Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey

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".Poekel Jr., Charles A. West Essex: Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland, Arcadia Publishing, 1999, 2004

The Horseneck Tract was an {{convert|18000|acres|adj=on}} 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 {{convert|14,000|acre|km2}} of the Horseneck Tract without approval of the Proprietary Authorities from the Lenape Native 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.

The Van Ness House, constructed about 1720, is a historic home added in 1977 to the National Register of Historic Places.[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhphoto&action=browse&fileName=nj/nj0400/nj0475/photos/browse.db&recNum=0&itemLink=D?hh:74:./temp/~ammem_kQu5::@@@mdb=aap,aasm,magbell,papr,gottscho,bbcards,bbpix,ncr,cowellbib,calbkbib,cwar,consrvbib,bdsbib,coolbib,dag,musdibib,detr,mcc,papr,aep,wpa,dcm,fsaall,mgw,raelbib,hh,gottlieb,alad,hlaw,gmd,lomaxbib,gmd,papr,fpnas,gmd,papr,award97,gmd,pan,vv,presp,rbpebib,qlt,gmd,nfor,relpet,papr,papr,mussm,dukesm,scsm,runyon,papr,mtj,lhbumbib,varstg,toddbib,nawbib,suffrg,horyd,papr,wtc&title2=Van+Ness,Peter,Farmhouse,+Fairfield+Rd.,+FAIRFIELD+VIC.,+Essex+County,+NJ.&displayType=1 Van Ness, Peter, Farmhouse, Fairfield Rd., FAIRFIELD VIC., Essex County, NJ.], Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey. Accessed October 10, 2013. The Fairfield Dutch Reformed Church dates back to 1720, and its current structure is another historic site, built in 1804.[http://churches.rca.org/fairfield/history.htm 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."

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%). Fairfield has the lowest population density of any municipality in Essex County. 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.[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Great Piece Meadows is a swamp covering {{convert|1170|acres}}.[http://wildlifepreserves.org/gpmeadows.htm Great Piece Meadows], Wildlife Preserves. Accessed November 5, 2012.

The township borders North Caldwell and West Caldwell in Essex County; East Hanover Township, Lincoln Park and Montville in Morris County; and Little Falls and Wayne in Passaic County.[https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/1010536/touches.html Areas that touch Fairfield], MapIt. Accessed March 29, 2020.[http://www.essexregister.com/municipalities/ Municipalities], Essex County, New Jersey Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed March 29, 2020.[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries], New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

{{US Census population

| 1810= 2235

| 1820= 2020 | 1820n=*

| 1830= 2004

| 1840= 2184

| 1850= 2377

| 1860= 2688

| 1870= 2727 | 1870n=*

| 1880= 3167

| 1890= 3638

| 1900= 1619 | 1900n=*

| 1910= 704 | 1910n=*

| 1920= 717

| 1930= 989

| 1940= 1392

| 1950= 1906

| 1960= 3310

| 1970= 6884

| 1980= 7987

| 1990= 7615

| 2000= 7063

| 2010= 7466

| 2020= 7872

| estimate=7941

| estyear=2023

| estref=[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2023-POP-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023], United States Census Bureau, released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.

| footnote=Population sources:
1800–1920[https://dspace.njstatelib.org/xmlui/handle/10929/25218?show=full Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905], New Jersey Department of State, 1906. Accessed July 10, 2013. 1840Bowen, Francis. [https://books.google.com/books?id=DnUFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA231 American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1843], p. 231, David H. Williams, 1842. Accessed July 10, 2013. Population of 2,183 is listed for Caldwell Township, in conflict with 2,184 shown in table. 1850–1870Raum, John O. [https://books.google.com/books?id=5qZ4AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA241 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."
1850Debow, James Dunwoody Brownson. [https://books.google.com/books?id=25TicJOdU0AC&pg=PA138 The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850], p. 138. R. Armstrong, 1853. Accessed July 10, 2013. 1870Staff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gNwIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA259 A compendium of the ninth census, 1870], p. 259. United States Census Bureau, 1872. Accessed July 10, 2013. 1880–1890Porter, Robert Percival. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8gUkQkJdLpsC&pg=PA98 Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75], p. 98. United States Census Bureau, 1890. Accessed July 10, 2013.
1890–1910[https://books.google.com/books?id=T9HrAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA336 Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890], United States Census Bureau, p. 336. Accessed November 5, 2012. Listed as Caldwell Township. 1910–1930[https://books.google.com/books?id=kifRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA716 Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I], United States Census Bureau, p. 716. Accessed November 5, 2012. Listed as Caldwell Township.
1940–2000[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2kpub/njsdcp3.pdf#page=27 Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000], Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023. 2000
2010[http://php.app.com/census/results2.php?State=NJ&County=Essex&Town=%25&Submit=Search "2010 Census Populations: Essex County"], Asbury Park Press. Accessed November 5, 2012[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3401322385 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212103547/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3401322385 |date=2020-02-12 }}, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2012.[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_ess/fairfield1.pdf Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Fairfield township] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527060931/http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_ess/fairfield1.pdf |date=2015-05-27 }}, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed November 5, 2012. 2020[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fairfieldtownshipessexcountynewjersey/ QuickFacts Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey], United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 22, 2023.[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_Mun/MCD%200_All.pdf Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.
* = Lost territory in previous decade.

}}

The 2010 United States census counted 7,466 people, 2,645 households, and 2,103 families in the township. The population density was {{convert|725.1|/sqmi}}. There were 2,723 housing units at an average density of {{convert|264.5|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup was 94.84% (7,081) White, 0.68% (51) Black or African American, 0.28% (21) Native American, 2.53% (189) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.74% (55) from other races, and 0.92% (69) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.14% (384) of the population.

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.

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.

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.[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3401322385 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212093819/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3401322385 |date=2020-02-12 }}, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2012.

As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,063 people, 2,296 households, and 1,981 families residing in the township. The population density was {{convert|675.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of {{convert|222.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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.[http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/0603401322385.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527080758/http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/0603401322385.pdf |date=2015-05-27 }}, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2012.[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3401322385 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Fairfield township, Essex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212094909/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3401322385 |date=2020-02-12 }}, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2012.

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.

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.

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.

Corporate residents of Fairfield Township include:

• Pharmaceutical firm Bradley Pharmaceuticals was headquartered here until the company was acquired by Nycomed in 2008.[http://www.fougera.com/mobile/news/release_detail.asp?id=1052 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."
• Cricket Hill, microbrewer of American Ale, Hopnotic IPA, and East Coast Lager.[http://crickethillbrewery.com/about.html 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."
• Telebrands, the direct marketing firm best known for its "As Seen on TV" products.Kilgannon, Corey. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/nyregion/16inventors.html "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."

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.[http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf "The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012040522/http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf |date=October 12, 2013 }}, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 10, 2013. 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.[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey], Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the four-member Township Council. Members are elected to three-year terms of office 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 125.[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=14 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

{{As of|2025}}, members of the Fairfield Township Council are Mayor William Galese (R, term ends December 31, 2027), Council President Peter Campisi (R, 2026), Joseph Cifelli (R, 2025), John LaForgia (R, 2026) and Michael B. McGlynn (R, 2025).[https://www.fairfieldnj.org/227/Mayor-Council Mayor and Council], Township of Fairfield. Accessed January 22, 2025. "Fairfield Township is a Mayor-Council form of government under the New Jersey Faulkner Act (Small Municipality Plan 'C'). The Mayor exercises executive power of the municipality, appoints department heads with Council approval, prepares the annual budget, and has a vote, but no veto. The Council exercises the legislative power of the municipality and approves the appointment of department heads."[https://ecode360.com/FA0184/document/753096554.pdf#page=4 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Township of Fairfield. Accessed January 22, 2025.[https://essexcountynj.org/county-directory/ County Directory], Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 22, 2025.[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Essex/122756/web.345435/#/summary General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results], Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Essex/119027/web.317647/#/summary General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results], Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Essex/116147/web.307039/#/summary November 8, 2022, General Election Unofficial Results], Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.

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.Bottone, Gail. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/west-essex/sections/government/articles/fairfield-mayor-william-galese-takes-oath-of-office "Fairfield Mayor William Galese Takes Oath of Office"], TAPinto 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." Later that month, Peter Campisi was appointed to fill Galese's vacant council seat expiring in December 2023.Bottone, Gail. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/west-essex/articles/fairfield-council-tabs-campisi-to-fill-vacant-seat "Fairfield Council Tabs Campisi to Fill Vacant Seat"], TAPinto 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."

Fairfield is located in the 11th Congressional District[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.[https://nj1015.com/whats-your-new-nj-legislative-district-20-moved-on-new-map/ Districts by Number for 2023-2031], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.

{{NJ Congress 11}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 40}}

{{NJ Essex County Commissioners}}

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.[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-essex-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Essex], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 5, 2012.

{{PresHead|place=Fairfield|source={{Cite web |title=NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=nj.gov}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,615|1,234|69|New Jersey}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,436|1,452|30|New Jersey}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,858|1,009|178|New Jersey}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,494|1,069|50|New Jersey}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,797|1,137|60|New Jersey}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,742|1,151|39|New Jersey}}

|}

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%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2016-results/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-essex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 8, 2016 - Essex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 25, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2016-results/2016-gen-elect-ballotscast-results-essex.pdf|title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 8, 2016 - General Election Results - Essex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 25, 2016}} 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%.{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-essex.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Essex County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-essex.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Essex County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}} 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%.[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-essex.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Essex County], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 5, 2012. 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.[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_essex_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Essex County], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 5, 2012.

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%.{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-essex.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220122059/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-essex.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2014 |title=Governor - Essex County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-essex.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Essex County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}} 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.[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-essex.pdf 2009 Governor: Essex County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017225512/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-essex.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 5, 2012.

The Fairfield School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.[https://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/DistrictPolicy.aspx?policyid=0110&id=6ae2f5321cd841589cf384a72e62f248 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." As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 694 students and 69.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.0:1.[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3405010&DistrictID=3405010 District information for Fairfield Public School District], National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3405010 School Data for the Fairfield School District], National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.) are

Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School[http://www.fpsk6.org/fps/AES/ Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School], Fairfield School District. Accessed March 7, 2024. with 309 students in pre-Kindergarten through third grade and

Winston S. Churchill School[http://www.fpsk6.org/fps/WSC/ Winston Churchill School], Fairfield School District. Accessed March 7, 2024. with 384 students in fourth through sixth grade.[http://www.fpsk6.org/fps/Schools/ Schools], Fairfield School District. Accessed March 7, 2024.[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/13/1465 School Performance Reports for the Fairfield Public School District], New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 7, 2024.[https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/1465 New Jersey School Directory for the Fairfield School District], New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.

Students in public school for seventh through twelfth grades attend the West Essex Regional School District, a regional school district in western Essex County serving students from Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland.[https://www.westex.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=1273120 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."[http://www.nj.gov/education/pr/1415/narrative/13/5630/000.html West Essex Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative], New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 4, 2016. "The West Essex Regional School District is a comprehensive high school serving the communities of Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland in northern New Jersey."[https://www.westex.org/district/about_wersd/wersd_history 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." Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417460 School Data for the West Essex Regional School District], National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.) are

West Essex Middle School[https://ms.westex.org/ West Essex Middle School], West Essex Regional School District. Accessed March 7, 2024. with 599 students in grades 7-8 and

West Essex High School[https://hs.westex.org/ West Essex High School], West Essex Regional School District. Accessed March 7, 2024. with 1,043 students in grades 9-12.[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/13/5630 School Performance Reports for the West Essex Regional School District], New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 7, 2024.[https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/5630 New Jersey School Directory for the West Essex Regional School District], New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Seats on the nine-member board of education of the high school district are allocated based on population, with three seats assigned to Fairfield.[https://www.westex.org/board_of_education Board of Education], West Essex Regional School District. Accessed April 8, 2024.

StenoTech Career Institute is a technical school in Fairfield, established in 1988, that offers court reporting and medical transcription training.[http://www.stenotech.edu/about/about-stenotech About Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109000210/http://www.stenotech.edu/about/about-stenotech |date=2013-11-09 }}, StenoTech Career Institute. Accessed October 10, 2013.

File:2020-07-08 08 56 58 View west along Interstate 80 at Exit 52 (Lincoln Park, Fairfield, The Caldwells) in Fairfield, Essex County, New Jersey.jpg in Fairfield]]

{{As of|2010|5}}, the borough had a total of {{convert|62.10|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|40.18|mi}} were maintained by the municipality, {{convert|13.14|mi}} by Essex County and {{convert|8.78|mi}} by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Essex.pdf Essex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction], New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.

U.S. Route 46,[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000046__-.pdf#page=18 U.S. Route 46 Straight Line Diagram], New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2016. Accessed November 4, 2019. Route 159[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000159__-.pdf New Jersey Route 159 Straight Line Diagram], New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2014. Accessed November 4, 2019. and Interstate 80[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000080__-.pdf#page=18 Interstate 80 Straight Line Diagram], New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated April 2014. Accessed November 4, 2019. all pass through the township.[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/gis/maps/Essex.pdf Essex County Highway Map], New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 16, 2023.

NJ Transit provides bus service to Newark on the 29 and 71 routes.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100322195452/http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=BusRoutesEssexCountyTo Essex County Bus / Rail Connections], NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 22, 2010. Accessed November 5, 2012.[https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/Essex_County_Map.pdf Essex County System Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728205318/https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/Essex_County_Map.pdf |date=July 28, 2014 }}, NJ Transit. Accessed November 2, 2019.

Lakeland Bus Lines offers service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on its Route 46 route.[http://www.lakelandbus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Route-46-East-Bus-Schedule-2016-2.pdf Route 46 Bus Schedule], Lakeland Bus Lines. Accessed November 4, 2019.

Essex County Airport, managed by the Essex County Improvement Authority, is located in Fairfield.[http://flycdw.com/ 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."

{{Category see also|People from Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey}}

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Fairfield include:

• Robert Egan (born 1958), restaurateur and an interlocutor between the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the United StatesMead, Rebecca. [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/10/08/our-man-in-pyongyang "Our Man in Pyongyang Bobby Egan’s barbecue diplomacy."], The New Yorker, October 1, 2007. Accessed July 20, 2019. "Egan was raised in Fairfield, New Jersey, which is a twenty-minute drive west of Hackensack."
• David Greczek (born 1994), professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper, most recently for Swope Park Rangers in the United Soccer League[https://web.archive.org/web/20150906085118/http://www.scarletknights.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/david_greczek_918031.html David Greczek], Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's soccer. Accessed April 24, 2017.
• Gurbir Grewal (born 1973), Attorney General of New JerseyPizarro, Max. [https://www.insidernj.com/sources-race-ag-three-grewal-edge-states-top-cop/ "Sources: If The Race for AG was Down to Three, Grewal has the Edge to be State’s Top Cop"], Insider NJ, December 11, 2017. Accessed December 20, 2017. "Having grown up in Fairfield, Grewal is a lifelong friend of Hoboken Mayor-elect Ravi Bhalla, and a graduate of West Essex High School, where U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) also attended school."
• John LoCascio (born 1991), defenseman for the Rochester Rattlers in Major League Lacrosse[http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/john_locascio_711818.html John LoCascio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807221642/http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/john_locascio_711818.html |date=August 7, 2016 }}, Villanova Wildcats men's lacrosse. Accessed May 27, 2016. "Hometown: Fairfield, N.J.; High School: West Essex Regional.... Born November 25th, 1991 in Paterson, N.J.
• James F. Post (1818–1899), architect, builder, and contractor who designed and oversaw the construction of over 60 buildings, best known for his buildings in Wilmington, North Carolina[https://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/people/P000212 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."
• Jake Siciliano (born 1998), actorAnnan-Brady, Rita. [http://www.newjerseyhills.com/the_progress/news/actor-s-life-is-goal-of-jakesiciliano-of-fairfield/article_79d16e23-04de-5389-b9a8-7a73f665b678.html "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."
• Michelle Vizzuso (born 1977), field hockey player recognized by The Star-Ledger as the sport's top athlete of the 20th centuryStaff. [http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/w-fieldh/spec-rel/101199aab.html "Field Hockey Assistant Coach Michelle Vizzuso Chosen As New Jersey Player Of Century"], Virginia Cavaliers, October 11, 1999. Accessed November 5, 2012. "Virginia assistant field hockey coach Michelle Vizzuso (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) was named the state's best field hockey player of the 20th century by the Newark Star-Ledger."

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.fairfieldnj.org/ Fairfield Township website]
• [http://www.fpsk6.org Fairfield School District]
• {{NJReportCard|13|1465|0|Fairfield School District}}
• [https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3405010 School Data for the Fairfield School District], National Center for Education Statistics
• [https://www.Westex.org West Essex Regional School District]
• {{NJReportCard|27|0785|0|West Essex Regional School District}}
• [https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417460 School Data for the West Essex Regional School District], National Center for Education Statistics
• [https://www.07004history.com/ Historical articles, bibliography, and chronology see : 07004 History]

{{Essex County, New Jersey}}

Category:1798 establishments in New Jersey

Category:Faulkner Act (small municipality)

Category:Populated places established in 1798

Category:Townships in New Jersey

Category:Townships in Essex County, New Jersey