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Essex Fells, New Jersey

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement 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,<ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 131 (+6.2%) from the 2010 census count of 2,113,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn had reflected a decline of 49 (−2.3%) from the 2,162 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

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).<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 127. Accessed March 10, 2012.</ref> 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.<ref name=WestEssex>Poekel Jr., Charles A. West Essex: Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland, p. 9., Arcadia Publishing, 1999. Template:ISBN. Accessed October 10, 2013.</ref><ref name=PlaceNames>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref>

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".<ref>"New Jersey's Best Towns for Families - Essex Fells", New Jersey Family, April 2016. Accessed August 27, 2017.</ref> 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.<ref>"Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Staff. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes: In these neighborhoods $4 million homes are the norm.", Forbes, September 27, 2010. Accessed July 29, 2011.</ref> The borough's median household income, as of the 2020 United States census, was $247,000.<ref name="Census2020">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

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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 Template:Convert 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.<ref name=Thinking/>

In the late 1800s, Philadelphia developer Anthony S. Drexel realized the impact of train travel on residential development and sent Charles W. Leavitt to the northern New Jersey area near the end of the Caldwell line. Leavitt, Drexel and Drexel's son-in-law John F. Fell formed the Suburban Land Company and purchased 1,000 acres of land from the estate of Revolutionary War General William J. Gould. In order to create their residential development the group commissioned noted architect Ernest W. Bowditch. 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.<ref name=WestEssex/><ref name=PlaceNames/>

Based on an ordinance passed in 1928, commercial activity in the borough is limited to a single three-story building constructed to look like a house and two small workshops on a dead end. Template:As of, Essex Fells had 750 houses, most of which were custom built, with many occupying lots several acres in size. The borough has no apartment buildings, office buildings or traffic lights, and until recently, no condominiums. The only units available for rental are in carriage houses and other ancillary structures.<ref name=Thinking/>

In 1981, the borough was one of seven Essex County municipalities to pass a referendum to become a township, joining four municipalities that had already made the change, of what would ultimately be 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.<ref>"Chapter VI: Municipal Names and Municipal Classification", p. 73. New Jersey State Commission on County and Municipal Government, 1992. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref><ref>"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."</ref><ref>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."</ref><ref>Karcher, Alan J. New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness, pp. 119-120. Rutgers University Press, 1998. Template:ISBN. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref> Effective January 1, 1992, it again became a borough.<ref>New Jersey: 2000Population and Housing Unit Counts2000 Census of Population and Housing, United States Census Bureau, issued August 2003. Accessed September 25, 2017. "Essex Fells borough - new incorporated place; encompasses all of former Essex Fells township."</ref>

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.41 square miles (3.66 km2), including 1.41 square miles (3.65 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.43%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders the Essex County municipalities of Caldwell, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange.<ref>Areas touching Essex Fells, MapIt. Accessed March 29, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Essex County, New Jersey Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed March 29, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Climate

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 2,113 people, 728 households, and 598 families in the borough. The population density was 1,496.3 per square mile (577.7/km2). There were 758 housing units at an average density of 536.8 per square mile (207.3/km2). The racial makeup was 94.56% (1,998) White, 1.09% (23) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 2.18% (46) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.24% (5) from other races, and 1.94% (41) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% (42) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 728 households, 42.6% had children under the age of 18; 73.4% were married couples living together; 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.9% were non-families. Of all households, 16.3% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.26.<ref name=Census2010/>

29.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $182,031 (with a margin of error of +/− $16,894) and the median family income was $202,917 (+/− $46,038). Males had a median income of $120,417 (+/− $32,492) versus $72,500 (+/− $12,065) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $94,423 (+/− $11,353). About 0.9% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Essex Fells borough, Essex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 10, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,162 people, 737 households, and 605 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 761 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.95% White, 0.46% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Essex Fells borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Essex Fells borough, Essex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref>

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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $148,173, and the median income for a family was $175,000. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $52,266 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $77,434. About 0.3% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Parks and recreation

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Grover Cleveland Park, the seventh-largest park in the Essex County park system, is a heavily wooded park covering Template:Convert in the western section of the county along the Caldwell-Essex Fells border.<ref>Grover Cleveland Park, Essex County, New Jersey Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. Accessed May 8, 2012.</ref>

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.<ref>Albanese, Laurie Lico. "Gliding Through the Winter Freeze", Baristanet, February 10, 2011. Accessed May 26, 2015. "Essex Fells' outdoor ice skating rink – known as The Pond – is a favorite, picturesque spot for winter skating. Never heard of it? That's because the Pond has been Essex County's best-kept winterland secret…until now."</ref>

Government

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Local government

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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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 125.</ref> 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 19, 2025.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Essex Fells is Republican Edward A. Davis, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Members of the Essex Fells Borough Council are Michael W. Cecere (R, 2027), Bernard J. D'Avella III (R, 2026), Carolyn Goldman (R, 2025), John A. King (R, 2026), Margaret D. O'Connor (R, 2025) and William B. Sullivan (R, 2027).<ref name=Officials>Directory, Borough of Essex Fells. Accessed January 19, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Essex Fells. Accessed January 19, 2025.</ref><ref name=EssexDirectory>County Directory, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.</ref><ref name=Essex2024>General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Essex2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Essex2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Unofficial Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023.</ref><ref name=Essex2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Unofficial Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 16, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In November 2014, the borough council appointed Greg Hindy to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Jane McWilliams, until she resigned from office.<ref>State of the Borough Address 2015, Borough of Essex Fells. Accessed July 2, 2016. "Jane served the residents of Essex Fells as a Councilwoman from April 20, 2010 to November 25, 2014.... Several weeks ago, on November 25, 2014, Greg Hindy was sworn in to complete Jane's unexpired term."</ref> In the November 2015 general election, Hindy was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Essex2015>2015 General Election Results November 3, 2015, Essex County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 19, 2016. Accessed July 1, 2016.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

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Essex Fells is located in the 10th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref> Template:NJ Congress 10 Template:NJ Senate

Template:NJ Legislative 40

Template:NJ Essex County Commissioners

Politics

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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.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Essex, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref>

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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%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>2009 Governor: Essex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref> On a local level, Essex Fells has elected a Republican mayor in every vote held since becoming a borough in 1902.<ref name=Thinking/>

Education

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The Essex Fells School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Essex Fells School.<ref>Essex Fells Board of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Essex Fells School District. Accessed May 5, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through six in the Essex Fells School District. Composition: The Essex Fells School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Essex Fells."</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Essex Fells School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Essex Fells School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 247 students and 23.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Essex Fells School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> In 2016, the school was one of ten schools in New Jersey recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education, a recognition celebrating excellence in academics.<ref>2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non‐Public, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed November 13, 2016.</ref><ref>Clark, Adam. "These 10 N.J. schools earn Blue Ribbon honors", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 28, 2016. Accessed November 13, 2016. "The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday announced that 10 New Jersey schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools, a recognition celebrating excellence in academics."</ref>

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.<ref>West Essex Regional School District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed September 2, 2020. "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."</ref><ref>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."</ref><ref>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.... Dr. Twichell and the State Education Department approved the move, and by December 1957, the referendum was passed by voters.".</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the West Essex Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are West Essex Middle School<ref>West Essex Middle School, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed May 5, 2024.</ref> with 564 students in grades 7-8 and West Essex High School<ref>West Essex High School, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed May 5, 2024.</ref> with 1,123 students in grades 9-12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the West Essex Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the West Essex Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> 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.<ref>Board of Education, West Essex Regional School District. Accessed March 29, 2020.</ref>

Transportation

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File:2018-07-18 13 41 43 View north along Essex County Route 527 (Roseland Avenue) just north of Essex County Route 633 (Runnymede Road) and Forest Way in Essex Fells, Essex County, New Jersey.jpg
County Route 527 in Essex Fells

Roads and highways

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Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Essex County.<ref>Essex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

County Route 527<ref>County Route 527 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated November 2012. Accessed February 16, 2023.</ref> and County Route 506 are the main roads serving Essex Fells.<ref>Essex County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 16, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

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NJ Transit provides service in the borough to and from Newark on the 29 and 71 routes.<ref>Essex County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed March 10, 2012.</ref><ref>Essex County System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed November 2, 2019.</ref>

Notable people

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File:Justin Gimelstob 2, Aegon Championships, London, UK - Diliff.jpg
Justin Gimelstob

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

References

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Template:Essex County, New Jersey

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