Within easy reach of large cities to the east, Lake Hopatcong - situated at over 900 feet above sea level - was a perfect vacation destination. From the 1880s through the 1930s, the Lake welcomed thousands of people each year, including leaders of government, industry, and entertainment. Lower daytime temperatures and cool evenings made the region a welcome respite from the urban centers to the east. As the area developed as a resort, the borough of Brooklyn was founded on Lake Hopatcong's west shore in the waning years of the nineteenth century. Soon renamed the Borough of Hopatcong, it experienced rapid growth and development.