[21] Fairview was formed on December 19, 1894, from portions of Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.

The 2010 United States census counted 13,835 people, 4,853 households, and 3,256 families in the borough.

[37] As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 13,255 people, 4,861 households, and 3,179 families residing in the borough.

[38] In the same census, 2.4% of Fairview's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian American ancestry, the 18th highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

[6] The form of government used by Fairview is a "weak mayor / strong council" type, where council members serves as the legislative body, while the mayor presides over meetings and only casts a vote in case of a tie.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[42][43] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Fairview is Democrat Violeta Berisha, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

Members of the Fairview Borough Council are Florencia Irma Asto (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Stephen Burke (D, 2026), Jhon Gomez (D, 2024), Albert Lukin (D, 2026), Russell Martin (D, 2025) and Stephen J. Russo (D, 2024).

[3][44][45][46][47][48] In May 2017, the borough council selected Violetta Berisha to fill the seat expiring December 2019 that became vacant following the resignation of John Rossi.

[50] Russell Martin was named in January 2012 to fill the council vacancy of the seat that had been held by John Pierotti following his death, and won the remainder of the term the 2012 general election, running unopposed for the seat.

[54] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 9th congressional district is represented by Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon)[55] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).

[56] For the 2024-2025 session, the 36th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the General Assembly by Clinton Calabrese (D, Cliffside Park) and Gary Schaer (D, Passaic).

As of 2025[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[58] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[59] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[60] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[61] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[62] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[63] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[64] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[73][74] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[75][76] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[80] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 35.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 44.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

[95] The Fairview Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

The plans include a stop near the county line in North Bergen at 91st Street.