History:

Franklin Square, like many of its neighbors had humble beginnings. Centrally located in what was once the large, grassy Hempstead Plains, Franklin Square was first used as grazing land, and then farmland after the American Revolution. The southern section of what is now Franklin Square was forested by Munson Oak and Dogwood woods.

In the Fall of 1643, two enterprising gentlemen, the Rev. Robert Fordham and John Carman, crossed Long Island Sound by rowboat to negotiate with the local Indians for a tract of land upon which to establish a new community. According to legend, representatives of the Massapequak, Mericoke, Matinecock and Rockaway tribes met with the men at a site slightly west of Denton Green. The Indians sold approximately 64,000 acres, much of the present day towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead, for items worth less than $100 today.

The impetus behind the name "Franklin Square" however remains a mystery. While some have suggested that it is named after founding father Benjamin Franklin , the statesman has no historical connection to the area. Others believe it was named for a local resident whose history is lost to time.