The township was named after a waterfall on the Passaic River at a dam near Beattie Mill.

[24] Little Falls traces its first European settlement to 1711, when seven Bergen Dutch settlers banded together to begin farming.

[26] The Morris Canal, once an important artery of trade and transportation until 1925 between the Delaware and Hudson rivers, wound its way through the township, and vestiges of it still remain today,[27] some parts of which form a greenway.

On March 25, 1914, portions of the township were taken to form the borough of West Paterson (now Woodland Park).

[1][2] Singac (with a 2010 Census population of 3,618[31]) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Little Falls Township.

[35][36] Little Falls is bordered by the municipalities of Clifton, Totowa, Wayne, and Woodland Park in Passaic County, and Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Montclair, and North Caldwell in Essex County.

The 2010 United States census counted 14,432 people, 4,740 households, and 2,825 families in the township.

[52] As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 10,855 people, 4,687 households, and 2,873 families residing in the township.

[54] The New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League played at Yogi Berra Stadium, located in Little Falls, on the campus of Montclair State University.

[7][57] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Little Falls is Democrat James Belford Damiano, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024.

[3][58][59][60][61] In January 2017, Democrat Chris Vancheri was appointed to fill the council seat expiring in December 2018 that was vacated by James Damiano when he took office as mayor.

In April 2017, Republican Marc Benitez was appointed to fill a vacant seat expiring in December 2018 that had been held by Joseph Maceri until he resigned after moving out of the township.

[63] Darlene Post (who returned to using her maiden name of Conti as of January 2015[64]) won election to a full four-year term as mayor in the 2012 general election, along with all three of her Republican running mates for Township Council; Louis Fontana, Pamela Porter, and Joseph Rento (who won the balance of an unexpired term of office).

[68] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

[70] 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).

[72] As of 2025[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are: Bruce James (D, Clifton, 2026),[73] Deputy Director Cassandra "Sandi" Lazzara (D, Little Falls, 2027),[74] Director John W. Bartlett (D, Wayne, 2027),[75] Orlando Cruz (D, Paterson, 2026),[76] Terry Duffy (D, West Milford, 2025),[77] Rodney DeVore (D, Paterson, 2027)[78] and Pasquale "Pat" Lepore (D, Woodland Park, 2025).

[91] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 52.9% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 61.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).

[117] Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with three seats each assigned Little Falls, Totowa and Woodland Park.

During 2011, the university employed 66 residents on a full or part-time basis, who earned almost $3.5 million in total compensation.

The township was formerly served by the Great Notch station until NJ Transit closed it in January 2010 because of low ridership.

[122][123] In September 2012, as part of budget cuts, NJ Transit suspended service to Newark on the 75 line.