Holmdel Township, New Jersey

Holmdel Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 16,773, reflecting an increase of 992 (+6.3%) from the 15,781 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 4,249 (+36.8%) from the 11,532 counted in the 1990 Census.

Holmdel Township was formed by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1857, from portions of Raritan Township (now Hazlet).

Holmdel is located 15 miles (24 km) west of the Jersey Shore. The township is notable, among other things, for its historical and present connection to Bell Labs (and, later, Lucent Technologies and Alcatel-Lucent), where the transistor was first developed. Important evidence for the Big Bang was discovered at another Bell Labs facility in Holmdel by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, both of whom won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work here.

Holmdel's picturesque beauty, proximity to New York City and main highways, award-winning public schools, large homes, rich history, PNC Bank Arts Center, and the presence of many high paying jobs within commuting distance led the township to be ranked the #1 "Six-Figure Town" by Money magazine and CNN for 2009.

History

The earliest work on radio astronomy was conducted by Bell Labs engineer Karl Guthe Jansky in 1931 in Holmdel. In 1964, Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson of Bell Labs discovered evidence for cosmic microwave background radiation while performing research with the Holmdel Horn Antenna, earning them the Nobel Prize in Physics.

The PNC Bank Arts Center is a 10,800-seat outdoor amphitheatre concert venue located in Holmdel. PNC Financial Services agreed to a deal in 1996 under which it would pay $9.2 million for the naming rights, as part an effort by the Parkway Authority to avoid toll increases, a deal that was extended for another five years in 2006. The facility, which originally opened in 1968, was commissioned by the Garden State Parkway Authority at a cost of $6.75 million and built based on a design by architect Edward Durell Stone. Adjacent to it is the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which opened on May 7, 1995.

In 1977, Bruce Springsteen wrote and recorded many of his songs from his album Darkness on the Edge of Town in an old farmhouse in Holmdel.

VoIP provider Vonage Holdings, Inc., moved its world headquarters from Edison to Holmdel in November 2005, occupying the building that formerly housed Prudential Property Casualty & Insurance.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.115 square miles (46.916 km²), of which, 17.896 square miles (46.35 km²) of it was land and 0.219 square miles (0.566 km²) of it (1.21%) was water. Holmdel Township is located roughly 35 miles (56 km) south of Manhattan.

Crawford Hill, located at 40°23′25″N 74°11′03″W (40.3903863,-74.1840322), is Monmouth County's highest point, standing 391 feet (119 m) above sea level. The top portion of the hill is owned by Alcatel-Lucent and houses a research laboratory of Bell Laboratories.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the township include: Beers, Centerville, Crawford Corners, Everett, Morrells Corner and Pleasant Valley Crossroads.

Demographics

2010 Census

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,773 people, 5,584 households, and 4,612 families residing in the township. The population density was 937.3 per square mile (361.9/km²). There were 5,792 housing units at an average density of 323.7 per square mile (125.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 77.55% (13,007) White, 0.86% (145) Black or African American, 0.07% (11) Native American, 19.16% (3,213) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.54% (90) from other races, and 1.82% (305) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.70% (621) of the population.

There were 5,584 households, of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% 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 3.29.

In the township, 25.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 17.8% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006â€"2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $140,533 (with a margin of error of +/- $18,587) and the median family income was $154,360 (+/- $13,795). Males had a median income of $135,139 (+/- $15,633) versus $77,703 (+/- $13,861) for females. The per capita income for the township was $62,120 (+/- $6,232). About 3.0% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

In 2009, the average annual family income was $159,633, making it one of the highest in the country.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 15,781 people, 4,948 households, and 4,328 families residing in the township. The population density was 878.4 people per square mile (339.1/km²). There were 5,137 housing units at an average density of 285.9 per square mile (110.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 80.20% White, 17.45% Asian, 0.65% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.

As of the 2000 Census, 9.97% of Holmdel Township's residents identified themselves as being of Chinese ancestry. This was the highest percentage of people with Chinese ancestry in any place in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 4,947 households out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.1% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.5% were non-families. 11.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% 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 3.35.

In the township the age distribution of the population shows 28.5% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

According to the 2000 Census, the median income for a household in the township was $112,879, and the median income for a family was $122,785. Males had a median income of $94,825 versus $54,625 for females. The per capita income for the township was $47,898. About 2.7% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Holmdel Township is governed under the township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is 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. The Township Committee exercises control over the conduct of municipal business by means of legislation through ordinances or resolutions, approval and adoption of the annual budget and the formulation of policy to be carried out by the staff.

As of 2015, members of the Holmdel Township Council are Mayor Eric Hinds (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2016; term as mayor ends 2015), Deputy Mayor Gregory Buontempo (R, term on committee ends 2017; term as deputy mayor ends 2015), Thomas Critelli (R, 2015), Patrick Impreveduto (R, 2017) and Joseph Ponisi (R, 2016).

Deputy Mayor Serena Dimaso left office in January 2012 to fill the vacant seat of Robert D. Clifton on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Joseph Ponisi was selected to fill Dimaso's vacant seat and took office in January 2012, then was elected to the remainder of her term in the November 2012 general election.

Federal, state and county representation

Holmdel Township is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Holmdel Township had been part of the 12th Congressional District, 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.

New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2014-2015 Session, the 13th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph M. Kyrillos (R, Middletown Township) and in the General Assembly by Amy Handlin (R, Middletown Township) and Declan O'Scanlon (R, Little Silver). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township; term ends December 31, 2014), Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. (R, Spring Lake; 2014), Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City; 2016), John P. Curley (R, Middletown Township; 2015) and Serena DiMaso (R, Holmdel Township; 2016). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk M. Claire French (Wall Township), Sheriff Shaun Golden (Farmingdale) and Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (Middletown Township).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 12,021 registered voters in Holmdel Township, of which 1,965 (16.3%) were registered as Democrats, 4,110 (34.2%) were registered as Republicans and 5,946 (49.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 61.8% of the vote (5,077 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.3% (3,063 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (75 votes), among the 8,261 ballots cast by the township's 12,425 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.5%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.6% of the vote (5,403 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.2% (3,616 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (82 votes), among the 9,225 ballots cast by the township's 12,679 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.9% of the vote (5,522 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 37.1% (3,308 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (56 votes), among the 8,915 ballots cast by the township's 11,892 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.0.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 77.3% of the vote (3,587 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.4% (993 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (58 votes), among the 4,712 ballots cast by the township's 12,312 registered voters (74 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.8% of the vote (4,182 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 25.8% (1,590 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.2% (318 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (46 votes), among the 6,170 ballots cast by the township's 12,315 registered voters, yielding a 50.1% turnout.

Emergency services

Formally established in 1966, the Holmdel Township Police Department traces its origins to a part-time constable hired in 1947 who was named as the first police chief in 1952.

Holmdel Fire and Rescue Company # 2 is an all-volunteer department created in 2006 that serves Holmdel and surrounding areas.

Holmdel First Aid Squad is an all-volunteer organization that responds to medical emergencies in the township. Founded in 1969, the squad responds to an average of 1,500 calls each year, with no charge for medical services or transportation.

Education

The Holmdel Township Public Schools serve students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's four schools had an enrollment of 3,134 students and 249.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 12.56:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Village Elementary School (grade preK-3; 829 students), Indian Hill School (4-6; 730), William R. Satz School (7-8; 536), and Holmdel High School (9-12; 1,039).

Holmdel High School was the 12th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 13th in 2012 out of 328 schools listed. The high school was ranked 20th in the state of New Jersey and number 723 overall by The Washington Post in its 2011 ranking of American high schools.

Holmdel High School became the center of a scandal due to a hazing incident at a football camp in 1988 that was reported in the press and received considerable notoriety.

Private schools within the township include the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton's St. John Vianney High School for grades 9-12 and St. Benedict School, a Kindergarten through eighth grade Catholic school that feeds into St. John Vianney. Holmdel is home of The New School of Monmouth County, an alternative school based on the British Integrated Method, in which students in grades K-8 spend three years in a "family" that covers three grades in a traditional school program.

Transportation

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 125.28 miles (201.62 km) of roadways, of which 105.25 miles (169.38 km) were maintained by the municipality, 12.33 miles (19.84 km) by Monmouth County, 3.98 miles (6.41 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 3.72 miles (5.99 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

A few major roads pass through the township. Major county routes that cross through include a short stretch of CR 516 in the north and CR 520 in the south. Route 34 passes through the western part while Route 35 goes through in the northern section. The Garden State Parkway passes through near the center with part of Exit 114 (the other half in Middletown Township) and Exit 116 (for the PNC Bank Arts Center) in Holmdel.

Public transportation

New Jersey Transit and Academy Bus provide service in the area.

Notable people

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

• John Burke (born 1971), former professional football player, New England Patriots, New York Jets and San Diego Chargers.
• John Cannon (born 1960), former defensive end who played nine seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Christopher Dell, U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo; previously U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe and U.S. Ambassador to Angola.
• John J. Ely (1778â€"1852), member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
• Renzo Gracie (born 1967), professional mixed martial arts Fighter from Brazil.
• Granian, band formed by musician Garen Guyikian.
• John Henry Heyer (1831â€"1905), politician.
• Jodi Kantor (born 1975), reporter for The New York Times and author of The Obamas.
• SallyAnn Mosey, meteorologist.
• Michael V. Pomarico (born 1955; class of 1974), six-time Emmy Award winner for his work on the ABC-TV daytime drama All My Children.
• Tab Ramos (born 1966), retired football midfielder who played on the U.S. Olympic team and was the first player to sign with Major League Soccer, where he played seven years with the MetroStars.
• Bob Roggy (1956â€"1986), athlete who set the American javelin throw record in the early 1980s.
• Lorene Scafaria (born 1978), screenwriter, playwright, actress and singer.
• John Conover Smock (1842-1926), geologist.
• Julie Sokolow (born 1987), lo-fi singer-songwriter, writer, and independent filmmaker.
• Anthony Spalliero (1942â€"2010), real estate developer with organized crime ties.
• Bruce Springsteen (born 1949), singer-songwriter.
• Felicia Stoler, host of Honey, We're Killing the Kids on The Learning Channel.
• John H. Tilelli, Jr. (born 1941), retired United States Army four star general.
• John Valentin (born 1967), infielder who played for the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
• Robert Woodrow Wilson, (born 1936), awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1978.
• Harold A. Zahl (1905-1973), director of research at Camp Evans (later Forth Monmouth), responsible for critical U.S. developments in radar technology during World War II.

Points of interest

• Bell Labs Holmdel Complex - Now vacant, but still owned by the Alcatel-Lucent Corporation, the buildings were constructed by architects Eero Saarinen and Sasaki, Walker and Associates from 1957 to 1962. The complex contained 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m²) of space for its 6,000 employees, where five Nobel laureates and other Bell Labs staff developed many advances in communications technology in the facility that stands on a site that covers 472 acres (191 ha).
• Holmdel Arboretum - covering 22 acres (8.9 ha), the arboretum was established in 1963, offering examples of the trees, shrubs and plant life of Monmouth County.
• Holmdel Park - initially established in 1962, the park covers 565 acres (229 ha) and includes the Historic Longstreet Farm (which offers a recreation of farm life in the 1890s) and the David C. Shaw Arboretum, along with athletic facilities and other amenities.
• Holmes-Hendrickson House - listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home was constructed by William Holmes in the mid 1750s in the Dutch vernacular style.
• Upper Meeting House of the Baptist Church of Middletown is the state's first Baptist congregation, established in 1688, with its current building constructed in 1809. It is now part of the Holmdel Community Church, after a merger with the Holmdel Dutch Reformed Church, established in 1699 and constructed in 1838.
• Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center - The Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center opened in 1998 and is located adjacent to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The museum facility covers 5,000 square feet (460 m²) and was constructed at a cost of $3.5 million, opening as the first facility of its kind, intended to provide an even-handed depiction of the Vietnam War based on the experience of those who fought in Vietnam and those who remained in the United States.
• Kovenhoven (1700) and Old Kentuck (1770) are historic homes dating to the 18th century, which have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

References

External links

• Holmdel Township's official website
• Holmdel Township Public Schools
• Holmdel Township Public Schools's 2012â€"13 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• School Data for the Holmdel Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Holmdel Police Department
• Holmdel Historical Society
• Former Holmdel Nike Missile Site
• Holmdel First Aid Squad

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