Essex Fells
Essex Fells is unique among the towns of Essex County. This tiny community is one of the prettiest and country-like in the area. It is also the wealthiest in the county and one of the wealthiest in the U.S., ranked #149 out the top 250 by Worth Magazine. It’s easy to get lost in Essex Fells’ winding country-like roads. The 1.3 square mile borough has just 750 homes, most built before World War II and many of them custom built, ranging from small colonials to large manor homes set on several acres. In the late 1800s, Anthony Drexel, a Philadelphia banker bought 1000 acres in what was then part of Caldwell Township, named the area Essex Fells and designed and built many of the towns large rambling first homes as well as a 9-hole golf course (now the 18-hole Essex Fells Country Club). The Borough of Essex Fells split from Caldwell in 1902. In 1928 the town passed an ordinance limiting commercial activity to a small area at the end of one of the towns dead-end streets. Seventeen percent of the land area is township owned greenspace including 106 acre Trotter Park with its many atheltic fields and the Skating Pond on Fells Road. Despite the lack of commercial properties, Essex Fells’ real estate taxes are relatively low. The Essex Fells Water Company generates income by selling a billion gallons of water each year to surrounding towns.The Essex Fells School houses about 240 elementary schoold students Kindergarten through 6th grade. Middle and high school students attend West Essex regional schools in nearby North Caldwell.
Town website: www.essexfellsboro.com
Elementary School: www.efsk-6.org
Middle & High Schools Website: www.westessex.org
