Howell Township, New Jersey

Howell Township is a township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is the largest municipality in the county by total area, comprising about . It is located in the New York metropolitan area and has been a steadily growing bedroom community of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 53,537, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,462 (+4.8%) from the 2010 census count of 51,075, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,172 (+4.4%) from the 48,903 counted in the 2000 census.

History

Howell Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1801, from portions of Shrewsbury Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Brick Township in the newly created Ocean County (February 15, 1850), Wall Township (March 7, 1851) and Farmingdale (April 8, 1903).Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 180. Accessed May 29, 2024. The township was named for Richard Howell, who served from 1794 to 1801 as the third Governor of New Jersey.

Founded in 1822 by engineer and philanthropist James P. Allaire, the Howell Works provided iron for Allaire Iron Works, which was a leading supplier of iron in the 19th century. Allaire Village was a bustling mill town at the height of the mining operations and it has been preserved as Allaire State Park, which is in Howell Township and Wall Township.

Some scenes for the '' War of the Worlds'' 2005 remake were filmed here, and a neighborhood called Ardena Acres was recreated as a set and left standing in Universal Studios Hollywood.

In June 2017, two separate tornadoes, both rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, struck minutes and miles apart. The first one struck the Fort Plains area, damaging a Home Depot, Chase Bank, a strip mall, and a local ice cream parlor. The second one struck a park in the Oak Glen area.

Roughly six years later in April 2023, a tornado rated EF-2 struck Howell and neighboring Jackson Township near the Aldrich Road area. The National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado was 50 yards wide and 1.4 miles in length. It was one of the strongest tornadoes to have hit the state, as it was part of four separate powerful tornadoes that had also impacted the state that same day.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 61.21 square miles (158.54 km²), including 60.27 square miles (156.10 km²) of land and 0.94 square miles (2.44 km²) of water (1.54%).

Howell was formed from territory taken from Shrewsbury Township under an act of the New Jersey General Assembly passed February 23, 1801. The township, as formed, included in addition to its present area all of what is now Wall Township, Lakewood Township, Brick Township, and all the boroughs along the Atlantic Ocean from Barnegat Inlet of the Shark River Inlet at Belmar.

Ramtown (with a 2010 Census population of 6,242) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Howell Township.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32)
United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 4, 2012.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Adelphia, Ardena, Ardmore Estates, Bergerville, Candlewood, Collingwood Park, Fairfield, Fort Plains, Freewood Acres, Jerseyville, Lake Club, Land of Pines, Larrabees, Lippencotts Corner, Lower Squankum, Matthews, Maxim, Oak Glen, Parkway Pines, Salem Hill, Shacks Corner, Southard, Squankum, West Farms, Winston Park, Wyckoff Mills and Yellow Brook.

The township completely surrounds Farmingdale, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders Colts Neck Township, Freehold Township and Wall Township in Monmouth County; and Brick Township, Jackson Township and Lakewood Township in Ocean County.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Howell Township would predominantly feature an Appalachian Oak (type 104) vegetation type, with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (vegetation form 25).U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types
Data Basin. Accessed May 27, 2025.

Howell is located within the Outer Coastal Plain ecoregion of New Jersey, characterized by sandy soils and a mix of pine-oak forests and wetlands. Its natural ecosystems include upland oak-hickory woodlands, pine barrens transition zones, and freshwater marshes. These habitats support white-tailed deer, red foxes, wild turkeys, box turtles, and amphibians like spring peepers and wood frogs.Environmental Resource Inventory for Howell Township, Monmouth County
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), 2020.

The Manasquan Reservoir, a 1,204-acre site operated by the Monmouth County Park System, is one of Howell’s most ecologically significant areas. It provides habitat for nesting bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, and migratory waterfowl. The park also features native wetland plant species, reforested buffer zones, and interpretive trails for conservation education.

Bear Swamp Natural Area, located along Maxim-Southard Road, is a forested wetland that supports a mix of red maple, tupelo, and sweetgum trees, and functions as a critical recharge area for the township’s aquifer. Local conservation groups have identified it as a biodiversity hotspot and a priority for habitat protection.

The Howell Environmental Commission works with local and regional partners to preserve open space, implement native planting projects, and maintain an index of environmentally sensitive lands. In 2022, the township adopted a resolution endorsing New Jersey's Wildlife Action Plan to guide long-term stewardship of native habitats and species.

Major bodies of water

The township is uniquely located in the center of the state New Jersey, located on a ridge within Central Jersey. As such, northern sections of the township fall within the hillier terrain and fertile soil found in the Inner coastal plain, while southern sections of the township fall within the more flat terrain and sandier soil found in the Outer coastal plain. The township is located within the sphere of influence of the Jersey Shore, while also being located relatively near the Raritan Bayshore, the Raritan Valley, and the Pine Barrens. Notable bodies of water inside the township include:

Lakes

* Manasquan Reservoir
*Aldrich Lake
*Echo LakeAlfred C. Sauer Park at Echo Lake
Howell Township. Accessed January 28, 2025.
*Lake Louise

Rivers

* Manasquan River (Raritan River watershed)
*Metedeconk River ( Barnegat Bay watershed)
**North Branch Metedeconk River
**South Branch Metedeconk River
* Swimming River ( Navesink River watershed)
**Mine Brook

Demographics

Most common ancestries in Howell Township are
Italian: 23.8%,
Irish: 18.7%,
German: 12.7%,
Other groups: 11.3%,
Polish: 7.7%,
English: 4.9% and
Russian: 3.0%.

The township is also home to a small, but notable, Kalmyk American community located in the Freewood Acres neighborhood.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 51,075 people, 17,260 households, and 13,618 families in the township. The population density was . There were 17,979 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 88.30% (45,100) White, 3.65% (1,865) Black or African American, 0.15% (79) Native American, 4.52% (2,309) Asian, 0.05% (23) Pacific Islander, 1.61% (822) from other races, and 1.72% (877) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.13% (4,153) of the population.

Of the 17,260 households, 39.9% had children under the age of 18; 65.4% were married couples living together; 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.1% were non-families. Of all households, 17.3% were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.37.

26.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.

The Census Bureau showed that in 2010 median household income was $89,287 and the median family income was $102,015. Males had a median income of $71,499 versus $54,308 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,489. About 4.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 48,903 people, 16,063 households, and 13,011 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 16,572 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 89.99% White, 3.56% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Howell township, Monmouth County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 13, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Howell township, Monmouth County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 18, 2012.

The most common first ancestry group cited by Howell residents in the 2000 Census was German (17.7%), English (12.7%), Irish (11.5%), United States or American (9.9%), Polish (6.6%), French (except Basque) (4.0%) and Italian (2.7%).

There were 16,063 households, out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township in 2000 was $68,069, and the median income for a family was $74,623. Males had a median income of $55,349 versus $34,722 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,143. About 3.1% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Howell Township has a mixed economy, with residents employed across a variety of industries both locally and in the broader New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey, the top employment sectors for Howell residents include:

* Health care and social assistance (16.3%)
* Retail trade (13.8%)
* Educational services (11.1%)
* Professional, scientific, and technical services (8.2%)
* Construction (7.6%)

Many residents commute to jobs in neighboring municipalities, with a significant portion working in Freehold Township, Lakewood, Neptune, and Toms River. Others commute to New York City, Newark, Jersey City, and other points North Jersey, north via U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey, U.S. Route 9 or Interstate 195 (New Jersey), Interstate 195. According to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Howell is classified as a bedroom community, commuter town, with over 70% of working residents employed outside the township.

Major local employers include:

* Howell Township Public Schools
* Monmouth County government agencies
* CentraState Healthcare System** (based in nearby Freehold)
* Retail anchors on U.S. Route 9

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development identifies Howell as part of the Monmouth-Ocean Labor Area, with local economic strengths in health services, education, construction, and seasonal tourism-related sectors.

Agriculture

Despite increasing suburbanization, Howell Township maintains a strong agricultural presence, encompassing crop farms, nurseries, and a significant equestrian community. The township's commitment to preserving its rural heritage is evident in its support for local farming operations and equine facilities.

Commerce

Howell Township hosts a variety of shopping centers, primarily along U.S. Route 9, serving both local residents and visitors:

* Aldrich Plaza, located at 4075 U.S. Route 9, is a 127,722-square-foot community center featuring a mix of retail, restaurant, and service tenants. Anchored by Walgreens, the plaza attracts approximately 1.4 million visits annually. Its strategic location at the intersection of Route 9 South and Aldrich Road positions it within a thriving area with 12 schools and a growing population.
* Adelphia Plaza, situated at 949 Adelphia-Farmingdale Road, offers retail spaces catering to the local community. The plaza includes a variety of tenants and provides convenient shopping options for residents in the Adelphia section of Howell Township.
* Greenleaf at Howell, located at 5369 U.S. Route 9, is a 52-acre shopping plaza designed with 1,717 parking spaces for convenient storefront access. The center features a dynamic mix of national retailers and serves as a major shopping destination in the region.
* Howell Commons, at 4701–4799 U.S. Route 9, comprises 36 stores offering a range of shopping and dining options. The center includes national retailers and provides ample parking for shoppers.
* Lanes Mill Marketplace, located at the intersection of U.S. Route 9 and Lanes Mill Road, hosts 16 stores, including major retailers such as Lowe’s, Target, and Stop & Shop. The marketplace offers a variety of shopping and dining experiences for the community.
* Regal Plaza, situated at 2342 U.S. Route 9, features a range of tenants including White Castle, Dollar General, and The Learning Experience. The plaza encompasses 24,000 square feet of retail space and a 78,000-square-foot storage facility.

Additional shopping destinations near Howell include the Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township, Jackson Premium Outlets in Jackson Township, and Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, Tinton Falls. Neighboring Farmingdale serves as a 'downtown' area for the surrounding Howell Township. Nearby Asbury Park, New Jersey, Asbury Park and Freehold Borough, New Jersey, Freehold Borough also function as regional 'downtowns' for the township.

The Howell Chamber of Commerce, established in 1957, promotes local businesses and fosters economic growth within the township. The Chamber advocates for the diverse Howell business community, provides benefits to its members, and organizes events to encourage community engagement.

Parks and recreation

Manasquan Reservoir offers nature and exercise related activities such as fishing, bird watching, jogging, biking, dog walking. The reservoir also has a nature exhibit where people can go see the local wildlife.

Alfred C. Sauer Park at Echo Lake offers a dock for fishing and kayaking, a nature trail and a pavilion overlooking the lake which can be rented. There is no swimming but there are grills and picnic tables as well as a playground. In 2014, the township renamed the park in memory of Alfred C. Sauer, an environmentalist who worked to preserve the park and other natural environments in the township. Parts of Allaire State Park and the Edgar Felix Bikeway are found in Howell Township.

Government

Local government

Howell Township operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Faulkner Act (council–manager), Council-Manager form of municipal government. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the four-member Township Council, whose members are chosen in partisan voting to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with elections held in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. Three council seats are up together and two years later there is one council seat and the mayoral seat up for election at the same time. At a reorganization meeting held after each election, the council selects a deputy mayor from among its members.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 135.

, the Mayor of Howell Township is Republican Party (United States), Republican John Leggio, whose term of office ends December 31, 2028. Members of the Howell Township Council are Deputy Mayor Fred Gasior (R, term on council and as deputy mayor ends 2026), Susan Fischer (R, 2026), Evelyn Malsbury-O'Donnell (R, 2028) and Ian Nadel (R, 2026).Township Council
Howell Township. Accessed January 28, 2025.November 5, 2024 General Election Official Results
Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated December 16, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results
Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 27, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.

Former mayor Robert Walsh was named to fill the seat that became vacant when William Gotto took office as mayor in January 2013. Walsh's appointed portion of the term ended at the November 2013 general election, though Walsh was the only candidate to submit a petition to serve the balance of the term through December 2014.

The Township Manager is Joseph Clark. Since August 2022, the Chief of the Howell Police Department is John Storrow.

Emergency services

Police

The Howell Township Police Department serves as the township’s primary law enforcement agency. Established in 1971, the department is headquartered at 300 Old Tavern Road and includes divisions for patrol operations, traffic safety, investigations, and school resource officers. It also oversees the township’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division.

Fire protection

Fire protection in Howell Township is provided by five volunteer fire departments, each assigned to a geographic fire district:
https://www.twp.howell.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/2418/Fire-District-Map-2016-11-01?bidId=

* Squankum - District 1
* Adelphia Fire Company – District 2: Serving the Adelphia area and western Howell.
* Ramtown Fire Company – District 4: Providing fire suppression services to the southern section of the township.
* Southard Fire Department – District 3: Covering the Southard area and eastern Howell.
* Freewood Acres - District 5
These departments are coordinated through the Howell Township Fire Bureau, which handles code enforcement, fire investigations, and public fire safety education.

Emergency medical services

Emergency medical response is handled by a combination of municipal and volunteer EMS providers:

* Howell Township Police EMS: This division of the police department staffs multiple Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and responds to 911 medical emergencies across the township’s 64 square miles. Its team consists of EMTs and paramedics trained in prehospital emergency care.
* Howell Township First Aid and Rescue Squad #1: Founded in 1957, this all-volunteer organization provides emergency medical services, vehicle extrication, and rescue operations. In 2023, the squad answered over 1,500 calls and operates without charging residents, instead billing insurance providers to fund its operations.

Both providers work collaboratively to ensure timely and professional EMS response throughout Howell Township.

Federal, state and county representation

Howell Township is located in the 4th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report
New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 33,176 registered voters in Howell Township, of which 6,622 (20.0%) were registered as Democratic Party (United States), Democrats, 7,744 (23.3%) were registered as Republican Party (United States), Republicans and 18,798 (56.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated (New Jersey), Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2024 United States presidential election, 2024 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 62.7% of the vote (19,055 cast), ahead of Democrat Kamala Harris with 35.8% of the vote (10,881 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (467 votes) among the 31,964 votes cast by the township's voters. In the 2020 United States presidential election, 2020 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 57.8% of the vote (18,491 cast), ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with 40.7% of the vote (13,004 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (469 votes) among the 31,964 votes cast by the township's voters. In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016, 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 60.4% of the vote (15,808 cast), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 36.0% of the vote (9,430 votes), and other candidates with 3.5% (923 votes), among the 26,161 votes cast by the township's voters. In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012, 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.4% of the vote (12,529 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.2% (9,762 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (310 votes), among the 22,772 ballots cast by the township's 34,737 registered voters (171 ballots were Spoilt vote, spoiled), for a turnout of 65.6%. In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008, 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 54.8% of the vote (13,854 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.7% (10,790 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (300 votes), among the 25,278 ballots cast by the township's 34,490 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.3%. In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004, 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 59.0% of the vote (13,579 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 39.1% (8,990 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (219 votes), among the 23,015 ballots cast by the township's 31,549 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.0.

In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017, 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 60.5% of the vote (8,481 cast), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 36.7% (5,137 votes), and other candidates with 2.8% (391 votes), among the 14,009 cast by the township's voters. In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013, 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.4% of the vote (9,999 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.2% (3,426 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (189 votes), among the 13,788 ballots cast by the township's 34,992 registered voters (174 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.4%. In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009, 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.7% of the vote (11,187 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 24.7% (4,023 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.4% (886 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (127 votes), among the 16,287 ballots cast by the township's 33,461 registered voters, yielding a 48.7% turnout.

Education

The Howell Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 12 schools, had an enrollment of 5,409 students and 494.5 classroom teachers (on an full-time equivalent, FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1.District information for Howell Township Public School District
National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are five K-2 elementary schools, five 3-5 elementary schools and two middle schools for grades 6-8:
Adelphia Elementary School (345 students; in grades K-2),
Aldrich Elementary School (378; 3-5),
Ardena Elementary School (324; 3-5),
Greenville Elementary School (318; K-2),
Griebling Elementary School (255; K-2),
Land O' Pines Elementary School (486; PreK-2),
Memorial Elementary Elementary School (258; 3-5),
Newbury Elementary School (372; 3-5),
Ramtown Elementary School (325; 3-5),
Taunton Elementary School (362; K-2),
Howell Township Middle School North (1,116; 6-8) and
Howell Township Middle School South (868; 6-8).

Students in public school for ninth grade, ninth through twelfth grades attend either Howell High School (New Jersey), Howell High School, Freehold Township High School or Colts Neck High School (depending on home address), as part of the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD). The Freehold Regional High School District also serves students from Colts Neck Township, Englishtown, New Jersey, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, New Jersey, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Manalapan Township, New Jersey, Manalapan Township and Marlboro, New Jersey, Marlboro. Students from Howell can apply to participate in one of the Freehold Regional Learning Center programs within these six schools. The FRHSD board of education has nine members, who are elected to three-year terms from each of the constituent districts. Each member is allocated a fraction of a vote that totals to nine points, with Howell allocated two members, who each have 1.0 votes. Students from Howell may also apply to attend one of the Monmouth County Vocational School District schools throughout Monmouth County.

Mother Seton Academy, a Catholic School for K-8 school, grades Pre-K–8, which operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in the township. It formed in 2019 by the merger of St. Veronica and St. Aloysius schools; the former was in Howell and the latter was in Jackson Township.

Monmouth Academy (New Jersey), Monmouth Academy (formerly Lakewood Prep School) was a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school located in Howell Township, that served 180 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Media

The ''Asbury Park Press'' provides daily news coverage of the town. The government of Howell provides columns and commentary to ''The Howell Times'', which is one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.

Points of interest

* St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Howell, New Jersey), St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox Church cathedral, originally established in 1936 and decorated with Byzantine-style frescos, that operates under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
*The Mackenzie Museum and Library was the home of William Prickitt who led the 25th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops during the American Civil War, Civil War.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Several major highways traverse through Howell Township. These include Interstate 195 (New Jersey), Interstate 195, U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey, U.S. Route 9, New Jersey Route 33, Route 33 and New Jersey Route 34, Route 34. Major county routes that traverse through Howell Township include County Route 524 (New Jersey), County Route 524 (Elton-Adelphia Road), County Route 547 (New Jersey), County Route 547 (Lakewood-Farmingdale Road/Asbury Road) and County Route 549 (New Jersey), County Route 549 (Herbertsville Road).

The Garden State Parkway passes through neighboring Wall Township and is accessible with Interstate 195 and Route 33 at interchanges 98 and 100. Further out west, the New Jersey Turnpike is accessible with Interstate 195 and Route 33 at interchanges 7A and 8.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus transportation to communities along U.S. Route 9 from Lakewood Township, New Jersey, Lakewood to Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, Old Bridge, and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City via the 131 (New Jersey bus), 131, 135 (New Jersey bus), 135 and 139 (New Jersey bus), 139 bus routes, to Newark Liberty International Airport and the rest of Newark on the 67 (New Jersey bus), 67 route, to Jersey City on the 64 (New Jersey bus), 64 and 67 (New Jersey bus), 67 routes, and with local service on the 836 (New Jersey bus), 836 route. Bus service is available from Route 9 to the Wall Street, Financial District in Lower Manhattan via the Academy Bus, Academy Bus Line. There are two commuter parking lots available exclusively for residents of Howell Township, at the Aldrich Park and Ride in the Land of Pines neighborhood, and the Howell Park & Ride in the Adelphia neighborhood.

The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line a proposed NJ Transit project which would connect Monmouth County, New Jersey, Monmouth, Ocean County, New Jersey, Ocean and Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex counties to the rest of the system's rail network. The township would be a potential stop for the 'MOM' Line. As of now, Howell offers taxi services to and from the Belmar (NJT station), Belmar train station, the closest train station to the township. Other nearby train stations include Aberdeen-Matawan (NJT station), Aberdeen-Matawan, Asbury Park (NJT station), Asbury Park, Hamilton station (NJ Transit), Hamilton, and Long Branch station (NJ Transit), Long Branch.

Monmouth Executive Airport in Farmingdale supplies short-distance flights to surrounding areas and is the closest air transportation service. The nearest major commercial airports are Trenton-Mercer Airport, which serves several domestic destinations via Frontier Airlines and located west (about 36 minutes drive); and Newark Liberty International Airport, which serves as a major hub for United Airlines and located north (about 56 minutes drive) from the center of Howell Township.

Cycleways, including the Edgar Felix Bikeway, connect to Manasquan, New Jersey, Manasquan and the beach, as well as other points of interest.

Healthcare

Most of Howell Township is served by the CentraState Medical Center, CentraState Healthcare System, which is a partner of Atlantic Health System and is affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The main 287-bed hospital campus is located in neighboring Freehold Township and services the Central Jersey, central New Jersey region. The healthcare network offers additional services through its various family practices. Family practices accessible to Howell include locations in Jackson Township and Colts Neck Township.

The next closest major hospitals to the township are Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Monmouth Medical Center's Southern Campus in nearby Lakewood Township, New Jersey, Lakewood, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in nearby Neptune, and the Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, Hamilton division of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Notable people

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

* Jay Alders (born 1973), artist, photographer and graphic designer, who is best known for his original surf art paintings
* Bonnie Bernstein (born 1970), sportscaster for ESPN/ABC Sports
* Jimmy Blewett (born 1980), professional driver in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour; brother of John Blewett III
* John Blewett III (1973–2007), driver who competed in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour; brother of Jimmy Blewett
* Cody Calafiore (born 1990), actor and model who was the runner-up on ''Big Brother 16 (U.S.), Big Brother 16'' in 2014
* Sopan Deb (born 1988), journalist who works as a culture reporter for ''The New York Times''
* Anthony DeSclafani (born 1990), MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds

* Charles Asa Francis (1855–1934), politician who served in both the New Jersey General Assembly and New Jersey Senate
* Doug French (born 1959), competed in NASCAR and the ARCA Menards Series from 1985 to 2001
* Sandje Ivanchukov (1960–2007), professional soccer player who was drafted out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93), Tampa Bay Rowdies
* Rob Kinelski (born 1981), four-time Grammy award-winning sound engineer, most noted for his work with Billie Eilish, Billie Eilish & former bass player & founding member of indie rock band Union Spirit
* Brian E. Kinsella (born 1983), veteran, entrepreneur and former financial analyst, who is an advocate for military and veteran mental health
* Nick LaBrocca (born 1984), midfielder for Colorado Rapids
* Austin H. Patterson (died 1905), who served on the Howell Township Committee, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Assembly
* Tom Pelphrey (born 1982), actor who has appeared in the daytime soap ''Guiding Light'', as Jonathan Randall
* Frankie Perez (born 1989), mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist specializing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu who has competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship
* Boruch Perlowitz (born 1990/91), movie producer
* Amy Polumbo (born 1984), Miss New Jersey 2007
* Vinnie Roslin (1947–2012), bass guitarist who was an original member of Steel Mill, an early Bruce Springsteen band that included Danny Federici, Vini Lopez and Steve Van Zandt, who would later become members of Springsteen's E Street Band
* Rich Skrosky (born 1964), football coach
* Ryan Spadola (born 1991), wide receiver who has played with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins
* Jay Sweet (musician), Jay Sweet (born 1976), musician, educator, writer, podcaster, and researcher
* Jamie Tomaino (born 1956), professional stock car racing driver
* Denny Walling (born 1954), former Major League Baseball playerBass, Howard
"Howell's Hitman is Home; Ex-teammate Art Howe hires former Howell, Brookdale star Denny Walling to move north and become Mets' batting coach"
''Asbury Park Press'', November 27, 2002. Accessed November 20, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Denny Walling, who grew up in Howell and lives in Waynesboro, Va., has been named batting coach of the New York Mets."

References

External links

Howell Township websiteHowell Chamber of Commerce

{{Authority control

Howell Township, New Jersey,
1801 establishments in New Jersey
Faulkner Act (council–manager)
Populated places established in 1801
Townships in New Jersey
Townships in Monmouth County, New Jersey