A planned community developed in 1929 by Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, Radburn was the first American town to be "constructed" rather than "founded." The idea was to build a self-sufficient entity with residential, commercial and industrial areas. It was the first community with separation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and every home was planned with access to park walks.
Today, about 3,100 people live in Radburn, with housing consisting of 469 single family homes, 48 townhouses, 30 two-family houses, a 93- unit apartment complex and 10 condominium units. Radburn is part of the borough of Fair Lawn, but the Radburn Association—which has nine trustees elected by residents and a paid full-time manager—oversees community property and recreation programs. Residents pay Fair Lawn taxes plus a Radburn charge for property maintenance and programs, which include adult aerobics, men's basketball, a swim team and the Radburn Players—New Jersey's oldest continuously performing theater group.
The Radburn Association site—located at 29-20 Fair Lawn Avenue—was included in the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey State Register in 1974.