History
Known as "Today's Town…with Yesterday's Touch", Farmingdale, and its Main Street, dates back to an Indian path toward the Manasquan River. In 1830, construction of a Manasquan River dam led to the discovery of a 4-mile triangular deposit of Marl centered in Farmingdale, then "Marsh's Bog". This natural bed of fertilizer, beneficial to farm crops, promoted development of The Squankum Railroad and Marl Company in 1866.
The town of Farmingdale started out with two stores, two taverns, and 10-12 dwellings. In 1903, Farmingdale was incorporated into its own independent municipality, encompassing one-half square mile, it was known primarily as a residential and light industrial community. The first Mayor of Farmingdale was Edward Imlay and he served in office from 1903 to 1913. Edgar O. Murphy, his successor, served as Mayor for the next 40 years. From 1954 until the present day, there have only been a handful of Mayors serving the Borough starting with H. Sherman "Connie" Russell, John Barnett, Seymour R. Burke, Marguerite Cusson, Dr. Edward A. Schauer and Mayor, John P. "Jay" Morgan who we lost to cancer Easter Sunday 2016, and now current mayor James A. Daly.
Banking was brought to Farmingdale in May 1916 when Edgar O. Murphy and James L. Hall formed the First National Bank of Farmingdale. In February 1956, the bank was purchased by the Freehold Trust Company, which changed its name in 1960 to the Central Jersey Bank and Trust Company. The property remained a bank until 2018 most recently as Bank of America, N.A. when the decided to close the branch as many banks are doing. Currently the property is owned by the Borough. It was purchased and subdivided to three parcels, one being sold off to Connies so they could retain the parking that the banks over the years had graciously shared with the Mandica family, now it will forever be part of their family business legacy. The grass strip and the roadway next to the parking area, which the town still retains and in conjunction with the Connies additional grass area and open parking areas in their off hours, plans to start small downtown concerts and the like in.
Now, more than a century later, governed by a Mayor and Borough Council, Farmingdale, at 0.5 square miles in land area, is an established residential and light industrial community of approximately 1500 residents. Its vibrant, small town commercial district meets the needs of its citizens, whose well-maintained homes on small lots evoke memories of days gone by. A look around Farmingdale today still speaks of yesterday.