Middletown Township, New Jersey

Middletown Township is a township in northern Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, it was the state's 20th-most-populous municipality and the largest in the county, with a population of 67,106.

Middletown is a bedroom community of New York City, located close to the Raritan Bay in the Raritan Valley region. It is known for being a safe and pleasant place to live, with good schools and many activities. It has been named one of the best places to live in America several times.

In 2016, Middletown Township was named the fifth-safest city in America to raise a child, the highest ranked of the New Jersey communities on that list.

History

Long ago, small groups of the Lenape Navesink tribe lived in the area now known as Middletown Township. In 1609, explorer Henry Hudson arrived in search of a new sea route and described the land as beautiful. The first European settlers arrived in the mid-1600s, and the area became an official township in 1693.

During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers passed through Middletown on their way back to New York City. The township grew quickly in the late 1800s after a railroad was built, changing from small fishing and farming villages into a busy suburb. Sadly, many people from Middletown were lost during the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.

Middletown has many old and important buildings, like the Seabrook-Wilson House from 1663 and Sandy Hook Light, the oldest lighthouse still working in the United States. The township works to protect its history through groups like the Middletown Township Historical Society.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Middletown Township covers 58.72 square miles (152.09 km²). Of this area, 40.95 square miles (106.06 km²) is land, and 17.78 square miles (46.04 km²) is water, making up 30.27% of the township.

Several places such as Belford, Fairview, Leonardo, Lincroft, Navesink, North Middletown, and Port Monmouth are parts of Middletown Township but are not separate towns. The township also includes many other smaller areas and names.

The Sandy Hook peninsula is part of Middletown Township, even though it isn’t connected by land. You can sail around Raritan Bay to reach it. Middletown Township shares borders with several nearby places, including Atlantic Highlands, Colts Neck, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Holmdel, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, and Tinton Falls.

Demographics

The 2010 United States census counted 66,522 people in Middletown Township. Most people were White, with smaller groups of Black or African American, Asian, and others. About 5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Families in the township were mostly married couples, and many households had children under 18. The median age was 42.5 years, and the median household income was $96,190. About 1.7% of families lived below the poverty line.

The 2000 census recorded 66,327 people. The racial makeup was similar, with most people being White. About 3% identified as Hispanic or Latino. The median household income was $75,566, and about 1.9% of families lived below the poverty line.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	3,225		—
1810	3,849		—
1820	4,369		13.5%
1830	5,128		17.4%
1840	6,063		18.2%
1850	3,251	*	−46.4%
1860	4,112		26.5%
1870	4,639		12.8%
1880	5,059		9.1%
1890	5,650	*	11.7%
1900	5,479	*	−3.0%
1910	6,653		21.4%
1920	5,917	*	−11.1%
1930	9,209		55.6%
1940	11,018		19.6%
1950	16,203		47.1%
1960	39,675		144.9%
1970	54,623		37.7%
1980	62,574		14.6%
1990	68,183		9.0%
2000	66,327		−2.7%
2010	66,522		0.3%
2020	67,106		0.9%
2023 (est.)	66,478		−0.9%
Population sources: 1800–1920 1840 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade

Government

Local government

The Township Committee runs Middletown Township. It has five members who are elected by the people to serve three-year terms. Each year, two or one members are up for election. At the start of each year, the Committee chooses one member to be Mayor and another to be Deputy Mayor.

As of 2025, the Township Committee members are Mayor Anthony S. Perry Jr., Deputy Mayor Rick W. Hibell, Ryan M. Clarke, Kimberly Kratz, and Kevin M. Settembrino.

Federal, state, and county representation

Middletown Township is part of two Congressional Districts and one state legislative district in New Jersey.

For the current U.S. Congress, New Jersey’s 4th District is represented by Chris Smith, and the 6th District is represented by Frank Pallone. New Jersey’s senators are Cory Booker and Andy Kim.

In the New Jersey Legislature, the 13th district is represented by Declan O’Scanlon in the Senate and Vicky Flynn and Gerard Scharfenberger in the General Assembly.

Monmouth County has a Board of County Commissioners who are elected to serve three-year terms.

Politics

As of March 2011, Middletown Township had over 46,000 registered voters. In recent presidential elections, voters in the township have mostly chosen Republican candidates.

Education

Middletown Township has many schools for children from early years up to grade 12. The Middletown Township Public School District includes 16 schools with about 8,895 students and 769 teachers, giving each student about 11.6 teachers to help them learn. The schools include twelve elementary schools for grades Pre-K through 5, three middle schools for grades 6 through 8, and two high schools for grades 9 through 12.

The township also has special schools such as High Technology High School and the Marine Academy of Science and Technology. There are private schools too, like Christian Brothers Academy, a school for boys, and other schools run by religious groups.

Historic district

The Middletown Village Historic District is a big area covering 80 acres where many old buildings stand. It is found on both sides of Kings Highway, south and west of Route 35. These buildings date back to early times when people from England, Long Island, and New England first moved to Middletown after 1664.

Three important old churches line Kings Highway: The Old First Church, started in 1688; Christ Church, begun in 1702; and The Middletown Reformed Church, built in 1836. The district was officially recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1974, because of its importance in many areas like education, military history, politics, religion, and how the town was settled. It includes 15 special buildings that help tell the story of the past.

Infrastructure

Emergency services

Middletown has large emergency service departments. The police and fire departments celebrated a joint 75th Anniversary in 2003. In November 2016, Middletown changed its radio system to county dispatch to save money.

Police

The Middletown Township Police Department is the largest police force in Monmouth County, with 112 sworn officers. It was formed on May 15, 1928, with the hiring of its first full-time police officer, Earl N. Hoyer.

The Rude Awakening Program teaches young people and their parents about the dangers of alcohol and other substances. This program is supported by the police department and includes demonstrations by EMS and fire departments.

Fire department

The Middletown Township Fire Department has 11 fire companies and many volunteers. It is often called the world's largest all-volunteer fire department.

The fire companies started separately but joined together in 1928. Since then, two more companies have been formed.

The department also has special units such as a Fire Police Unit, an Air Unit, and a Special Services Unit that help with emergencies.

EMS

The Township of Middletown EMS Department has five volunteer squads that provide emergency medical help. These squads also have boats and teams for water rescues. They work with a hospital service for advanced medical care.

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, Middletown had about 350 miles of roads. The Garden State Parkway is a major highway passing through the township, connecting Tinton Falls to Holmdel Township. There are also other roads and routes that go through Middletown.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides train service at the Middletown station, with commuter trains running between New York City's Pennsylvania Station and Bay Head.

NJ Transit also offers local bus service on several routes.

Ferry service to New York City is available through NY Waterway, with a slip in Belford. Another ferry service, SeaStreak, operates from nearby Highlands to New York City and offers special trips for events and seasonal travel.

Healthcare

Hackensack Meridian Health has two hospitals nearby in Holmdel and Red Bank. These hospitals handle most medical cases except for serious injuries, which are treated at larger hospitals in Neptune Township and New Brunswick.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has a regional center in Middletown, offering outpatient surgery. This is the first such center outside of Manhattan.