Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey

:"This article is about a township in Essex County. The other Fairfield in New Jersey is Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey".

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Fairfield Township, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Fairfield Township in Essex County. Inset: Location of Essex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Essex
government_footnotes =
government_type = Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Rocco Palmieri
leader_title1 = Administrator
leader_name1 = Joseph Catenaro [ [http://www.fairfieldnj.org/dept_admin_main.html Administration] , Fairfield Township. Accessed October 15, 2007.]
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = February 16, 1798 (as Caldwell Township)
established_title2 = Renamed
established_date2 = November 6, 1963 (as Fairfield Township)

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 27.1
area_land_km2 = 27.1
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 10.5
area_land_sq_mi = 10.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7707
population_density_km2 = 260.9
population_density_sq_mi = 675.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|1729722|Township of Fairfield, Geographic Names Information System, accessed October 15, 2007.]
elevation_m = 51
elevation_ft = 167
latd = 40 |latm = 52 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 17 |longs = 38 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07004
area_code = 973
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-22385GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1729722GR|3
website = http://www.fairfieldnj.org
footnotes =

Fairfield is a township in far northwestern Essex County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 7,063. Fairfield is the least densely populated town in Essex County.

What is now Fairfield was formed on February 16, 1798, as Caldwell Township from portions of Acquackanonk Township and Newark Township. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to create Livingston (February 8, 1813), Fairmount Township (March 11, 1862, now part of West Orange), Caldwell borough (February 10, 1892), Verona Township (February 17, 1892, now known as Cedar Grove), North Caldwell (March 31, 1898), Essex Fells (March 31, 1902) and West Caldwell (February 24, 1904). On November 6, 1963, Caldwell was renamed as Fairfield Township, based on the results of a referendum passed the previous day. Fairfield was reincorporated as borough on June 8, 1964."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 126.] In 1979, Fairfield again became a township to take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies. [New Jersey State Commission on County and Municipal Government, [http://www.njstatelib.org/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/DIGIDOX1.php Modern Forms of Municipal Government] , 1992, [http://www.njstatelib.org/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH6.PDF Chapter VI: Municipal Names and Municipal Classification] ]

Essex County Airport is located in Fairfield.

Geography

Fairfield is located at coor dms|40|52|45|N|74|17|38|W|city (40.879049, -74.293781)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 10.4 square miles (27.1 km²), all of it land. Fairfield is the least dense municipality in Essex County.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930= 989
1940= 1392
1950= 1906
1960= 3310
1970= 6884
1980= 7987
1990= 7615
2000= 7063
estimate= 7707
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3401322385&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34007%7C06000US3400712280&_street=&_county=fairfield&_cityTown=fairfield&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Fairfield township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 26, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,063 people, 2,296 households, and 1,981 families residing in the township. The population density was 675.8 people per square mile (261.0/km²). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 222.5/sq mi (85.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.63% White, 0.52% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.

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.

Government

Fairfield Township operates under a Mayor-Council form of New Jersey government under the Faulkner Act. 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. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 125. This source indicates that Fairfield operates under the Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) form]

Members of the Fairfield Township Council are Mayor Rocco Palmieri, Council President Richard Mastrangelo, James Gasparini, John LaForgia and Michael McGlynn. [http://www.fairfieldnj.org/gov_body.html Fairfield Township Mayor and Council] , Township of Fairfield. Accessed February 5, 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Fairfield is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 27th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Politics

On the national level, Fairfield leans toward the Republican Party. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush received 70% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 29%.

Education

The Fairfield School District serves public school students in Pre K through sixth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3405010 Data for the Fairfield School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 6, 2008.] ) are Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School for pre-kindergarten through third grade (398 students) and Winston Churchill School for students in fourth through sixth grade (323).

Public school students in grades 7 - 12 attend the West Essex Regional School District, a regional school district serving students from four municipalities in western Essex County, New Jersey. Communities served by the district's schools are Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/13/5630/13-5630-050.html West Essex Regional High School 2007 School Report Card] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 1, 2008. "West Essex High School is located in North Caldwell and serves the four area sending districts of Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland."] Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417460 Data for the West Essex Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 4, 2008.] ) are [http://www.westex.org/juniorhigh/index.html West Essex Junior High School] (grades 7-9; 833 students) and
West Essex High School (grades 10-12; 729 students).

History

Fairfield 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 14,000 acre (57 km²) 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 First Mountain to the Passaic River.

Transportation

U.S. Route 46, Route 159, Interstate 80 all pass through the Township.

Corporate residents

Pharmaceutical firm Bradley Pharmaceuticals is headquartered here.

Notable residents

Notable current and former resident of Fairfield include:
*Michelle Vizzuso, former field hockey player. [ [http://www.nj.com/hssports/ledger/index.ssf?/hssports/century/stories/fieldhplayer.html The Century's Best -- Field Hockey] , "The Star-Ledger", October 3, 1999. "Long before Michelle Vizzuso began breaking state records at West Essex High School, the field hockey phenom was shattering walls in the basement of her Fairfield home.... In 1991, Vizzuso became only the fifth freshman at West Essex to start on varsity in Alimi's 32 years of coaching."]

References

External links

* [http://www.fairfieldnj.org/ Fairfield Township website]
* [http://www.fairfieldpublicschools.org/ Fairfield School District]
*NJReportCard|13|1465|0|Fairfield School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3405010 Data for the Fairfield School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.Westex.org West Essex Regional School District]
*NJReportCard|27|0785|0|West Essex Regional School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417460 Data for the West Essex Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics