Howell Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howell Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Location of Howell Township in Monmouth County highlighted in orange (right). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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 Howell Township, New Jersey
Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Howell Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Howell Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Monmouth | |
| Incorporated | February 23, 1801 | |
| Named for | Richard Howell | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (council–manager) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 61.21 sq mi (158.54 km2) | |
| • Land | 60.27 sq mi (156.10 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.94 sq mi (2.44 km2) 1.54% | |
| Area rank | 21st of 565 in state 1st of 53 in county |
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| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 53,537 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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53,862 | |
| • Rank | 35th of 565 in state 2nd of 53 in county |
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| • Density | 888.3/sq mi (343.0/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 397th of 565 in state 47th of 53 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code | ||
| Area code(s) | 732 and 848 | |
| FIPS code | 3402533300 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882113 | |
Howell Township is a township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is the largest municipality in the county by total area, comprised of about 61.21 square miles (158.5 km2). It is located in the New York metropolitan area and has been a steadily growing bedroom community of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 53,537, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,462 (+4.8%) from the 2010 census count of 51,075, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,172 (+4.4%) from the 48,903 counted in the 2000 census.
Contents
History
Howell Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1801, from portions of Shrewsbury Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Brick Township in the newly created Ocean County (February 15, 1850), Wall Township (March 7, 1851) and Farmingdale (April 8, 1903). The township was named for Richard Howell, who served from 1794 to 1801 as the third Governor of New Jersey.
Founded in 1822 by engineer and philanthropist James P. Allaire, the Howell Works provided iron for Allaire Iron Works, which was a leading supplier of iron in the 19th century. Allaire Village was a bustling mill town at the height of the mining operations and it has been preserved as Allaire State Park, which is in Howell Township and Wall Township.
Some scenes for the War of the Worlds 2005 remake were filmed here, and a neighborhood called Ardena Acres was recreated as a set and left standing in Universal Studios Hollywood.
In June 2017, two separate tornadoes, both rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, struck minutes and miles apart. The first one struck the Fort Plains area, damaging a Home Depot, Chase Bank, a strip mall, and a local ice cream parlor. The second one struck a park in the Oak Glen area.
Roughly six years later in April 2023, a tornado rated EF-2 struck Howell and neighboring Jackson Township near the Aldrich Road area. The National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado was 50 yards wide and 1.4 miles in length. It was one of the strongest tornadoes to have hit the state, as it was part of four separate powerful tornadoes that had also impacted the state that same day.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 61.21 square miles (158.54 km2), including 60.27 square miles (156.10 km2) of land and 0.94 square miles (2.44 km2) of water (1.54%).
Howell was formed from territory taken from Shrewsbury Township under an act of the New Jersey General Assembly passed February 23, 1801. The township, as formed, included in addition to its present area all of what is now Wall Township, Lakewood Township, Brick Township, and all the boroughs along the Atlantic Ocean from Barnegat Inlet of the Shark River Inlet at Belmar.
Ramtown (with a 2010 Census population of 6,242) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Howell Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Adelphia, Ardena, Ardmore Estates, Bergerville, Candlewood, Collingwood Park, Fairfield, Fort Plains, Freewood Acres, Jerseyville, Lake Club, Land of Pines, Larrabees, Lippencotts Corner, Lower Squankum, Matthews, Maxim, Oak Glen, Parkway Pines, Salem Hill, Shacks Corner, Southard, Squankum, West Farms, Winston Park, Wyckoff Mills and Yellow Brook.
The township completely surrounds Farmingdale, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders Colts Neck Township, Freehold Township and Wall Township in Monmouth County; and Brick Township, Jackson Township and Lakewood Township in Ocean County.
Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Howell Township would have an Appalachian Oak (104) vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) vegetation form.
Major bodies of water
The township is uniquely located in the center of the state New Jersey, located on a ridge within Central New Jersey. As such, northern sections of the township fall within the hillier terrain and fertile soil found in the Inner coastal plain, while southern sections of the township fall within the more flat terrain and sandier soil found in the Outer coastal plain. The township is located within the sphere of influence of the Jersey Shore, while also being located relatively near the Raritan Bayshore, the Raritan Valley, and the Pine Barrens. Notable bodies of water inside the township include:
Lakes
- Manasquan Reservoir
- Aldrich Lake
- Echo Lake
- Lake Louise
Rivers
- Manasquan River (Raritan Basin Watershed)
- Metedeconk River (Barnegat Bay Watershed)
- North Branch Metedeconk River
- South Branch Metedeconk River
- Swimming River (Navesink River Watershed)
- Mine Brook
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 2,780 | — | |
| 1820 | 3,354 | 20.6% | |
| 1830 | 4,141 | 23.5% | |
| 1840 | 4,699 | 13.5% | |
| 1850 | 4,058 | * | −13.6% |
| 1860 | 2,574 | * | −36.6% |
| 1870 | 3,371 | 31.0% | |
| 1880 | 3,374 | 0.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,018 | −10.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,103 | 2.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,703 | * | −12.9% |
| 1920 | 2,549 | −5.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,146 | 23.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,039 | 28.4% | |
| 1950 | 6,696 | 65.8% | |
| 1960 | 11,153 | 66.6% | |
| 1970 | 21,756 | 95.1% | |
| 1980 | 25,065 | 15.2% | |
| 1990 | 38,987 | 55.5% | |
| 2000 | 48,903 | 25.4% | |
| 2010 | 51,075 | 4.4% | |
| 2020 | 53,537 | 4.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 53,862 | 5.5% | |
| Population sources: 1810–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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Most common ancestries in Howell Township are Italian: 23.8%, Irish: 18.7%, German: 12.7%, Other groups: 11.3%, Polish: 7.7%, English: 4.9% and Russian: 3.0%.
The township is also home to a small, but notable, Kalmyk American community located in the Freewood Acres neighborhood.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 51,075 people, 17,260 households, and 13,618 families in the township. The population density was 843.4 per square mile (325.6/km2). There were 17,979 housing units at an average density of 296.9 per square mile (114.6/km2). The racial makeup was 88.30% (45,100) White, 3.65% (1,865) Black or African American, 0.15% (79) Native American, 4.52% (2,309) Asian, 0.05% (23) Pacific Islander, 1.61% (822) from other races, and 1.72% (877) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.13% (4,153) of the population.
Of the 17,260 households, 39.9% had children under the age of 18; 65.4% were married couples living together; 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.1% were non-families. Of all households, 17.3% were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.37.
26.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.
The Census Bureau showed that in 2010 median household income was $89,287 and the median family income was $102,015. Males had a median income of $71,499 versus $54,308 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,489. About 4.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Agriculture
Despite suburbanization in recent years, the township's agricultural roots have been preserved. There are numerous crop farms, thoroughbred farms, and nurseries in the township. Some notable farms in the township include Calgo Gardens, Twin Pond Farm, Kauffman Farms, Landex Nursery, and JMJ Farm.
Commerce
The township is home to numerous shopping centers, particularly on U.S. 9, including Aldrich Plaza, Adelphia Plaza, Greenleaf at Howell, Howell Commons, Lanes Mill Marketplace, and Regal Plaza.
Other shopping destinations near Howell, including the Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township, Jackson Premium Outlets in Jackson Township and Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls. Neighboring Farmingdale acts as a 'downtown' for the surrounding Howell Township. Nearby Asbury Park (on the shore) and Freehold Borough (the county seat) are also regional 'downtowns' for the township.
The Howell Chamber of Commerce, established in 1957, serves to promote Howell businesses. The Chamber of Commerce works to advocate for the diverse Howell business community, provides extensive benefits to its members, and creates a Community amongst the members.
Parks and recreation
Manasquan Reservoir offers nature and exercise related activities such as fishing, bird watching, jogging, biking, dog walking. The reservoir also has a nature exhibit where people can go see the local wildlife.
Alfred C. Sauer Park at Echo Lake offers a dock for fishing and kayaking, a nature trail and a pavilion overlooking the lake which can be rented. There is no swimming but there are grills and picnic tables as well as a playground. In 2014, the township renamed the park in memory of Alfred C. Sauer, an environmentalist who worked to preserve the park and other natural environments in the township. Parts of Allaire State Park and the Edgar Felix Bikeway are found in Howell Township.
Education
The Howell Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 12 schools, had an enrollment of 5,409 students and 494.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are five K-2 elementary schools, five 3-5 elementary schools and two middle schools for grades 6-8: Adelphia Elementary School (345 students; in grades K-2), Aldrich Elementary School (378; 3-5), Ardena Elementary School (324; 3-5), Greenville Elementary School (318; K-2), Griebling Elementary School (255; K-2), Land O' Pines Elementary School (486; PreK-2), Memorial Elementary Elementary School (258; 3-5), Newbury Elementary School (372; 3-5), Ramtown Elementary School (325; 3-5), Taunton Elementary School (362; K-2), Howell Township Middle School North (1,116; 6-8) and Howell Township Middle School South (868; 6-8).
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend either Howell High School, Freehold Township High School or Colts Neck High School (depending on home address), as part of the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD). The Freehold Regional High School District also serves students from Colts Neck Township, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Manalapan Township and Marlboro. Students from Howell can apply to participate in one of the Freehold Regional Learning Center programs within these six schools. The FRHSD board of education has nine members, who are elected to three-year terms from each of the constituent districts. Each member is allocated a fraction of a vote that totals to nine points, with Howell allocated two members, who each have 1.0 votes. Students from Howell may also apply to attend one of the Monmouth County Vocational School District schools throughout Monmouth County.
Mother Seton Academy, a Catholic School for grades Pre-K–8, which operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in the township. It formed in 2019 by the merger of St. Veronica and St. Aloysius schools; the former was in Howell and the latter was in Jackson Township.
Monmouth Academy (formerly Lakewood Prep School) was a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school located in Howell Township, that served 180 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Media
The Asbury Park Press provides daily news coverage of the town. The government of Howell provides columns and commentary to The Howell Times, which is one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.
Points of interest
- St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox Church cathedral, originally established in 1936 and decorated with Byzantine-style frescos, that operates under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
- The Mackenzie Museum and Library was the home of William Prickitt who led the 25th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Roads and highways
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As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 292.75 miles (471.14 km) of roadways, of which 242.91 miles (390.93 km) were maintained by the municipality, 26.25 miles (42.25 km) by Monmouth County and 23.59 miles (37.96 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Several major highways traverse through Howell Township. These include Interstate 195, U.S. Route 9, Route 33 and Route 34. Major county routes that traverse through Howell Township include County Route 524 (Elton-Adelphia Road), County Route 547 (Lakewood-Farmingdale Road/Asbury Road) and County Route 549 (Herbertsville Road).
The Garden State Parkway passes through neighboring Wall Township and is accessible with Interstate 195 and Route 33 at interchanges 98 and 100. Further out west, the New Jersey Turnpike is accessible with Interstate 195 and Route 33 at interchanges 7A and 8.
Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus transportation to communities along U.S. Route 9 from Lakewood to Old Bridge, and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City via the 131, 135 and 139 bus routes, to Newark Liberty International Airport and the rest of Newark on the 67 route, to Jersey City on the 64 and 67 routes, and with local service on the 836 route. Bus service is available from Route 9 to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan via the Academy Bus Line. There are two commuter parking lots available exclusively for residents of Howell Township, at the Aldrich Park & Ride in the Land of Pines neighborhood, and the Howell Park & Ride in the Adelphia neighborhood.
The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line a proposed NJ Transit project which would connect Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties to the rest of the system's rail network. The township would be a potential stop for the 'MOM' Line. As of now, Howell offers taxi services to and from the Belmar train station, the closest train station to the township. Other nearby train stations include Aberdeen-Matawan, Asbury Park, Hamilton, and Long Branch.
Monmouth Executive Airport in Farmingdale supplies short-distance flights to surrounding areas and is the closest air transportation service. The nearest major commercial airports are Trenton-Mercer Airport, which serves several domestic destinations via Frontier Airlines and located 28 miles (45 km) west (about 36 minutes drive); and Newark Liberty International Airport, which serves as a major hub for United Airlines and located 40 miles (64 km) north (about 56 minutes drive) from the center of Howell Township.
Cycleways, including the Edgar Felix Bikeway, connect to Manasquan and the beach, as well as other points of interest.
Healthcare
Most of Howell Township is served by the CentraState Healthcare System, which is a partner of Atlantic Health System and is affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The main 287-bed hospital campus is located in neighboring Freehold Township and services the central New Jersey region. The healthcare network offers additional services through its various family practices. Family practices accessible to Howell include locations in Jackson Township and Colts Neck Township.
The next closest major hospitals to the township are Monmouth Medical Center's Southern Campus in nearby Lakewood, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in nearby Neptune, and the Hamilton division of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Howell Township include:
- Jay Alders (born 1973), artist, photographer and graphic designer, who is best known for his original surf art paintings
- Bonnie Bernstein (born 1970), sportscaster for ESPN/ABC Sports
- Jimmy Blewett (born 1980), professional driver in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour; brother of John Blewett III
- John Blewett III (1973–2007), driver who competed in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour; brother of Jimmy Blewett
- Cody Calafiore (born 1990), actor and model who was the runner-up on Big Brother 16 in 2014
- Sopan Deb (born 1988), journalist who works as a culture reporter for The New York Times
- Anthony DeSclafani (born 1990), MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
- Charles Asa Francis (1855–1934), politician who served in both the New Jersey General Assembly and New Jersey Senate
- Doug French (born 1959), competed in NASCAR and the ARCA Menards Series from 1985 to 2001
- Sandje Ivanchukov (1960–2007), professional soccer player who was drafted out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Rob Kinelski (born 1981), four-time Grammy award-winning sound engineer, most noted for his work with Billie Eilish & former bass player & founding member of indie rock band Union Spirit
- Brian E. Kinsella (born 1983), veteran, entrepreneur and former financial analyst, who is an advocate for military and veteran mental health
- Nick LaBrocca (born 1984), midfielder for Colorado Rapids
- Austin H. Patterson (died 1905), who served on the Howell Township Committee, the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Assembly
- Tom Pelphrey (born 1982), actor who has appeared in the daytime soap Guiding Light, as Jonathan Randall
- Frankie Perez (born 1989), mixed martial artist specializing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu who has competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Amy Polumbo (born 1984), Miss New Jersey 2007
- Vinnie Roslin (1947–2012), bass guitarist who was an original member of Steel Mill, an early Bruce Springsteen band that included Danny Federici, Vini Lopez and Steve Van Zandt, who would later become members of Springsteen's E Street Band
- Rich Skrosky (born 1964), football coach
- Ryan Spadola (born 1991), wide receiver who has played with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins
- Jamie Tomaino (born 1956), professional stock car racing driver
- Denny Walling (born 1954), former Major League Baseball player
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Howell (Nueva Jersey) para niños
