Hazlet, New Jersey


Hazlet is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 20,334, reflecting a decline of 1,044 from the 21,378 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 598 from the 21,976 counted in the 1990 Census.
Hazlet 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 environment of the Raritan Bayshore coastline.

History

What is now Hazlet Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 25, 1848, from portions of Middletown Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Holmdel Township, Matawan Township, Keyport, Keansburg and Union Beach. The township was renamed "Hazlet Township" as of November 28, 1967, based on the results of a referendum held on November 7, 1967. Hazlet derives its name from Dr. John Hazlett, who had an estate in Raritan Township near the Keyport-Holmdel Turnpike, now Holmdel Road.
Hazlet was the site of the last drive-in movie theater in New Jersey, the Route 35 Drive-In, which closed in 1991, until the Delsea Drive-In in Vineland reopened in 2004.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 5.675 square miles, including 5.557 square miles of land and 0.118 square miles of water. Hazlet Township is roughly south of Manhattan and northeast of Philadelphia.
Unincorporated communities located partially or completely within Hazlet include Centerville, Mechanicsville, North Centerville, South Keyport, Tiltons Corner, Van Marters Corner and West Keansburg.
The township borders Aberdeen Township, Holmdel Township, Keansburg, Keyport, Middletown Township and Union Beach.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $89,415 and the median family income was $102,743. Males had a median income of $71,710 versus $53,371 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,051. About 1.2% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 21,378 people, 7,244 households, and 5,802 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,802.3 people per square mile. There were 7,406 housing units at an average density of 1,317.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 93.17% White, 1.10% African American, 0.06% Native American, 3.39% Asian, 1.13% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.87% of the population.
There were 7,244 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $65,697, and the median income for a family was $71,361. Males had a median income of $51,776 versus $32,439 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,262. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Hazlet is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected annually by the Committee from among its five members at a reorganization meeting held each January.
, members of the Hazlet Township Committee are Mayor Michael F. Glackin, Deputy Mayor Tara Clark, Scott Aagre, James "Skip" McKay and Michael Sachs.
In January 2019, former councilmember Michael Sachs was selected to fill the council seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Susan Kiley until she resigned to take office on the Monmouth County Board of chosen freeholders. Sachs served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was chosen to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation

Hazlet 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 13,685 registered voters in Hazlet Township, of which 3,679 were registered as Democrats, 2,606 were registered as Republicans and 7,388 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 51.8% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 46.6%, and other candidates with 1.6%, among the 9,430 ballots cast by the township's 13,851 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 54.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.5% and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 10,617 ballots cast by the township's 14,345 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 56.2% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 42.7% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 10,249 ballots cast by the township's 13,777 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.4.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.3%, and other candidates with 1.7%, among the 5,883 ballots cast by the township's 13,838 registered voters, for a turnout of 42.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.7% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 26.2%, Independent Chris Daggett with 6.1% and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 6,877 ballots cast by the township's 13,927 registered voters, yielding a 49.4% turnout.

Education

The Hazlet Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprising eight schools, had an enrollment of 2,871 students and 254.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1. Schools in the district are
Sycamore Drive Early Childhood Learning Center,
Lillian Drive Elementary School,
Middle Road Elementary School,
Raritan Valley Elementary School,
Beers Street Elementary School,
Cove Road Elementary School,
Hazlet Middle School and
Raritan High School.

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.
Route 35, Route 36 and County Route 516 are within Hazlet Township's borders. The Garden State Parkway also runs through and provides easy access to the Jersey Shore or destinations in North Jersey and New York City. The Parkway's interchange 117, labeled for Keyport / Hazlet, is located within the township.

Public transportation

service is available at the Hazlet station offering travel on the North Jersey Coast Line to Hoboken Terminal, Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 817 route.
Through rail freight service is provided by Conrail Shared Assets Operations, which provides freight service between South Amboy and Lakehurst via Red Bank.

Notable people

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