According to the United States Census Bureau, Fairview has a total area of 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), all land.

[3] While early settlers were present in the Fairview area in the late eighteenth century, the streets and lots were laid out in 1830 by William McCleary and Wiliam Hawk.

Angell laid out additional streets and lots to the east of present-day Fairview.

On March 15, 1882, the Ralston and McQuade Bank on Main Street closed its doors with liabilities amounting to around $250,000 (equivalent to 7.5 million dollars today), affecting over 1,000 customers in the general area.

Fairview saw a slight rebound after the turbulent 1880s due to the oil refineries located in nearby Petrolia and Karns City Boroughs.

About 5.7% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.