In 1702, settlers purchased the 14,000 acres (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.

[28] In the late 1800s, Philadelphia developer Anthony S. Drexel realized the impact of train travel on residential development and sent Charles W. Leavitt to the northern New Jersey area near the end of the Caldwell line.

Leavitt, Drexel and Drexel's son-in-law John F. Fell formed the Suburban Land Company and purchased 1,000 acres of land from the estate of Revolutionary War General William J. Gould.

In order to create their residential development the group commissioned noted architect Ernest W. Bowditch.

[22][23] Based on an ordinance passed in 1928, commercial activity in the borough is limited to a single three-story building constructed to look like a house and two small workshops on a dead end.

As of 2000[update], Essex Fells had 750 houses, most of which were custom built, with many occupying lots several acres in size.

[34][35][36] The 2010 United States census counted 2,113 people, 728 households, and 598 families in the borough.

[44] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 2,162 people, 737 households, and 605 families residing in the borough.

Located on Fells Road, "The Pond" attracts people of all ages, typically during the months of December through March.

[5] The borough form of government used by Essex Fells 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.

[48][49] As of 2025[update], the mayor of Essex Fells is Republican Edward A. Davis, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.

Members of the Essex Fells Borough Council are Michael W. Cecere (R, 2027), Bernard J.

[3][50][51][52][53][54][55] In November 2014, the borough council appointed Greg Hindy to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Jane McWilliams, until she resigned from office.

[59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 10th congressional district is represented by LaMonica McIver (D, Newark).

[61] For the 2024-2025 session, the 40th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kristin Corrado (R, Totowa) and in the General Assembly by Al Barlas (R, Cedar Grove) and Christopher DePhillips (R, Wyckoff).

As of 2025[update], the County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[64] Essex County's Commissioners are: Robert Mercado (D, District 1 – Newark's North and East Wards, parts of Central and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[65] A'Dorian Murray-Thomas (D, District 2 – Irvington, Maplewood and parts of Newark's South and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[66] Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper (D, District 3 - Newark: West and Central Wards; East Orange, Orange and South Orange; East Orange, 2026),[67] Leonard M. Luciano (D, District 4 – Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange; West Caldwell, 2026),[68] President Carlos M. Pomares (D, District 5 – Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley; Bloomfield, 2026),[69] Brendan W. Gill (D, at large; Montclair, 2026),[70] Romaine Graham (D, at large; Irvington, 2026),[71] Wayne Richardson (D, at large; Newark, 2026),[72] Patricia Sebold (D, at-large; Livingston, 2026).

However, in the 2024 United States presidential election, the borough voted for Republican Donald Trump by a wider margin than it did in 2016 and 2020.

[90] On a local level, Essex Fells has elected a Republican mayor in every vote held since becoming a borough in 1902.