| Borough of Freehold, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Borough — | |
| Map of Freehold Borough in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Freehold Borough, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Monmouth |
| Incorporated | March 25, 1869 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Michael Wilson (term ends 2011)[2] |
| • Administrator | Joseph B. Bellina[3] |
| Area[4] | |
| • Total | 2.00 sq mi (5.2 km2) |
| • Land | 2.00 sq mi (5.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation[5] | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[6] | |
| • Total | 12,052 |
| • Density | 6,002.8/sq mi (2,317.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07728[7] |
| Area code(s) | 732/848 |
| FIPS code | 34-25200[8][9] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885226[10] |
| Website | http://www.freeholdboro.org |
Freehold is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,052.[6] It is the county seat of Monmouth County.[11]
What is now Freehold Borough was originally incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 25, 1869, from portions within Freehold Township. The town became independent of the township in 1888. On April 15, 1919, Freehold was incorporated as a borough, including all of Freehold and additional portions of Freehold Township, based on the results of a referendum held on July 8, 1919. Additional portions of Freehold Township were annexed on September 7, 1926.[12]
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Freehold is located at (40.260143, −74.275428).[13] It is situated in the heart of Monmouth County and is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of New York City and 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Philadelphia. Freehold is also about 16 miles (26 km) west of Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.00 square miles (5.2 km2), all of it land.[4]
Freehold has an elevation of 178 feet (54 m) above sea level in the center of town.[14]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 6,894 |
|
|
| 1940 | 6,952 | 0.8% | |
| 1950 | 7,550 | 8.6% | |
| 1960 | 9,140 | 21.1% | |
| 1970 | 10,545 | 15.4% | |
| 1980 | 10,020 | −5.0% | |
| 1990 | 10,742 | 7.2% | |
| 2000 | 10,976 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 12,052 | 9.8% | |
| Population sources: 1900-1990[15] 2000[16] 2010[6][17] |
|||
As of the 2010 Census, there were 12,052 people, 4,006 households, and 2,659 families residing in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 65.7% White, 12.6% Black, .5% American Indian, 2.9% Asian, .1% Pacific Islander, 15.4% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.9% of the population.[6]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 10,976 people, 3,695 households, and 2,571 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,501.1 people per square mile (2,118.9/km2). There were 3,821 housing units at an average density of 1,915.1 per square mile (737.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 71.02% White, 15.83% Black, .55% Native American, 2.45% Asian, .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.[16]
There were 3,695 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49% 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.[16]
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.[16]
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% 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.[16]
Freehold operates under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, and is governed by a mayor and a six-member borough council. The mayor is directly elected by the voters to a four-year term of office. Borough council members serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[1] The governing body conducts all of its business during twice-monthly public meetings and is empowered to adopt local ordinances and pass resolutions.
As of 2011[update], the Mayor of Freehold Borough is Michael Wilson (elected in 1985, and the longest-serving mayor in Freehold Borough history as well as the longest serving mayor in Monmouth County's history).[18] Members of the Freehold Borough Council are Council President George Schnurr, Michael J. DiBenedetto, Kevin A. Kane, John F. Newman, Sharon Shutzer and Jaye Sims.[19]
In the November 2011 general election, Nolan Higgins ran unopposed for a four-year term as mayor and fellow Democrats Michael DiBenedetto and George Schnurr both won re-election to another three years on the borough council, all with terms of office that will begin in January 2012.[20]
Freehold Borough is in the 4th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district.[21] The borough was relocated to the 11th state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[17] The new district was in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[21]
New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
12th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Jennifer Beck (R, Red Bank) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Caroline Casagrande (R, Colts Neck Township) and Declan O'Scanlon (R, Little Silver).[22] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[23] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[24]
Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats up for election each year. [25] As of 2011, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan; term ends December 31, 2013)[26], Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley (R, Red Bank; 2012)[27], Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City; 2013), Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township; 2011)[28] and Amy A. Mallet (D, Fair Haven, 2011).[29][30][31]
Freehold Borough's public school students in grades pre-K through 8 attend the Freehold Borough Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[32]) are Freehold Learning Center (grades PreK-5, 491 students), Park Avenue Elementary School (PreK-5, 481) and Freehold Intermediate School (6–8, 387).
Students in public school for grades 9–12 attend Freehold High School, as part of the Freehold Regional High School District or may apply to attend the district's specialized programs housed in other high schools in the FRHSD.[33] The Freehold Regional High School District also serves students from Colts Neck Township, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold Township, Howell Township, Manalapan Township and Marlboro.[34]
The independent Freehold Public Library is one of the remaining Carnegie-funded libraries in the state and is believed to be the only one with the name "Carnegie Library" engraved on its front.[35] It is not part of the Monmouth County Library system.
Freehold was originally named Monmouth Courthouse. In 1714, John Reid, the first Surveyor General of East Jersey, wanted the county seat located in Freehold Township and thus sold the property to the Board of Chosen Freeholders at a bargain price, what may have been the deciding factor in Freehold's competition with Middletown and Shrewsbury for the site. In return for the heavily-discounted price, Reid placed a restrictive covenant in the deed that, should the property ever cease being used as a courthouse, ownership would revert back to the Reid family. Direct descendants of John Reid still reside in Freehold Township.[36]
Freehold also has a relatively forgotten but important place in the history of the bicycle. Cycling champion Arthur Augustus Zimmerman resided in the town during his racing career in the 1880s and 1890s, and from 1896–1899 operated the Zimmerman Bicycle Co.; the company's bicycles were known as the "Zimmy." Today, Freehold Borough is home to the Metz Bicycle Museum, where the only extant "Zimmy" can be seen.[37]
African Americans made important contributions to the history of the borough and the county from the Revolutionary Period (Colonel Tye) to the present day (FBHS guidance counselor Lillie Hendry). While the first African American official gained office in 2007 (Jaye Sims), Freehold was one of the centers of African American civil rights activity in New Jersey during the years leading up to the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1955.[38]
U.S. Route 9 passes through Freehold, as do Route 33 Business, Route 79, County Route 522 and County Route 537. The Henry Hudson Trail runs north along an abandoned rail line to Matawan.
New Jersey Transit bus service connects Freehold with towns along U.S. Route 9, Newark Liberty International Airport and New York City, to Philadelphia (via transfer in Lakewood) and to Six Flags Great Adventure located in Jackson Township. The 131, 135 and 139 provide service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, on the 67 to Newark, on the 64 and 67 to Jersey City and local service on the 833 and 836 routes.[39]
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 in Freehold Township, 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.
Noted current and former residents of Freehold include: