Franklin Township was a
township
A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...
that existed in
Bergen County
Bergen County is the List of counties in New Jersey, most populous County (United States), county in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...]
,
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
from 1771 until 1926.
Franklin Township was established by
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...
on June 1, 1771, when
Saddle River Township was subdivided.
["The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 78.] The Township was named after the
colonial-era Governor of New Jersey William Franklin, the illegitimate son of
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin (April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and Political philosophy, political philosopher.#britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the m ...
. By 1755, about 100 families lived in the Franklin Township area.
Pompton Township was formed from portions of the township on April 10, 1796, ultimately becoming part of
Passaic County when it was created on February 7, 1837.
[
On April 9, 1849, Hohokus Township was created from the northern part of Franklin Township and extended from the Saddle River on the east to the western boundary of Bergen County with Passaic County and north to the New York border. On March 30, 1876, Ridgewood Township was created, consisting of the easternmost third of what remained of Franklin Township.][
Franklin Township was further subdivided with the creation of Midland Park (September 6, 1894), ]Oakland
Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major West Coast port, Oakland is ...
(April 8, 1902) and Franklin Lakes (seceded March 11, 1922). The size of Franklin Township decreased as areas seceded and were incorporated as independent municipalities.[
After Franklin Lakes was established, Franklin Township consisted only of the area known locally as Wyckoff. On November 2, 1926, residents voted in a referendum (243 positive votes out of 337) to change the name from Franklin Township to become the Township of Wyckoff.
]
References
Sources
*"History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923;" by "Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942."
*"Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties)" prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.
External links
Bergen County Townships and Municipalities
{{NewJersey-stub
Former townships in Bergen County, New Jersey