Florham Park, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Florham Park is a borough
in Morris County
, New Jersey
, United States
. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,857, which had grown to 12,389 as of the Bureau's 2008 estimate.
Florham Park was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 9, 1899, from portions of Chatham Township
.
Florham Park is the home to the New York Jets
training camp, where in 2008 the Jets relocated to from their old facility at Hofstra University
in Hempstead, New York
. Florham Park beat out Berkeley Heights
, Jersey City
, Millburn
, South Amboy
, and Wood-Ridge
, which had all been finalists contending to be the host of the new facility.
Florham Park is also the North American headquarters for the BASF
corporation, the world's largest chemical company.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which, 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.27%) is water.
The Borough of Florham Park is located in the Southeastern part of Morris County and is bordered on the South by Madison
and Chatham
Boroughs; on the North by Hanover
and East Hanover Townships; on the West by Morris Township
; and on the East by the Passaic River
.
of 2000, there were 8,857 people, 3,239 households, and 2,474 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,191.3 people per square mile (460.3/km2). There were 3,342 housing units at an average density of 449.5 per square mile (173.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.00% White, 0.99% African American, 0.01% Native American, 3.87% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.
There were 3,239 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $88,706, and the median income for a family was $102,047. Males had a median income of $74,410 versus $49,551 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $42,133. About 2.4% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
The area that is now Florham Park was first settled by the English sometime between 1680 and 1700, and the community was long recognized as a prime farming area. The area was known for the manufacture of quality brooms, which was the source of one of its names, Broomtown. Through its history, the area was known as Hoppingtown, Broomtown, Columbia, Afton, and finally Florham Park. It was part of Hanover Township
, then Chatham Township
before being incorporated as Florham Park in 1899.
Florence Vanderbilt (1854–1952), granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
, renowned as the richest man in America, and her husband, financier, Hamilton McKown Twombly, came to the Morris County countryside in 1887, joining over 100 other millionaires who owned sprawling country retreats. They fancied an English-style country mansion in a stately park setting. "Florham," built on 840 acres (3.4 km²), one of America's finest Gilded Age homes, was the result. The couple named their new estate "Florham," a combination of their first names, Florence and Hamilton.
The second part to the name "Florham Park" received its name from a second mansion in town that was on about 1000 acres (4 km²) of land. It used to lie where the current Brooklake Country Club is located. It was owned by Dr. Leslie Ward — one of the founders of the Prudential Insurance Company and the first vice president of the company — and was named "Brooklake Park", partially because of the beautiful lake that was on the property.
Both of these families were supporters of many civic projects including the petitioning of the State of New Jersey to create their own town. On March 20, 1899, the governor signed the bill, making Florham Park a borough. The new town was named after Florence and Hamilton Twombly's and Dr. Ward's estates.
Florham Park is governed under the Borough
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor
of Florham Park is Scott Eveland, whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Borough Council (with their term-end year and mayoral portfolio assignments listed in parentheses) are Council President William Huyler (2014, Community Services),
Charles Germershausen (2014, Public Safety),
Mark Taylor (2013, Land Use & Environmental),
David Wikstrom (2013, Recreation),
Carmen Cefolo-Pane (2012, Senior Citizens, Health, Social Events)
and Fred Boy (2012, Finance),
Florham Park is in the
. In the 2008 Presidential Election
, Republican John McCain
received 59% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama
, who received around 40%. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election
, Republican Chris Christie received 62% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine
, who received around 30%.
serves public school students in grades K through 8. The schools in the district (with 2008-09 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are
Briarwood Elementary School (grades K-2, 353 students),
Brooklake Elementary School (grades 3-5, 340 students) and
Ridgedale Middle School (grades 6-8, 334 students).
Students in public school for grades 9 - 12 are served by the Hanover Park Regional High School District
, attending Hanover Park High School
in East Hanover, together with students from East Hanover Township. The district also serves students from the neighboring community of Hanover Township
at Whippany Park High School
in the Whippany
section of Hanover Township.
Holy Family School is a Catholic school
operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
.
Portions of the College of Saint Elizabeth
campus are in Florham Park, including the Villa of Saint Ann, a classical Greek amphitheater built into a hillside, and the original dairy farm for the complex. Portions of the Fairleigh Dickinson University
campus, College at Florham, also are located in Florham Park.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,857, which had grown to 12,389 as of the Bureau's 2008 estimate.
Florham Park was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on March 9, 1899, from portions of Chatham Township
Chatham Township, New Jersey
Chatham Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 10,452.Chatham Township was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 12, 1806, from portions of Hanover Township and Morris Township, based on...
.
Florham Park is the home to the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
training camp, where in 2008 the Jets relocated to from their old facility at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in Hempstead, New York
Hempstead (village), New York
Hempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
. Florham Park beat out Berkeley Heights
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Berkeley Heights is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 13,183....
, Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, Millburn
Millburn, New Jersey
Millburn is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,149.Millburn Township was created as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1857, from portions of Springfield Township.Millburn also...
, South Amboy
South Amboy, New Jersey
South Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, on the Raritan Bay. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 7,913.South Amboy, and Perth Amboy across the Raritan River, are collectively referred to as The Amboys...
, and Wood-Ridge
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Wood-Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,626.Wood-Ridge was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 6, 1894, from portions of Bergen Township, based on the results of...
, which had all been finalists contending to be the host of the new facility.
Florham Park is also the North American headquarters for the BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
corporation, the world's largest chemical company.
Geography
Florham Park is located at 40.777250°N 74.390278°W (40.777250, -74.390278).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which, 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.27%) is water.
The Borough of Florham Park is located in the Southeastern part of Morris County and is bordered on the South by Madison
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
and Chatham
Chatham Borough, New Jersey
Chatham is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 8,962.The village that now is Chatham first was settled by Europeans in 1710 in Morris Township, within the Province of New Jersey...
Boroughs; on the North by Hanover
Hanover Township, New Jersey
Hanover Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 12,898...
and East Hanover Townships; on the West by Morris Township
Morris Township, New Jersey
Morris Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 21,796. It is known as the "doughnut" around Morristown since it completely encapsulates it, and has at least five times the area...
; and on the East by the Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,857 people, 3,239 households, and 2,474 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,191.3 people per square mile (460.3/km2). There were 3,342 housing units at an average density of 449.5 per square mile (173.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.00% White, 0.99% African American, 0.01% Native American, 3.87% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.
There were 3,239 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $88,706, and the median income for a family was $102,047. Males had a median income of $74,410 versus $49,551 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $42,133. About 2.4% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
Hanover Township, New Jersey
Hanover Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 12,898...
, then Chatham Township
Chatham Township, New Jersey
Chatham Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 10,452.Chatham Township was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 12, 1806, from portions of Hanover Township and Morris Township, based on...
before being incorporated as Florham Park in 1899.
Florence Vanderbilt (1854–1952), granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
, renowned as the richest man in America, and her husband, financier, Hamilton McKown Twombly, came to the Morris County countryside in 1887, joining over 100 other millionaires who owned sprawling country retreats. They fancied an English-style country mansion in a stately park setting. "Florham," built on 840 acres (3.4 km²), one of America's finest Gilded Age homes, was the result. The couple named their new estate "Florham," a combination of their first names, Florence and Hamilton.
The second part to the name "Florham Park" received its name from a second mansion in town that was on about 1000 acres (4 km²) of land. It used to lie where the current Brooklake Country Club is located. It was owned by Dr. Leslie Ward — one of the founders of the Prudential Insurance Company and the first vice president of the company — and was named "Brooklake Park", partially because of the beautiful lake that was on the property.
Both of these families were supporters of many civic projects including the petitioning of the State of New Jersey to create their own town. On March 20, 1899, the governor signed the bill, making Florham Park a borough. The new town was named after Florence and Hamilton Twombly's and Dr. Ward's estates.
Local government
Florham Park is governed under the Borough
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Florham Park is Scott Eveland, whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Borough Council (with their term-end year and mayoral portfolio assignments listed in parentheses) are Council President William Huyler (2014, Community Services),
Charles Germershausen (2014, Public Safety),
Mark Taylor (2013, Land Use & Environmental),
David Wikstrom (2013, Recreation),
Carmen Cefolo-Pane (2012, Senior Citizens, Health, Social Events)
and Fred Boy (2012, Finance),
Federal, state and county representation
Florham Park Borough is in the 11th Congressional district.Florham Park is in the
Politics
On the national and state levels, Florham Park leans strongly toward the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. In the 2008 Presidential Election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Republican John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
received 59% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, who received around 40%. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election
New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009
The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 2009 took place on November 3, 2009. Democratic Governor Jon Corzine was running for a second term and was being challenged by Republican Chris Christie, Independent Christopher Daggett and nine others, in addition to several write-in candidates...
, Republican Chris Christie received 62% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
, who received around 30%.
Education
The Florham Park School DistrictFlorham Park School District
The Florham Park School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Florham Park, in Morris County, New Jersey, United States....
serves public school students in grades K through 8. The schools in the district (with 2008-09 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are
Briarwood Elementary School (grades K-2, 353 students),
Brooklake Elementary School (grades 3-5, 340 students) and
Ridgedale Middle School (grades 6-8, 334 students).
Students in public school for grades 9 - 12 are served by the Hanover Park Regional High School District
Hanover Park Regional High School District
The Hanover Park Regional High School District is a comprehensive regional public school district that serves students in grades 9 - 12 from three communities in Morris County, New Jersey, United States...
, attending Hanover Park High School
Hanover Park High School
Hanover Park High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from East Hanover Township and Florham Park, in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hanover Park Regional High School District...
in East Hanover, together with students from East Hanover Township. The district also serves students from the neighboring community of Hanover Township
Hanover Township, New Jersey
Hanover Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 12,898...
at Whippany Park High School
Whippany Park High School
Whippany Park High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from the Township of Hanover, in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Hanover Park Regional High School District...
in the Whippany
Whippany, New Jersey
Whippany is an unincorporated area located within Hanover Township in Morris County, New Jersey. Whippany's name is derived from the Whippanong Native Americans, a tribe that once inhabited the area...
section of Hanover Township.
Holy Family School is a Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
.
Portions of the College of Saint Elizabeth
College of Saint Elizabeth
The College of Saint Elizabeth is a private Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts college for women. It is located in an unincorporated community called Convent Station, in Morris Township, New Jersey...
campus are in Florham Park, including the Villa of Saint Ann, a classical Greek amphitheater built into a hillside, and the original dairy farm for the complex. Portions of the Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
campus, College at Florham, also are located in Florham Park.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Florham Park include:- Kary AntholisKary AntholisKary Antholis is an American executive at the television network HBO who has overseen some of its groundbreaking socially conscious programming. He is also an Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker.-Biography:...
, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker. - John T. CunninghamJohn T. CunninghamJohn T. Cunningham is a journalist, writer, and historian who has published numerous works related to the history of his native state, New Jersey....
, New Jersey's popular historian - Bill RafteryBill RafteryBill Raftery is an American basketball analyst and play-by-play announcer and former college basketball coach.-High School:...
(born 1943), basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
analyst and former college basketball coach. - Tony SiragusaTony SiragusaAnthony "Tony" Siragusa , nicknamed "Goose", is a former National Football League defensive tackle who spent twelve seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens. He currently works as a sideline analyst for NFL games broadcast on the Fox Network.-Early life:Siragusa attended David...
(born 1967), former footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player with the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
and Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, and current football analyst for Fox SportsFox Sports (USA)Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
.
Appearance In Film
- Not Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
-during the airport scene towards the bottom of the screen a flight on "Jersey Air" is scheduled to leave for Florham Park, NJ. This is an homage to some of the film's crew who hail from Morris County, NJ.
External links
- Florham Park Borough website
- Florham Park School District
- Data for the Florham Park School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Hanover Park Regional High School District
- Hanover Park High School
- Family School K-8 Grade
- College of Saint Elizabeth
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Florham Park Eagle newspaper
- Regional area newspaper
- Fourth Of July Parade
- Florham Park Gazebo Concert Series
- Florham Park Environmental Commission