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==History== First occupied by the [[Lenape]] tribe of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native 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.<ref>Nonnenmacher, Matthew C. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-hanover-slash-florham-park/sections/community-announcements/articles/as-florham-park-celebrates-125-year-anniversary-here-is-a-look-back-on-its-history "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."</ref> 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.<ref>Chartier, John. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-florham-park-was-founded-by/145466563/ "Florham Park Was Founded By Anger Over Taxes"], ''[[Daily Record (New Jersey)|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."</ref> It was part of [[Hanover Township, New Jersey|Hanover Township]], then [[Chatham Township, New Jersey|Chatham Township]] before being incorporated as Florham Park in 1899.<ref name=Story/> [[Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly]] (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 {{convert|840|acre|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.<ref>[https://portal.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/01fa/fpark.html "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."</ref> The second part to the name "Florham Park" received its name from a second mansion in town that was on about {{convert|1,000|acre|km2}} of land situated where the current Brooklake Country Club is located. Owned by Leslie Ward—one of the founders of the [[Prudential Financial|Prudential 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.<ref name=Thinking>Cheslow, Jerry. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/30/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-florham-park-good-schools-yes-but-low-taxes-too.html "If You're Thinking of Living In/Florham Park; Good Schools, Yes, but Low Taxes, Too"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 30, 1994. Accessed November 26, 2018. "The name 'Florham' is a combination of the first syllables of the names of Florence and Hamilton Twombley. The word 'Park' came from the Ward estate, which was called Brooklake Park."</ref> 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.<ref name=Story/> The new town was named after Florence and Hamilton Twombly's and Ward's estates.<ref name=Thinking/>
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