NJ Towns: What's In A Name?

When you think of "Paramus" do you automaticallyproximity to Weasel Mountain, now called Garrett
think, "shopping malls?" If you do, you are not alone.Mountain. Acquackanonk Township was an earlier
On a recent trip to the west coast, I was asked,name for Clifton, which at one time also included the
"where in New Jersey do you live?" When Icities presently called Passaic and Paterson.
mentioned near Paramus, the person nodded herAcquackanonk was part of Essex County until its
head in recognition. She knew that the town was aresidents, unhappy, with the preferential treatment
shopping mecca on the east coast.Paramus' originsNewark was receiving, asked to leave the county
and even recent history, belie the shopping meccaand be joined to Passaic County.In Essex County, the
label. As recently as the 1960s, the borough wasname Bloomfield suggests bucolic farmland. While the
dotted with farmland; indeed Paramus is derived fromfarmland part may have at one time been true,
the Lenni Lenape name Perampsus, meaning: "whereBloomfield was named for a New Jersey governor
there is worthwhile or fertile land." Where there waswho served from 1803-1812; Gov. Joseph Bloomfield
fertile land, maize or corn was grown and wildalso served as a U.S. Senator. The present day
turkeys were also found in abundance. Thus, thetownship of Bloomfield was originally part of Newark,
meaning of Paramus . . . "A fertile land where cornwhich was settled in 1666.Matthew Keegan is the
was grown attracting wild turkeys". For kicks, go toowner of a successful article writing, web design, and
the Paramus Park Mall and observe the Indian ridingmarketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He
the turkey [Route 17 entrance near Macy's]. It looksmanages several sites including the Corporate Flight
odd to the visitor, but with your new knowledge ofAttendant Community and the Aviation Employment
Paramus' name origin, it explains much.Clifton couldBoard. Please visit The Article Writer to review
easily be called Cliftside or Underclift due to itsselections from his portfolio.