Freehold Borough, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Freehold is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,976. It is the county seat of Monmouth CountyGR6.
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[edit] Geography
Freehold is located at (40.260143, -74.275428)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²), all land.
Freehold Borough has an elevation of 100 feet above sea level (according to a sign on West Main Street).
[edit] Freehold Circle
Freehold Circle was located near the western boundary of Freehold Borough near the Freehold Raceway. The circle carried traffic between US 9, Business Route 33 and Manalapan Avenue (CR 24); it was eliminated in the 1980s due to the increased traffic load caused by a boom in commercial and residential development. Most notable of the commercial development is the Freehold Raceway Mall, which is just south of the old circle on US 9. The former circle now features several jughandles, and most Manalapan Avenue traffic must use a connector road to Business Route 33 to reach the main intersection, but it is still known by locals as Freehold Circle.
- See also
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 10,976 people, 3,695 households, and 2,571 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,118.9/km² (5,501.1/mi²). There were 3,821 housing units at an average density of 737.6/km² (1,915.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 71.02% White, 15.83% Black, 0.55% Native American, 2.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.64% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.07% of the population.
There were 3,695 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $48,654, and the median income for a family was $53,374. Males had a median income of $35,855 versus $30,377 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,910. About 7.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Freehold Borough is governed by a six-member borough council and a mayor. Council members are elected for a three year term and the mayor is elected for a four year term. The governing body is empowered to adopt local ordinances and pass resolutions. The governing body conducts all of its business during monthly meetings open to the public.
The Mayor of Freehold Borough is Michael Wilson. Members of the Freehold Borough Council are Council President Sharon Shutzer, Robert J. Crawford, Michael J. DiBenedetto, Kevin A. Kane, Marc LeVine and Jaye Sims.[1].
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Freehold Borough is in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th Legislative District[2].
New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Mercer County, Monmouth County and Ocean County, is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 12th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Ellen Karcher (D, Marlboro) and in the Assembly by Jennifer Beck (R, Red Bank) and Michael J. Panter (D, Red Bank). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Monmouth County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William C. Barham, Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton, Lillian G. Burry, Anna C. Little and Theodore J. Narozanick.
[edit] Education
Freehold Borough's nearly 1,400 students in grades pre-K through 8 attend the Freehold Borough Schools. Schools in the district (with 2003-04 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are:
- Freehold Learning Center: Pre-K through grade 5 (519 students)
- Park Avenue Elementary School: K - 5 (464 students)
- Freehold Borough Intermediate School: grades 6 - 8 (396 students)
Students in grades 9-12 attend Freehold High School, as part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The Freehold Regional High School District serves students from Colts Neck Township, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold, Freehold Township, Howell Township, Manalapan Township and Marlboro.
Freehold Borough was awarded a research grant in 2004 by the National Institute of Justice, a research branch of the United States Department of Justice. The grant was entitled "Teacher-Parent Authentication Security System II: The Next Generation of Iris Recognition Technology in Schools" and was awarded to the Freehold Borough Board of Education in the amount of US$369,998.
[edit] History
Freehold Borough also has a relatively unknown connection with the bicycle. Due mostly to the large quantity of bicycles once produced in Freehold in the 1880s and 1890s, the town once boasted itself as the "Bicycle Capital of the World."[3]
[edit] Transportation
U.S. Route 9 passes through Freehold, as do Route 33 Business and Route 79.
[edit] Notable natives
- Freehold is where rock musician Bruce Springsteen was raised (though he was born in Long Branch). The borough is the subject of his song "My Hometown" from the Born in the U.S.A. album, which described racial and economic tensions in the 1960s (the "textile mill being closed" was the A & M Karagheushian rug mill at Center and Jackson Streets). Springsteen has also performed the humorous song "In Freehold" about the town. The song can be found on some bootleg live recordings.
- J.R. Smith, professional basketball player currently playing for the Denver Nuggets, was born in Freehold.[4]
- Tim Perry, former NBA player mostly notably with the Phoenix Suns.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Freehold Borough Mayor & Council, accessed July 27, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 57, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Bicycle buffs have a haven at Freehold museum: Local collector’s prize possession is ‘Zimmy’ manufactured in town, East Brunswick Sentinel, July 11, 2002
- ^ In The Lane With Licht, October 22, 2004
[edit] External links
- Freehold Borough web site
- Freehold Center website
- Freehold Borough Schools
- Freehold Borough Schools's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Freehold Borough Schools
- Freehold High School
- Freehold Regional High School District
- Freehold High School's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Freehold Borough Police Department
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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