Fanwood, New Jersey

Fanwood is a borough in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located on a ridge in northern-central New Jersey, the borough is a commuter town of New York City in the New York metropolitan area.<ref>Capuzzo, Jill P., "Living in Fanwood, N.J.: A Future Coupled With Transit", The New York Times, Published May 6, 2014. Accessed July 26, 2023.</ref> Fanwood is located in the Raritan Valley and Rahway Valley regions. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,774,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 456 (+6.2%) from the 2010 census count of 7,318,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 144 (+2.0%) from the 7,174 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>

Fanwood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 2, 1895, from portions of Fanwood Township (now known as Scotch Plains), based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.<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. 238. Accessed September 12, 2012.</ref> The borough was named for Fannie Wood, an author.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref><ref>New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past;, p. 548. Best Books, 1939. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref>

History

In 1831, the Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad received a legislative charter to construct a railroad through the area. The line reached here in 1837 and a station, known as the Scotch Plains station, was built in 1839. The company became the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1849. The line was later moved to reduce the grade and a new station, known as the Fanwood station, was built in 1874. At the same time, the Central New Jersey Land Improvement Company began development of Fanwood Park, a residential community around the station. The development featured curvilinear streets. John Taylor Johnston, then president of CNJ, named the community after his wife, Frances, also known as Fanny, according to his daughter, Emily. In 1878, Fanwood Township was created from Plainfield and Westfield Townships.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>

Historic district

Template:Infobox NRHP The Fanwood Park Historic District is a Template:Convert historic district located along North Avenue and North Martine Avenue in the community. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 27, 2004, for its significance in architecture, community planning and development, landscape architecture, and transportation. The district has 57 contributing buildings, including the Fanwood station, which was previously listed individually on the NRHP. A key contributing property, the Georgian Revival style Urner/Gibbs house was built in 1894 by Benjamin Urner, as a wedding gift for his daughter who had married William M. Gibbs.<ref name="nrhpdoc"/>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.34 square miles (3.47 km²), all of which was land.<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough is bordered by Plainfield in the southwest and by Scotch Plains in all other directions.<ref>Areas touching Fanwood, MapIt. Accessed March 30, 2020.</ref><ref>Union County Municipal Profiles, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed March 30, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

The Robinsons Branch of the Rahway River additionally flows through Fanwood en route to the Robinson's Branch Reservoir.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,318 people, 2,627 households, and 2,070 families in the borough. The population density was 5,454.1 per square mile (2,105.8/km²). There were 2,686 housing units at an average density of 2,001.9 per square mile (772.9/km²). The racial makeup was 84.72% (6,200) White, 5.30% (388) Black or African American, 0.14% (10) Native American, 6.75% (494) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.97% (71) from other races, and 2.12% (155) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.26% (458) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,627 households, 41.0% had children under the age of 18; 68.7% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.2% were non-families. Of all households, 18.8% were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.19.<ref name=Census2010/>

27.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.3 males.<ref name=Census2010/> The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $127,450 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,852) and the median family income was $135,833 (+/− $6,654). Males had a median income of $92,262 (+/− $13,007) versus $62,845 (+/− $6,933) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,194 (+/− $2,939). About 0.6% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Fanwood borough, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 10, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 7,174 people, 2,574 households, and 2,054 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,615 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 88.30% White, 5.14% African American, 0.10% Native American, 4.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.74% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Fanwood borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 10, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Fanwood borough, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 10, 2012.</ref> Among Fanwood residents, 23.2% identified as being of Italian ancestry, 23.0% as being of Irish ancestry and 20.6% as having German ancestry.<ref>DP-2 Profile of Selected Social Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 3 (SF 3) - Sample Data for Fanwood, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2016.</ref>

There were 2,574 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $85,233, and the median income for a family was $99,232. Males had a median income of $65,519 versus $40,921 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,804. About 1.6% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

Downtown Fanwood at night

Downtown Fanwood at night

In 2014 Fanwood was recipient of a 2014 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for its downtown development plan.<ref>Fanwood wins 2014 Smarth Growth Award for downtown development</ref>

Government

Local government

Fanwood 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. 98.</ref> The borough form of government used by Fanwood 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" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

The borough council is Fanwood's legislative body and may pass, adopt, amend and repeal any ordinance or where permitted, any resolution, for any purpose required for the government of the municipality, and also controls and regulates the finances of the municipality. The council may investigate any activity of the municipality, remove any officer of the municipality for cause other than those excepted by law and shall have all the executive responsibilities of the municipality not placed by general law, in the office of the mayor. The mayor of Fanwood is responsible for serving as the chief executive officer of borough government. The mayor presides over the borough council, appoints various boards and committees, oversees borough administration, and serves as the borough's ceremonial head.<ref>Government, Borough of Fanwood. Accessed March 30, 2020. "Fanwood’s government consists of six elected Council members and an elected Mayor. All are paid $1 per year. Council members are elected for three year terms, at large, with the terms of two councilmen expiring at the end of each year. The Mayor’s term is four years and there are no term limits."</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Fanwood Borough is Democrat Colleen M. Mahr, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Fanwood Borough Council are Council President Patricia Walsh (D, 2027), Jeffrey Banks (D, 2026), Gina Berry (D, 2025), Anthony Carter (D, 2026), Erin A. McElroy-Barker (D, 2027), and Katherine Mitchell (D, 2025).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Council Members, Borough of Fanwood. Accessed January 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>Union County Elected Officials, Union County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed January 18, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2024>General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref>

In January 2019, Jeffrey Banks was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Russell Huegel until he resigned from office to accept the position as the borough's municipal attorney.<ref>Mooney, John. "Big Changes at Fanwood's Reorganization Meeting", TAP into Scotch Plains / Fanwood, January 1, 2019. Accessed March 30, 2020. "However, after Dan McCarthy stepped down as Borough attorney, Mayor Mahr tabbed Russ Huegel for the job, which meant that he would have to resign his seat on the Council. It was then up to the Mayor to select someone to serve the remainder of Huegel's unexpired term. She chose Jeff Banks to fill the spot."</ref>

Fire department

The Fanwood Fire Department is a volunteer fire department with 30 members that operate out of one fire station. The department has two engines, one quint and a chief's vehicle. The Fanwood Volunteer Fire Company predates the incorporation of the borough, having first been established in 1890 with its first firehouse constructed in 1897.<ref>About Us, Fanwood Fire Department. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Fanwood is located in the 7th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,033 registered voters in Fanwood, of which 1,614 (32.1% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,210 (24.0% vs. 15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 2,205 (43.8% vs. 42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Union, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.8% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 95.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref> Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |}

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,164 votes (54.8% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,710 votes (43.3% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 49 votes (1.2% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,947 ballots cast by the borough's 5,239 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.3% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,287 votes (54.7% vs. 63.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,817 votes (43.5% vs. 35.2%) and other candidates with 37 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,179 ballots cast by the borough's 5,143 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.3% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,045 votes (50.2% vs. 58.3% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,957 votes (48.1% vs. 40.3%) and other candidates with 41 votes (1.0% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,070 ballots cast by the borough's 5,013 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.2% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref>

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Democrat Phil Murphy received 1,615 votes (59.5% vs. 65.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Kim Guadagno with 1,037 votes (38.2% vs. 32.6%), and other candidates with 61 votes (2.2% vs. 2.1%), among the 2,751 ballots cast by the borough's 5,547 registered voters, for a turnout of 49.6%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.8% of the vote (1,503 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.3% (1,003 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (49 votes), among the 2,604 ballots cast by the borough's 5,151 registered voters (49 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,468 votes (50.2% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,140 votes (39.0% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 276 votes (9.4% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 16 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,922 ballots cast by the borough's 5,064 registered voters, yielding a 57.7% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref>

Education

File:SPFHS.jpg

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School

Public school students in Fanwood attend the schools of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Fanwood and Scotch Plains.<ref>Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020. "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 twelve in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District. Composition The Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Scotch Plains Township and the Borough of Fanwood."</ref><ref>Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 27, 2020. "We are indebted to the communities of Scotch Plains and Fanwood for their support, involvement, and constant commitment to educational excellence."</ref> The district has five elementary schools (Pre-K/K–4), two middle schools (5–8) and a comprehensive high school (9–12), all of which are located in Scotch Plains.<ref>About Us, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools. Accessed May 27, 2020. "Scotch Plains-Fanwood is a regional school district comprised of students in Grades Preschool-Grade12 from the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood. The district has five elementary schools (Preschool-Grade 4), 2 middle schools (Grades 5-8), and one comprehensive high school (Grades 9-12)."</ref> Students from School One, Evergreen and Brunner pool into Park Middle School, while students from Coles and McGinn feed into Terrill. School One is the only elementary school that teaches English as a second language. Most students from Park Middle School and Terrill Middle school continue their high school education at the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 5,649 students and 438.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.9:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Seats on the district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent districts, with two seats assigned to Fanwood.<ref>Board Members, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref><ref>Wilkes-Edrington, Lindsay. "School Board Candidates to State Their Cases Tonight", Scotch Plains-Fanwood, NJ Patch, April 6, 2019. Accessed May 27, 2020. "Scotch Plains-Fanwood has nine total Board of Education members, split geographically based on population – seven from Scotch Plains and two from Fanwood."</ref>

Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Howard B. Brunner Elementary School<ref>Howard B. Brunner Elementary School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 414 students in grades Pre-K–4, J. Ackerman Coles School<ref>J. Ackerman Coles School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 552 students in grades Pre-K–4, Evergreen School<ref>Evergreen School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 402 students in grades Pre-K–4, William J. McGinn School<ref>William J. McGinn School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 512 students in grades K–4, School One<ref>School One, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 395 students in grades Pre-K–4, Park Middle School<ref>Park Middle School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 909 students in grades 5–8, Terrill Middle School<ref>Terrill Middle School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 811 students in grades 5–8 and Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School<ref>Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref> with 1,574 students in grades 9–12.<ref>[1], Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. Accessed May 27, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2018-06-20 17 14 49 View east along New Jersey State Route 28 (South Avenue) just east of Union County Route 655 (Martine Avenue) in Fanwood, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 28 in Fanwood

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

Route 28 (known in Fanwood as South Avenue) passes through the borough, connecting Plainfield and Scotch Plains.<ref>Route 28 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, April 2008. Accessed August 18, 2014.</ref>

Another major thoroughfare is South and North Martine Avenue, which connects Fanwood to U.S. Route 22 .

Public transportation

File:Fanwood Station View.jpg

View of Fanwood Station South Side Parking Lot from overpass bridge

The Fanwood station is an NJ Transit railroad station on the Raritan Valley Line. The building on the north side of the tracks (westbound platform) is a Victorian building and, like the north building at Westfield station, is used by a non-profit organization. The ticket office is in the station building on the south side of the tracks (eastbound platform). The station provides service to Newark Penn Station, and from there to Hoboken Terminal or Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.

Currently riders can take one seat rides to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan during rush hour on weekdays, with transfer at Newark Penn Station required to reach to New York Penn Station at all other times, including weekends. The Raritan Valley Railroad Coalition<ref>"The Raritan Valley Railroad Coalition"</ref> has been promoting the economic benefits of one-seat ride access to New York City since 1998. RVRC has succeeded in gaining one-seat rides during off peak hours during the week; there are nine trains in each direction where riders do not need to transfer at Newark Penn Station. The ultimate goal of RVRC is to extend such one-seat rides during rush hours, which would have been achieved with the Access to the Region's Core tunnel program, but this was cancelled by then Governor Chris Christie.

NJ Transit offers bus service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 113 and local service on the 822 route.<ref>Union County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed September 10, 2012.</ref>

Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 25 minutes away to the east.

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Fanwood include:

• Edith Ajello (born 1944), politician who has served as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives<ref>Biography, Edith H. Ajello. Accessed August 6, 2019. "Edith H. Ajello was born in Fanwood, NJ. She attended Scotch Plains Fanwood Public Schools and graduated from Bucknell University with a BA in Psychology."</ref>
• H. W. Ambruster (1879–1961), football coach, chemical engineer, actor and lecturer<ref>Staff. "Howard Watson Ambruster, Coach, Engineer, Lecturer", Courier News, January 11, 1961. Accessed August 6, 2019. "Fanwood - Howard Watson Ambruster, 82, a retired chemical engineer, lecturer and author, died yesterday (Jan. 10, 1961) in his home at 158 Forest Rd."</ref>
• Bill Austin (born Template:Circa), former football player<ref>O'Gorman, George. "Rutgers' Bill Austin to be honored by NJ Sportswriters", The Trentonian, January 24, 2011. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Now 74 years old and living in Camarillo, Calif. Austin is still a football legend in New Jersey, and especially on the banks of the Raritan.... Austin, a Fanwood native who earned high school stardom at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High, earned All-American honors in two sports at Rutgers as a senior."</ref>
• Derrick Caracter (born 1988), power forward/center who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, now with A.S. Ramat HaSharon of the Israeli Liga Leumit<ref>Derrick Caracter Template:Webarchive, CSTV. Accessed November 30, 2007.</ref>
• Maryanne Connelly (born 1945), former mayor of Fanwood and 2000 House candidate<ref>Rothenberg, Stuart. "Stuart Rothenberg: Key races in New Jersey, New York", CNN. June 14, 2000. Accessed July 29, 2007. "When all of the votes were counted in the June 6th primary, Democratic insiders found that primary voters had handed them a surprise: Maryanne Connelly. The former AT&T employee and mayor of Fanwood upset Union County manager Mike Lapolla, who had the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and every county party organization in the congressional district."</ref>
• Gerry Cooney (born 1956), boxer<ref>Pearce, Jeremy. "In Person; Round Two", The New York Times, June 11, 2004. Accessed September 10, 2012. "His face appeared on the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated, and the den walls in his Fanwood home are covered with images of him at play with the rich and famous."</ref>
• Róisín Egenton, selected The Rose of Tralee in 2000<ref>Cunningham, Grainne. "Big Apple's Rose woos Tralee to win the crown", The Independent, August 23, 2000. Accessed July 29, 2007. "Last night Roisin Ryan Egenton from Fanwood, New Jersey was crowned as the 'loveliest and fairest' of 28 girls from around the world."</ref>
• Emma Kenney (born 1999), actress who portrayed Debbie Gallagher on Shameless<ref>"Albert Nigrin, man with a movie projector", Inside Jersey, May 10, 2010. Accessed December 2, 2024. "Among the 39 films in competition was a 3-minute short about vampires called The New Girl in Town — directed by 8-year-old Emma Kenney of Fanwood."</ref>
• Eleanor C. Lambertsen (1916–1998), nurse who was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2012<ref>Saxon, Wolfgang. "Eleanor C. Lambertsen, 82; Introduced Use of Nurse Teams", The New York Times, April 10, 1998. Accessed May 4, 2017. "A native of Fanwood, N.J., she graduated from Overlook Hospital in 1938 and rose to director of the school of nursing services there in 1945."</ref>
• William Lowell Jr. (1863–1954), golf tee manufacturer<ref>Staff. "William Lowell Jr., Is Dead; An Industrial Packager, 78", The New York Times, May 14, 1976. Accessed May 7, 2013. "William Lowell Jr., a former manufacturer of golf tees and an industrial packaging specialist, died Wednesday at Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield, New Jersey. He was 78 years old and lived in Fanwood, New Jersey."</ref>
• Hiram Maxim (1840–1916), inventor of the Maxim gun, a curling iron, fire sprinklers, and other devices<ref name=Genius/>
• Hiram Percy Maxim (1869–1936), inventor, radio pioneer and founder of the American Radio Relay League<ref name=Genius>Maxim, Hiram Percy. A Genius in the Family, p. 19. Dover Publications, 1962. Accessed August 18, 2014. ""We moved to Fanwood, New Jersey, in the spring of 1875."</ref>
• Michael Noriega (born 1978), lawyer who is a nominee to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey<ref>Fox, Joey. "Noriega formally unveiled as Murphy’s Supreme Court pick Nomination has support from Stack, Bramnick ahead of potentially smooth confirmation process", New Jersey Globe, May 15, 2023. Accessed May 16, 2023. "As a resident of Fanwood, Noriega is subject to senatorial courtesy – the unwritten rule that allows state senators to block nominees from their home county or district – from Bramnick and two other Union County senators, Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Linden) and State Sen. Joe Cryan (D-Union)."</ref>
• Zahid Quraishi (born 1975), United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey<ref>"Rutgers Law Grad Becomes First Asian American Federal Judge in New Jersey", Rutgers Law School, July 30, 2019. Accessed March 30, 2021. "As a native of New York City who was raised in Fanwood, NJ, Quraishi earned a degree in criminal justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice before attending Rutgers Law School in Newark from 1997-2000."</ref>
• Todd D. Robinson (born Template:Circa), American diplomat who was U.S. ambassador to Guatemala and Venezuela, and is now a senior advisor for Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs<ref>Straehley, Steve. "U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala: Who Is Todd Robinson?", AllGov.com, August 17, 2014. Accessed November 13, 2018. "Robinson is from Fanwood, New Jersey and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1981."</ref>
• Linda Stender (born 1951), member of the New Jersey General Assembly, and former mayor of Fanwood<ref>Linda Stender legislative webpage Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed July 24, 2007.</ref>
• Robert T. Stevens (1899–1983), businessman and former chairman of J.P. Stevens and Company<ref>McFadden, Robert D. "Robert T. Stevens, Former Army Secretary, Dies At 83", The New York Times, February 1, 1983. Accessed May 4, 2017. "Robert Ten Broeck Stevens was born on July 31, 1899, in Fanwood, N.J., the son of John Peters and Edna Stevens."</ref>
• Sada Thompson (1927–2011), actress<ref>Staff. "Sada Thompson dead at 83", Variety, May 6, 2011. Accessed May 14, 2011. "Sada Carolyn Thompson was born in Des Moines, though her family moved to Fanwood, N.J. when she was a girl."</ref>
• Thomas Chatterton Williams (born 1981), cultural critic and author, whose works include the 2019 book Self-Portrait in Black and White<ref>Martin, Michel. "Father-Son Bond Inspires Memoir Of Love And Reflection", Tell Me More / NPR, June 15, 2010. Accessed November 26, 2019. "My father was running poverty programs in San Diego, and the same poverty eventually took him east to Newark, New Jersey, where I was born in 1981. And my father changed professions and moved the family to the suburbs in Fanwood, New Jersey."</ref>

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, New Jersey

External links

• Fanwood Borough website
• Fanwood Environmental Commission