The story began in 1872 in Chester NY, a small town northwest of New York City. A dairy farmer named William A. Lawrence was trying to make Neufchâtel, a French soft cheese, and accidentally added extra cream, creating a creamier cheese which he quite sensibly called “cream cheese.” He started marketing this product and the name "Philadelphia Cream Cheese" was adopted as a marketing move because the city of Philadelphia was, at the time, known for excellent dairy products. The cheese has become popular worldwide although it does not and never did have an association with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.