Manalapan Township, New Jersey


Manalapan Township is a township in western Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is centrally located within the Raritan Valley Region and is a part of the New York Metro Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 40,905, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,033 from the 2010 census count of 38,872, which in turn reflected an increase of 5,449 from the 33,423 counted in the 2000 census.
The name "Manalapan" is derived from a word in the Lenape language that would mean either "land of good bread", "good land to settle upon", "good bread" or "covered swamp with edible roots".
WWW twp.manalapan.nj.us

History

The Battle of Monmouth was fought in 1778 on land that is now part of Manalapan and Freehold townships. Monmouth Battlefield State Park occupies in the two townships.
Manalapan Township was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1848, from portions of Freehold Township. Englishtown was formed as a borough from portions of Manalapan on January 4, 1888, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 30.88 square miles, including 30.65 square miles of land and 0.23 square miles of water. The township has an elevation of.
The township completely surrounds Englishtown, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders the municipalities of Freehold Township, Marlboro Township and Millstone Township in Monmouth County; and Monroe Township and Old Bridge Township in Middlesex County.
Yorketown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Manalapan Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cahills Corners, Clarks Mills, Elton, Gordons Corner, Lafayette Mills, Millhurst, Monmouth Heights, Oakland Mills, Smithburg, Taylors Mills, Tennent, Tracey, Whittier Oaks and Woodville.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Manalapan Township would have an Appalachian Oak vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest vegetation form.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 38,872 people, 13,263 households, and 10,663 families in the township. The population density was 1,270.0 per square mile. There were 13,735 housing units at an average density of 448.8 per square mile. The racial makeup was 88.55% White, 2.38% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 6.90% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.66% of the population.
Of the 13,263 households, 39.6% had children under the age of 18; 70.2% were married couples living together; 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.3% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.32.
25.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $103,970 and the median family income was $115,292. Males had a median income of $85,086 versus $51,695 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,049. About 2.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As the 2000 United States census there were 33,423 people, 10,781 households, and 9,002 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 11,066 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 91.81% White, 1.99% African American, 0.03% Native American, 4.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.54% of the population. Manalapan has large Italian and Jewish communities.
There were 10,781 households, out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.9% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.45.
In the township the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $83,575, and the median income for a family was $94,112. Males had a median income of $72,198 versus $39,921 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,142. About 3.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Crime

Manalapan's crime rate per 1,000 residents had reached a low of 8.4 in 2003. After reaching a peak of 12.1 in 2007, the rate dropped each subsequent year, reaching 10.4 in 2010 before an uptick to 10.8 in 2011. The violent crime rate per 1,000 had reached a low of 0.3 in 2005, before climbing to 0.8 in 2007, then declining or remaining level in each succeeding year, reaching a rate of 0.4 in 2011.
In 2008, seven residents of Manalapan were arrested on money laundering and drug trafficking charges for their involvement in an international drug ring bringing in a net of $1 million per month.

Parks and recreation

Manalapan's Recreation Center covers, offering two handball courts, nine softball/baseball fields, five batting cages, a fitness trail, two football fields, nine football/soccer fields, two street hockey courts, three tot lots, six basketball courts, six tennis courts, two bocce courts, two sand volleyball courts, a nine-hole disc golf course, a small water park, concession stand, two picnic areas, two maintenance buildings, two shelter buildings and a headquarters building.

Government

Local government

Manalapan is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor for one year.
members of the Manalapan Township Committee are Mayor Eric Nelson, Deputy Mayor Mary Ann Musich, Susan Cohen, Robert Gregowicz and John P. "Jack" McNaboe.

Federal, state, and county representation

Manalapan is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district.
Prior to the 2010 Census, Manalapan Township had been split between the and the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, which also serves children from Englishtown. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 4,653 students and 374.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1. Schools in the district are
John I. Dawes Early Learning Center with 349 students in grades PreK–K,
Clark Mills School with 478 students in grades 1–5,
Lafayette Mills School with 427 students in grades 1–5,
Milford Brook School with 537 students in grades K–5,
Taylor Mills School with 532 students in grades K–5,
Wemrock Brook School with 559 students in grades 1–5,
Pine Brook School with 596 students in grade 6 and
Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School with 1,158 students in grades 7–8. The district is overseen by a nine-member board of education, which sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district. Seats on the nine-member board are allocated based on population, with eight seats assigned to Manalapan Township.
Students from Manalapan Township in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend either Manalapan High School or Freehold Township High School, as part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The Freehold Regional High School District also serves students from Colts Neck Township, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell Township and Marlboro Township. As of the 2023–24 school year, Manalapan High School had an enrollment of 1,740 students and 115.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 15.1:1 and Freehold Township High School had an enrollment of 1,902 students and 125.8 classroom teachers, for a ratio of 15.1:1. 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 Manalapan Township allocated one member, who has 1.4 votes.
Public high school students in Manalapan and all of Monmouth County also have the option of attending one of the Monmouth County Vocational School District's five career academies. Manalapan's academy is the Science and Engineering Program.

Historic district

The Monmouth Battlefield Historic District is a historic district within the much larger Monmouth Battlefield State Park, located on both sides of County Route 522 and west of U.S. Route 9 on the border of Manalapan Township and Freehold Township.
The site of the battlefield originally contained many colonial-era farmhouses though many did not survive the rapid development of the area in the 20th century. Three of the original seven farmhouses that were present during the battle are still standing in the park. These include the Sutfin Farmhouse ; the Rhea-Applegate House ; and the Craig House.
Near the battlefield lies the historic meadow creek housing development. Founded in the 2000s by K hovnanian, it has become home to a multitude of Indian and Russian immigrants. It remains a beautiful display of architecture featuring the villages and estates. European style townhouses paired with suburban American houses. The development is renowned for its clubhouse that features sports fields, a lounge, a pool, ping pong, and a gym.
Three other homes were built on the battlefield. The Conover-Perrine House is to the north of the park, erected on the site of the original 18th-century Perrine House, an important example of late Federal Architecture. The Italianate Cobb House was later constructed in 1872 near the Conover-Perrine House. The Combs' Farmhouse was demolished sometime in the 1960s and was located near the park's playground and ice pond.
The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966, for its significance in military history and for the remaining settlement of colonial architecture and agriculture akin to the fated events of the Battle of Monmouth.

Community

Manalapan landmarks include the headquarters facility of the Monmouth County Library, the Manalapan Recreation Center, and the battlefield for the Battle of Monmouth. Manalapan Under the Stars, the township's community celebration featuring rides, concerts, fireworks, and other activities, is held annually at the Recreation Center. Performers featured in the series have included Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone and Tommy James and the Shondells.
In 2004, Manalapan was rated the second-hottest town on the East Coast by Money magazine.
On May 27, 2001, Manalapan was struck by a tornado rated F2 on the Fujita scale, causing over $1 million in damage. The tornado had winds of up to over a path of.

Infrastructure

Public safety

Emergency services

The Township of Manalapan has multiple emergency service departments.
Police
The Manalapan Township Police Department has 55 officers. The force has two major divisions; operations and administration. The Operations Division is headed by Deputy Chief Leonard Maltese, and the Administration Division is headed by Deputy Chief Thomas Mantle. On February 8, 2021, Edward Niesz was promoted as Chief of the Manalapan Township Police Department, succeeding former Chief Michael Fountain; Fountain had served with the department for 27 years, the final four-plus years as Police Chief.
Fire Prevention
Fire squads
Manalapan has three volunteer fire companies:
  • Manalapan Township Fire Company #1, founded in 1949, is located on Sweetmans Lane and serves the southern portion of the township
  • Manalapan Township Fire Company #2: Gordons Corner Fire Company is located in the heavily suburbanized community of Yorketown in the northern portion of the township. It has two branches that serves the community, one located on Tennent Road, and another on Pease Road
  • Englishtown Fire Department is located in neighboring Englishtown and serves central portions the township.
    First aid squads
Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad is a regional pre-hospital emergency care service for Englishtown and Manalapan residents. The organization was founded in 1941, and is located in Englishtown.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Manalapan hosts U.S. Route 9 in the northeast, and Route 33 passes through near the southern part of the township. Major county routes, such as 522 and 527 traverse through the municipality, while 524 and 537 goes along the southeast border of the township.
Other major roads that are accessible outside the township are the Garden State Parkway in bordering Old Bridge Township, Interstate 195 in bordering Millstone Township, and the New Jersey Turnpike in East Windsor and bordering Monroe Township.

Public transportation

Rail
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Englishtown Borough and Manalapan Township had a major railway in the area, which was the Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad. This railway was owned and operated by the Camden & Amboy Railroad Company (C&A), in which surveying for the line began on September 8, 1851, grading began on October 19, 1852, and the first track was laid on April 4, 1853. The first section of line was opened on July 18, 1853. The establishment of the Freehold & Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad allowed this region to become a transportation hub. The Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad was abandoned by the early 1930s. A portion of the former railroad's right-of-way was later approved to be sold by the New Jersey Board of Public Utility Commissioners to Jersey Central Power & Light Company in 1966, with occasional freight service still being utilized through the Freehold Industrial Track.
The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line is a proposal by NJ Transit to restore passenger railway service to the region. The township would be a potential stop for the 'MOM' Line.
As of now, the nearest train stations to the township are Metropark in Iselin, Metuchen, New Brunswick, and Princeton Junction on the Northeast Corridor Line.
Busing
NJ Transit currently provides bus service on the 139 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City and to Newark and Jersey City on the 64 and 67 routes.
Aviation
Following the closure of the Marlboro Airport, Old Bridge Airport supplies short-distance flights to surrounding areas and is the closest air transportation services. The nearest major commercial airports are Trenton-Mercer Airport, which serves several domestic destinations via Frontier Airlines and located west ; and Newark Airport, which serves as a major hub for United Airlines and located north from the center of Manalapan Township.

Healthcare

Manalapan Township is served by CentraState Medical Center, which is affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, located in neighboring Freehold Township. The regional hospital is a 287-bed medical facility. CentraState Healthcare system also provides healthcare through its various family practices in communities across western Monmouth and southern Middlesex counties in Central New Jersey. Two family practices that are accessible to Manalapan include, one in Marlboro and one in Monroe Township.
The next closest hospitals to the township are Hackensack Meridian Hospital at Old Bridge, formerly Raritan Bay Medical Center at Old Bridge, in nearby Old Bridge Township, Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in nearby Plainsboro Township, and Saint Peter's University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in nearby New Brunswick.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Manalapan Township include: