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Freehold Borough, New Jersey

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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.
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
Census Bureau map of Freehold Borough, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
CountyMonmouth
IncorporatedMarch 25, 1869
Government
[1]
 • TypeBorough (New Jersey)
 • MayorMichael Wilson
Area
 • Total2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
 • Land2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
[2]
174 ft (53 m)
Population
 (2007)[3]
 • Total11,465
 • Density5,501.1/sq mi (2,124.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
07728
Area code732
FIPS code34-25200Template:GR[4]
GNIS feature ID0885226Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.freeholdboro.org
Also see: Freehold Township.

Freehold Borough 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 CountyTemplate:GR. Freehold Borough is considered to be part of the New York metropolitan area.

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 the Freehold Township were annexed on September 7, 1926.[5]

Geography

Freehold is located at 40°15′37″N 74°16′32″W / 40.26028°N 74.27556°W / 40.26028; -74.27556Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.260143, -74.275428)Template:GR. It is situated in the heart of Monmouth County and is located approximately 45 miles south of New York City and 60 miles northeast of Philadelphia, PA. Freehold Borough is also about 20 miles west of Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.

Freehold Borough has an elevation of 100 feet above sea level (according to a sign on West Main Street).

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19306,894—
19406,9520.8%
19507,5508.6%
19609,14021.1%
197010,54515.4%
198010,020−5.0%
199010,7427.2%
200010,9762.2%
2007 (est.)11,465[3]
Population 1930 - 1990.[6]

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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/sq mi (737.6/km²). 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.

Government

The Monmouth County Court House

Local government

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 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 (elected in 1985, and the longest-serving mayor in Freehold Borough history).[7] Members of the Freehold Borough Council are Council President Marc LeVine, Michael J. DiBenedetto, Kevin A. Kane, George Schnurr, Sharon Shutzer and Jaye Sims.[8]

Federal, state and county representation

Freehold Borough is in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th Legislative District.[9]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).[10][11] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[12] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024).[13][14]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 12th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Owen Henry (R, Old Bridge Township) and in the General Assembly by Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan) and Alex Sauickie (R, Jackson Township).[15] Template:NJ Governor

Template:NJ Monmouth County Freeholders

Education

Freehold Borough's nearly 1,400 students in public school for grades pre-K through 8 attend the Freehold Borough Schools. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[16]) are Freehold Learning Center Pre-K through grade 5 (515 students), Park Avenue Elementary School K - 5 (423 students) and Freehold Borough Intermediate School grades 6 - 8 (381 students).

Students in public school for grades 9-12 attend Freehold High School, as part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD) also serves students from Colts Neck Township, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold Township, Howell Township, Manalapan Township and Marlboro.[17] FRHSD also has a set of specialized learning programs, each one focusing on a certain topic (business, engineering, cooking, etc.) and is for students who are talented in that topic and wish to study it in college.

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.

History

Diner in Freehold

Freehold was originally named Monmouth County 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.[18]

Freehold Borough also has a relatively unknown connection with the bicycle. Due to the large quantity of bicycles once produced in Freehold in the 1880s and 1890s, the town was known as the "Bicycle Capital of the World." The borough is home to the "Bicycle Museum" located on Main Street just across the street from Rita's Italian Ice and the fire department.[19]

Transportation

U.S. Route 9 passes through Freehold Borough, 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 buses serve the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 131, 135 and 139 routes, Newark on the 67, Jersey City on the 64 and 67 lines, and local service on the 833 and 836 routes. 307 has service between Freehold and Six Flags Great Adventure. [20]

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

Notable natives

Noted current and former residents of Freehold include:

  • Scott Conover (born 1968), former Detroit Lions offensive tackle and author of the children's book Can I Play Too? was raised in Freehold.[21]
  • Danny Lewis (born 1936), NFL running back from 1958-66, playing for the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins, and the New York Giants.[22]
  • Craig Mazin (born 1971), screenwriter, producer and director.[citation needed]
  • Tim Perry (born 1965), former NBA player, most notably with the Phoenix Suns.[23]
  • Darrell Reid (born 1982), defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts.[24]
  • J. R. Smith (born 1985), professional basketball player currently playing for the Denver Nuggets, was born in Freehold.[25]
  • Gregory C. Higgins (born 1962), author of several theological works, professor at Georgian Court University, and chair of the Religious Studies department at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ. [26]
  • Bruce Springsteen (born 1949), rock musician, was raised in Freehold Borough.[27] 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 63.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Freehold, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Census data for Freehold borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 10, 2008.
  4. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  5. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 179.
  6. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  7. ^ Freehold H.S. honors first hall of fame inductees: Wilson, Springsteen, White, Hendry among school's celebrated grads, Freehold News Transcript, April 19, 2006.
  8. ^ Freehold Borough Mayor & Council, Freehold Borough. Accessed January 17, 2008.
  9. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  10. ^ Directory of Representatives: New Jersey, United States House of Representatives. Accessed August 5, 2022.
  11. ^ Fox, Joey. "Who is N.J.’s most bipartisan member of Congress, really?", New Jersey Globe, July 28, 2022. Accessed March 21, 2023. "As for Republicans, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) voted with Biden 37% of the time, "
  12. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  13. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
  14. ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Legislative Roster for District 12, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Data for the Freehold Borough Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 28, 2008.
  17. ^ Freehold Regional High School District 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 28, 2008. "Freehold Regional High School District, the largest high school district in New Jersey, has six high schools with almost 12,000 students and over 1,500 employees.... District members include the Townships of Colts Neck, Freehold, Howell, Manalapan, and Marlboro, and the Boroughs of Englishtown, Farmingdale, and Freehold."
  18. ^ History of the Hall of Records, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed January 28, 2008.
  19. ^ Metzger, Dick. "Bicycle buffs have a haven at Freehold museum: Local collector’s prize possession is ‘Zimmy’ manufactured in town", East Brunswick Sentinel, July 11, 2002. Accessed May 15, 2007. "More than 100 years ago, in the late 1880s and 1890s, the village of Freehold was arguably the bicycle capital of the world."
  20. ^ Monmouth County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 10, 2007.
  21. ^ Russell, Suzanne C. "Lion's heart beat disability Scott Conover: I went from a nerd to the NFL", Home News Tribune, February 28, 2004. Accessed July 30, 2007. "Conover, a native of Freehold who now works as the in-school suspension teacher, head football coach and assistant track coach at Perth Amboy High School, told the students that school is where it starts."
  22. ^ Danny Lewis, December 25, 2007.
  23. ^ Morris, Tim. "Pats' win over CBA is historic", News Transcript, January 28, 2004. Accessed May 8, 2007. "If the great area teams that had featured all-state forward Zucker, who went on to a fine career at Rutgers, or that had future NBA player Tim Perry of Freehold Borough couldn’t beat CBA, who could?"
  24. ^ Celano, Clare Marie. "Colts' Reid returns home with plan to help youths", News Transcript, June 21, 2006. Accessed May 15, 2007. "Reid, a former Freehold High School football player, is currently a member of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts but a piece of his heart remains in the town in which he grew up - Freehold Borough."
  25. ^ In The Lane With Licht, October 22, 2004.
  26. ^ Bookschristian.com "Gregory C. Higgins...is on the faculties of Georgian Court College and Christian Brothers Academy", 2007. Accessed March 21, 2009.
  27. ^ Sapia, Joseph. "A day in the life of Freehold Borough", Asbury Park Press, December 16, 1999. Accessed May 8, 2007. "Maybe it's a case of Springsteen's lyrics having been influenced by his environment. Just as the borough is Coyne's hometown, it is Springsteen's as well."

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