in each of the first two years of the cycle and the mayoral seat up in the third year. The Mayor exercises executive power of the municipality, appoints department heads with Council approval, prepares the annual budget and has veto over ordinances subject to override by 2/3 of all members of Council. The Council exercises legislative power of municipality and approves appointment of department heads.[7][3][54]
As of 2023[update], members of the Fairfield Township Council are Mayor William Galese (R, appointed to serve an unexpired term ending December 31, 2024), Council President Michael B. McGlynn (R, 2025), Peter Campisi (R, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Joseph Cifelli (R, 2025) and John LaForgia (R, 2023).[3][55][56][57][58][59]
In January 2023, councilmember William Galese was appointed as mayor to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by James Gasparini until he resigned to take office as the township's administrator.[60] Later that month, Peter Campisi was appointed to fill Galese's vacant council seat expiring in December 2023.[61]
Essex County is governed by a directly elected county executive, with legislative functions performed by the Board of County Commissioners. As of 2024[update], the County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[69] The county's Board of County Commissioners is composed of nine members, five of whom are elected from districts and four of whom are elected on an at-large basis. They are elected for three-year concurrent terms and may be re-elected to successive terms at the annual election in November.[70] Essex County's Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers elected countywide are:
Clerk Christopher J. Durkin (D, West Caldwell, 2025),[84][85]
Register of Deeds Juan M. Rivera Jr. (D, Newark, 2025),[86][87]
Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura (D, Fairfield, 2024),[88][89] and
Surrogate Alturrick Kenney (D, Newark, 2028).[90][91]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,378 registered voters in Fairfield, of which 1,004 (18.7%) were registered as Democrats, 2,072 (38.5%) were registered as Republicans and 2,299 (42.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[92]
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 72.5% of the vote (2,858 cast), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 25.6% (1,009 cast), and other candidates with 1.8% (70 votes), among the 4,003 ballots cast by the township's 5,798 registered voters, for a turnout of 69%.[93][94] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 69.4% of the vote (2,494 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 29.7% (1,069 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (32 votes), among the 3,625 ballots cast by the township's 5,459 registered voters (30 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.4%.[95][96] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 70.1% of the vote (2,797 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 28.5% (1,137 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (21 votes), among the 3,991 ballots cast by the township's 5,380 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%.[97] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 69.6% of the vote (2,742 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 29.2% (1,151 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (39 votes), among the 3,939 ballots cast by the township's 5,131 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.8.[98]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.9% of the vote (1,600 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.3% (548 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (17 votes), among the 2,193 ballots cast by the township's 5,445 registered voters (28 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.3%.[99][100] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.9% of the vote (1,819 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 25.0% (661 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.0% (133 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (12 votes), among the 2,641 ballots cast by the township's 5,397 registered voters, yielding a 48.9% turnout.[101]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 62.10 miles (99.94 km) of roadways, of which 40.18 miles (64.66 km) were maintained by the municipality, 13.14 miles (21.15 km) by Essex County and 8.78 miles (14.13 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[120]
^ abcFairfield Township Mayor and Council, Township of Fairfield. Accessed January 26, 2023. "Fairfield Township is a Mayor - Council form of government under the New Jersey Faulkner Act (Small Municipality Plan 'C')."
^"Removing Tiering From The Revenue Sharing Formula Would Eliminate Payment Inequities To Local Governments", Government Accountability Office, April 15, 1982. Accessed September 24, 2015. "In 1978, South Orange Village was the first municipality to change its name to the 'township' of South Orange Village effective beginning in entitlement period 10 (October 1978 to September 1979). The Borough of Fairfield in 1978 changed its designation by a majority vote of the electorate and became the 'Township of Fairfield' effective beginning entitlement period 11 (October 1979 to September 1980).... However, the Revenue Sharing Act was not changed and the actions taken by South Orange and Fairfield prompted the Town of Montclair and West Orange to change their designation by referendum in the November 4, 1980, election. The municipalities of Belleville, Verona, Bloomfield, Nutley, Essex Fells, Caldwell, and West Caldwell have since changed their classification from municipality to a township."
^Narvaez, Alfonso A. "New Jersey Journal", The New York Times, December 27, 1981. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Under the Federal system, New Jersey's portion of the revenue sharing funds is disbursed among the 21 counties to create three 'money pools.' One is for county governments, one for 'places' and a third for townships. By making the change, a community can use the 'township advantage' to get away from the category containing areas with low per capita incomes."
^Poekel Jr., Charles A. West Essex: Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland, Arcadia Publishing, 1999, 2004
^A Brief History of Fairfield Reformed Church, Reformed Church of America. Accessed October 10, 2013. "At the turn of the century it was decided to erect a new church building 1/2 mile north of the old one. Made of brownstone from a Little Falls quarry, the new structure was constructed in 1804. Several decades later a tall white steeple and a balcony were added.Today the congregation continues to worship in the same historic building and the tall white steeple remains physically prominent in the community."
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 241, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed July 10, 2013. "Caldwell was formed from Newark and Acquackannonck in 1798. It is about seven miles long by four wide. On its north is Little Falls and Wayne, in Passaic county, and Pequannock in Morris county, Montclair on the east, West Orange and Livingston on the south, and Hanover and Montville, Morris county, on the west. In the eastern part are the First and Second mountains, and the remainder of the township abounds in hills. The population in 1850 was 2,377; in 1860, 2,688; and in 1870, 2,727."
^Nycomed US Inc. Acquires Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Fougera, February 21, 2008. Accessed November 5, 2012. "Nycomed has announced that the PharmaDerm headquarters will be located in Florham Park, New Jersey. The Company will be transitioning key employees from Bradley's Fairfield corporate headquarters building to Florham Park over the next several months."
^About Us, Cricket Hill. Accessed November 5, 2012. "Cricket Hill is a microbrewery located in Fairfield, NJ. In 2002, we brewed our first beers East Coast Lager and American Ale."
^Kilgannon, Corey. "At Home of 'As Seen on TV,' a Chance for Inventors", The New York Times, December 15, 2009. Accessed November 5, 2012. "Norberto Ponce pitched his invention, the Mower Buddy, to A.J. Khubani, the founder and CEO of TeleBrands, at its headquarters in Fairfield, N.J."
^Bottone, Gail. "Fairfield Mayor William Galese Takes Oath of Office", TAP into West Essex, January 4, 2023. Accessed January 26, 2023. "Fairfield’s new Mayor William Galese was sworn into office by Judge Marcella Manos Wilson at the township’s reorganization meeting Tuesday night. Galese will fill the unexpired term of James Gasparini, ending Dec. 31, 2024."
^Bottone, Gail. "Fairfield Council Tabs Campisi to Fill Vacant Seat", TAP into West Essex, January 24, 2023. Accessed January 26, 2023. "The Fairfield mayor and council elected Peter Campisi as councilman to fill the unexpired term of William Galese, term ending Dec. 31, 2023. Galese is now the mayor of Fairfield after Former Mayor James Gasparini resigned to become Fairfield’s business administrator upon the retirement of Joseph Catenaro, who has been Fairfield’s business administrator for the last 29 years."
^General Information, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020. "The County Executive, elected from the County at-large, for a four-year term, is the chief political and administrative officer of the County.... The Board of Chosen Freeholders consists of nine members, five of whom are elected from districts and four of whom are elected at-large. They are elected for three-year concurrent terms and may be re-elected to successive terms at the annual election in November. There is no limit to the number of terms they may serve."
^Fairfield Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Fairfield School District. Accessed March 7, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through six in the Fairfield School District. Composition: The Fairfield School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Fairfield."
^West Essex Regional School District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed March 7, 2024. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades seven through twelve in the West Essex Regional School District. Composition: The West Essex Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland."
^School History, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed September 3, 2020. "The first comprehensive study was submitted in 1956, and it recommended the consolidation of the five school districts and all grades from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The communities, however, were reluctant to carry the recommendation into effect. Heeding the communities’ hesitance, the Rutgers educators suggested the formation of a regional school district for grades 7-12 for Caldwell Township, Essex Fells, North Caldwell and Roseland."
^Home page, Essex County Airport. Accessed November 5, 2012. "The Essex County Airport also known as 'Caldwell Airport' is conveniently located in Fairfield, NJ. Just Thirty Minutes from Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel or George Washington Bridge."
^Post, James F. (1818-1899), North Carolina Architects & Builders. Accessed January 31, 2022. "Born in Fairfield, near Caldwell, New Jersey, Post moved south to Petersburg, Virginia where he married Mary Ann Russell on October 8, 1843, and where the couple had two children, Erastus (who died young) and Thomas."
^Annan-Brady, Rita. "Actor's Life Is Goal Of Jake Siciliano, 10, Of Fairfield", The Progress News, August 14, 2009. Accessed September 7, 2015. "He may be small in stature, but 10-year old Jake Siciliano of Fairfield is getting some pretty big roles in the movies and on television."