Middletown Township, New Jersey

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Middletown, New Jersey
Map of Middletown Township in Monmouth County
Map of Middletown Township in Monmouth County
Coordinates: 40°23′50″N 74°5′29″W / 40.39722, -74.09139
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Monmouth
Area
 - Total 59.3 sq mi (153.7 km²)
 - Land 41.1 sq mi (106.5 km²)
 - Water 18.2 sq mi (47.2 km²)
Elevation 138 ft (42 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 66,327
 - Density 1,613.0/sq mi (622.8/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07748
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 34-45990GR2
GNIS feature ID 0882604GR3

Middletown Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census had a total population of 66,327. Middletown is one of the oldest sites of European settlement in New Jersey.[1]

Middletown Township was originally formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Atlantic Township (February 8, 1847, now Colts Neck Township), Raritan Township (February 25, 1848, now Hazlet Township), Atlantic Highlands (February 28, 1887), Highlands (March 22, 1900) and Keansburg (March 22, 1917).[2]

Belford (2000 Census population of 1,340), Fairview (3,942), Leonardo (2,823), Lincroft (6,255), Navesink (1,962), North Middletown (3,165) and Port Monmouth (3,742) are all Census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Middletown Township. Other areas that are part of the township are New Monmouth and Sandy Hook.[3]

In 2006, Middletown was voted 50th in CNN Money's Best Places to Live.[4]

Middletown is part of the Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan, an effort by nine municipalities in northern Monmouth County to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing the traditional downtowns, dense residential neighborhoods, maritime history, and the natural beauty of the Raritan Bayshore coastline.

Contents

Though small communities of Lenape Native Americans were common throughout the area, the first known European landing in what would become Middletown Township occurred in 1609, when the English explorer Henry Hudson landed along the shores of the Sandy Hook Bay. Hudson was in search of the mythical Northwest Passage in the service of the Dutch West India Company. Middletown Township was established in 1664, after the English conquest of New Amsterdam, but there was unauthorized settlement before that. The long-standing tradition had Penelope Stout, one of the first settlers, hiding in a tree from hostile Native Americans.[5]

During the American Revolution, Middletown and much of the rest of Eastern Monmouth County was held by the British. After the Battle of Monmouth, the British retreat from Freehold Township, New Jersey carried them down King's Highway in Middletown to their embarkation points in the bay.

Upon the completion of a railroad junction in 1875, the town grew more rapidly, eventually changing from a group of small and loosely connected fishing and agricultural villages into a wealthy and alarmingly fast-growing suburb at the turn of the 20th century. If Middletown ever had a recognizable town center or town square, it was lost in that rapid growth soon after World War II.

In May of 1958, several Nike Ajax missiles exploded at Battery NY-53 in Chapel Hill, killing ten Army and civilian personnel. The accident was one of the worst missile-related disasters of the Cold War.

Middletown was extremely hard hit during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, losing 37 of its residents, among the largest number for any municipality in New Jersey. A memorial to the victims stands next to the Middletown Train Station.

The planned Middletown Town Center is a major concern to the town, because of traffic issues, open space, etc.

A popular landmark in the community is the "Evil Clown of Middletown", a towering sign along Route 35 painted to resemble a circus clown that currently advertises a liquor store. The sign (and recent successful attempts from residents to save it from demolition) has been featured in the pages of Weird NJ magazine, on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and in the Kevin Smith-directed film Clerks II.

The Indian Trails 15K road race is held each year in April through the scenic hills of Navesink. The race benefits the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. There is also a 5K walk/run event for fun.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 59.3 square miles (153.7 km²), of which, 41.1 square miles (106.5 km²) of it is land and 18.2 square miles (47.2 km²) of it (30.72%) is water.

Middletown borders Colts Neck Township, Holmdel Township, Red Bank, the Boro of Tinton Falls, Atlantic Highlands, Rumson, Sea Bright, Highlands, Fair Haven, Keansburg and Hazlet Township.

Poricy Creek (Poricy Park, Oak Hill Road) is locally well-known for its deposits of Cretaceous marine fossils, including belemnites.

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 9,209
—
1940 11,018 19.6%
1950 16,203 47.1%
1960 39,675 144.9%
1970 54,623 37.7%
1980 62,574 14.6%
1990 68,183 9.0%
2000 66,327 -2.7%
Est. 2006 67,578 [6] 1.9%
Population 1930 - 1990.[7]

As of the census² of 2000, there were 66,327 people, 23,236 households, and 18,100 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,613.0 people per square mile (622.8/km²). There were 23,841 housing units at an average density of 579.8/sq mi (223.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.71% White, 1.21% African American, 0.07% Native American, 2.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.41% of the population.

There were 23,236 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.3% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $75,566, and the median income for a family was $86,124 (which had risen to $88,873 and $101,747 respectively as of the 2006 estimate.[8]) Males had a median income of $60,755 versus $36,229 for females. The per capita income for the township was $34,196. About 1.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

The Township Committee operates under a special charter approved on June 23, 1971, by the New Jersey Legislature. Middletown Township is governed by a five-member Township Committee. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each for a one-year term. The term for each Committee member is three years. The Township Committee supervises the operation of municipal government by establishing policies and programs and appropriating funds.[9].

After the 2007 Township Reorganization, members of the Middletown Township Committee are Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger, Deputy Mayor Pamela M. Brightbill, Thomas G. Hall, Patrick Short and Thomas P. Wilkens.[9]

The Middletown Township Police Department is the largest police force in Monmouth County with well over 100 officers.

Middletown Township is split between the Sixth and Twelfth Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 13th Legislative District.[10]

New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, covering portions of Middlesex County and Monmouth County, is represented by Frank Pallone (D). New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District, covering all of Hunterdon County and portions of Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, and Somerset County, is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 13th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph M. Kyrillos (R, Middletown Township) and in the Assembly by Amy Handlin (R, Middletown Township) and Samuel D. Thompson (R, Old Bridge Township). 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.

The Middletown Township Fire Department (sometimes called the MTFD) is comprised of 11 fire companies spread throughout the town and is completely made of volunteers'. The Town even has its own air unit vehicle to help fire-fighting helicopters take on more water. It is commenly stated that the Middletown Township Fire Department is "The World's Largest Volunteer Fire Department"

The first company to be created was the Navesink Hook and ladder Fire Company No. 1 on May 1, 1886. It was followed by Brevent Park & Leonardo Fire Company on October 16, 1903; Belford Engine Company No.1 on August 14, 1916; Community Fire Company of Leonardo on September 9, 1922; East Keansburg Fire Company No.1 in 1922; Port Monmouth Fire Company No.1 in November of 1922; Belford Independent Fire Company in 1923; Middletown Fire Company No.1 in April 1924; River Plaza Hose Company No.1 on December 8, 1927. For a time these companies accted seperatly until August 28, 1928 when all the stations were brought together to form the current fire department. since then two more companies have been formed: the Lincroft Fire Company in May of 1932 and the Old Village Fire Company on September 7, 1955.

The MTFD has other special units besides the main fire companies. The MTFD has its own fire academy, Fire Police, Air Unit, Special Services including: HazMat, Confined Space Teams, and Specialized Rescue units.

The Middletown Township Public School District consists of seventeen public schools, with a student population of more than 10,000. There are twelve K-5 Elementary Schools (Bayview, Fairview, Harmony, Leonardo, Lincroft, Middletown Village, Navesink, New Monmouth, Nut Swamp, Ocean Avenue, Port Monmouth and River Plaza), three grade 6-8 middle schools (Bayshore, Thompson and Thorne), and two high schools for grades 9-12, Middletown High School North and Middletown High School South. Four elementary schools feed into each of the three middle schools. The facilities vary in age, architecture, size, and student population.

Along with public education, Middletown Township is home to two private high schools. Christian Brothers Academy is an all boys College preparatory school with a focus on Christian education run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, located in Lincroft. Mater Dei High School is a four-year Catholic coeducational high school located in the New Monmouth section.

There are also two parochial grammar schools, Saint Mary in New Monmouth and Saint Leo the Great School in Lincroft.

Exits 109 and 114 of the Garden State Parkway's are located in Middletown Township, which provides easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike, New York City and the state of New York. Routes 35 and 36 pass through Middletown. Three toll gates are located in Middletown. Two of them are at Exit 109 (northbound entry, southbound exit), and one at Exit 114 (northbound entry).

CR 520 passes through Middletown. 520 turns into CR 612 (at its western end), which then leads to Exit 8A of the New Jersey Turnpike. This makes CR 520 a connector between Shore Points/Garden State Parkway (Exit 109 in Middletown Township) and the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 8A in Monroe Township.

New Jersey Transit's, North Jersey Coast Line which runs from New York City's Pennsylvania Station to Bay Head, New Jersey has a rail station in Middletown. New Jersey Transit is a major commuter rail system which operates throughout of the New York metropolitan area, operating on routes under the shared operation of CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway. NJ Transit also offers bus service, which stops many places throughout Middletown.

Notable current and former residents of Middletown Township include:

  1. ^ "Welcome to the Throckmorton-Lippit-Taylor Burying Ground On Penelope Lane in Middletown, New Jersey", Atlantic Highlands Herald, Spring 2003
  2. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 182.
  3. ^ Map of Middletown township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 5, 2007.
  4. ^ CNNMoney.com: Best places to live 2006: New Jersey, accessed October 17, 2006.
  5. ^ Stockton, Frank R. Story of Penelope Stout. Accessed June 5, 2007.
  6. ^ Census data for Middletown township, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007.
  7. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ 2006 American Community Survey, Data Profile Highlights: Middletown Township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2007.
  9. ^ a b Mayor & Township Committee, Middletown Township. Accessed March 13, 2007.
  10. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New jersey League of Women Voters, p. 60. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  11. ^ Profile of Mary Kay Adams, accessed December 30, 2006.
  12. ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. "POLITICS; Parties Maneuver to Replace 2 Representatives", The New York Times, April 3, 1988. Accessed December 16, 2007. "Before Mr. Howard suffered a fatal heart attack on March 24 - he died the next day - his likely Republican opponent was former Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina of Middletown."
  13. ^ Considine, Bob. "Springing Bach to life", Asbury Park Press, May 19, 2006. Accessed July 30, 2007. "The 38-year-old Middletown resident is as excitable as ever, discussing the past, present and future with his typical hyperactivity."
  14. ^ Jersey boy does good, USA Weekend, July 31, 2005.
  15. ^ Celano, Clare Marie. "Freehold Borough to serve as filmmaker’s backdrop", News Transcript, April 17, 2002. Accessed November 30, 2007. "Members of the cast include Peter Capella, who plays Steve Wilson. A Middletown resident, Capella has been featured in commercials and television pilots."
  16. ^ From working-class to wealthy, distinct neighborhoods make Middletown, Asbury Park Press, October 14, 2004.
  17. ^ Assembly Member Amy H. Handlin, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 10, 2007.
  18. ^ Gladwell, Malcolm. "Do Parents Matter?", the New Yorker, August 17, 1998. Accessed July 3, 2007. "But her article was accepted, and in the space below her name, where authors typically put 'Princeton University' or 'Yale University' or 'Oxford University,' Harris proudly put 'Middletown, New Jersey.'"
  19. ^ Mrs Rhode Island Official Website
  20. ^ Jerry Holbert Editorial Cartoons, United Feature Syndicate. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Born in Middletown, N.J., in 1958, Holbert aspired to cartooning as a young child"
  21. ^ O'Sullivan, Eleanor. "Crude dudes in Red Bank", Asbury Park Press, January 6, 2002. Accessed August 2, 2007. "In addition to Vulgar from Johnson, Atlantic Highlands, the comedy Big Helium Dog, from Middletown's Brian Lynch, also will be shown. "
  22. ^ About Melanie. MelanieMcGuire.com. Accessed July 22, 2007.
  23. ^ Strickland, Carter. "Dogs offensive line good, but not great", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 25, 2007. Accessed October 17, 2007. "Moreno, a 5-foot-11, 207-pound native of Belford, N.J., tied senior Thomas Brown with a team-leading 74 rushing yards during the Bulldogs' 26-23 overtime win."
  24. ^ Christian Peter profile, database Football. Accessed August 1, 2007.
  25. ^ Ginley, Bill. "When the Cheers Aren't Enough", The New York Times, February 12, 2006. Accessed August 1, 2007. "Peter, who grew up in the Locust section of Middletown and played at Middletown South before moving on to the University of Nebraska and then to the Carolina Panthers, saw his life crumble."
  26. ^ 2007 Spring Invitational on May 16 at Hollywood Golf Course, accessed May 9, 2007. "Player registration and business sponsorship opportunities are underway for one of Monmouth County's most prominent golf tournaments -- the CPC Spring Invitational hosted by Honorary Chairman Maury Povich of Middletown."
  27. ^ Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In: Middletown Township, N.J.;A Historic Community on Raritan Bay", The New York Times, December 24, 1995. Accessed May 10, 2007. "The most expensive area is along the Shrewsbury River, where an eight-bedroom colonial on five acres is listed at $5.9 million. Among the residents of that area are Geraldo Rivera, the television personality, and members of the Hovnanian home-building family."
  28. ^ Wasserstein, Ben. "The Man with 50,000 Friends: How Kevin Smith accidentally invented the future of movie marketing., New York (magazine), July 24, 2006. Accessed July 3, 2007. "Smith’s is the great Horatio Alger story of nineties independent film. A New School and film-school dropout, he wrote the screenplay for Clerks while working at a Quick Stop in Leonardo, New Jersey. He shot in the store at night with $27,000 he raised in part by selling his comic-book collection."
  29. ^ NTDP Notebook - Oct. 14, 2005, accessed April 15, 2007. "In Saturday’s game, Josh Unice (Toledo, Ohio) made 22 saves to pick up his first win of the season, and Team USA received goals in the first period from Richard Manley (South Buffalo, N.Y.), Justin Vaive (Buffalo, N.Y.), Ryan Hayes (Syracuse, N.Y.) and James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.). A.J. Sturges (Madison, Wis.) and Van Riemsdyk scored third-period goals to round out the scoring."
  30. ^ Strauss, Robert. "IN PERSON; These Two People Are a Riot", The New York Times, April 14, 2002. Accessed May 10, 2007. "ABSTRACT - Article on Hollywood actors and television writers Billy Van Zandt, native of Middletown, and Jane Milmore, who grew up in nearby Keansburg; duo has been returning to Jersey Shore each spring for two decades for spring comedy productions."
  31. ^ Fricke, David. "The Garage Crusade: Steven Van Zandt preaches the gospel of rock on the radio", Rolling Stone, February 25, 2004. Accessed May 9, 2007. "Indeed, Van Zandt -- a native of Boston who grew up in Middletown, New Jersey -- is a true child of garage rock, along with Springsteen."
  32. ^ DeMasters, Karen. "MUSIC; For Springsteen, Bar Mitzvahs and Conan, This Drummer Sets the Beat", The New York Times, January 28, 2001. Accessed May 10, 2007. "ABSTRACT - Profile of and interview with former E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg of Middletown Township, NJ."
  33. ^ Bill Weber biography, accessed May 10, 2007. "I grew upin Middletown, NJ, graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis."
  34. ^ Schoonejongen, John. "Middletown North graduate killed in Virginia Tech shooting", Asbury Park Press, April 17, 2007. Accessed May 10, 2007. "The committeeman, a former competitive swimmer who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics, said he was an older swimmer at the Middletown club when Pryde was one of the younger swimmers there."
  35. ^ Why parenting is like TV news: "Hard work pays off," says MSNBC anchor Brian Williams, who balances family and a demanding job., USA Weekend, December 26, 1999. "Former fireman: Before working in TV news, Williams was a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Middletown, N.J., he visits today's crew in Middletown."

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