[23] Long the home of the Lenape, Native Americans, European settlement in the area that would become Garfield dates back to 1679, when Jacques Cortelyou acquired more than 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of land surrounding the Passaic River known as "Acqueyquinonke", that ran from the Saddle River to present day Glen Rock.

[24] When the area that is now Garfield was first developed in 1873 with an initial group of seven homes constructed by Gilbert D. Bogart, it was known as East Passaic.

[29] Garfield was originally incorporated as a borough on March 15, 1898, from portions of Saddle River Township and Wallington.

On April 19, 1917, the borough became the City of Garfield, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.

[2][3] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Belmont, Bogart Heights, Dundee Dam and Plauderville.

[31] The city has land borders with adjacent Elmwood Park, Lodi, Saddle Brook and South Hackensack.

[32][33][34] The United States Environmental Protection Agency has identified Garfield as the site of groundwater contaminated hexavalent chromium from a spill in 1983 at the E.C.

In 2016, the EPA announced a $37 million project to cleanup contamination at the site using Superfund money, as the company responsible for the spill of 3,600 US gallons (14,000 L; 3,000 imp gal) of chromic acid is no longer in business.

[45] The borough is also home to the architecturally prominent Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints, which serves the growing Ukrainian American community in western Bergen County.

[43][44] As of the 2000 Census, an adjusted 22.9% of Garfield's population reported Polish ancestry, ranked third highest in New Jersey behind Manville (23.1%) and neighboring Wallington (45.5%).

[52] In November 2015, following a referendum that supported the move by a 3-1 margin, the City Council voted to shift the city's municipal elections from May to November, citing hopes for greater voter participation and potential savings of $50,000 for each election; the shift result in the extension of terms for the then-serving council and municipal manager by six months, to the end of December 2016.

As of 2024[update], members of the Garfield City Council are Mayor Richard Rigoglioso, Deputy Mayor Joseph Delaney, Alejandina Banch, Romi Herrera and Pawel Maslag, all serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2024.

[4][56][57][58][59] In July 2021, the city council appointed Alejandina Banch to fill the council seat that had been held by Erin Nora Delaney until she stepped down to take office as the city manager / clerk, succeeding Thomas Duch, who had been appointed as the administrator of Bergen County.

[62] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 9th congressional district is represented by Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon)[63] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).

The 221st district's seat in the State Senate was vacated upon Nellie Pou's swearing into the U.S. House of Representatives.

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

[66] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[67] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[68] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[69] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[70] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[71] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[72] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[81][82] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[83][84] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[88] Among the city's 2010 Census population, 39.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 50.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In addition they have a hazardous materials unit, a water rescue boat and a foam tender.

Other main roads include Midland Avenue, Outwater Lane, River Drive and Passaic Street.