Freehold Borough, New Jersey

This article is about Freehold Borough. For surrounding township, see Freehold Township, New Jersey.

Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Borough
Monmouth County Courthouse
George Taylor House
Downtown Freehold at the intersection of West Main Street and Throckmorton Street
Official seal of Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Freehold Borough in Monmouth County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Location of Freehold Borough in Monmouth County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Freehold Borough, New Jersey Interactive map of Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Map
Interactive map of Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Freehold Borough is located in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Freehold Borough
Freehold Borough
Location in Monmouth County
Freehold Borough is located in New Jersey
Freehold Borough
Freehold Borough
Location in New Jersey
Freehold Borough is located in the United States
Freehold Borough
Freehold Borough
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°15′37″N 74°16′33″W / 40.260219°N 74.275884°W / 40.260219; -74.275884[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyMonmouth
IncorporatedMarch 25, 1869 (as town)
ReincorporatedApril 15, 1919 (as borough)
Named forEnglish legal term of freehold
Government
[7]
 • TypeBorough
 • BodyBorough Council
 • MayorKevin A. Kane (D, term ends December 31, 2023)[3][4]
 • AdministratorStephen J. Gallo[5]
 • Municipal clerkTraci L. DiBenedetto[6]
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.93 sq mi (5.01 km2)
 • Land1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.10%
 • Rank419th of 565 in state
32nd of 53 in county[1]
Elevation
[8]
171 ft (52 m)
Population
 (2020)[9][10]
 • Total
12,538
 • Estimate 
(2023)[9][11]
12,430
 • Rank206th of 565 in state
17th of 53 in county[12]
 • Density6,496.4/sq mi (2,508.3/km2)
  • Rank82nd of 565 in state
7th of 53 in county[12]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07728[13][14]
Area code(s)732/848[15]
FIPS code34-25200[1][16][17]
GNIS feature ID0885226[1][18]
Websitewww.freeholdboroughnj.gov

Freehold is a borough in and the county seat of Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[19][20] Known for its Victorian era homes and extensive colonial history, the borough is located in the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan Area, located about 33 miles (53 km) from Manhattan and 17 miles (27 km) from Staten Island.[21][22][23][24] The borough has grown to become a commuter town of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 12,538,[9][10] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 486 (+4.0%) from the 12,052 recorded at the 2010 census,[25][26] which in turn reflected an increase of 1,076 (+9.8%) from the 10,976 counted in the 2000 census.[27]

The Freeholds region, which includes the borough and Freehold Township (which completely surrounds the borough), is a commercial hub for central New Jersey. The borough is located relatively close to the Raritan Bayshore communities to the north, including The Amboys, Old Bridge, Matawan, Keyport, Keansburg, and Middletown, along with being relatively close to the Tri-City region of Jersey Shore municipalities (and their vicinities) to the east, including Red Bank, Long Branch, and Asbury Park.[28]

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 Freehold Township were annexed on September 7, 1926.[29]

The Hispanic and Latino population has been rapidly growing in Freehold Borough for the last 40 years. The Hispanic population making up 4.6% (0.2% Mexican) in the 1980 Census,[citation needed] 11.3% (2.8% Mexican) in the 1990 Census,[30] 28.0% (17.3% Mexican) in 2000,[31] 42.9% (29.6% Mexican) in 2010,[25] and recently in 2020, a majority at 53.0% Hispanic.[32] Meanwhile, the Black or African American population has decreased in recent decades: 17.1% in 1970, 19.8% in 1980, 18.2% in 1990, 15.8% in 2000, 12.6% in 2010 and 9.4% in 2020.

In 2021, Freehold Borough became one of few towns in the state (including, Bellmawr, Egg Harbor Township, Montclair and Woodbridge Township) that has authorized the sale of cannabis through authorized dispensaries and for the allowance of cultivators, distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers.[33][34][35]

  1. ^ a b c d e 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MayorCouncil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Business Administrator, Freehold Borough. Accessed April 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Clerk, Freehold Borough. Accessed April 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference GNIS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Freehold, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed November 20, 2011.
  14. ^ Zip Codes, State of New Jersey. Accessed August 28, 2013.
  15. ^ Area Code Lookup – NPA NXX for Freehold, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed December 24, 2016.
  16. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  18. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  19. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  20. ^ Monmouth County, NJ, National Association of Counties. Accessed January 21, 2013.
  21. ^ Distance from Freehold, NJ to New York, NY, Distance between cities. Accessed September 10, 2020.
  22. ^ Distance from Freehold, NJ to Tottenville, Staten Island, New York, NY, Distance between cities. Accessed September 10, 2020.
  23. ^ Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living in: Freehold Borough", The New York Times, January 26, 1992. Accessed September 10, 2020.
  24. ^ Tarabour, Brooke. "New Jersey-Bound: The Staten Island Migration", The New York Times, January 10, 1993. Accessed June 10, 2022.
  25. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  28. ^ "What are the Tricities?", Tri-City News. Accessed April 16, 2021.
  29. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 179. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  30. ^ 1990 Census of Population General Population Characteristics New Jersey Section 1 of 2, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ "2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". US Census Bureau.
  33. ^ Guion, Payton. "Marijuana legalization would force tough choice for N.J. towns", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 15, 2017. Accessed July 25, 2021. "NJ Advance Media reached out to mayors in all five towns that have medical dispensaries: Bellmawr, Cranbury, Egg Harbor, Montclair and Woodbridge."
  34. ^ Rosenthal, Nicole. "Pot Businesses OK In Freehold Borough, Council Says", Freehold, NJ, Patch, July 22, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2022.
  35. ^ Strupp, Joe. "A cannabis oasis: Freehold moving forward with new legal weed outlets", Asbury Park Press, March 30, 2023. Accessed April 4, 2023.