Monmouth County () is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

located on the coast of

central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...

. The county is part of the

New York metropolitan area The New York metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the Tri-State area, is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban area, urban landmass, at , and one of the list of most populous metropolitan areas, most populous urban agg ...

and is situated along the northern half of the

Jersey Shore The Jersey Shore (known by locals simply as the Shore) is the coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about of oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May P ...

. As of the

2020 U.S. census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...

, the county's population was 643,615, making it the state's fifth most populous county,QuickFacts - Monmouth County, New Jersey; New Jersey; United States
,

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

. Accessed March 24, 2018. representing an increase of 13,245 (2.1%) from the 2010 census, when the population was counted to be 630,380, which, in turn, represented an increase of 15,079 from 615,301 at the 2000 census.DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000; Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Monmouth County, New Jersey

. Accessed January 22, 2013. As of 2010, the county fell to the fifth-most populous county in the state, having been surpassed by Hudson County.NJ Labor Market Views
,

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north ...

, March 15, 2011. Accessed October 7, 2013. Monmouth County's geographic area comprises 30% water. Craig House

Monmouth's

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

is Freehold Borough.New Jersey County Map
,

New Jersey Department of State The secretary of state of New Jersey oversees the Department of State, which is one of the original state offices. The Secretary is responsible for overseeing artistic, cultural, and historical programs within the U.S. state of New Jersey, as ...

. Accessed July 10, 2017. The most populous place was Middletown Township, with 67,106 residents at the time of the 2020 Census, while Howell Township covered , the largest total area of any municipality.

History

Etymology

The naming of Monmouth County has different historical theories. It is thought that the county received its name from the Rhode Island Monmouth Society.The Origin of New Jersey Place Names: M
GetNJ.com. Accessed December 15, 2007. This is likely, due to many of the county's earliest settlers originating from

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

. Another plausible theory, is from a suggestion from

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

Lewis Morris Lewis Morris (April 8, 1726 – January 22, 1798) was an American Founding Father, landowner, and developer from Morrisania, New York, presently part of Bronx County. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Contin ...

that the county should be named after

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( cy, Sir Fynwy) is a county in the south-east of Wales. The name derives from the historic county of the same name; the modern county covers the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. The largest town is Abergavenny, wit ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It ...

. Other suggestions include that it was named for

James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC (9 April 1649 – 15 July 1685) was a Dutch-born English nobleman and military officer. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlan ...

(1649–1685), who had many allies among the East Jersey leadership.

Indigenous history

''See also

Lenape people The Lenape (, , or Lenape , del, Lënapeyok) also called the Leni Lenape, Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. Their historical territory inclu ...

'' Around the year 1000, the area of Monmouth County began to be inhabited by the

Lenape The Lenape (, , or Lenape , del, Lënapeyok) also called the Leni Lenape, Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. Their historical territory inclu ...

Native Americans prior to the arrival of European settlers. They came from the Mississippi River area. They lived along the vicinity of the

, the Raritan Bay, the

Raritan River Raritan River is a major river of New Jersey. Its watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. History Geologists assert that the lower Raritan provided t ...

and other areas in the

northeastern United States The Northeastern United States, also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast, is a geographic region of the United States. It is located on the Atlantic coast of North America, with Canada to its north, the Southe ...

. The Lenape were a

hunter-gatherer A traditional hunter-gatherer or forager is a human living an ancestrally derived lifestyle in which most or all food is obtained by foraging, that is, by gathering food from local sources, especially edible wild plants but also insects, fung ...

society. They were largely sedentary, changing campsites seasonally. They were prolific hunters of small game and birds. They were also skilled fisherman, and were known to harvest vast amounts of clams from the bays and inlets on the Jersey Shore. They also practiced some agriculture to augment their food supply. During this time, an important crossroad of two major Lenape trails was located in the area of Freehold in western Monmouth County.Pepe, p. 19.

Dutch and English colonization

''See also Monmouth Tract'' In 1609, the English navigator,

Henry Hudson Henry Hudson ( 1565 – disappeared 23 June 1611) was an English sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century, best known for his explorations of present-day Canada and parts of the northeastern United States. In 1607 and 16 ...

, and his crew aboard the Dutch vessel '' Half Moon'' spotted land in what is now Monmouth County, most likely off

Sandy Hook Sandy Hook is a barrier spit in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The barrier spit, approximately in length and varying from wide, is located at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It encloses the southern ...

; however, some historical accounts credit this landing to present-day Keansburg. Among the first European settlers and majority landowners in the area were Richard and

Penelope Stout Penelope Prince and her husband Richard Stout were among the original settlers of Middletown, colonial New Jersey's second English settlement, in 1664. As “Penelope Van Prince” (Van Princes, Van Princis), she is the central figure in a popula ...

. Penelope "miraculously" survived her wounds from a native attack in

and further lived to the age of 110. Additionally, a group of

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abili ...

families from

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18 ...

settled the Monmouth Tract, an early land grant from

Richard Nicolls Richard Nicolls (sometimes written as Nichols, 1624 – 28 May 1672) was the first English colonial governor of New York province. Early life Nicolls was born in 1624 in Ampthill in Bedfordshire, England. He was the son of Francis Nicolls ( ...

issued in 1665. They were followed by a group of Scottish settlers who inhabited Freehold Township in about 1682–1885, followed several years later by Dutch settlers. As they arrived in this area, they were greeted by Lenape people, who lived in scattered small family bands and developed a largely amicable relationship with the new arrivals. Enslaved Africans were present in the area from at least 1680, and by 1726 made up 9% of the total population of the county.Hodges, Graham Russell
''Slavery and Freedom in the Rural North: African Americans in Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1665–1865''
p. 32. Madison, WI: Madison House, 1997. . Accessed October 7, 2013. Monmouth County was established on March 7, 1683, while part of the province of East Jersey. On October 31, 1693, the county was partitioned into the townships of Freehold, Middletown and

Shrewsbury Shrewsbury ( , also ) is a market town, civil parish, and the county town of Shropshire, England, on the River Severn, north-west of London; at the 2021 census, it had a population of 76,782. The town's name can be pronounced as either 'Sh ...

.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 177. Accessed October 1, 2013. BattleofMonmouth

At the June 28, 1778,

Battle of Monmouth The Battle of Monmouth, also known as the Battle of Monmouth Court House, was fought near Monmouth Court House in modern-day Freehold Borough, New Jersey on June 28, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. It pitted the Continental Army, co ...

, near Freehold Township,

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

's soldiers battled the British under Sir Henry Clinton, in the longest land battle of the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. It was at Monmouth that the tactics and training from Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben developed at Valley Forge during the winter encampment were first implemented on a large scale. At independence, Monmouth's population included 1,640 slaves, as well as an undetermined number of free African Americans. The number of enslaved persons fell steeply after 1820, though a small number remained until at least 1850. Monmouth's free African American population climbed from 353 in 1790 to 2,658 in 1860. There was a small African-American middle class consisting of freedmen present in Monmouth County by the 1840s and 1850s.

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

, Dutch and Swedish, as well as small amounts of

African Americans African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

and Northern Irish Protestants. By the year 2010 Monmouth County's population was 628,112 of whom 40,489 were of English descent. Between 1890 and 1907 nearly 18 million European immigrants came to America. At the same time the region underwent massive and not unrelated economic changes, this process led to places like Monmouth County, New Jersey becoming significantly more diverse and somewhat less rural.

Geography and climate

Navesink Twin Lights from Sandy Hook, New Jersey

According to the 2010 census, the county had a total area of , including of land (70.5%) and of water (29.5%).Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Counties
,

. Accessed May 12, 2015. Much of Monmouth County remains flat and low-lying even far inland. However, there are some low hills in and around Holmdel Township, and one of them, Crawford Hill, the former site of a radar facility, is the county's highest point, variously listed at above sea level. The top portion of the hill is owned by

Alcatel-Lucent Alcatel–Lucent S.A. () was a French–American global telecommunications equipment company, headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. It was formed in 2006 by the merger of France-based Alcatel and U.S.-based Lucent, the latter being a su ...

and houses a research laboratory of

Bell Laboratories Nokia Bell Labs, originally named Bell Telephone Laboratories (1925–1984), then AT&T Bell Laboratories (1984–1996) and Bell Labs Innovations (1996–2007), is an American industrial Research and development, research and scientific developm ...

. The northeastern portion of the county, in the Locust section of Middletown Township and the boroughs of Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, are also very hilly. The lowest point is sea level. Along with adjacent

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbour ...

and

Ocean The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also refer to any of the large bodies of water into which the wor ...

counties, Monmouth County is a mecca for boating and fishing. Its waterways include several

tributaries A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drain ...

that flow from the more agrarian regions of western Monmouth County into the

, and various rivers and inlets that flow from the more densely populated region of the Raritan Bayshore of northern Monmouth County into the Raritan Bay and the

Lower New York Bay Lower New York Bay is a section of New York Bay south of the Narrows (the strait between Staten Island and Brooklyn). The eastern end of the Bay is marked by two spits of land, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and Rockaway, Queens. The waterway ...

, before finally draining out into the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

. The

Manasquan Inlet The Manasquan Inlet is an inlet that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Manasquan River, dividing the counties of Ocean County and Monmouth County in the state of New Jersey. Passage to Bay Head Harbor and the Barnegat Bay is possible via t ...

is located in the county, which connects the Atlantic Ocean with the estuary of the

Manasquan River The Manasquan River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 waterway in central New Jersey. It flows from western Monmouth County, beginning in Freehold T ...

, a bay-like body of saltwater that serves as the starting point of the Intracoastal Waterway, which attracts as many as 1,600 boats each weekend during the peak season.

Climate and weather

Much of Monmouth County has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(''Cfa''), while some inland areas have a hot-summer

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freez ...

(''Dfa''). In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Freehold Borough have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of was recorded in July 2011. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in July. Average monthly temperatures in Asbury Park range from 32.5 °F in January to 75.0 °F in July, while in Allentown, NJ they range from 32.1 °F in January to 75.5 °F in July

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused catastrophic damage to coastal areas of Monmouth County. As Sandy's surge arrived in Monmouth County, flood levels of above normal were measured at

shortly before the destruction of the tidal station, breaking all previous local records. The surge caused waves as high as , measured where the

Sandy Hook Bay The Raritan Bayshore region of New Jersey is a subregion of the larger Jersey Shore. It is the area around Raritan Bay from The Amboys to Sandy Hook, in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, including the towns of Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, South Amboy, ...

meets the

New York Bay New York Bay is the large tidal body of water in the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary where the Hudson River, Raritan River, and Arthur Kill empty into the Atlantic Ocean between Sandy Hook and Rockaway Point. Geography New York Bay is usu ...

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had 643,615 people, 240,377 households, and 161,545 families. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 268,912 housing units at an average density of . The county's racial makeup was 71.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 6.08%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.07% Native American, 5.6% Asian, and 3.4% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 12.5% of the population. Of the 240,377

household A household consists of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling. It may be of a single family or another type of person group. The household is the basic unit of analysis in many social, microeconomic and government models, and is i ...

s, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 14.4% had a male householder with no wife present and 32.8% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16. About 21.4% of the county's population was under age 18, 8.1% was from age 18 to 24, 34.8% was from age 15 to 44, and 18.2% was age 65 or older. The median age was 43.5 years. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. The county's median household income was $102,870, and the median family income was $124,778. About 6.0% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

Government

County government

Monmouth County is governed by a five-member

Board of County Commissioners A county commission (or a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials (county commissioners) collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States; such commissions usually comprise ...

, who are elected at-large for three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year. Each January, the commissioners select one of their members to serve as the director of the board for the year to preside over the meetings and activities of the board. Monmouth County's Commissioners have both administrative and policy-making powers. The commissioners oversee the five mandatory functions of the county government delegated to it by the state. Each commissioner is assigned responsibility for one of the five functional areas: Administration and Special Services; Public Works and Engineering; Human Services, Health and Transportation; Finance and Administration of Justice, overseeing more than 70 county departments in total.Board of County Commissioners
Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed July 7, 2022. In 2016, freeholders were paid $27,000 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $27,900. The Republican Party had held all five Commissioner seats until 2006, but after the 2006 and 2008 elections, Democrats controlled the Board by a 3–2 margin. The Board swung back in favor of the Republicans after the 2009 election when Republican John Curley beat Democrat Sean Byrnes. Both were running to succeed former Commissioner Director Barbara McMorrow, a Democrat, who had chosen not to seek re-election. In 2010, former mayor of Neptune City, NJ, Thomas Arnone (R) and incumbent Commissioner Robert Clifton (R) won seats giving Republicans control of the Board of Chosen Commissioners by a 4–1 margin. County Administrator Teri O'Connor, an appointed position, serves as the county's

chief executive officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especiall ...

, and is responsible for carrying out the policies and directives established by the Board of County Commissioners and managing the daily operations of the county's more than 3,000 employees. , Monmouth County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31st):November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results
Monmouth County, New Jersey, December 13, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.November 3, 2020 General Election Official Results
Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated November 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.General Election November 5, 2019 Official Results
Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 16, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020. Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the

New Jersey State Constitution The Constitution of the State of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey. In addition to three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey, West Jersey and united New Jersey while they were still colonies, the sta ...

, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the

County Clerk A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...

and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2
,

. Accessed October 26, 2017. Monmouth county's constitutional officers are: Christopher J. Gramiccioni of Wall Township is the county's prosecutor, having been formally nominated to the position by

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official r ...

Chris Christie Christopher James Christie (born September 6, 1962) is an American politician, lawyer, political commentator, lobbyist, and former federal prosecutor who served as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. Christie, who was born in N ...

in May 2016. Gramiccioni had been serving on an acting basis for almost four years, since being appointed to the post in July 2012 by Attorney General of New Jersey

Jeffrey S. Chiesa Jeffrey Scott Chiesa ( ; born June 22, 1965) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from New Jersey from June 10 to October 31, 2013. As a member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 59th Atto ...

. Monmouth County constitutes Vicinage 9 of the New Jersey Superior Court and is seated at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold Borough, with additional facilities in Freehold and Ocean Township; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 9 is Lisa P. Thornton.

Federal representatives

The 3rd, 4th, and 6th

Congressional Districts Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts and legislative districts, electorates, or wards in other nations, are divisions of a larger administrative region that represent the population of a region in the larger congressional bod ...

cover the county.

State representatives

Fire departments

Monmouth County is covered by 53 different fire departments, which contain 135 individual fire companies and over 7,000 volunteer firefighters, who are all represented by the Monmouth County Firemen's Association. The Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office is responsible for training all of the firefighters through the Monmouth County Fire Academy, as well as investigating any fires which may be deemed suspicious and/or involving a fatality. The Monmouth County fire marshal, currently Kevin Stout, and his staff – including assistant fire marshals and academy staff – are appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. With the exception of the fully professional Asbury Park Fire Department and the US Navy Fire Department at NWS Earle, the remainder of the municipalities in the county have volunteer or

combination fire department A combination fire department is a type of fire department which consists of both career and volunteer firefighters. In the United States, combination fire departments are typically tax-supported in some fashion, and generally have an annual call ...

s. The largest volunteer department is in Middletown Township with 11 stations and 350 active members, special services, air and fire police units, in addition to operating its own training facility. In terms of hazardous material ( HazMat) emergencies, very few towns have special units to respond to these types of emergencies. Fort Monmouth responded to most HazMat cases prior to the closing of the base.

Naval Weapons Station Earle Naval Weapons Station Earle is a United States Navy base in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Its distinguishing feature is a pier in Sandy Hook Bay where ammunition can be loaded and unloaded from warships at a safe distance from heavi ...

is also available for HazMat incidents. Hazardous Materials incidents are currently managed by Monmouth County Hazmat as the lead agency with a joint cooperative team comprised of Neptune Township OEM, Southard (Howell) Fire Company and Middletown Fire Department Special Services. The oldest fire department in the county in continuous operation is the Hope Fire Company in Allentown, organized in 1856. The newest fire department, Holmdel Fire Co. No. 2 was established in 2006. Monmouth County utilizes a mutual aid system, in which surrounding municipalities are available to send their resources to incidents where extra help or expertise is needed.

Politics

Monmouth County has generally leaned moderately Republican in federal, state, and local races, though registered Republicans only outnumber registered Democrats by less than 1%. All five County Commissioners and all three constitutional officers are Republicans, and State Senator Vin Gopal is currently the only Democrat to represent any part of the county in the legislature. As of December 1, 2021, there were a total of 496,012 registered voters in Monmouth County, of whom 144,092 (29.1%) were registered as Democrats, 147,358 (29.7%) were registered as Republicans, and 198,605 (41.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5,957 (1.2%) voters registered to other parties. Among the county's 2010 Census population, 89% of residents of age 18 and over were registered to vote. In

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two te ...

carried Monmouth by an unexpectedly close margin of only 3.7% margin over

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...

, with Obama winning New Jersey by 15.5% over McCain. In the state's U.S. Senatorial election that same year, Dick Zimmer also won here, by a 6.2% margin over incumbent Frank Lautenberg, with Lautenberg winning reelection by 14.1% over Zimmer. In the

2016 United States presidential election The 2016 United States presidential election was the 58th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The Republican ticket of businessman Donald Trump and Indiana governor Mike Pence defeated the Democratic ticke ...

, Republican

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

received 166,723 (53%) of the vote, Democrat

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...

received 137,181 (43.6%) of the vote, and other candidates received 10,473 (3.3%) of the vote. In 2020 United States presidential election, 2020, Joe Biden came closer to winning the county than any Democrat since Al Gore in 2000 United States presidential election, 2000 and Bill Clinton in 1996 United States presidential election, 1996, the only two Democratic presidential candidates to have won it since 1964 United States presidential election, 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson won a national landslide and carried every county in New Jersey. In the 2009 New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican

received 62% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 31%. In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013, 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Governor Chris Christe received 70.7% of the vote (123,417 votes) to Democrat Barbara Buono's 27.7% (48,477 votes). In the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 101,525 (55%) of the vote, and Democrat Phil Murphy received 79,423 (43%) of the vote. Notably, both Guadagno and Murphy were Monmouth County residents. In the 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2021 gubernatorial election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli received 58.8% of the vote (141,100 ballots cast) to Democrat Phil Murphy's 40.3% (96,664 votes), thus Murphy lost his home county in both of his bids for governor.

Economy

Housing expense

In 2015, the county had a Per capita personal income in the United States, per capita personal income of $69,410, the fifth-highest in New Jersey and ranked 74th of 3,113 counties in the United States. Monmouth County ranked 38th among the highest-income counties in the United States as of 2011, placing it among the top 1.2% of counties by wealth. As of 2009, it was ranked 56th in the United States by personal per-capita income.

Gentrification

Hurricane Sandy in 2012 devastated much of the northern part of the

, particularly in Monmouth County. This necessitated the demolition and rebuilding of entire neighborhoods. Some were rebuilt to a higher economic level; this process of gentrification, climate gentrification is rapidly escalating property values and transforming many communities along the Shore. Many houses have become holiday cottage, vacation homes for the Wall Street, New York financial community, akin to shoreline communities on

like the North Shore (Long Island), Gold Coast and The Hamptons.

Telecommunications and high technology

The Bell Labs Holmdel Complex has been the site of many innovations in telecommunications and is experiencing a renaissance as a business incubator for high-tech startup company, startup companies. Today Verizon Wireless, AT&T Communications, Vonage, Avaya, and Bell Labs are located in the region.

Commerce

The county has been a commercial hub for the state and the larger

for years. This is due to the county's location on the

, which attracts residents from North Jersey, North and South Jersey, along with the nearby states of New York (state), New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland during the summer months. The region also boasts year-round attractions, such as hayrides, wine tasting, and apple picking during the autumn months. The county also features five major shopping malls: *Freehold Raceway Mall *Monmouth Mall *Pier Village *The Grove at Shrewsbury *Jersey Shore Premium Outlets

Education

Tertiary education

Murry Guggenheim House, West Long Branch, NJ - south view

Monmouth University is a four-year private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, West Long Branch that was founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College. Brookdale Community College is the two-year community college for Monmouth County, one of a network of 19 :New Jersey County Colleges, county colleges statewide. The school is located in the Lincroft, New Jersey, Lincroft section of Middletown Township, having been founded in 1967. Rutgers University has a partnership with Brookdale which offers bachelor's degree completion programs at Brookdale's Freehold campus.

K-12 education

School districts in Monmouth County include:New Jersey School Directory for Monmouth County
New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 1, 2022. ;K-12 districts: *Asbury Park Public Schools *Freehold Township Schools *Hazlet Township Public Schools *Holmdel Township Public Schools *Keansburg School District *Keyport Public Schools *Long Branch Public Schools *Manasquan Public Schools *Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District *Middletown Township Public School District *Monmouth County Vocational School District *Neptune Township Schools *Ocean Township School District (Monmouth County, New Jersey), Ocean Township School District *Upper Freehold Regional School District – Regional *Wall Township Public Schools ;Secondary districts: *Freehold Regional High School District *Henry Hudson Regional High School *Monmouth Regional High School *Red Bank Regional High School *Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School *Shore Regional High School – Regional ;Elementary districts(K-8, except as indicated): *Atlantic Highlands School District (K-6) *Avon School District (New Jersey), Avon School District *Belmar School District *Bradley Beach School District *Brielle School District *Colts Neck School District *Deal School District *Eatontown Public Schools *Fair Haven Public Schools *Farmingdale School District *Freehold Borough Schools *Freehold Township Schools *Highlands School District (K-6) *Howell Township Public Schools *Little Silver School District *Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District *Marlboro Township Public School District *Millstone Township Schools *Monmouth Beach School District *Oceanport School District *Red Bank Borough Public Schools *Roosevelt Public School District (K-5) *Rumson School District *Sea Girt School District *Shrewsbury Borough School District *Spring Lake School District *Spring Lake Heights School District *Tinton Falls School District – Regional *Union Beach School System *West Long Branch Public Schools In addition to multiple List of high schools in New Jersey#Monmouth County, public high schools, parochial schools in Monmouth County include St. Rose High School, Red Bank Catholic High School, Christian Brothers Academy (New Jersey), Christian Brothers Academy, St. John Vianney High School (New Jersey), St. John Vianney High School, and Mater Dei High School (New Jersey), Mater Dei High School, which operate under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. A secular private school, Ranney School, is also located in the county. The county has an extensive vocational high school program, known as the Monmouth County Vocational School District, including five magnet schools: * Academy of Allied Health & Science (Allied) in Neptune Township, New Jersey, Neptune Township * Biotechnology High School (BioTech) in Freehold Township * Communications High School (Communications, CHS) in Wall Township, New Jersey, Wall Township * High Technology High School (High Tech) in Lincroft, New Jersey, Lincroft (located on the Brookdale Community College campus) * Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) in

Arts and culture

Battle of Monmouth Monument at Courthouse

* Count Basie Theatre - A landmarked performing arts center in Red Bank, New Jersey, Red Bank. The core structure opened as the "Carlton Theater" in 1926, became the "Monmouth Arts Center" in 1973, then was renamed to the "Count Basie Theatre" in 1984 to honor jazz great and Red Bank native Count Basie, William "Count" Basie. It was designed by William E. Lehman (architect), William E. Lehman and has seating capacity for 1,568 patrons. * Two River Theater - A professional, not-for-profit, regional theater company producing plays and educational programs. The company received "Theatre of the Year" awards from the New Jersey Theatre Alliance in 2006, and from ''The Star-Ledger'' in both 2006 and 2008. At the July 2009 meeting of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Two River Theater was designated as a Major Impact Organization. * Monmouth County Historical Association – Established in 1898 by a group of county residents headed by professional educator Caroline Gallup Reed, it was soon incorporated in order “to discover, procure, preserve and perpetuate whatever relates to the history of Monmouth County.” The headquarters are located in Freehold Borough in a brick Georgian-style building designed by architect J. Hallam Conover. *Monmouth County Jewish Heritage Museum - focuses on Jewish life in the county, which dates back to 1720. * Monmouth Battlefield State Park — Located in Freehold Township and Manalapan Township, New Jersey, Manalapan Township, the park preserves a rural eighteenth-century landscape of orchards, fields, woods and wetlands, encompassing miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding, space for picnic areas, and four restored Revolutionary War farmhouses that were associated with the American Revolutionary War's

, including the Craig House (New Jersey), Craig House, the Cobb House, the Sutfin House, and the Rhea-Applegate House. The park includes a visitor center with replicas of eighteenth-century canons and other exhibits. *Gateway National Recreation Area#Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook - The barrier island, barrier peninsula segment of the much larger Gateway National Recreation Area (which has other sections in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens, New York, Queens in New York (state), New York) forms the other side of the "gateway" to New York Harbor. It includes two main park sites: ** Fort Hancock, New Jersey, Fort Hancock served as part of the harbor's coastal defense system from 1895 until 1974 and contains 100 historic buildings and fortifications. ** Sandy Hook (New Jersey), Sandy Hook contains seven beaches, including Gunnison Beach, a nude beach by custom, as well as salt marshes and a maritime holly forest. Ferries from Manhattan are available in season. Fishing and using hand-launched vessels are popular here. * Monmouth County Courthouse – In front of the courthouse, is a park at the center of town which hosts a tall monument to the Battle of Monmouth at its center. * St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Freehold Borough, New Jersey), St. Peter's Episcopal Church — a historic Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal church building that was constructed in 1771, featuring Georgian architecture, Georgian and Gothic Revival elements. *Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association District - An association founded in 1869 by a group of Methodism, Methodist clergymen, led by William B. Osborn and Ellwood H. Stokes. Its mission is to "provide opportunities for spiritual birth, growth, and renewal in a Christian seaside setting." It was to operate as a summer camp meeting site on the New Jersey seashore. By the early 20th century, the popular Christian meeting ground became known as the "Queen of Religious Resorts."Page, Tim
"'Summerfare' Offers Choir Festival"
''The New York Times'', July 30, 1986. Accessed June 30, 2015. "Ocean Grove, about six miles south of Long Branch, was founded in 1869 as a Methodist camp meeting ground; by the early 20th century it had been dubbed the 'Queen of Religious Resorts.'" The community's land is still owned by the camp meeting association and leased to individual homeowners and businesses. Ocean Grove remains the longest-active camp meeting site in the United States.Home page
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. Accessed November 6, 2007. * Church of the Presidents (New Jersey), Church of the Presidents - Originally consecrated in 1879 as St. James Protestant Episcopal Chapel, a branch of St. James Episcopal Church, this former Episcopal chapel was where seven United States presidents during the Victorian era worshipped. It was visited by presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Woodrow Wilson.(2006) The Year in Review, The Long Branch Historical Museum Association, Page 1. All except Grant were in office when they paid their visits to the church. * Seabrook–Wilson House – Nicknamed the "Spy House" by local residents, the house was built in 1663 in the town of Port Monmouth, New Jersey, Port Monmouth, a part of Middletown Township, making it the oldest structure in Monmouth County and one of the oldest in the state. The house's architecture was emblematic of the early England, English influence in the county. For most of its history, the farm on Sandy Hook Bay was home to generations of two prominent Port Monmouth families, the Seabrooks and the Wilsons. Ship owners and captains, a Revolutionary War militia officer, local business owners and investors, and a clergyman were part of these notable families, many of whom served in local government positions. * Allaire State Park - Historic park, known for its restored 19th century ironworks, Allaire Village, which is a living history museum on the park premises. It was a prosperous industrial town producing pig iron and cast iron from the surrounding bog iron deposits. The buildings which remain and have been restored today include a general store, blacksmith shop, carpenter's shop, manager's house, foreman's house and a church (building), church. One of the workers' row house buildings has been recreated and now houses a visitor center, museum, and reenactments of nineteenth-century life in this bustling mill town. The historic village is run by a non-profit organization independent of the park and charges a nominal fee to enter the buildings. It is named after James P. Allaire, founder of the Howell Works at the same site. The park also hosts the Pine Creek Railroad, a tourist railroad. * Holmdel Park - Located in Holmdel Township, this massive park is part of the Monmouth County Park System. The initial park land was established in 1962, with an additional section added in 2001. The park's recreational offerings include fishing (with permit), individual and group picnic areas, tennis courts, playgrounds and 10 miles of hiking trails. Ice skating and sledding are permitted when conditions are deemed safe. The park contains four distinct visitor areas, each with its own parking; three are accessed via the main park entrance while the fourth is located at the activity center further north on Longstreet Road. The park also features: **Holmdel Arboretum - Also known as the David C. Shaw Arboretum, which contains nearly 3,000 trees and shrubs, representing hundreds of species, cultivars, and varieties, including the Jane Kluis Memorial Dwarf Conifer Garden, a collection of true cedars (Cedrus) in honor of David Rossheim, and a variety of other plantings such as Lebanon Cedar, weeping Atlas cedar, cherry trees, Phellodendron amurense, Amur cork tree, among many others. A map at the entrance identifies the major plant collections. **Longstreet Farm - A living history farm museum displaying a recreation of life in the 1890s. Workers dress in period costume, and perform the activities of a resident of the time period, such as planting and harvesting of crops, and taking caring of livestock. The Holmes–Hendrickson House, Holmes-Hendrickson House, built in 1754, is a museum operated by the Monmouth County Historical Association near the farm.

Sports

Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey, Oceanport and Freehold Raceway in Freehold Borough, New Jersey, Freehold offer fans of thoroughbred horse racing a chance to bet on races. In 1943, the New York Yankees held their spring training in Asbury Park instead of Florida. This was because rail transport had to be conserved during the war, and Major League Baseball's Spring Training was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River.

Parks and recreation

Monmouth County parks are under the administration of the Monmouth County Park System. Established in 1960, the agency that maintains over 40 parks and recreational areas, in Monmouth County. General parks include Turkey Swamp Park, Manasquan Reservoir, Holmdel Park, Freneau Woods Park, Crosswicks Creek, Crosswicks Creek Park, and Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, among many others. There are also three major bike trails (which were formerly rail-lines) in the county, the Union Transportation Trail in the southwestern section of the county (near the Delaware River, Delaware Valley region), the Edgar Felix Bikeway in the southeastern section of the county (near the

region), and the Henry Hudson Trail in the western and northern sections of the county (near the Raritan Bayshore and Raritan River, Raritan Valley regions). The county also has two major state parks, Monmouth Battlefield State Park and Allaire State Park, along with a section of the Gateway National Recreation Area at the Sandy Hook, New Jersey, Sandy Hook Unit.

National protected area

* Gateway National Recreation Area (part)

Wineries, breweries, and distilleries

The county is home to several vineyards, wineries, including: * Basil T's Brewery * Carton Brewing * Cream Ridge Winery * Four JG's Orchards & Vineyards * Kane Brewing * Laird & Company * Peppadew Fresh Vineyards

Other points of interest

* Keansburg, New Jersey, Keansburg Amusement Park & Runaway Rapids * PNC Bank Arts Center * Pier Village * Asbury Park, New Jersey, Asbury Park Boardwalk * Freehold Raceway Mall * Monmouth Mall * iPlay America * Numerous beaches along the

*Monmouth Executive Airport * Holmdel Cemetery & Mausoleum

Municipalities

The 53 municipalities in Monmouth County (with 2010 Census data for housing units and area in square miles, as well as 2018 estimates for population) are listed below. Other, Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities, unincorporated communities in the county are listed next to their parent municipality. Many of these areas are census-designated places (labeled as CDPs) that have been created by the

for enumeration purposes within a township (New Jersey), township, with the 2010 Census population listed. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are also listed.

Coroners and medical examiners

Jordan Woolley served as coroner circa 1880. John W. Flock Sr. was the coroner in 1902. The office of medical examiner was merged with Middlesex County, New Jersey in 2016. Dr. Diane Karluk is the medical examiner serving Mercer County, Middlesex County and Monmouth County.

Monmouth County SPCA

The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an animal welfare organization in Eatontown, New Jersey, Eatontown providing animal sheltering and cruelty investigation services to Monmouth County, New Jersey. It was founded in 1945 to care for the community's homeless, neglected and abused animals. It is a private, not-for-profit s. 501(c)3 organization. In 1999, the organization made the decision to become a no-kill shelter. The organization remains open-admission for communities it serves, taking owner surrenders by appointment and also offers animals for adoption. Its Humane Law Enforcement Division investigates more than 900 animal cruelty complaints every year, and accepts anonymous calls. The SPCA also provides dog obedience training, a spay/neutering clinic and pet bereavement counselling."Monmouth County SPCA"
Charity Navigator, accessed Nov. 16, 2014."Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax"
Monmouth County SPCA, 2011.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the county had a total of of roadways, of which are maintained by the local municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The state routes include New Jersey Route 18, Route 18, New Jersey Route 33, Route 33, New Jersey Route 33#Business route, Route 33 Business, New Jersey Route 34, Route 34, New Jersey Route 35, Route 35, New Jersey Route 36, Route 36, New Jersey Route 66, Route 66, New Jersey Route 70, Route 70, New Jersey Route 71, Route 71, New Jersey Route 79, Route 79, and New Jersey Route 138, Route 138. U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey, U.S. Route 9 passes through and practically bisects Monmouth, stretching through the county for more than from Lakewood Township, New Jersey, Lakewood in

Ocean County Ocean County is a county located along the Jersey Shore in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Its county seat is Toms River.Ocean County Ocean County is a county located along the Jersey Shore in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Its county seat is Toms River. LSticketbooth

Numerous NJ Transit buses crisscross and deliver hundreds of passengers each day to North Jersey, northern New Jersey and New York City, New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan as well as the 317 (New Jersey bus), 317 bus line going into Philadelphia. Many hundreds more each day travel on NJ Transit Rail Operations' North Jersey Coast Line, which serves Pennsylvania Station (New York City), Penn Station in New York City, and passes through Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, entering Monmouth County at Matawan, with 14 stations covering the length of the county, connecting the New York region to

shore communities.North Jersey Coast Line
, NJ Transit. Accessed October 7, 2013.

References

External links

Monmouth County official website

Monmouth County map, New Jersey
{{Authority control Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1683 establishments in New Jersey Central Jersey Counties in the New York metropolitan area Jersey Shore Geography of the Pine Barrens (New Jersey) Populated places established in 1683