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 had 67,106 people.

Middletown is a place where families live close to New York City. It is near the Raritan Bay in the Raritan Valley region. It is known for being a safe and nice place to live, with good schools and many things to do. It has been called one of the best places to live in America many times.

In 2016, Middletown Township was named one of the safest places in America to raise a child. It was the highest-ranked city in New Jersey 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 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. 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). Part of this is land and part is water.

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.

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. They serve three-year terms. Each year, two or one members are up for election. At the start of each year, the Committee picks 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

Middletown Township has many registered voters. In past presidential elections, voters in the township have often chosen Republican candidates.

Education

Middletown Township has many schools for children from early years up to grade 12. The Middletown Township Public School District has 16 schools. 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 large area with many old buildings. It covers 80 acres on both sides of Kings Highway, south and west of Route 35. The buildings date back to when people from England, Long Island, and New England first moved to Middletown after 1664.

Three old churches are along 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 added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1974, because it is important for learning about the town's past. It includes 15 special buildings that help us understand history.

Infrastructure

Emergency services

Middletown has big teams to help in emergencies. The police and fire teams celebrated 75 years together in 2003. In 2016, they changed their radio system to save money.

Police

The Middletown Township Police Department is the biggest police team in Monmouth County, with 112 police officers. It started on May 15, 1928, with its first full-time officer, Earl N. Hoyer.

The Rude Awakening Program helps young people and their parents learn about the dangers of alcohol and other substances. The police support this program, and it includes shows by EMS and fire teams.

Fire department

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

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

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

EMS

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

Transportation

Roads and highways

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

Public transportation

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

NJ Transit also has local bus service on several routes.

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

Healthcare

Hackensack Meridian Health has two hospitals close by in Holmdel and Red Bank. These hospitals take care of most medical cases except for very serious injuries, which are treated at bigger 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.