At the same time, the Central New Jersey Land Improvement Company began development of Fanwood Park, a residential community around the station.

John Taylor Johnston, then president of CNJ, named the community after his wife, Frances, also known as Fanny, according to his daughter, Emily.

The district has 57 contributing buildings, including the Fanwood station, which was previously listed individually on the NRHP.

A key contributing property, the Georgian Revival style Urner/Gibbs house was built in 1894 by Benjamin Urner, as a wedding gift for his daughter who had married William M.

[26] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.34 square miles (3.47 km2), all of which was land.

[36][37] In 2014 Fanwood was recipient of a 2014 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for its downtown development plan.

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

The mayor of Fanwood is responsible for serving as the chief executive officer of borough government.

[44] As of 2025[update], the mayor of Fanwood Borough is Democrat Colleen M. Mahr, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[45][3][46][47][48][49] In January 2019, Jeffrey Banks was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Russell Huegel until he resigned from office to accept the position as the borough's municipal attorney.

The Fanwood Volunteer Fire Company predates the incorporation of the borough, having first been established in 1890 with its first firehouse constructed in 1897.

[53] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).

[55] For the 2024-2025 session, the 22nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nicholas Scutari (D, Linden) and in the General Assembly by Linda S. Carter (D, Plainfield) and James J. Kennedy (D, Rahway).

[57] As of 2025[update], Union County's County Commissioners are: Rebecca Williams (D, Plainfield, 2025),[58] Joesph Bodek (D, Linden, 2026),[59] James E. Baker Jr. (D, Rahway, 2027),[60] Michele Delisfort (D, Union Township, 2026),[61] Sergio Granados (D, Elizabeth, 2025),[62] Bette Jane Kowalski (D, Cranford, 2025),[63] Vice Chair Lourdes M. Leon (D, Elizabeth, 2026),[64] Alexander Mirabella (D, Fanwood, 2027)[65] and Chair Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded (D, Westfield, 2027).

[66][67] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (D, Union Township, 2025),[68][69] Sheriff Peter Corvelli (D, Kenilworth, 2026)[70][71] and Surrogate Christopher E. Hudak (D, Clark, 2027).

[74] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.8% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 95.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).

[103] Route 28 (known in Fanwood as South Avenue) passes through the borough, connecting Plainfield and Scotch Plains.

[104] Another major thoroughfare is South and North Martine Avenue, which connects Fanwood to U.S. Route 22 .

The ticket office is in the station building on the south side of the tracks (eastbound platform).

The Raritan Valley Railroad Coalition[105] has been promoting the economic benefits of one-seat ride access to New York City since 1998.

RVRC has succeeded in gaining one-seat rides during off peak hours during the week; there are nine trains in each direction where riders do not need to transfer at Newark Penn Station.

The ultimate goal of RVRC is to extend such one-seat rides during rush hours, which would have been achieved with the Access to the Region's Core tunnel program, but this was cancelled by then Governor Chris Christie.