| Jackson Township, New Jersey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — Township — | |||
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| Motto: A Place for All Seasons | |||
| Map of Jackson Township in Ocean County. Inset: Location of Ocean County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |||
| Census Bureau map of Jackson Township, New Jersey | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Jersey | ||
| County | Ocean | ||
| Incorporated | March 6, 1844 | ||
| Government[1] | |||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) | ||
| • Mayor | Michael Reina | ||
| • Administrator | Joe "Joey" Torres[2] | ||
| 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[3] | 92 ft (28 m) | ||
| Population (2010)[4] | |||
| • Total | 54,856 | ||
| • 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[5][6] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0882079[7] | ||
| Website | http://www.jacksontwpnj.net | ||
Jackson Township, named after Andrew Jackson, is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 54,856. Jackson's most famous attraction is Six Flags Great Adventure, which as of 2010 is home to the tallest roller coaster in the world: Kingda Ka.[8] Jackson is also home to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Wild Safari. Down the road from Six Flags is the Jackson Premium Outlets, a major retail outlet center with 70 stores.
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.[9]
Cassville and Vista Center are census-designated places and unincorporated area located within Jackson Township.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 100.8 square miles (261 km2), of which, 100.1 square miles (259 km2) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) of it (0.74%) is water. Jackson is the largest city by area in Ocean County.
| Upper Freehold Township and Millstone Township |
Freehold Twp | Howell Twp | ||
| Plumsted Twp | Lakewood Twp | |||
| Jackson Township | ||||
| Manchester Twp | Toms River Township (formerly Dover Township) |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,719 |
|
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| 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% | |
| 2010 | 54,856 | 28.1% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990[10] | |||
As of the census[5] 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 per square mile (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.
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 (it just so happens that Jackson is the only municipality in Ocean County that hosts any interstate). While the expressway travels into Howell and Millstone Townships, it's also a vital link for Six Flags since it grants access to the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).
New Jersey Transit bus service is provided to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Philadelphia is served by the 317. Local service is available on the 311 bus line.[11]
Until 2006, Jackson Township as governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee, whose members were elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[1] As of July 1, 2006, Jackson Township adopted the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) form of government, with a Mayor and five-member Township Council elected at-large in nonpartisan elections. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. Council members serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election in even years. The Council selects a President and a Vice President from among its members.
As of 2011[update], the Mayor of Jackson Township is Michael Reina (2014). Township Council members are Council President Ken Bressi (2012), Council Vice President Ann Updegrave (2014), Michael Kafton (2012), Scott Martin (2014) and Roberta "Bobbie" Rivere (2012).[12][13]
Jackson Township has its own Police Department which operates out of the Municipal Justice Complex. Chief of Police Matthew D. Kunz.
Jackson Township currently has four fire companies and an industrial fire brigade:
Jackson Township has two Fire Bureaus that enforce the NJ Uniform Fire Safety Act:
Jackson Bureau of Fire Prevention District 4 Fire Official John Burmiester Jr.
Jackson Bureau of Fire Safety Fire Districts 1, 2 and 3 Fire Official Frank McDonnell
Currently emergency medical services are provided by a combination of an independent volunteer first aid squad and a private third party contractor.
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.
Jackson Township is in the 4th Congressional district. 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).
Jackson is in the 30th District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Robert Singer (R, Lakewood Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Ronald S. Dancer (R, New Egypt) and Joseph R. Malone (R, Bordentown).[14]
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 of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Ocean County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari (Toms River, term ends December 31, 2011), Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little (Surf City, 2012), John C. Bartlett, Jr. (Pine Beach, 2012), John P. Kelly (Eagleswood Township, 2010) and James F. Lacey (Brick Township, 2013).[15][16]
On the national and state levels, Jackson leans strongly toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 Presidential Election, Republican George W. Bush received 59% of the vote, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 40%. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Republican John McCain received 55% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received around 43%. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 67% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 27%.
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[17]) 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.
(B) denotes that the person was born there.