Introduction to Franklin, New Jersey
Franklin, New Jersey, in Sussex county, is 20 miles NW of Parsippany, New Jersey (center to center) and 34 miles NW of Newark, New Jersey.
Franklin History
Settlers arrived in the early 1600s. The community, which was established along the Wallkill River, near the iron mines, was originally known as "Franklin Furnace." This area had a particularly rich iron ore content, and in the early 19th century, zinc deposits began to be developed commercially. Many small iron smelting operations were established, and in 1897, these independent companies merged to form the New Jersey Zinc Company. This organization played a prominent role in the community's growth, and immigrants from Britain, Poland, Russia, and Hungary worked for the company. The community was named "Franklin" in honor of Benjamin Franklin. On March 18, 1913, Franklin was incorporated from parts of the Hardyston Township. The town is nicknamed the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World" since there are over 150 minerals in this area, including 25 which are not found anywhere else on earth.
Franklin and Nearby Attractions
- Franklin Mineral Museum
- Museum Village
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Campgaw Mountain Reservation
- Waterloo Village
- New Jersey Botanical Garden
Things To Do In Franklin
The town of Franklin is home to the Franklin Mineral Museum, which has an Indian room showcasing Native American artifacts, a fossil room featuring various marine, wildlife, and plant fossils, and the Welsh Hall which houses a collection of world-wide minerals. Visitors can collect minerals from the mine dumps as well. Franklin offers easy access to a number of historic sites and museums like the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Space Farms Zoological Park and Museum, Grover Cleveland Birthplace, Waterloo Village, and Ringwood Manor. The 1,351-acre Campgaw Mountain Reservation offers facilities for camping, biking, and hiking. New Jersey Botanical Garden, and Wild West City theme park are other popular destinations in the area.
Franklin Transportation
Air transportation is available from the Newark Liberty International Airport.
Franklin Higher Education
Colleges close to Franklin are County College of Morris, Orange County Community College, and William Paterson University of New Jersey.
