Fairfield
Fairfield is a low-density suburban township in northwestern Essex County with a much larger commercial and employment footprint than its population suggests. Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, light-industrial districts, office parks and Essex County Airport make Fairfield an important business and transportation center within West Essex.
Fairfield Overview
Fairfield occupies the northwestern corner of Essex County, where suburban residential neighborhoods meet major regional highways, business parks, warehouses, offices and aviation facilities. The township is bisected by Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 46, giving local businesses and residents direct connections to Morris, Passaic, Bergen and the rest of Essex County.
Explore Fairfield on NJTGO
Fairfield already has a full set of NJTGO category pages. This refreshed main page keeps those existing sections connected while giving the township a modern overview.
History & Township Identity
Fairfield's history reaches back to the Dutch settlement period. The area was once known as Gansegat, translated as “duck's pond,” and later became part of the larger Horseneck Tract in western Essex County.
Business & Shopping
Business is central to Fairfield's identity. The township contains office parks, warehouses, light-industrial facilities, professional services, retail and restaurants along U.S. Route 46, Fairfield Road, Passaic Avenue, Clinton Road and connecting industrial streets.
The township has long treated Route 46 as a regional commercial highway corridor, supporting retail, services, hotels, restaurants and highway-oriented businesses.
Fairfield Road combines municipal, residential and commercial uses and connects the township center with Route 46 and surrounding business districts.
Commerce Road, Clinton Road, Passaic Avenue, Kingsbridge Road and nearby streets support offices, distribution, manufacturing, service companies and light industry.
Current township planning includes mixed-use and residential overlay discussions intended to adapt selected underused commercial properties while protecting established business areas.
Essex County Airport
Essex County Airport (CDW) is located at 27 Wright Way in Fairfield and is one of the township's most distinctive assets. It serves general aviation rather than scheduled airline passengers and functions as a regional reliever airport within New Jersey's aviation network.
The airport supports corporate and private aircraft, flight training, maintenance, fueling, hangar activity and other aviation services.
NJDOT identifies Essex County Airport as an advanced-service airport supporting corporate, executive and private-use general aviation activity.
The airport strengthens Fairfield's role as a business location by placing aviation services directly beside the township's commercial and industrial districts.
Transportation & Commuting
Fairfield is much more automobile-oriented than the rail-served municipalities of eastern Essex County. Its transportation advantage comes primarily from major highways and proximity to regional employment centers.
I-80 cuts across Fairfield and provides direct east-west access toward Paterson, Bergen County, Morris County and the New York metropolitan region.
Route 46 is both a commercial corridor and one of Fairfield's most important local transportation routes.
Nearby regional highways expand access toward Passaic, Morris and Bergen counties and employment centers across northern New Jersey.
Bus and regional transit options exist, but most daily travel within Fairfield and its business districts is car-oriented.
Parks & Recreation
Fairfield maintains a network of neighborhood and multi-use parks, along with organized youth and adult recreation. Recent township improvements include upgraded playground equipment at local parks.
The recreation complex at 221 Hollywood Avenue is a central athletics site and includes the township's turf-field facilities.
Current township parks include Addison Park, Beverley Park, Edgewater Park, Hollywood Mini Park, Oak Park and Summit Park.
Township programming includes youth activities such as soccer along with seasonal camps, sports and community recreation programs.
Fairfield Recreation also schedules adult basketball, bocce, fitness classes and other adult and senior activities.
Schools & Library
Fairfield operates its own elementary district through sixth grade and participates in the West Essex Regional School District for grades seven through twelve.
Located at 15 Knoll Road, Stevenson serves Fairfield students in pre-kindergarten through grade 2.
Located at 233 Fairfield Road, Churchill serves students in grades 3 through 6.
Fairfield students join Essex Fells, North Caldwell and Roseland students at West Essex Middle School for grades 7–8 and West Essex High School for grades 9–12.
The library at 261 Hollywood Avenue offers lending, digital collections, research tools, children's and teen programming, adult events and community services.
Community Life
Fairfield's residential population is relatively small compared with many Essex County municipalities, which gives township programs, schools, parks and civic activities an important role in local community life.
The municipal building at 230 Fairfield Road houses township government and connects residents with departments including construction, finance, public works, recreation and taxation.
The Fairfield Free Public Library maintains programs for children, teens and adults along with community events and digital resources.
Township recreation provides sports, fitness, seasonal programs and community activities throughout the year.
Real Estate & Development
Fairfield's residential landscape is dominated by detached homes and established suburban neighborhoods, while commercial and industrial properties occupy significant portions of the township around Route 46 and other employment corridors.
Much of Fairfield's housing consists of established single-family neighborhoods separated from the heavier commercial corridors.
Office, warehouse, light-industrial and highway commercial properties form a major part of the local tax base and land-use pattern.
Current Planning Board discussions include mixed-use, multifamily and residential overlay zoning designed to guide future housing and adaptive reuse in selected areas.
Living & Visiting Fairfield
Fairfield is primarily a place to live, work and conduct business rather than a traditional tourist destination. Its hotels, restaurants, Route 46 location and airport also make it a practical base for business and regional travel.
Suburban neighborhoods, township schools, parks, recreation and local services provide a quieter West Essex setting.
Route 46 hotels, restaurants, office parks and highway access make Fairfield practical for meetings and commercial travel.
I-80 and Route 46 put Fairfield within easy driving reach of Montclair, Wayne, Parsippany, Newark and other northern New Jersey destinations.
Jobs, Business & Opportunity
Fairfield's employment profile is unusually large for a township of roughly 8,000 residents. Offices, distribution facilities, manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, hotels, aviation businesses and professional services all contribute to the local economy.
Route 46 and Fairfield's business parks support a wide variety of corporate, logistics, manufacturing and service employment.
Essex County Airport supports jobs connected with flight operations, maintenance, training, aircraft services and related businesses.
Municipal services, Fairfield Public Schools and the West Essex Regional district add public-sector and education employment.
Official Fairfield Resources
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Information reviewed August 2026. NJTGO.com is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the Township of Fairfield, Essex County, NJDOT, any school district, local business or aviation operator. Transportation, development, recreation and public-service information can change; verify time-sensitive details with the appropriate official source.