Upper Freehold Township
About Our Community

Located in central New Jersey (southwestern Monmouth County), Upper Freehold Township consists of 47.45 square miles. There were 3,277 residents as of the 1990 census. The 2000 Census reflects a population of 4,282. This increase of over 30% came in the last five years when a number of developments previously held off by the permit extension act were finally completed.

Upper Freehold has been a rural agricultural area since the late 1600's with farming being the primary occupation. The residents and Local Government have been successful at maintaining the rural and historic character of this community. While the nature of the farming industry may have changed from the former large dairy farms to feed and crop farming with the expanded industry of horse breeding, the Township remains a leader in the Farmland Preservation Program.

There are now approximately 6,000 Acres of land entered into the Farmland Preservation program. The program prohibits the preserved acreage under its protection from being developed or used for anything except farming. There are 2,567 acres of the Assunpink Wildlife Preservation Area that lie within the Upper Freehold Township borders. In addition, Upper Freehold Township is the home to two County Parks; Walnford Park, with it's restored Georgian style house, working mill, carriage house and cow barn, and Clayton Park, a passive recreation area, consisting of 242 acres with a 21-acre lake. Crosswicks Creek Greenbelt contains 328 acres of county-preserved land that winds it way through many areas in Upper Freehold Township. The Township has also recently entered an agreement with Monmouth County in which the Township will acquire 43.55 acres to be used for public purposes of recreation, open space preservation, and natural resources. That land, to be known as the Byron Johnson Recreation Area, is now being developed and will consist of baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, bocce ball, tot lots, etc. A grand opening is planned for the Fall of 2003.

A Four Seasons Adult Community has recently opened at the very northwestern section of the Township. This is our first Adult Community.

The Cream Ridge Golf Course and Gamblers Ridge Golf Course are located in the Cream Ridge area; and although the New Jersey Horse Park has an Allentown address it is located in Upper Freehold Township. There are also several large nurseries that contribute to the vast amount of Open Space found in this very western section of Monmouth County. All of these lands along with the determination of the Township's residents and elected officials help to ensure that Upper Freehold Township's growth will progress slowly and controlled and will predominately remain a rural community. The determination is proved by the willingness of the residents to be the first Municipality in Monmouth County to contribute through their property taxes 1¢ of each $100 assessed value to be dedicated to preserving farmland in the Township. In 2000 General Election voters approved an increase to .04 of each $100 value for open space/recreation/farmland preservation/etc. The year 2001 budget appropriated .02 of that to Farmland Preservation and .02 to recreation to be split with acquisition and development.

The Township has created an Open Space/Farmland Preservation Committee and has submitted the required plans to qualify for Planning Incentive Grants to assist with further preservation programs. The latest move was to establish a Local Agriculture Board to promote the farming industry.

The Township Committee of Upper Freehold Township has been recognized nationally for adopting a "Country Code" which express the philosophy established by the current residents and elected officials. The Country Code verbalizes the intention, effort, and cooperation required to remain a rural community.

The Township participated in a study conducted by the American Farm Trust (commissioned by Monmouth Conservation). The study confirmed what the Township already knew - that farmland and open space were a property tax benefit. At the time of the study. 65 cents of every dollar collected on “farm” properties offset the cost of municipal services for residential properties. So goes the saying, “cows don’t go to school”.

The Township is policed by the NJ State Police; the Hightstown Barracks covers the Township and the Allenwood Barracks patrols Interstate 195.

The Township residents contract for their own trash pick up and recyclables are brought to the Municipal Garage. There is no curb-side pick up. The Township holds two clean-ups; one in the spring and again in the fall. During that time, the residents bring bulky waste to the Municipal Garage.

Within Upper Freehold Township is the quaint village of Imlaystown, which celebrated its Tricentennial in 1990. Visitors and residents enjoy the view of the Imlaystown Lake and Dam while dining at the Happy Apple Inn. We have a winery in the Cream Ridge area that holds festivals and wine tastings.

You may visit the many antique shops and boutiques in Allentown and for the young and young-at-heart, visit Six Flags Great Adventure safari and amusement park in nearby Jackson Township.

Upper Freehold lies within commuting distance of major urban centers (60 miles from New York City and 35 miles from Philadelphia). It has easy access to the Princeton-Hightstown area and the Jersey Shore. Nearby highways include Routes 524, 526, 537, and 539; Interstate 195 and 295; and the New Jersey Turnpike.

The Freehold Mall offers a variety of retail stores and movie theaters. The Jackson Outlet Shopping Center on Route 537 features over 70 factory outlet stores.

The Township is served by Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches. Students attend schools in the Upper Freehold Regional School District and there are nearby private schools; Notre Dame High School, Peddie, and McCorriston High School.

The Upper Freehold Regional School District consists of an Elementary School and High School known as Upper Freehold Regional Elementary and Allentown High School. The district is both Allentown Borough and UFT. Millstone sends students to our High School. There is presently a study regarding Regionalization to include Millstone and future expansion. In December voters approved a 19.5 million dollar expansion and renovation package for the school to utilize available funding.

This school district has been nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School and is also a pilot district for the NJ “Choice” program.

Volunteer Emergency Services – We can always use help:

Hope Fire Company No. 1 http://www.hopefirecompany.com/

Allentown First Aid Squad

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