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Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Borough
Radburn Plaza
Official seal of Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Seal
Motto(s): 
"A great place to visit and a better place to live."
Location of Fair Lawn in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Location of Fair Lawn in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Fair Lawn, New Jersey <mapframe text="Interactive map of Fair Lawn, New Jersey" zoom="8" width="250" height="250"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geoshape", "ids": "Q607666" } </mapframe>
Census Bureau map of Fair Lawn, New Jersey

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Fair Lawn, New Jersey is located in Bergen County, New Jersey
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Fair Lawn, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Fair Lawn, New Jersey is located in the United States
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated March 6, 1924
Named for David Acker's estate, Fairlawn
Government
 • Type Faulkner Act (council–manager)
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 5.22 sq mi (13.53 km2)
 • Land 5.13 sq mi (13.30 km2)
 • Water 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)  1.53%
Area rank 271st of 565 in state
11th of 70 in county
Elevation
69 ft (21 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 34,927
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 35,564
 • Rank 68th of 565 in state
4th of 70 in county
 • Density 6,801.8/sq mi (2,626.2/km2)
 • Density rank 71st of 565 in state
21st of 70 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07410
Area code(s) 201 exchanges: 398, 475, 703, 791, 794, 796, 797
FIPS code 3400322470
GNIS feature ID 0885214

Fair Lawn is a small town, called a borough, in Bergen County, New Jersey. It's like a quiet neighborhood for people who work in bigger cities, especially New York City, which is about 12 miles away. In 2020, about 34,927 people lived here.

Fair Lawn became an official borough on March 6, 1924. It got its name from a large estate called Fairlawn, built in 1865. This estate later became the town's main building. In 1933, the name was changed to two words: "Fair Lawn."

Fair Lawn is also home to Radburn, which was one of the first "planned communities" in the United States. It was designed in 1929 as a town for people who used cars. Many people who live in Fair Lawn travel to New York City for work. They can take a train from two stations, Radburn and Broadway, on the NJ Transit Bergen County Line.

Fair Lawn's motto is: "A great place to visit and a better place to live." It has even been named one of the top 10 best places to live in New Jersey!

Fair Lawn's Story: History and Important Places

Early Settlers and How Fair Lawn Grew

The first people to live in the Fair Lawn area were the Lenape tribe, a group of Native Americans. They were hunter-gatherers who later sold their land to Dutch and Irish settlers. The new settlers turned the area into large farms. They called the place "slooterdam" after a special fishing trap built by the Lenape.

Over time, these large farms became smaller, and new roads were built. By 1861, there were 80 houses, and the area was known for its farms. The town's name, Fair Lawn, came from a grand estate called "Fairlawn" owned by David Acker.

Becoming an Independent Borough

In the early 1900s, people in Fair Lawn were not happy with their schools. They felt their schools were too old or too far away. So, they decided to become their own independent town. In April 1924, the people of Fair Lawn voted, and it officially became a borough.

Historic Sites to Explore

Fair Lawn has several important places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are special spots that help us remember the past:

  • Peter Garretson House, 4-02 River Road (1974)
  • Radburn's unique street pattern between Radburn Road and the Erie Rail Road tracks (1975)
  • G.V.H. Berdan House, 1219 River Road (1983)
  • Richard J. Berdan House, 2407 Fair Lawn Avenue
  • Cadmus-Folly House, 19-21 Fair Lawn Avenue
  • Naugle House, 42-49 Dunkerhook Road – Built in the 1750s, this house is now owned by the borough.
  • Jacob Vanderbeck Jr. House, 41-25 Dunkerhook Road – Built in 1754, this house is considered one of New Jersey's most endangered historic places.
  • Radburn station, Pollitt Drive (1984)

Other places are also considered historic, like the Henry A. Hopper House and the George Washington School.

Fair Lawn's Location and Neighborhoods

Fair Lawn's Size and Neighbors

Fair Lawn covers about 5.22 square miles (13.53 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

Fair Lawn shares its borders with several other towns:

Exploring Fair Lawn's Neighborhoods

Fair Lawn has many different neighborhoods, each with its own special feel:

  • Berdan Grove is a quiet area with single-family homes and a park. It's home to Milnes Elementary School.
  • The Broadway District is a busy shopping area with many stores, restaurants, and businesses. It also has a train station for commuters.
  • Central Fair Lawn is where the town's main buildings are, like the Municipal Complex, the Public Library, and Fair Lawn High School.
  • Dunkerhook is an old area near the Saddle River, with historic houses from the 1700s.
  • The Heights (also called Columbia Heights) is a well-kept neighborhood near Hawthorne.
  • Hendersonville is a diverse residential area with many two-family homes. Westmoreland Elementary School is here.
  • Lyncrest is known for its older, stone houses and is a diverse community with families from many different backgrounds. Lyncrest Elementary School is located here.
  • The McBride Industrial District used to be home to big factories like Nabisco. Now, some of these industrial areas are changing into new homes and businesses.
  • Memorial Park is a neighborhood by the Passaic River. It has a park with a World War II memorial, a pool, and hosts the annual Independence Day fireworks show.
  • Radburn is a famous planned community with easy access to shops, schools, and the Radburn train station. It even has an annual street fair in June.
  • Radrock Estates is a small, private neighborhood similar to Radburn, built around 1940.
  • The River Road Improvement District is a lively area with banks, restaurants, shops, and a comic book store. It also has an annual street fair in the fall.
  • Warren Point is a residential area near the Broadway shopping district. It has many stores and restaurants, and the Broadway train station. Warren Point Elementary School and St. Anne School are in this neighborhood.

Fair Lawn also has newer areas like "Fair Lawn Commons" and "Fair Lawn Promenade," which offer a mix of apartments, shops, and restaurants. All these different communities make Fair Lawn a very diverse place!

A Mix of Cultures: Fair Lawn's Diversity

Fair Lawn is known for being a welcoming place for people from many different backgrounds and religions. People from all over the world, including Eurasia, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, have made Fair Lawn their home. More than 50 languages are spoken in the borough!

A History of Different Cultures

Fair Lawn has been an important center for Jewish culture for many years. After the Soviet Union ended in 1991, many Russian Jews moved to Fair Lawn, followed by Russian Orthodox Christians. More than 10% of the people in Fair Lawn are of Russian descent, which is the highest percentage in New Jersey. Fair Lawn also has the largest Israeli American community in Bergen County.

In the past, Fair Lawn had a large Italian American population. While that number is changing, new immigrants from around the world continue to move here.

Fair Lawn's excellent school district, safe neighborhoods, and easy access to shops, hospitals, and New York City make it a popular place for new immigrants. The number of Asian Americans, including people from India, the Philippines, China, Korea, and Vietnam, has grown a lot. The Polish American population is also increasing. The public library offers story times in Hindi and Hebrew, and Mandarin Chinese is taught in the schools. Fair Lawn even held its first Hindu Holi festival in 2022.

There are many places in Fair Lawn where different groups gather, like Korean churches, a Taiwanese church, Young Israel of Fair Lawn, Saint Leon Armenian Church, and the Italian American Cosmos Club.

Fair Lawn's Population

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900 756 —
1910 1,178 55.8%
1920 2,026 72.0%
1930 5,990 195.7%
1940 9,107 52.0%
1950 23,885 162.3%
1960 36,421 52.5%
1970 37,975 4.3%
1980 32,229 −15.1%
1990 30,548 −5.2%
2000 31,637 3.6%
2010 32,457 2.6%
2020 34,927 7.6%
2023 (est.) 35,564 9.6%
Population sources:
1930 1900–2020
2000 2010 2020

What the 2010 Census Showed

In 2010, there were 32,457 people living in Fair Lawn. Most residents (about 84%) were White. About 10% of the population was Asian, and about 10% were of Hispanic or Latino background.

About 22% of the people were under 18 years old, and 16.3% were 65 or older. The average age in Fair Lawn was 43.1 years.

Fair Lawn's Economy: Businesses and Jobs

Fair Lawn is home to several important businesses:

  • The Nabisco cookie factory, located along Route 208 North, was a very big employer and taxpayer for over 60 years. It closed in 2021.
  • U.S. Technologies, a company that makes high-tech electronics, has its main office in Fair Lawn.
  • Columbia Bank (New Jersey), one of the largest mutual banks in New Jersey, is also headquartered here.
  • A. Zerega's Sons Inc. is one of the biggest pasta makers in the United States, producing millions of pounds of pasta each year.
  • Kuiken Brothers is a major supplier of building materials for homes and businesses.

The Fair Lawn Promenade is a newer area that opened in 2014. It's a place where people can live, shop, work, and eat, all in one spot!

Sports and Fun in Fair Lawn

Fair Lawn has a great street hockey program, one of the first in New Jersey. The Fair Lawn Flyers even competed in the first national street hockey championships in 1976.

If you like bowling, Fair Lawn Lanes has 32 lanes, an arcade, and a lounge for fun.

Parks and Outdoor Activities

Fair Lawn has many parks where you can play and relax:

  • Memorial Park on 1st Street has an inline skating rink, sports fields, basketball courts, and a beach park. It's also where the town's Memorial Day parade ends and the Independence Day fireworks show happens.
  • Berdan Grove Park on Berdan Avenue has a baseball field, basketball courts, walking paths, and a playground.
  • Gregory Park on 28th Street has a basketball court, playground, baseball field, and a walking path.
  • Cresthill Park on Godwin Avenue has a playground and a basketball court.

Years ago, Fair Lawn even had a children's zoo called Dietch's Kiddie Zoo, which was open from 1951 to 1967.

Learning in Fair Lawn: Schools and Education

The Fair Lawn Public Schools system teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. In the 2022–23 school year, about 5,529 students attended the nine schools in the district.

The schools include:

  • Thomas Edison School (preschool)
  • John A. Forrest Elementary School (grades K-4)
  • Lyncrest Elementary School (grades K-4)
  • Henry B. Milnes Elementary School (grades K-4)
  • Radburn Elementary School (grades K-4)
  • Warren Point Elementary School (grades K-4)
  • Westmoreland Elementary School (grades PreK-4)
  • Memorial Middle School (grades 5-8)
  • Thomas Jefferson Middle School (grades 5-8)
  • Fair Lawn High School (grades 9-12)

Some Fair Lawn schools have won special awards, like the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program award, which recognizes excellent schools. These include Fair Lawn High School (in 1991 and 1998), Lyncrest Elementary School (2016), and Henry B. Milnes Elementary School (2020).

Students can also choose to attend special high school programs at the Bergen County Technical Schools, like the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack.

St. Anne School is a Catholic elementary school in Fair Lawn.

Keeping Fair Lawn Safe: Emergency Services

Fair Lawn has dedicated emergency services, all run by volunteers!

  • The Fair Lawn Fire Department is made up of volunteers and has four fire stations around town.
  • The Fair Lawn Volunteer Ambulance, Inc. provides 24/7 emergency medical services with modern ambulances.
  • The Fair Lawn Rescue Squad is also all-volunteer and helps with difficult rescues and hazardous materials situations.

Fair Lawn also has its own police department, which was started in 1930 and responds to many calls each year to help keep everyone safe.

Getting Around Fair Lawn: Transportation

2021-08-08 15 22 00 View north along New Jersey State Route 208 from the overpass for Bergen County Route 76 (Fair Lawn Avenue) in Fair Lawn, Bergen County, New Jersey
Route 208 in Fair Lawn

Roads and Highways

Fair Lawn has many roads that help people get around. In 2010, there were almost 100 miles of roads!

Two main state highways go through Fair Lawn:

Fair Lawn also has several important local roads like Saddle River Road, Plaza Road, River Road, Broadway, Morlot Avenue, and Fair Lawn Avenue.

Fair Lawn Avenue is considered the town's main street. It has the borough hall, police station, and public library. The intersection of Fair Lawn Avenue and Plaza Road is like a "town center" with shops and the Radburn train station nearby.

How Addresses Work

Fair Lawn uses a special address system where most addresses have a hyphen, like 10-01 Fair Lawn Ave. The first numbers tell you how far the building is from certain main roads. This system helps emergency workers find places quickly.

Public Transportation Options

Fair Lawn has good public transportation:

  • Trains: You can take NJ Transit trains from the Radburn and Broadway stations. These trains go to Hoboken Terminal (where you can connect to the PATH train to New York City) and Secaucus Junction (where you can connect to other trains to Midtown Manhattan).
Fair Lawn Radburn Station
Radburn train station in Fair Lawn
  • Buses: NJ Transit buses offer rides to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal. There are also local bus routes.
  • Jitney Buses: Small buses called "guaguas" also run from nearby Paterson to New York City, offering a cheaper way for commuters to travel.

Airports Nearby

If you need to fly, Fair Lawn is close to several airports:

Famous People from Fair Lawn

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Fair Lawn:

Historic Sites in Fair Lawn

The Passaic River Fishing Weir is an important old structure built by the Lenape tribe. It's located just north of the Fair Lawn Avenue Bridge.

Here are some of the historic places in Fair Lawn that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

  • G. V. H. Berdan House – 1219 River Road (added 1983)
  • Richard J. Berdan House – 24-07 Fair Lawn Avenue (added 1983): This home was built around 1750.
  • Cadmus-Folly House – 19-21 Fair Lawn Avenue (added 1983)
  • Peter Garretson House – 4-02 River Road (added 1974): This sandstone house dates back to 1719 and is one of the oldest buildings in Bergen County. You can visit it as a farm museum.
  • Naugle House – 42-49 Dunkerhook Road (added 1983): Built in 1776, this home was visited by the Marquis de Lafayette.
  • Radburn – The unique layout of streets between Radburn Road and the Erie RR. tracks (added 1975)
  • Radburn station – Pollitt Drive (added 1984)
  • Jacob Vanderbeck Jr. House – 41-25 Dunkerhook Road (added 1983): Built in the 1750s, this house is considered one of New Jersey's most endangered historic places.

Fair Lawn also has connections to other historic areas along the Saddle River in Paramus, like the Easton Tower and the Dunkerhook community.

Images for kids

See also

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