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