Jackson Township, New Jersey

Jackson Township, named after Andrew Jackson, is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 54,856. Jackson's most famous attraction is Six Flags Great Adventure, which as of 2010 is home to the tallest roller coaster in the world: Kingda Ka. Jackson is also home to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Wild Safari.

Jackson Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1844, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), Freehold Township and Upper Freehold Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County, New Jersey. It became part of the newly created Ocean County on February 15, 1850. Portions of the township were taken to form Plumsted Township on March 11, 1845.

Vista Center is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Jackson Township. Cassville is an unincorporated area within the township.

Geography
Jackson Township is located at 40.09308°N, -74.35618°W (40.093077,-74.35618). According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 100.624 square miles (260.616 km2), of which, 99.244 square miles (257.041 km2) of it is land and 1.380 square miles (3.575 km2) of it (1.37%) is water. Jackson is the largest city by area in Ocean County.

Near Six Flags is the Jackson Premium Outlets, a major retail outlet center with 70 stores and a gross leasable area of 285719 sqft.

2010 Census
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $86,327 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,941) and the median family income was $96,171 (+/- $2,734). Males had a median income of $68,985 (+/- $4,126) versus $45,714 (+/- $2,238) for females. The per capita income for the township was $34,521 (+/- $912). About 2.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census
As of the census of 2000, there were 42,816 people, 14,176 households, and 11,269 families residing in the township. The population density was 427.9 people per square mile (165.2/km²). There were 14,640 housing units at an average density of 146.3 per square mile (56.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.26% White, 3.90% African American, 0.13% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.97% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.78% of the population.

There were 14,176 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the township the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $65,218, and the median income for a family was $71,045. Males had a median income of $51,276 versus $33,882 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,981. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
CR 527, CR 528, CR 547, CR 537, CR 526, and CR 571 pass through the township. CR 539 also passes through the township, but in the southwest corner, for less than half a mile. Interstate 195 is a major artery that travels through the northern section of Jackson (it just so happens that Jackson is the only municipality in Ocean County that hosts any interstate). While the expressway travels into Howell and Millstone Townships, it is also a vital link for Six Flags since it grants access to the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).

New Jersey Transit bus service is provided on the 139 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and to Philadelphia on the 317 route.

Local government
As of July 1, 2006, Jackson Township adopted the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) form of government, with a Mayor and five-member Township Council elected at-large in nonpartisan elections. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. Council members serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election in even years. The Council selects a President and a Vice President from among its members. Until 2006, Jackson Township as governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee, whose members were elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.

, the Mayor of Jackson Township is Michael Reina (2014). Township Council members are Council President Ken Bressi (2012), Council Vice President Ann Updegrave (2014), Michael Kafton (2012), Scott Martin (2014) and Roberta "Bobbie" Rivere (2012).

Public Safety Departments
Jackson Township has its own Police Department which was established in 1946 and which operates out of the Municipal Justice Complex. Chief of Police Matthew D. Kunz. Jackson Township currently has four fire districts and an industrial fire department: Jackson Township has two Fire Bureaus that enforce the NJ Uniform Fire Safety Act:
 * Police Department
 * Fire Department
 * Station 54 - Jackson Mills Fire Co./Jackson Fire District No. 4 (Combination Volunteer/Career) Chief Robert Haskins
 * Station 55 - Jackson Township Fire Co. No. 1/Jackson Twp Fire District No. 3 (Combination Volunteer/Career) Chief Timothy Carson
 * Station 56 - Cassville Fire Co./Jackson Fire District No. 2 (Combination Volunteer/Career) Chief Adam Poppe
 * Station 57 - Whitesville Fire Co./Jackson Fire District No. 1 (Combination Volunteer/Career [contract for personnel from Fire District No. 3]) Chief Scott Rauch
 * Station 58 - Six Flags Great Adventure Fire Department Chief Edward Zakar (Career)
 * Fire Bureau

Jackson Bureau of Fire Prevention District 4 Fire Official John Burmiester Jr.

Jackson Bureau of Fire Safety Fire Districts 1, 2 and 3 Fire Official Frank McDonnell Currently emergency medical services are provided by a combination of an independent volunteer first aid squad and a private third party contractor.
 * Emergency Medical Services


 * Quality Medical Transport (units 103,159,155) covers EMS calls from 5AM-6PM - Manager Sal Murante
 * Jackson Township First Aid Squad (Squad 22) covers EMS calls from 6PM-5AM - Captain Al Couceiro
 * Six Flags Great Adventure EMS (Squad 80) covers EMS calls within the park during park operating hours.

Advanced life support E.M.S., (i.e., paramedics or "Mobile Intensive Care Units"), is provided by hospital providers under a statewide system mandated by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Jackson Township is served primarily by MONOC paramedic units.

Federal, state and county representation
Jackson Township is in the 4th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district.

Politics
On the national and state levels, Jackson leans strongly toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 Presidential Election, In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58.7% of the vote in Jackson Township (12,451 cast), ahead of Democrat John Kerry, who received around 39.9% (8,458 votes), with 21,202 ballots cast among the township's 29,329 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.3%.. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 55.2% of the vote (14,069 cast), ahead of Democrat John Kerry, who received around 43.0% (10,951 votes), with 25,480 ballots cast among the township's 34,749 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.3%. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.8% of the vote (11,564 cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 26.7% (4,620 votes), with 17,315 ballots cast among the township's 34,318 registered voters, for a turnout of 50.5%.

Education
The Jackson School District serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are six elementary schools — Crawford-Rodriguez Elementary School (grades K-5; 803 students), Elms Elementary School (K-6; 835), Lucy N. Holman Elementary School (K-5; 669), Howard C. Johnson Elementary School (K-5; 626), Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School (K-5; 334) and Switlik Elementary School (K-5; 894) — Carl W. Goetz Middle School (1,365) and Christa McAuliffe Middle School (1,022) for grades 6-8, along with Jackson Liberty High School (1,384) and Jackson Memorial High School (1,738) for grades 9-12.

Notable residents
(B) denotes that the person was born there.
 * Parker Bohn III (born 1963), professional bowler.
 * Melvin Cottrell (1929–2002), former mayor of Jackson Township who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 until his death.
 * Scotty Cranmer (born 1987), BMX rider.
 * Rich Gaspari (born 1963), former professional bodybuilder and CEO of Gaspari Nutrition.
 * Frank B. Holman (c. 1930-2005), former mayor of Jackson Township and New Jersey Republican State Chairman.
 * Rob Johnson (born 1973), former professional soccer player who played for the MetroStars.
 * Kris Lewis (born 1978), painter.
 * Vini Lopez, drummer who played with the E Street Band.
 * Gina Lynn (born 1974), pornographic actress.
 * Luke Kolbe Mannikus (born 2001), actor.
 * Steve Niles (born 1965), writer of 30 Days of Night. (B)
 * Stanley Switlik (1890–1981), parachuting pioneer who donated the land that is the site of Switlik Elementary School.
 * Zakk Wylde (born 1967 as Jeffrey Phillip Wiedlandt), guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society.