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'Jackson Township', named after Andrew Jackson, is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 42,816. Jackson's most famous attraction is Six Flags Great Adventure, which as of May 2005 has the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world: Kingda Ka.^[1] Jackson is also home to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Wild Safari.
Jackson Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1844, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), Freehold Township and Upper Freehold Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County, New Jersey. It became part of the newly-created Ocean County on February 15, 1850. Portions of the township were taken to form Plumsted Township on March 11, 1845."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 203.
Vista Center is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Jackson Township.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Transportation

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Notable residents

References

External links

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 261.1 km² (100.8 mi²). 259.2 km² (100.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (0.74%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 42,816 people, 14,176 households, and 11,269 families residing in the township. The population density was 165.2/km² (427.9/mi²). There were 14,640 housing units at an average density of 56.5/km² (146.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.26% White, 3.90% African American, 0.13% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.97% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.78% of the population.
There were 14,176 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $65,218, and the median income for a family was $71,045. Males had a median income of $51,276 versus $33,882 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,981. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

CR 527, CR 528, CR 547, CR 537, CR 526, and CR 571 pass through the township. CR 539 also passes through the township, but in the southwest corner, for less than half a mile. The ''Central Jersey Expressway'' (Interstate 195) is a major aretery that travels through the northern section of Jackson. The expressway then travels into Howell Twp, and Millstone Township. 195 is a vital link for Six Flags, since it grants access to the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 295 and especially the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).
New Jersey Transit bus service is provided to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 139 route. Philadelphia is served by the 317. Local service is available on the 311 bus line.^[2]

Government

Local government

Jackson is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government by a five member Township Committee. Members are elected to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in non-partisan elections. Each year, the members of the committee select one of their members to serve as Mayor.^[3]
The Mayor of Jackson Township is Mark Seda, whose term of office ends on June 30, 2010. Township Council members are Council President Ann M. Updegrave (2010), Council Vice President Jason J. Gudaitis (2008), Emily Ingram (2008), Scott R. Martin (2010) and Angelo Stallone (2008).^[4][5]

Federal, state and county representation

Jackson Township is in the Fourth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 30th Legislative District.^[6]

Education

The Jackson School District serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is comprised of six elementary school serving grades K-5
(Crawford-Rodriguez Elementary School,
Elms Elementary School,
Howard C. Johnson Elementary School,
Lucy N. Holman Elementary School,
Switlik Elementary School and
Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School),
two middle schools
( Carl W. Goetz Middle School and
Christa McAuliffe Middle School) and two high schools
(Jackson Liberty High School and
Jackson Memorial High School).

Notable residents

★ Scotty Cranmer, BMX racer.^[7]

★ Frank B. Holman (c. 1930-2005), former mayor of Jackson Township and New Jersey Republican State Chairman.^[8]

References

1. Reiss, Fraidy. "Feeling adventurous?", ''Asbury Park Press'', March 31, 2007, accessed April 18, 2007. "Elsewhere in the park, Kingda Ka looms 456 feet high. It remains the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, said park president Kane."
2. Ocean County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 3, 2007.
3. ''2004 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University, December 2004, p. 135.
4. Township Directory, Jackson Township. Accessed July 31, 2007.
5. 2007 Elected Officials of Ocean County, Ocean County, New Jersey. p. 4-5. Accessed August 14, 2007.
6. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 59. Accessed August 30, 2006.
7. Saslow, Eli. "extrreme sports / To be an action sports star, leave good sense behind", ''The Press of Atlantic City'', June 21, 2007. Accessed July 31, 2007. "''It better slow down, because it's getting too ridiculous,'' said Scotty Cranmer, a BMX rider from Jackson, N.J."
8. "Holman had hand in many political careers", ''Ocean County Observer'', December 8, 2005. Accessed July 31, 2007. "Holman was a Jackson Township mayor in the 1960s. He became the Ocean County administrator, the state Republican Chairman, executive director of the Republican State Committee and Ocean County Director of Employee Relations."

External links

★ Jackson Township web site

★ Jackson School District

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Jackson School District

★ Jackson Branch of Ocean County Library

★ Map of Jackson NJ