Fairview Township celebrated 200 years of settlement in 1997. The rich soil lured farmers here to establish homesteads. The mighty force of the streams, later called Trout Run and Walnut Creek, induced businessmen to build some of the county's earliest mills here. Fairview is one of the original 16 townships in Erie County. The name was derived from the exclamation of businessman Col. Thomas Forster in 1797, who declared as he looked out over the land he had purchased at the mouth of Walnut Creek: "This is the fairest view I have seen yet."

Various modes of transportation aided in the growth and development of Fairview Township. Early in the 19th Century stagecoaches traveled a regular route along Ridge Road, creating a need for taverns and inns for the comfort of passengers. In 1844 the Erie Extension Canal began operating on a route north of and parallel with Ridge Road, providing not only passenger service, but bringing coal to fuel the waning mills. Later, four railroad lines, two following the old canal route, provided freight and mail service as well as passenger service as they traversed the township. Trolley and bus service were active during the early and middle part of the 20th Century, and one of the county's earliest and most successful airports was in operation for about 35 years beginning in 1928 along Ridge Road near the western edge of the township. By 1961 an east-west interstate (I-90) and a local interchange had been constructed through the township which provided ready access to those of Ohio, New York and beyond.

Fairview Township was regarded as mostly rural with the majority of the land use being in agriculture until after World War II.Housing developments were created in many areas of the township as the emigration from the cities began. Today, much of the land use is in residential housing, with additional areas designated for business parks as well as recreational parks. However, the greatest percentage of land use remains agricultural in nature.

When the township formed, the governing body was three elected supervisors. In 1868 the greatest concentration of population and businesses was in the village area near the center of the township along Ridge Road. It incorporated as a borough, taking approximately one square mile of the township. About 400 people were living in the borough area at that time and the form of government they established was an elected council and burgess (mayor). Following a referendum vote in 1994, proceedings began to consolidate the two entities, to be governed by three elected supervisors. This became reality in January 1998.