Florham Park was incorporated as a borough by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1899, from portions ofChatham Township.[23][24] In 2012,Forbes.com listed Florham Park as 440th in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $675,107.[25]
First occupied by theLenape tribe ofNative Americans, the area that is now Florham Park was first settled by European settlers of English and Dutch origin sometime between 1680 and 1700, and the community was long recognized as a prime farming area.[26] The area was known for the manufacture of quality brooms, which was the source of one of its town names, Broomtown. At various times during its history, the area was known as Hoppingtown, Broomtown, Columbia, Afton, and finally Florham Park.[27] It was part ofHanover Township, thenChatham Township before being incorporated as Florham Park in 1899.[23]
Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly (1854–1952), granddaughter ofCornelius 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.[28] The second part to the name "Florham Park" received its name from a second mansion in town that was on about 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land situated where the current Brooklake Country Club is located. Owned by Leslie Ward—one of the founders of thePrudential Insurance Company and the first vice president of the company—it was named "Brooklake Park", partially because of the beautiful lake that was on the property.[29]
Both of these families were supporters of many civic projects including the petitioning of the State of New Jersey to create their own municipality. After the legislature voted on March 9, 1899, the governor signed the bill on March 20, making Florham Park a borough.[23] The new town was named after Florence and Hamilton Twombly's and Ward's estates.[29]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 7.48 square miles (19.36 km2), including 7.31 square miles (18.93 km2) of land and 0.17 square miles (0.43 km2) of water (2.23%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Columbia Ridge.[30]
Of the 4,003 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18; 58.9% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.1% were non-families. Of all households, 26.7% were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.[20]
19.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 18.9% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 83.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 79.4 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $106,227 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,030) and the median family income was $121,316 (+/− $8,544). Males had a median income of $92,857 (+/− $17,466) versus $61,331 (+/− $12,613) for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $46,564 (+/− $4,867). About 0.5% of families and 2.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.[40]
As of the2000 United States census[17] there were 8,857 people, 3,239 households, and 2,474 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,191.3 inhabitants per square mile (460.0/km2). There were 3,342 housing units at an average density of 449.5 per square mile (173.6/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% fromother races, and 0.68% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.15% of the population.[38][39]
There were 3,239 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% weremarried 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.[38][39]
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.[38][39]
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. Theper capita income for the borough was $42,133. About 2.4% of families and 5.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.[38][39]
Florham Park is the North American headquarters of theBASF corporation, the world's largest chemical company.[41]Nickel alloys producerVDM Metals USA (formerly operating under the name ofThyssenKrupp VDM USA and Precision Rolled Products)[42] operates a melting plant in Florham Park.[43] Business process services companyConduent is based in Florham Park.
TheNational Football League'sNew York Jets relocated their main headquarters in 2008 to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, located in Florham Park. The Jets relocated to Florham Park from their old facilities atHofstra University inHempstead, New York. The team holds its day-to-day operations during the year in Florham Park, while relocating during July and August to Cortland, New York, for training camp. Florham Park beat outBerkeley Heights,Jersey City,Millburn,South Amboy, andWood-Ridge, which had all been finalists contending to be the host of the new facility.[44]
Florham Park is governed under theborough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[45] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions electedat-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The borough form of government used by Florham Park, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body, with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor canveto ordinances subject to anoverride by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[46][47]
As of 2024[update], themayor of Florham Park isRepublican Mark Taylor, serving a term of office ending on December 31, 2027.[48] Members of the borough council are Scott Carpenter (R, 2024), Nicholas Cicarelli (R, 2025), Glen Johnstone (R, 2026), Charles J. Malone Jr. (R, 2026), Joshua I. Marchal (R, 2024) and Kristen Santoro (R, 2025).[3][49][50][51][52][53][54]
In May 2013, the borough council chose Council President Mark Taylor from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant mayoral seat of R. Scott Eveland, who had resigned from office in March from a term expiring in December 2015. At the same meeting, the council selected Thomas Michalowski from the list of three candidates nominated to fill the vacant council seat of David Wikstrom, who had resigned in April from a term expiring in December 2013.[55] In April 2013, the council chose William Zuckerman from the list of three nominees to fill Mark Taylor's vacant council seat expiring in December 2016.[56]
Morris County is governed by aBoard of County Commissioners comprised of seven members who are electedat-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either one or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[62] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[63]
The county's constitutional officers are County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R,Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[78][79]Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[80][81] and Surrogate Heather Darling (R,Roxbury, 2029).[82][83]
As of June 2024, there were a total of 9,734 registered voters in Florham Park, of which 2,926 (30.05%) were registered asDemocrats, 3,791 (38.94%) were registered asRepublicans and 3,017 (30.99%) were registered asUnaffiliated.[90]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Florham Park[91]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 73.6% of the vote (2,674 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 25.5% (927 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (34 votes), among the 3,713 ballots cast by the borough's 7,664 registered voters (78 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.4%.[92][93] In the2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.7% of the vote (2,410 ballots cast), ahead of DemocratJon Corzine with 29.6% (1,155 votes), IndependentChris Daggett with 7.8% (304 votes) and other candidates with 0.1% (5 votes), among the 3,903 ballots cast by the borough's 7,118 registered voters, yielding a 54.8% turnout.[94]
United States Senate election results for Florham Park1[95]
Portions of theSaint Elizabeth University 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 theFairleigh Dickinson University's Florham Campus, also are located in Florham Park.[112]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 48.73 miles (78.42 km) of roadways, of which 37.56 miles (60.45 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.01 miles (12.89 km) by Morris County and 3.16 miles (5.09 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[113]
New Jersey Route 24 is the most prominent highway directly serving Florham Park.[114] There is one interchange partially within the borough, Exit 2 (County Route 510), which also passes through the borough.[115][116]
NJ Transit provides bus service from the borough toNewark on the70 and73 routes, with local service on the878 route.[117][118] Service had been offered on theMCM8 route, which was suspended in 2010 after subsidies to the contract provider were eliminated as part of NJ Transit budget cuts.[119][120]
^abMayor and Borough Council, Borough of Florham Park. Accessed May 6, 2024. "Florham Park was incorporated by the State Assembly on March 20, 1899 and operates under a Borough form of government. The Borough form of government consists of a Mayor and six council members all of whom are elected at-large. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and Council members to a three-year term."
^Nonnenmacher, Matthew C."As Florham Park Celebrates 125 Year Anniversary. Here is a Look back on its History",TAPinto East Hanover / Florham Park, March 24, 2024. Accessed April 16, 2024. "Early Settlement: The area where Florham Park is located was originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Native American tribe. European settlers began to arrive in the late 17th century, primarily of English and Dutch descent, establishing farms and small settlements."
^Chartier, John."Florham Park Was Founded By Anger Over Taxes",Daily Record, March 30, 1999. Accessed April 16, 2024. "The night before the governor signed a bill making the borough of Florham Park legal, residents of what was then called Afton elected a council. The council held its first meeting the next day, after the bill was signed."
^"Florham Park",FDU Magazine, Fall / Winter 2001. Accessed January 15, 2025. "Quickly earning the affection of the locals, the aristocracy became part of the fabric of Florham Park, and the borough eventually adopted the name that Florence Vanderbilt and Hamilton Twombly gave to their summer estate (Florham, a combination of portions of their first names), which spanned close to 200 acres almost entirely in Florham Park."
^Welcome to BASF in North AmericaArchived 2013-05-05 at theWayback Machine,BASF. Accessed April 24, 2012. "BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, based in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,400 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.7 billion in 2010."
^Production capabilitiesArchived November 8, 2017, at theWayback Machine,VDM Metals. Accessed November 08, 2017. "In addition to the conventional technology of open melting, we also use vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnaces in both our German melting plant and in our melting plant in Florham Park, New Jersey, which is operated by VDM Metals USA."
^Robinson, P.C."Busy night as Florham Park presents new councilman, budget",Florham Park Eagle News, April 25, 2013. Accessed July 29, 2015. "Long-time borough volunteer fireman William Zuckerman, whose day job is that of chief financial officer for Sussex County's Vernon Township, was sworn in to fill the remaining months to the seat once occupied by Acting Mayor Mark Taylor."
^Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners, who serve three-year terms."
^"Morris County Appoints Deena Leary Acting Administrator", Morris County, New Jersey, August 1, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Assistant Morris County Administrator Deena Leary has been appointed Acting Administrator by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, placing her at the helm of county operations and ready to assume the post when long-time Administrator John Bonanni officially retires at year’s end."
^Tayfun Selen, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Stephen H. Shaw, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^John Krickus, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Florham Park Bard of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Florham Park School District. Accessed January 22, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Florham Park School District. Composition: The Florham Park School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Florham Park."
^Hanover Park Regional High School District Bylaws 0110 - Identification, Hanover Park Regional High School District, adopted September 9, 2009. Accessed January 22, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades nine through twelve in the Hanover Park Regional High School District. Composition: The Hanover Park Regional High School District is comprised of the following districts: Hanover Township, East Hanover Township, and the Borough of Florham Park within the County of Morris."
^2019-2020 School Year District Accomplishments, Hanover Park Regional High School District. Accessed January 23, 2025. "The Hanover Park Regional High School District is comprised of two high schools with a combined enrollment of 1,480 students. Hanover Park High School is located in East Hanover and receives students from East Hanover and Florham Park. Whippany Park High School is located in Hanover Township and receives students from Hanover Township."
^Staff."Florham Park",FDU Magazine, Fall / Winter 2001. Accessed April 24, 2012. "In 1899, led by Mother Mary Xavier, the Sisters of Charity established the College of St. Elizabeth, the first New Jersey college to grant degrees of higher education to women. In 1901, the college's first building, Xavier Hall, was constructed, and it now serves as the main building for the Academy of St. Elizabeth. Florham Park solidified its reputation as a college town when Fairleigh Dickinson University purchased the splendid Twombly estate and opened a campus in 1958."
^Capuzzo, Jill P."Land of the Free and the Home of the Jets",The New York Times, March 18, 2011. Accessed January 25, 2025. "New Jersey Transit trains run from neighboring Madison to Pennsylvania Station in New York, taking about an hour and costing $11 one way."
^"Local Delbarton School grads",Daily Record, July 5, 1983. Accessed January 31, 2024, viaNewspapers.com. "The Delbarton School recently awarded diplomas to the following students from the northwest New Jersey area:... Florham Park: William John Antholis"
^Narvaez, Alfonso A."Salvatore Bontempo, 79, a Leader In New Jersey Democratic Politics",The New York Times, June 22, 1989. Accessed September 12, 2015. "Salvatore A. Bontempo, a former state chairman of the Democratic Party in New Jersey and a government official at the local, state and Federal levels, died of cancer Tuesday at his home in Florham Park, N.J."
^Risen, Clay."William Consovoy Dies at 48; Took Conservative Cases to Supreme Court",The New York Times, January 12, 2023. Accessed January 18, 2023. "William Spencer Consovoy was born on Aug. 31, 1974, in Plainfield, N.J. He grew up in nearby Florham Park, where, like any self-respecting Garden State native, he developed a lifelong love for the Philadelphia Eagles and Bruce Springsteen."
^James, George."In Person; The New Jersey Chronicles",The New York Times, May 10, 1998. Accessed December 18, 2012. "One recent morning, Mr. Cunningham, who had traveled from his home in Florham Park, Morris County, stood on the campus at Stevens Institute of Technology here, being videotaped for a New Jersey Network historical series calledNew Jersey Legacy, to be broadcast around Christmas."
^Pearce, Jeremy."In Person; Don't Call Him a Historian",The New York Times, January 5, 2003. Accessed December 18, 2012. "'A century passes and it's not so long ago,' reflected John T. Cunningham, whose words were formed slowly and seemed to float for a moment before him. ... For half a century, the words of the Florham Park social historian have reached children studying his textbooks and touched readers exploring his broader histories of the Garden State."
^Matzner, Frank A."Mark Guiliana: New Beats",All About Jazz, April 8, 2008. Accessed May 27, 2014. "All About Jazz: You were born and raised in New Jersey, correct?... MG: I went to school at William Paterson. I'm from Morris County, a town called Florham Park."
^Sullivan, Joseph F."Legislature To Confront Insurance Bills",The New York Times, December 6, 1987. Accessed September 12, 2015. "The most controversial measure – sponsored by Assemblyman Ralph A. Loveys, Republican of Florham Park and chairman of the Insurance Committee – would forge a major shift in public policy."
^Staff."Yanks Win By 9‐8 On 5 Runs In 9th",The New York Times, April 5, 1964. Accessed October 29, 2017. "Richardson grounded to Minoso, who made his erratic peg to set up the game‐winning situation for Moore, the bonus player from Florham Park, N. J., via Springfield (Mass.) College."
^Kennedy, Charles Stuart.Interview with Ambassador Lange Schermerhorn,Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Foreign Affairs Oral History Project, May 3, 2002. Accessed January 29, 2020. "Schermerhorn: I was born in September 1939, a war baby, as it were, in northern New Jersey. My parents at that point were living in a town called Florham Park, which is near Morristown, the county seat of Morris County, New Jersey – about thirty-five miles from New York City on a railroad line."
^Lowitt, Bruce."Super Bowl notebook",St. Petersburg Times, January 18, 2001. Accessed August 31, 2015. "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."
^Griffith, Janelle."Snooki buys new $2.6M Florham Park home", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 20, 2015. Accessed January 26, 2015. "Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi is expanding her real estate portfolio. TheJersey Shore alum purchased a $2.6 million home in Florham Park with her husband Jionni LaValle, property records show."
^Kuperinsky, Amy."Snooki pregnant with third child: 'What I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving'", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, November 23, 2018. Accessed November 26, 2018. "Jersey Shore star Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi had some happy news to report for Thanksgiving: she has a bun in the oven. Polizzi, who turns 31 on Friday, lives in Florham Park."
United States
New Jersey
Morris
_in_Florham_Park%2c_Morris_County%2c_New_Jersey.jpg)
