Llewellyn Park was founded in 1857 by Llewellyn Solomon Haskell, a New York businessman. He discovered the lush, wooded acreage on the eastern slope on the first range of the Watchung Mountains and set out to create a suburban community of country estates. These finely crafted homes would stand amid majestic trees and running streams. The first annual meeting of proprietors was held at the Park's Gatehouse on January 1, 1858 and continues today.

Llewellyn Park is thought to be the country's first planned residential community, and the site of the first large-scale naturalization of crocus, narcissus, and jonquils. The landscaping is in the 19th century romantic style of New York's Central Park, and includes winding paths, and rare ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.

The Park has been home to many residents of note, especially Thomas Edison, whose home Glenmont is still an attraction that has been named a national historic site. Other residents over the years included abolitionist James Miller McKim, whose charming house contained secret chambers to hide escaped slaves traversing the Underground Railroad, the Merck family, and the Colgate family.

Llewellyn Park residents, past and present, have hosted many notable guests at their homes from Eleanor Roosevelt, to President Clinton, to our recent Governor Richard Codey.

A number of Llewellyn Park's homes were designed by prominent American architects including Alexander Jackson Davis, Calvert Vaux, Charles McKim, Stanford White, and Robert A.M. Stern.

The entrance to Llewellyn Park is from Main Street in West Orange. This is where Thomas Edison's factory and museum is located and part of West Orange's historic district. Currently the historic district is entering a phase of major revitalization. More can be learned about the project by visiting the Downtown West Orange Alliance website

The Llewellyn Park Historical Society and Archives maintains our historical artifacts and documents.  They have provided a brief history of Llewellyn Park