Franklin Park

History

The original name for Franklin Park was "Six Mile Run", which was named for the tributary of the Millstone River that flows through the area and first came to importance about 1710. Franklin Park, then Six Mile Run, served as the first site of the Somerset County Courthouse and jail from 1714 until 1737 when a fire destroyed the building and the county seat was moved to Millstone, New Jersey. Occasionally Franklin Park was referred to as Somerset Courthouse during the time the courthouse was located here. A commemorative marker is located on Route 27 between Clover Place and Bennington Parkway near the original courthouse site. The first post office in Franklin Township was established here in 1826. The name of the community was formally changed from Six Mile Run to Franklin Park on June 25, 1872. In the late 19th century in addition to the Beekman's Hotel and another known as Manley's Hotel and the Six Mile Run Reformed Church, the community included a wagon factory, blacksmith, wheelwright, butcher, hay scales, ice house, a school, and a general store called Hullfish's Store, as well as residences for about 110 people. After being sold and renovated, it reopened as a privately run pre-school. The current Franklin Park School section located between Hillview and Central Avenue is the original ten room building constructed in 1957. In 1998, a major expansion, accessed from Eden Road, was completed increasing enrollment capacity from about 130 to over 900 students. Franklin Park has been served by the Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company since 1936. Originally housed in the converted South Middlebush one-room schoolhouse that had been relocated to Route 27 in Franklin Park, the company had to build a new building after an oil stove fire destroyed the first…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Franklin Park had a total area of 2.607 square miles (6.750 km2), including 2.605 square miles (6.746 km2) of land and 0.002 square miles (0.004 km2) of water (0.06%).

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Hillsborough High School
  High · Hillsborough · 2,368 students · 14:1 ratio
• Franklin High School
  High · Somerset · 2,220 students · 13:1 ratio
• Montgomery High School
  High · Skillman · 1,603 students · 13.5:1 ratio
• Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School
  Middle · Bridgewater · 1,347 students · 11:1 ratio
• Central Jersey College Prep Charter School
  Other · Somerset · 1,288 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• Auten Road Intermediate School
  Middle · Hillsborough · 1,203 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• Hillsborough Township Middle School
  Middle · Hillsborough · 1,193 students · 11.6:1 ratio
• Somerville High School
  High · Somerville · 1,109 students · 11.8:1 ratio