Freehold Borough, New Jersey

Freehold 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 County.

Geography

Freehold is located at (40.260143, -74.275428).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²), all land.

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

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

List of traffic circles in New Jersey

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,976 people, 3,695 households, and 2,571 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,118.9/km² (5,501.1/mi²). There were 3,821 housing units at an average density of 737.6/km² (1,915.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 71.02% White, 15.83% African American, 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

Freehold Borough is governed by a Mayor and Borough Council. The Mayor of Freehold Borough is Michael Wilson.

Federal, state and county representation

Freehold Borough is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th Legislative District.

Education

Freehold Borough's nearly 1,400 students in grades pre-K through 8 attend the Freehold Borough Schools. Schools in the district (with 2003-04 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are:

Freehold Learning Center: Pre-K through grade 5 (519 students)
Park Avenue Elementary School: K - 5 (464 students)
Freehold Borough Intermediate School: grades 6 - 8 (396 students)

Students in grades 9-12 attend Freehold High School, as part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The Freehold Regional High School District serves students from Colts Neck Township, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold, Freehold Township, Howell Township, Manalapan Township and Marlboro.

Freehold High School was originally located on the corner of Husdon and Bennett Street in Freehold Borough. At the time it was called the Hudson Street School. It has been at its present location, Robertsville Road and Broadway since 1925. The school is the oldest in the Freehold Regional High School District, having been the original facility that drew students from several Western Monmouth County communities.

Freehold High School, as such, came into being as a result of a referendum vote on October 6, 1953, in which seven districts united to form the Freehold Regional High School District. Freehold High School was purchased by the Regional District from the Freehold Borough Board of Education.

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.

Freehold High School is the home of the Medical Sciences Learning Center, a program in which the finest students in the sciences and mathematics are able to advance their studies in those fields.

History

Freehold Borough also has a relatively unknown connection with the bicycle. Due mostly to the large quantity of bicycles once produced in Freehold in the 1880s and 1890s, the town once boasted itself as the "Bicycle Capital of the World."Bicycle buffs have a haven at Freehold museum: Local collector’s prize possession is ‘Zimmy’ manufactured in town, East Brunswick Sentinel, July 11, 2002

Notable natives

Freehold is where rock musician Bruce Springsteen was born and raised. 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 live recordings.
J.R. Smith, professional basketball player currently playing for the New Orleans Hornets, was born in Freehold.

Points of interest

Holmdel Arboretum

References

External links

Boroughs in New Jersey | Monmouth County, New Jersey | New Jersey District Factor Group B

Freehold

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