Essex Fells is a borough in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,244,

Essex Fells was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 31, 1902, from portions of Caldwell Township (now Fairfield Township). The community's name was derived by taking "Essex" from the name of the county and adding "Fells" from the name of John F. Fell which also means hill or down.

New Jersey Family magazine ranked Essex Fells as the best town for families in its 2016 rankings of "New Jersey's Best Towns for Families". New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Essex Fells as its 10th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. Niche.com ranked Essex Fells as the seventh best place to live in its 2019 rankings of the "Best Places to Live" in New Jersey.

In 2010, Forbes.com listed Essex Fells as 182nd in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $1,140,885. The borough's median household income, as of the 2020 United States census, was $247,000.

History

Essex Fells was part of the Horseneck Tract, which was an area that consisted of what are now the municipalities of Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Fairfield, Verona, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Roseland, and portions of Livingston and West Orange.

In 1702, settlers purchased the Horseneck Tract—so-called because of its irregular shape that suggested a horse's neck and head—from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans for goods equal to $325. This purchase encompassed much of western Essex County, from the Orange, or First Mountain in the Watchung Mountain range to the Passaic River. Effective January 1, 1992, it again became a borough.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.41 square miles (3.66&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 1.41 square miles (3.65&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (0.43%).

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Essex Fells had a population of 2,244. The median age was 44.1 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 750 households in Essex Fells, of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 71.3% were married-couple households, 9.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census

There were 737 households, out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.28.

Essex Fells Pond, or also known as "The Pond" by Essex Fells residents, is a popular destination in the winter. Located on Fells Road, "The Pond" attracts people of all ages, typically during the months of December through March. Popular activities include ice skating, pond hockey, and figure skating.

Government

Local government

Essex Fells is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by Essex Fells is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

, the mayor of Essex Fells is Republican Edward A. Davis, whose term of office ends December 31, 2029. Members of the Essex Fells Borough Council are Michael W. Cecere (R, 2027), Bernard J. D'Avella III (R, 2026), Carolyn Goldman (R, 2028), John A. King (R, 2026), Margaret D. O'Connor (R, 2028) and William B. Sullivan (R, 2027).

Federal, state, and county representation

Essex Fells is located in the 10th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,696 registered voters in Essex Fells, of which 347 (20.5%) were registered as Democrats, 847 (49.9%) were registered as Republicans and 499 (29.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. On a local level, Essex Fells has elected a Republican mayor in every vote held since becoming a borough in 1902.

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 81.3% of the vote (590 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 18.6% (135 votes), and other candidates with 0.1% (1 vote), among the 736 ballots cast by the borough's 1,789 registered voters (10 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.5% of the vote (688 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 22.3% (224 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.9% (79 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (5 votes), among the 1,005 ballots cast by the borough's 1,682 registered voters, yielding a 59.8% turnout.

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Education

The Essex Fells School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Essex Fells School. As of the 2024–25 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 254 students and 26.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1.

Students in public school for seventh through twelfth grades attend the West Essex Regional School District, a regional school district serving students from Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland. Schools in the district (with 2024–25 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are

West Essex Middle School with 5581,061 students in grades 7–8 and

West Essex High School with 1,123 students in grades 9–12. Seats on the nine-member board of education of the high school district are allocated based on population, with one seat assigned to Essex Fells.

Transportation

thumb|right|[[County Route 527 (New Jersey)|County Route 527 in Essex Fells]]

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Essex County.

County Route 527 and County Route 506 are the main roads serving Essex Fells.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides service in the borough to and from Newark on the 29 and 71 routes.

Notable people

thumb|180px|[[Justin Gimelstob]]

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

  • Bob Bradley (born 1958), former coach of the United States men's national soccer team
  • Jeremy Brodeur (born 1996), professional ice hockey goalie
  • Willis Carrier (1876–1950), known as the "father of the modern day air conditioner"
  • Fillmore Condit (1855–1939), inventor, temperance activist and local politician* Fillmore Condit (1855–1939), inventor, temperance activist and local politician
  • Doug Cook (born 1948), former professional basketball player
  • Don Criqui (born 1940), sportscaster for CBS Sports
  • Ian Eagle (born 1969), sports announcer
  • Noah Eagle (born 1997), sportscaster for NBC Sports, Fox Sports and the Tennis Channel
  • Connie Francis (1937–2025), singer
  • Justin Gimelstob (born 1977), retired professional tennis player
  • Anne Steele Marsh (1901–1995), painter and printmaker whose watercolors, oil paintings and wood engravings were widely exhibited
  • Henry G. Morse (1884–1934), architect
  • Elizabeth Parr-Johnston (born 1939), Canadian business woman
  • Brian Rafalski (born 1973), former NHL defenseman who played for the New Jersey Devils
  • Scott Stevens (born 1964), former NHL defenseman who played for the New Jersey Devils during his career
  • Bo Sullivan (1937–2000), chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and a Republican Party politician who sought the nomination for Governor of New Jersey in the 1981 primary
  • Johnny Sylvester (1915–1990), lived here when he was visited on October 11, 1926, by Babe Ruth, who promised that he would hit a home run on his behalf during the 1926 World Series
  • John C. Whitehead (1922–2015), former chairman of Goldman Sachs who also served as the 9th United States Deputy Secretary of State

References

  • Essex Fells Borough website
  • Essex Fells School
  • School Data for the Essex Fells School, National Center for Education Statistics
  • West Essex Regional School District