| If you aren't from New Jersey, or you have spent | | | | closest words associated with the current spelling. |
| little time in the Garden State, you may not be too | | | | The meaning of Hochaos is not certain as some think |
| familiar with some of the peculiarly named towns | | | | that it could be a native term for "running water" or |
| located around the state. Indeed, with 566 | | | | to a Dutch term for high oaks, or it may simply be |
| incorporated communities, New Jersey has no lack of | | | | referring to another native term "hoccus" meaning |
| uncommon named locales including, Hoboken, | | | | gray fox. Indeed, there are at least six different |
| Hackensack, Teaneck, Wanaque, Ho-Ho-Kus, and | | | | explanations for the origins of "Ho-Ho-Kus", but none |
| others. Located in Bergen County, in northeast New | | | | are definitive. |
| Jersey, Ho-Ho-Kus is one such town with an unusual | | | | Much of the current town saw its growth in the 20th |
| name. Let's take a look at the history of this little | | | | century via the establishment of a railroad station. A |
| community. | | | | walking tour of the business district reveals to visitors |
| With 70 communities, Bergen County is New Jersey's | | | | charming shops, restaurants, the train station, and a |
| most populated county with just under one million | | | | beautiful library. There are no lodging establishments |
| residents. The county is located just west of New | | | | within the town, but several can be found in |
| York City and the towns which comprise the county | | | | neighboring Paramus. |
| are what many call "bedroom communities" for the | | | | The town has just one public school covering grades |
| city workers who make the daily commute to | | | | K-8, with high school students sent to Northern |
| Manhattan. Indeed, located just 17 miles west of | | | | Highlands Regional in Allendale for their schooling. |
| New York is the town of Ho-Ho-Kus, where a large | | | | Three churches are located within the town and |
| portion of the people who have settled in the town | | | | Ho-Ho-Kus is free of all industry. |
| make the daily trek to the city via train, bus, or | | | | A national historic landmark, The Hermitage, is located |
| passenger car. With just over 4000 people living | | | | within the borough and it is well noted for having |
| within its approximately one square mile radius, | | | | been visited by General George Washington during |
| Ho-Ho-Kus has a history that can be traced back to | | | | the Revolutionary War. The manse is a wonderful |
| 1698 when European settlers deeded land in what is | | | | example of domestic Gothic Revival architecture. |
| now Ho-Ho-Kus. | | | | Most of the residential area is located to the north, |
| The name Ho-Ho-Kus is a fairly big mystery as well. | | | | west, and south of the business district and the |
| Town residents take pride in the unusual name and | | | | homes are recognized for their architectural beauty |
| are adamant that commonly used ways of writing | | | | as well as being pristinely maintained. Indeed, per |
| the name of the town not be used, including | | | | capita income for town residents reflects the overall |
| HoHoKus or Hohokus. The Lenni Lenape were the | | | | wealth of Bergen County and the residences keenly |
| original inhabitants of the area and some believe that | | | | reflect this fact. |
| a particular native term, Hochaos, is one of the | | | | |