Essex Fells, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Essex Fells, New Jersey
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Borough
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Essex Fells Post Office
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Location of Essex Fells in Essex County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Essex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
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Census Bureau map of Essex Fells, New Jersey
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 Essex Fells, New Jersey
Location in Essex County, New Jersey
Essex Fells, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Essex Fells, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Essex | |
| Incorporated | March 31, 1902 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.41 sq mi (3.66 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.41 sq mi (3.65 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) 0.43% | |
| Area rank | 460th of 565 in state 20th of 22 in county |
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| Elevation | 505 ft (154 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,244 | |
| • Estimate
(2024)
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2,220 | |
| • Rank | 478th of 565 in state 22nd of 22 in county |
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| • Density | 1,593.4/sq mi (615.2/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 329th of 565 in state 21st of 22 in county |
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| Economics | ||
| • Median income | $247,000 (± $27,417) (2020) | |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07021
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| Area code(s) | 973 exchanges: 226, 228, 264, 403, 618 | |
| FIPS code | 3401321840 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2390558 | |
| Website | ||
Essex Fells is a small, quiet town called a borough in Essex County, New Jersey. It's known for being a nice place to live. In 2020, about 2,244 people lived here. The town's population grew a little since 2010.
Essex Fells became an official borough on March 31, 1902. Its name comes from "Essex" (the county) and "Fells" from John F. Fell, who helped develop the area. "Fells" also means hills or lowlands.
This borough has been recognized as one of the best towns for families in New Jersey. New Jersey Family magazine ranked it number one in 2016. New Jersey Monthly magazine also listed it as a top place to live. In 2019, Niche.com called it the seventh best place to live in New Jersey.
Homes in Essex Fells can be quite expensive. In 2010, Forbes.com said it was one of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes." The average household income in Essex Fells was about $247,000 in 2020.
Contents
History of Essex Fells
Essex Fells was once part of a large area called the Horseneck Tract. This area included many towns you know today, like Caldwell and Verona.
How the Horseneck Tract Got Its Name
In 1702, settlers bought this large piece of land, about 14,000 acres, from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. They paid about $325 in goods. The area was shaped like a horse's neck and head, which is how it got its name. It stretched from the Watchung Mountain range to the Passaic River.
Developing the Town
In the late 1800s, a developer named Anthony S. Drexel saw how trains could help new towns grow. He sent Charles W. Leavitt to an area near the Caldwell train line. Leavitt, Drexel, and Drexel's son-in-law, John F. Fell, bought 1,000 acres of land. They hired a famous architect, Ernest W. Bowditch, to design the new community. They named it "Essex Fells" using the county name and John F. Fell's last name.
Town Rules and Changes
Essex Fells has always been a mostly residential area. Since 1928, there have been very few places for businesses. Most of the houses are custom-built and sit on large lots. You won't find many apartment buildings or traffic lights here.
For a while, in 1981, Essex Fells changed from a borough to a township. This was to get more money from the government. But on January 1, 1992, it changed back to being a borough.
Geography and Climate
Essex Fells covers about 1.41 square miles (3.66 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a very small amount of water.
Neighboring Towns
Essex Fells shares its borders with several other towns in Essex County. These include Caldwell, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell, and West Orange.
Weather in Essex Fells
| Climate data for Essex Fells, New Jersey (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
75 (24) |
89 (32) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
103 (39) |
90 (32) |
84 (29) |
74 (23) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.3 (3.5) |
41.0 (5.0) |
49.4 (9.7) |
62.8 (17.1) |
72.2 (22.3) |
80.5 (26.9) |
85.6 (29.8) |
84.2 (29.0) |
77.5 (25.3) |
65.0 (18.3) |
53.2 (11.8) |
43.3 (6.3) |
62.8 (17.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.9 (−1.2) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
39.6 (4.2) |
51.2 (10.7) |
60.6 (15.9) |
69.7 (20.9) |
74.9 (23.8) |
73.3 (22.9) |
65.9 (18.8) |
54.0 (12.2) |
43.7 (6.5) |
35.3 (1.8) |
52.5 (11.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.4 (−5.9) |
22.5 (−5.3) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
39.6 (4.2) |
49.0 (9.4) |
58.8 (14.9) |
64.2 (17.9) |
62.5 (16.9) |
54.3 (12.4) |
42.9 (6.1) |
34.2 (1.2) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
42.2 (5.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) |
−7 (−22) |
−3 (−19) |
15 (−9) |
26 (−3) |
38 (3) |
45 (7) |
36 (2) |
30 (−1) |
21 (−6) |
11 (−12) |
−7 (−22) |
−14 (−26) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.64 (92) |
2.93 (74) |
4.16 (106) |
4.08 (104) |
4.04 (103) |
4.60 (117) |
4.80 (122) |
4.47 (114) |
4.53 (115) |
4.31 (109) |
3.64 (92) |
3.41 (87) |
48.61 (1,235) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 442 | — | |
| 1920 | 598 | 35.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,115 | 86.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,466 | 31.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,617 | 10.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,174 | 34.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,541 | 16.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,363 | −7.0% | |
| 1990 | 2,139 | −9.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,162 | 1.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,113 | −2.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,244 | 6.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 2,220 | 5.1% | |
| Population sources: 1910–1920 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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Essex Fells is a small community. The population has stayed fairly steady over the years.
Who Lives in Essex Fells?
In 2010, there were 2,113 people living in Essex Fells. Most residents (about 94.5%) were White. There were also smaller groups of Black or African American, Asian, and people of two or more races. About 2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The town has many families. About 42.6% of households had children under 18. Most households (73.4%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.9 people.
The median age in Essex Fells in 2010 was 43.8 years old. This means half the people were older than 43.8 and half were younger. About 29.9% of the population was under 18.
Parks and Fun Activities
Essex Fells has some great outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Grover Cleveland Park
Grover Cleveland Park is a large, wooded park. It covers about 41.48 acres. It's a great place to explore nature and enjoy the outdoors. The park is located along the border of Caldwell and Essex Fells.
Essex Fells Pond
Essex Fells Pond, also known as "The Pond," is a popular spot, especially in winter. It's located on Fells Road. When the weather is cold enough, people of all ages come here. They enjoy activities like ice skating, pond hockey, and figure skating.
How Essex Fells is Governed
Essex Fells is run by a local government called a borough government. This is a common type of government in New Jersey.
Local Leaders
The town is led by a mayor and a borough council. The mayor is elected by the people for a four-year term. The borough council has six members. They are elected for three-year terms, with two seats up for election each year.
The mayor leads meetings and votes only if there's a tie. The mayor also helps assign council members to different tasks. As of 2025, the mayor of Essex Fells is Edward A. Davis. The current council members are Michael W. Cecere, Bernard J. D'Avella III, Carolyn Goldman, John A. King, Margaret D. O'Connor, and William B. Sullivan. All of them are from the Republican Party.
Politics in Essex Fells
Essex Fells has many registered voters. In 2011, about half of the registered voters were Republicans. About 20% were Democrats, and the rest were not affiliated with a major party. Historically, Essex Fells has mostly voted for Republican candidates in elections.
Education in Essex Fells
Essex Fells has its own school district for younger students. Older students attend a regional school district.
Essex Fells School District
The Essex Fells School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. All these students attend the Essex Fells School. In the 2022–23 school year, there were 247 students and 23.7 teachers. This means there were about 10 students for every teacher. In 2016, Essex Fells School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. This award celebrates schools that show excellent academic performance.
West Essex Regional School District
Students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the West Essex Regional School District. This district serves students from Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland.
The district has two schools:
- West Essex Middle School (grades 7-8)
- West Essex High School (grades 9-12)
Essex Fells has one seat on the nine-member school board for the high school district.
Getting Around Essex Fells
Essex Fells has a network of roads for cars and public transportation options.
Roads and Highways
_just_north_of_Essex_County_Route_633_(Runnymede_Road)_and_Forest_Way_in_Essex_Fells,_Essex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
As of 2015, Essex Fells had about 16.99 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself. The main roads that go through Essex Fells are County Route 527 and County Route 506.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service in Essex Fells. You can take buses on routes 29 and 71 to get to and from Newark.
Famous People from Essex Fells
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Essex Fells.
- Bob Bradley (born 1958), a famous soccer coach.
- Willis Carrier (1876–1950), known as the "father of the modern day air conditioner."
- Don Criqui (born 1940), a well-known sportscaster.
- Ian Eagle (born 1969), a sports announcer.
- Connie Francis (born 1937), a famous singer.
- Justin Gimelstob (born 1977), a retired professional tennis player.
- Brian Rafalski (born 1973), a former NHL hockey player for the New Jersey Devils.
- Scott Stevens (born 1964), another former NHL hockey player for the New Jersey Devils.
- Johnny Sylvester (1915–1990), a boy visited by Babe Ruth in 1926. Babe Ruth promised to hit a home run for him during the World Series.
See also
In Spanish: Essex Fells para niños
