Florham Park, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Borough of Florham Park, New Jersey
settlement_type = Borough
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map highlighting Florham Park's location within Morris County. Inset: Morris County's location within New Jersey


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_name2 = Morris
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = R. Scott Eveland
leader_title1 = Borough Administrator
leader_name1 = John Conway [ [http://www.florhamparkboro.net/administration.htm Borough Government: Administration] , Borough of Florham Park. Accessed September 16, 2007.]
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = March 9, 1899
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 7.6
area_total_km2 = 19.3
area_land_sq_mi = 7.6
area_land_km2 = 19.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 12404
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 460.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1,191.3
timezone = U.S. EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = U.S. EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40 |latm = 46 |lats = 38 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 23 |longs = 25 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 65
elevation_ft = 213
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|885221|Florham Park, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07932
area_code = 973
website = http://www.florhamparkboro.net
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-23910GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0876394GR|3
footnotes =

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 12,404 as of the Bureau's 2006 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."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 193.]

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. [ [http://www.1010wins.com/pages/20147.php? Jets Choose Florham Park for New Headquarters] , 1010-WINS, March 30, 2006.]

Geography

Florham Park is located at coor dms|40|46|38|N|74|23|25|W|city (40.777250, -74.390278)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.3 km²), of which, 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 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.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=1269
1940=1609
1950=2385
1960=7222
1970=8094
1980=9359
1990=8521
2000=8857
estimate= 12404
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&_name=florham+park&_state=04000US34&_county=florham+park&_cityTown=florham+park&_zip=&_sse=on&_lang=en&pctxt=fph Census data for Florham Park borough] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 23, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

History

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 1,000 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.

Government

Local government

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. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 121.]

The Mayor of Florham Park is Scott Eveland. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Charles A. Germershausen (2008), Judith B. Beecher (2006), Fred Boy (2006), Mark Taylor (2007) and David Wikstrom (2007). [ [http://www.florhamparkboro.net/mayor_council.htm Florham Park Borough Government: Mayor and Council] , accessed June 5, 2008. Still shows 2006 term-end dates as of date accessed.]

Federal, state and county representation

Florham Park Borough is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 26th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Florham Park School District serves public school students in grades K through 8. The schools in the district (with 2005-06 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3405250 Statistical data for the Florham Park School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 26, 2008.] ) are Briarwood Elementary School (now grades K-2, 340 students), Brooklake Elementary School (now grades 3-5, 339 students) and Ridgedale Middle School (grades 6-8, 314 students).

Florham Park also has a Roman Catholic grade school, [http://www.holy-family-school.org/ Holy Family School] , serving students in grades K through 8. Additionally it has two pre-K programs for 3 and 4 year olds. Both programs have flexible schedules with morning sessions and optional enrichment programs that run into the early afternoon. Early care (7:15AM - class time) and after-hours care (2:30PM - 5:30PM) is also available at additional cost.

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. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/27/1990/27-1990-000.html "Hanover Park Regional High School District 2007 School Report Card] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 5, 2008. "The Hanover Park Regional High School District consists of two high schools, Hanover Park and Whippany Park, serving grades 9 through 12. The district serves the communities of East Hanover, Florham Park, and Hanover Township. Students in East Hanover and Florham Park attend Hanover Park High School, which has a population of 898 students. Students from Hanover Township attend Whippany Park High School, which has a population of 615 students."]

[http://www.holy-family-school.org/ Holy Family School] is a Catholic school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. [ [http://www.patersondiocese.org/moreinfo.cfm?Web_ID=43 Morris County Elementary / Secondary Schools] , Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Accessed July 26, 2008.]

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.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Florham park include:
* Kary Antholis, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker. [Wilson, David McKay. [http://www.bowdoin.edu/bowdoinmagazine/archives/features/000060.shtml "Making Masterpieces"] , "Bowdoin Magazine", Spring 2004. Accessed August 27, 2008.]
* Bill Raftery (born 1943), basketball analyst and former college basketball coach. [ [http://sportsline.com/cbssports/story/9551352 "Bill Raftery to receive Curt Gowdy Media Award"] , CBS SportsLine.com. Accessed July 3, 2007. "Raftery lives in Florham Park, N.J., with his wife, Joan, and has four children and one grandchild."]
* Tony Siragusa (born 1967), former football player with the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens, and current football analyst for Fox Sports. [ [http://www.sptimes.com/News/011801/SuperBowl2001/Super_Bowl_notebook.shtml Super Bowl notebook] , "St. Petersburg Times" by Bruce Lowitt, January 18, 2001. "New Jersey native Tony Siragusa, a Ravens defensive tackle and resident of Florham Park, N.J., and Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, who lives in nearby Montclair, N.J., have been good friends since meeting two years ago at several charity functions."]

References

External links

* [http://www.florhamparkboro.net/ Florham Park Borough website]
* [http://www.fpks.org Florham Park School District]
*NJReportCard|27|1530|0|Florham Park School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3405250 Data for the Florham Park School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.morris.k12.nj.us/hanpk/ Hanover Park Regional High School District]
* [http://www.hanoverpark.org/ Hanover Park High School]
* [http://www.cse.edu College of Saint Elizabeth]
* [http://www.fdu.edu Fairleigh Dickinson University]
* [http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp?brd=1918&nav_sec=65233 Florham Park Eagle newspaper]
* [http://www.dailyrecord.com Regional area newspaper]
* [http://www.fpjuly4th.com/ Fourth Of July Parade]