A Brief History of Oakland New Jersey
As you drive west along Route 208/287 approaching the Ramapo River, it is hard to imagine that 300 years ago this interstate highway may have been a quiet tree-lined path in a little valley used by the Minsi Indians of the Lenni Lenape tribe. The first Dutch settlers, who were stopped by the Ramapo River at the end of the path that is now Franklin Avenue, became so enamored of the area that they bought some 5,500 acres of it.
On June 5, 1695 Arent Schuyler, representing a group of Dutch associates, paid the equivalent of 250 New York Pounds in wampum and goods to the Sachems of the Pompton and Minsi Indians for the land.
The Minsi enjoyed these fertile valleys, hunted in the woods and fished in the "Ramapaugh" or "river of many round ponds". Thus, the Dutch called their settlement "De Panne" or the "The Ponds".
Information taken from : http://www.oakland-nj.org/
