Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Freehold is a borough and the county seat of Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Known for its Victorian era homes and extensive colonial history, the borough is located in the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan Area, located about 33 miles (53 km) from Manhattan and 17 miles (27 km) from Staten Island. The borough has grown to become a commuter town of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 12,538, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 486 (+4.0%) from the 12,052 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,076 (+9.8%) from the 10,976 counted in the 2000 census.
Freehold Borough, New Jersey | |
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Monmouth County Courthouse Downtown Freehold at the intersection of West Main Street and Throckmorton Street | |
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Location of Freehold Borough in Monmouth County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left). | |
Census Bureau map of Freehold Borough, New Jersey
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Freehold Borough Location in Monmouth County Freehold Borough Location in New Jersey Freehold Borough Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 40.260219°N 74.275884°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Monmouth |
| Incorporated | March 25, 1869 (as town) |
| Reincorporated | April 15, 1919 (as borough) |
| Named for | English legal term of freehold |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough |
| • Body | Borough Council |
| • Mayor | Kevin A. Kane (D, term ends December 31, 2023) |
| • Administrator | Stephen J. Gallo |
| • Municipal clerk | Traci L. DiBenedetto |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.93 sq mi (5.01 km2) |
| • Land | 1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0.10% |
| • Rank | 419th of 565 in state 32nd of 53 in county |
| Elevation | 171 ft (52 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 12,538 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 12,497 |
| • Rank | 206th of 565 in state 17th of 53 in county |
| • Density | 6,496.4/sq mi (2,508.3/km2) |
| • Rank | 82nd of 565 in state 7th of 53 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code | 07728 |
| Area code(s) | 732/848 |
| FIPS code | 34-25200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885226 |
| Website | www |
The Freeholds region, which includes the borough and Freehold Township (which completely surrounds the borough), is a commercial hub for central New Jersey. The borough is located relatively close to the Raritan Bayshore communities to the north, including The Amboys, Old Bridge, Matawan, Keyport, Keansburg, and Middletown, along with being relatively close to the Tri-City region of Jersey Shore municipalities (and their vicinities) to the east, including Red Bank, Long Branch, and Asbury Park.
What is now Freehold Borough was originally incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 25, 1869, from portions within Freehold Township. The town became independent of the township in 1888. On April 15, 1919, Freehold was incorporated as a borough, including all of Freehold and additional portions of Freehold Township, based on the results of a referendum held on July 8, 1919. Additional portions of Freehold Township were annexed on September 7, 1926.
The Hispanic and Latino population has been rapidly growing in Freehold Borough for the last 40 years. The Hispanic population making up 4.6% (0.2% Mexican) in the 1980 Census, 11.3% (2.8% Mexican) in the 1990 Census, 28.0% (17.3% Mexican) in 2000, 42.9% (29.6% Mexican) in 2010, and recently in 2020, a majority at 53.0% Hispanic. Meanwhile, the Black or African American population has decreased in recent decades: 17.1% in 1970, 19.8% in 1980, 18.2% in 1990, 15.8% in 2000, 12.6% in 2010 and 9.4% in 2020.
In 2021, Freehold Borough became one of few towns in the state (including, Bellmawr, Egg Harbor Township, Montclair and Woodbridge Township) that has authorized the sale of cannabis through authorized dispensaries and for the allowance of cultivators, distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers.