Howell Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howell Township, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Township
|
||
|
||
|
||
Location of Howell Township in Monmouth County highlighted in orange (right). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
<mapframe text="Interactive map of Howell Township, New Jersey" zoom="8" width="250" height="250"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geoshape", "ids": "Q2678621" } </mapframe> |
||
 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
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| 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 |
|
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 53,537 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
53,862 | |
| • Rank | 35th of 565 in state 2nd of 53 in county |
|
| • Density | 888.3/sq mi (343.0/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 397th of 565 in state 47th of 53 in county |
|
| 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 community located in Monmouth County, in the state of New Jersey. It is the largest town in the county by size, covering about 61.21 square miles. Howell Township is part of the New York metropolitan area and has grown into a popular place for people who work in New York City to live. In 2020, its population was 53,537, which was the highest number of people ever recorded living there.
Contents
History of Howell Township
Howell Township was officially created on February 23, 1801. It was formed from parts of Shrewsbury Township. Over the years, some areas of Howell Township became new towns, like Brick Township (in 1850), Wall Township (in 1851), and Farmingdale (in 1903). The township was named after Richard Howell, who was the third Governor of New Jersey from 1794 to 1801.
Allaire Village and Iron Works
In 1822, a man named James P. Allaire started the Howell Works. This place made iron for the Allaire Iron Works, which was a very important iron supplier in the 1800s. Allaire Village was a busy town when the iron mining was at its peak. Today, it is preserved as Allaire State Park, which is partly in Howell Township.
Howell in Movies and Weather
Some parts of the 2005 movie War of the Worlds were filmed here. A neighborhood called Ardena Acres was even built as a movie set and later moved to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Howell Township has also experienced some strong weather. In June 2017, two small tornadoes hit the area, causing damage to businesses and a park. Later, in April 2023, a stronger tornado struck Howell and nearby Jackson Township. It was one of the most powerful tornadoes to hit New Jersey that day.
Geography of Howell Township
Howell Township covers a total area of about 61.21 square miles. Most of this is land (60.27 square miles), and a small part is water (0.94 square miles).
When Howell Township was first formed in 1801, it was much larger. It included areas that are now Wall Township, Lakewood Township, Brick Township, and many towns along the Atlantic Ocean.
Communities within Howell
Ramtown is a community located inside Howell Township. There are many other smaller communities and places within the township, such as Adelphia, Ardena, Freewood Acres, and Squankum.
Howell Township completely surrounds the town of Farmingdale. This is a special situation called a "doughnut town," where one town completely wraps around another. Howell Township shares borders with Colts Neck Township, Freehold Township, and Wall Township in Monmouth County. It also borders Brick Township, Jackson Township, and Lakewood Township in Ocean County.
Natural Features
Howell Township is located in the middle of New Jersey, on a raised area called a ridge. The northern parts of the township have hills and rich soil, while the southern parts are flatter with sandy soil. The township is close to the Jersey Shore and also near the Pine Barrens.
Major Bodies of Water
Lakes
- Manasquan Reservoir
- Aldrich Lake
- Echo Lake
- Lake Louise
Rivers
- Manasquan River
- Metedeconk River (North and South Branches)
- Swimming River (and Mine Brook)
People of Howell Township
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
|||
Many people in Howell Township have Italian, Irish, German, Polish, English, and Russian backgrounds. There is also a small but important Kalmyk American community in the Freewood Acres neighborhood.
2010 Census Snapshot
In 2010, there were 51,075 people living in Howell Township, with 17,260 households. The population density was about 843 people per square mile. Most residents (88.30%) were White. Other groups included Black or African American (3.65%), Asian (4.52%), and Hispanic or Latino (8.13%). About 26.3% of the population was under 18 years old.
Economy of Howell Township
Farming and Agriculture
Even though Howell Township has grown a lot with new homes and businesses, it still has many farms. You can find crop farms, horse farms, and plant nurseries here. Some well-known farms include Calgo Gardens and Twin Pond Farm.
Shopping and Business
Howell Township has many shopping centers, especially along U.S. Route 9. Some popular spots are Aldrich Plaza and Howell Commons.
There are also larger shopping areas nearby, like the Freehold Raceway Mall and the Jackson and Jersey Shore Premium Outlets. The nearby town of Farmingdale acts like a small downtown for Howell. The Howell Chamber of Commerce, started in 1957, helps local businesses grow and connect.
Parks and Recreation
Howell Township offers many outdoor activities. The Manasquan Reservoir is a great place for fishing, bird watching, jogging, and biking. It also has a nature exhibit where you can learn about local wildlife.
Alfred C. Sauer Park at Echo Lake has a dock for fishing and kayaking, a nature trail, and a pavilion. You can also find parts of Allaire State Park and the Edgar Felix Bikeway in Howell Township.
Education in Howell Township
Howell Township has its own public school district for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. There are 12 schools in the district, including five elementary schools for grades K-2, five elementary schools for grades 3-5, and two middle schools for grades 6-8 (Howell Township Middle School North and South).
For high school, students in grades nine through twelve attend one of three high schools: Howell High School, Freehold Township High School, or Colts Neck High School. These schools are part of the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD), which serves several towns in the area. Students can also apply to special programs within these high schools or to vocational schools in Monmouth County.
Howell Township also has private schools, such as Mother Seton Academy, a Catholic school for grades Pre-K–8.
Media
The Asbury Park Press provides daily news about Howell Township. The local government also shares news and comments in The Howell Times, a weekly newspaper.
Points of Interest
- St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a beautiful Russian Orthodox Church built in 1936. It has amazing Byzantine-style paintings inside.
- The Mackenzie Museum and Library was once the home of William Prickitt, who led a regiment of U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War.
Infrastructure
Transportation in Howell Township
Roads and Highways
_from_the_overpass_for_Oak_Glen_Road_in_Howell_Township,_Monmouth_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Howell Township has many roads, including major highways like Interstate 195, U.S. Route 9, Route 33, and Route 34. Other important county roads also run through the township. The Garden State Parkway is nearby in Wall Township, and the New Jersey Turnpike is also easily accessible.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit offers bus services that connect Howell Township to other communities along U.S. Route 9, and even to New York City and Newark Liberty International Airport. There are special parking lots in Howell for residents who use these bus services.
There's also a proposed train project called the Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line, which could connect Howell to other train networks in the future. For now, you can take a taxi from Howell to the closest train station in Belmar.
Airports and Biking
The closest airport for short flights is Monmouth Executive Airport in Farmingdale. For major commercial flights, Newark Liberty International Airport is about 40 miles north. Howell also has bike paths, like the Edgar Felix Bikeway, which connect to Manasquan and the beach.
Healthcare
Most of Howell Township is served by the CentraState Healthcare System. Their main hospital is in nearby Freehold Township, and they have family doctor offices in other nearby towns. Other hospitals close to Howell include Monmouth Medical Center's Southern Campus in Lakewood and Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
Notable People from Howell Township
- Jay Alders (born 1973), an artist known for his surf art.
- Bonnie Bernstein (born 1970), a sportscaster for ESPN/ABC Sports.
- Jimmy Blewett (born 1980), a professional race car driver.
- Cody Calafiore (born 1990), an actor and model who was a runner-up on Big Brother 16.
- Sopan Deb (born 1988), a journalist for The New York Times.
- Anthony DeSclafani (born 1990), an MLB pitcher.
- Tom Pelphrey (born 1982), an actor who appeared in Guiding Light.
- Frankie Perez (born 1989), a mixed martial artist.
- Amy Polumbo (born 1984), Miss New Jersey 2007.
- Ryan Spadola (born 1991), a wide receiver who played for the New York Jets.
- Denny Walling (born 1954), a former Major League Baseball player.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Howell (Nueva Jersey) para niños
