Aberdeen Township, New Jersey

Aberdeen Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 18,210,   reflecting an increase of 756 (+4.3%) from the 17,454 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 416 (+2.4%) from the 17,038 counted in the 1990 Census.

Aberdeen Township is part of the Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan, an effort by nine municipalities in northern Monmouth County to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing the traditional downtowns, dense residential neighborhoods, maritime history, and the natural beauty of the Raritan Bay coastline.

Geography
Aberdeen Township is located at 40.43067°N, -74.22355°W (40.430669,-74.223548). According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 7.774 square miles (20.136 km2), of which, 5.447 square miles (14.108 km2) of it is land and 2.327 square miles (6.028 km2) of it (29.94%) is water.

Cliffwood Beach (2010 Census population of 3,194 ) and Strathmore (2010 population of 7,258 ) are census-designated places and unincorporated communitys located within Aberdeen Township.

The township borders Hazlet Township, Holmdel Township, Keyport, Marlboro Township and Matawan all in Monmouth County and Old Bridge Township in Middlesex County.

Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $89,365 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,048) and the median family income was $101,174 (+/- $5,850). Males had a median income of $65,488 (+/- $5,575) versus $52,615 (+/- $3,635) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,830 (+/- $3,017). About 2.6% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 17,454 people, 6,421 households, and 4,770 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,152.2 people per square mile (1,216.4/km²). There were 6,558 housing units at an average density of 1,184.4 per square mile (457.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 78.82% White, 12.02% African American, 0.14% Native American, 5.51% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.02% of the population.

There were 6,421 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,125, and the median income for a family was $76,648. Males had a median income of $51,649 versus $35,707 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,984. About 3.8% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
On November 3, 1964, the citizens of Aberdeen Township voted to change from the Township Committee form of government, in force since 1857, to the Council-Manager form, under the Faulkner Act. In this Council-Manager form, all policy making power is concentrated in the council. The Mayor is a member of the Council and presides over its meetings. The Manager, appointed by the council and fully accountable to it, is the municipal chief executive and administrative official. A seven-member Township Council is elected at large for staggered, four-year terms of office in partisan elections held in November. The council selects a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members.

, members of the Aberdeen Township Council are Mayor Fred Tagliarini, Deputy Mayor Margaret Montone, Harvey M. Brenner, Greg Cannon, Concetta B. Kelly, James Lauro and Robert L. Swindle.

Federal, state and county representation
Aberdeen Township is located in the 6th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 11,162 registered voters in Aberdeen Township, of which 3,145 (28.2%) were registered as Democrats, 1,988 (17.8%) were registered as Republicans and 6,021 (53.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.5% of the vote here (4,635 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.0% (3,817 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (88 votes), among the 8,667 ballots cast by the township's 11,751 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.7% of the vote here (4,105 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 45.9% (3,644 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (67 votes), among the 7,944 ballots cast by the township's 11,084 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.7.

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.7% of the vote here (3,140 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 36.3% (2,048 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.7% (322 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (63 votes), among the 5,642 ballots cast by the township's 11,371 registered voters, yielding a 49.6% turnout.

Education
Aberdeen is part of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, together with the neighboring community of Matawan. Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Cambridge Park Developmental Learning Center (Preschool; 95 students), Cliffwood Elementary School (K-3; 333), Ravine Drive Elementary School (K-3; 373), Strathmore Elementary School (K-3; 505), Lloyd Road Elementary School (4-5; 570), Matawan Aberdeen Middle School (6 - 8; 830) and Matawan Regional High School (9 - 12; 1,117). The MARSD Central Offices are located at 1 Crest Way, in Aberdeen.

Origins
Those who settled in this area developed into the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. About the year 1000, an agricultural society developed, and small villages dotted what was to become New Jersey. The Lenape began a westward retreat in the face of European settlement and disease beginning in the late seventeenth century, beginning in Monmouth County by the mid-eighteenth century. Although the Lenape presently live in Ontario and Oklahoma, their legacy survives in such names as Mohingson, Luppatatong and Matawan Creeks and Raritan Bay.



The earliest known attempt at European settlement was in 1650 when the south side of Raritan Bay was purchased from the Lenni Lenape by the New Netherland Colony. The Dutch failed to make any permanent settlements of this area.

New Jersey
The earliest English land grant in Aberdeen was in 1677 when Sir George Carteret granted 36 acre to Jonathan Holmes. This is in present-day Oakshades on Mohingson Creek.

Aberdeen Township derived its name from "New Aberdeen," a name for a settlement established in Northwestern Monmouth County in the 1680s by Quakers and Presbyterians who fled Scotland to avoid religious persecution.

In 1684, Surveyor General Thomas Rudyard received a grant of 1038 acre on Raritan Bay and Matawan Creek, the present location of Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach. Owing to Rudyard's high office, this was quite controversial, and in 1685, the Board of Proprietors issued an order regarding the laying out of land. Section 7 addressed questionable activity such as Rudyard's, and he sold his land to his son-in-law, Samuel Winder.

The 1680s saw an influx of Scottish immigrants fleeing religious persecution in response to a 1683 book by George Scott extolling the virtues of Scottish settlement in East Jersey. In 1701, a village site of 100 acre was granted by the Proprietors to 24 Scottish settlers of the area. These men and six others also purchased a landing site on Matawan Creek. The village site eventually came to be called Mount Pleasant, and the landing, as it became an important shipping point for the produce of Middletown Township, became Middletown Point. A third, very scattered settlement developed in the eighteenth century west of Matawan Creek, and was called Matawan or Matavan.

Middletown Township
Since 1693, what was to become Aberdeen Township remained part of Middletown Township which, at the time, consisted of what is now Aberdeen, Holmdel Township, Hazlet Township, Middletown (including Sandy Hook), Matawan Borough, Keyport, Union Beach, Keansburg, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and a sliver of Colts Neck Township. A portion of the township that extended as far northwest as Cheesequake Creek, was ceded to Middlesex County in 1710.

Raritan Township
By 1848, Middletown was considered too large and unwieldy, and legislation was passed dividing it into two halves, the western half to be a new municipality, Raritan Township (now Hazlet Township).

Matawan Township
Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Beers passed the State General Assembly and Senate, was signed by Governor of New Jersey William A. Newell, and on February 23, 1857, Matavan Township was incorporated from portions of what was then Raritan Township. This included the village of Middletown Point, Mt. Pleasant, and Matavan. The Township was named for the creek as well as the village of Matavan. The spelling of "Matawan" or "Matavan" had been interchangeable, however, when the act was published "Matavan", a Lenape word meaning "where two rivers come together" had been used.

In 1865, due to postal confusion with Middletown, the Middletown Point post office was renamed "Matawan", to reflect the name of the Township. This section is the present downtown area of Matawan Borough. In 1882, the spelling of the Township was officially changed to "Matawan".

A small railroad station was erected along the New York and Long Branch Railroad tracks at a point called Hutchler's Crossing in 1875. Soon known as the Cliffwood Station, it operated on Cliffwood Avenue until the station closed in 1932.

In 1885, the Cliffwood post office was established and the name of the old Matavan settlement passed into obsolescence. Matawan was formed as a borough on June 28, 1895, from portions of Matawan Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Matawan expanded with portions of Matawan Township in 1931 and 1933.

In response to demand, a post office was established at Mount Pleasant in 1889. As that name was in use elsewhere, a new name was needed. "Freneau" was chosen, in honor of Philip Morin Freneau, the "Poet of Revolution," and a former Mount Pleasant resident who is buried in the area. This post office has since been closed.

Cliffwood Beach, formed in the 1920s, was originally a resort community until after World War II when year-round homes were the norm. River Gardens developed in the late 1940s. Strathmore was developed in the 1960s, adding suburban development to the community and doubling the Township's population.

Aberdeen Township
On November 8, 1977, the residents of Matawan Township voted to change the name of the Township to create a community identity separate from that of Matawan Borough. The residents voted to call their community Aberdeen Township. Officials believed the new name would draw attention to the Township, as it is listed first alphabetically among New Jersey's municipalities.

Today, Aberdeen is a suburban township of 5.4 sqmi containing a mix of residence, light industry and shopping centers. Sections of the township include Cliffwood, Cliffwood Beach, Freneau, Oakshades, River Gardens, Strathmore, Santa Fe Junction and Woodfield. The population is approximately 17,000. Three postal ZIP codes serve the township: 07721, 07735, and 07747.

The Township is served by two volunteer fire companies, the Aberdeen Township Hose and Chemical Co. No. 1, organized in 1918, and the Cliffwood Volunteer Fire Co., organized in 1927. Two volunteer First Aid Squads response to the community's emergency medical needs; the Aberdeen Township First Aid and Rescue Squad, organized in 1954, and the South Aberdeen Emergency Medical Service, organized in 1970. A full-time Police Department was established in 1935.

The Henry Hudson Trail is a 9 mi paved trail built on a former Central Railroad of New Jersey right-of-way and extending from Aberdeen Township east to Atlantic Highlands.

Transportation
New Jersey Transit provides bus transportation to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 133 route and service on the 817 route.

County Route 3 and Route 34 pass through in the southern area while Route 35 runs through the northern area. The Garden State Parkway passes through with Exit 117A in the township.

Notable people
Notable residents of Aberdeen Township include:
 * David L. Smith, creator of the Melissa worm first identified in March 1999. Smith was sentenced in 2002 to serve 20 months in a federal prison.