Jackson Township, New Jersey

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Jackson Township, New Jersey
Map of Jackson Township in Ocean County
Map of Jackson Township in Ocean County
Coordinates: 40°6′29″N 74°19′46″W / 40.10806, -74.32944
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Ocean
Incorporated March 6, 1844
Government
 - Type Township (New Jersey)
 - Mayor Mark Seda (2010)
Area
 - Total 100.8 sq mi (261.1 km²)
 - Land 100.1 sq mi (259.1 km²)
 - Water 0.8 sq mi (1.9 km²)
Elevation [1] 92 ft (28 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 52,305
 - Density 427.9/sq mi (165.2/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08527
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 34-34680[3]
GNIS feature ID 0882079[4]

Jackson Township, named after Andrew Jackson, is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 42,816. Jackson's most famous attraction is Six Flags Great Adventure, which as of May 2005 has the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world: Kingda Ka.[5] Jackson is also home to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Wild Safari.

Jackson Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1844, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), Freehold Township and Upper Freehold Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County, New Jersey. It became part of the newly-created Ocean County on February 15, 1850. Portions of the township were taken to form Plumsted Township on March 11, 1845.[6]

Vista Center is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Jackson Township.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 100.8 square miles (261.1 km²), of which, 100.1 square miles (259.2 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (0.74%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 1,719
1940 2,153 25.2%
1950 3,513 63.2%
1960 5,939 69.1%
1970 18,276 207.7%
1980 25,644 40.3%
1990 33,233 29.6%
2000 42,816 28.8%
Est. 2006 52,305 [2] 22.2%
Population 1930 - 1990[7]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 42,816 people, 14,176 households, and 11,269 families residing in the township. The population density was 427.9 people per square mile (165.2/km²). There were 14,640 housing units at an average density of 146.3/sq mi (56.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.26% White, 3.90% African American, 0.13% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.97% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.78% of the population.

There were 14,176 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the township the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $65,218, and the median income for a family was $71,045. Males had a median income of $51,276 versus $33,882 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,981. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

CR 527, CR 528, CR 547, CR 537, CR 526, and CR 571 pass through the township. CR 539 also passes through the township, but in the southwest corner, for less than half a mile. Interstate 195 is a major artery that travels through the northern section of Jackson. The expressway then travels into Howell Twp, and Millstone Township. 195 is a vital link for Six Flags, since it grants access to the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 295 and especially the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).

New Jersey Transit bus service is provided to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 139 route. Philadelphia is served by the 317. Local service is available on the 311 bus line.[8]

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Jackson Township's municipal government consists of a five member Township Council and a directly elected Mayor. Council members are elected to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in non-partisan elections. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term in a non-partisan election.

The Mayor of Jackson Township is Mark Seda, whose term of office ends on June 30, 2010. Township Council members are Council President Ann M. Updegrave (2010), Council Vice President Jason J. Gudaitis (2008), Emily Ingram (2008), Scott R. Martin (2010) and Angelo Stallone (2008).[9][10]

[edit] Public Safety Departments

Police Department

Jackson Township has its own Police Department which operates out of the Municipal Justice Complex. Chief of Police Matthew D. Kunz.

Fire Department

Jackson Township currently has four fire companies and an Industrial Fire Department:

  • Station 54 - Jackson Mills Fire Co./Jackson Fire District No. 4 (Combination career/volunteer) Chief Michael Lubertazzi
  • Station 55 - Jackson Township Fire Co. No. 1/Jackson Twp. Fire District No. 3 (Combination career/volunteer) Chief Charles Smith
  • Station 56 - Cassville Fire Co./Jackson Fire District No. 2 Chief John Alchevsky
  • Station 57 - Whitesville Fire Co./Jackson Fire District No. 1 (Combination volunteer/career [contract for personnel from Fire District No. 3]) Chief Daniel Bradley (Note: The career department only supplements the volunteers during the day.)
  • Station 58 - Six Flags Great Adventure Fire Department Captain Tom Scannell (Career)
Fire Bureau

Jackson Township has three Fire Bureaus that enforce the NJ Uniform Fire Safety Act:

Jackson Bureau of Fire Prevention District 2 Fire Official Dave Van Arsdale

Jackson Bureau of Fire Prevention District 4 Fire Official John Burmeister

Jackson Bureau of Fire Safety Fire Districts 1 & 3 Fire Official Frank McDonnell

Emergency Medical Services

Currently emergency medical services are provided by a combination of an independent volunteer first aid squad and a private third party contractor.

  • Quality Medical Transport covers EMS calls from 5AM-6PM
  • Jackson Twp. Volunteer First Aid Squad (Squad 22) covers EMS calls from 6PM-5AM - Captain Al Couceiro
  • Six Flags Great Adventure EMS (Squad 80) covers EMS calls within the park 24/7

Advanced life support E.M.S., (i.e., paramedics or "Mobile Intensive Care Units"), is provided by hospital providers under a statewide system mandated by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Jackson Township is served primarily by MONOC paramedic units.

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Jackson Township is in the Fourth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 30th Legislative District.[11]

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 Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 30th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert Singer (R, Lakewood Township) and in the Assembly by Ronald S. Dancer (R, New Egypt) and Joseph R. Malone (R, Bordentown).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]

Ocean County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms. As of 2008, Ocean County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari (Toms River Township, term ends December 31, 2008), Freeholder Deputy Director John C. Bartlett, Jr. (Pine Beach, 2009), John P. Kelly (Eagleswood Township, 2010), James F. Lacey (Brick Township, 2010) and Gerry P. Little (Surf City, 2009).[14]

[edit] Education

The Jackson School District serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[15]) are six elementary school serving grades K-5 — Crawford-Rodriguez Elementary School (821 students), Elms Elementary School (945), Lucy N. Holman Elementary School (657), Howard C. Johnson Elementary School (618), Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School (427) and Switlik Elementary School (937) — (Carl W. Goetz Middle School (1,300) and Christa McAuliffe Middle School (1,020) for grades 6-8, along with Jackson Liberty High School and Jackson Memorial High School (2,910) for grades 9-12.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Jackson, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Jackson township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 31, 2007.
  3. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Reiss, Fraidy. "Feeling adventurous?", Asbury Park Press, March 31, 2007, accessed April 18, 2007. "Elsewhere in the park, Kingda Ka looms 456 feet high. It remains the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, said park president Kane."
  6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 203.
  7. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ Ocean County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 3, 2007.
  9. ^ Township Directory, Jackson Township. Accessed July 31, 2007.
  10. ^ 2007 Elected Officials of Ocean County, Ocean County, New Jersey. p. 4-5. Accessed August 14, 2007.
  11. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 59. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  12. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  13. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  14. ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed March 27, 2008.
  15. ^ Data for the Jackson School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 4, 2008.
  16. ^ "PLUS: BOWLING; Bohn Is Named Bowler of the Year", The New York Times, May 7, 2002. Accessed October 6, 2007. "Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., was selected by his fellow professional bowlers as the 2002 Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year yesterday."
  17. ^ Saslow, Eli. "extrreme sports / To be an action sports star, leave good sense behind", The Press of Atlantic City, June 21, 2007. Accessed July 31, 2007. "It better slow down, because it's getting too ridiculous, said Scotty Cranmer, a BMX rider from Jackson, N.J."
  18. ^ "Holman had hand in many political careers", Ocean County Observer, December 8, 2005. Accessed July 31, 2007. "Holman was a Jackson Township mayor in the 1960s. He became the Ocean County administrator, the state Republican Chairman, executive director of the Republican State Committee and Ocean County Director of Employee Relations."
  19. ^ LaGorce, tammy. "MUSIC; Thor, With an Electric Hammer", The New York Times, November 27, 2005. Accessed October 6, 2007. "But the frustrating part for Zakk Wylde -- born in Jersey City, raised in Jackson and possessed of a gift for heavy-metal noise that regularly earns him the cover of any magazine with guitar in its title -- is that the six-string inner circle rarely widens."

[edit] External links

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