Allentown, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Allentown is a borough located in western Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, bordering adjacent Mercer County. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,734,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 94 (−5.1%) from the 2010 census count of 1,828,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 54 (−2.9%) from the 1,882 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> The borough is nestled within central New Jersey, and is roughly equidistant between New York City and Philadelphia.

History

Allentown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of Upper Freehold Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 177. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The borough was named for settler Robert Burnet's son-in-law, Nathan Allen<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.</ref> or for William Allen, who served as Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania.<ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 21. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 26, 2015.</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.62 square miles (1.61 km²), including 0.60 square miles (1.54 km²) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.06 km²) of water (4.03%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Allentown borders the municipalities of Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County and Robbinsville Township in Mercer County.<ref>Areas touching Allentown, MapIt. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref><ref>Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Economy

File:Allentown, New Jersey downtown.JPG

Downtown Allentown

Allentown's shopping district has antique and specialty shops, as well as restaurants. Many historic homes and historic buildings are located in the borough. The Horse Park of New Jersey is a park located near the borough but does have an Allentown mailing address. Heritage Park is located within the borough near the shopping district.

The borough received the 'Village Center' designation in 2002, which will allow the borough to receive additional state aid aimed at preserving historic and natural resource sites that are at risk.<ref>Stives, Ruth Calia. "State planners designate Allentown a Village Center: Borough will get priority treatment, extra state help" Template:Webarchive, Allentown Examiner, May 23, 2002. Accessed July 7, 2008.</ref><ref>Designated Centers of the State Plan, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed August 23, 2013.</ref>

For larger scaled shopping, Freehold Raceway Mall in nearby Freehold, Quaker Bridge Mall in nearby Lawrence, and Princeton Market Fair in nearby West Windsor, are a short distance away.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 1,828 people, 704 households, and 499 families in the borough. The population density was 3,023.9 per square mile (1,167.5/km²). There were 735 housing units at an average density of 1,215.8 per square mile (469.4/km²). The racial makeup was 90.97% (1,663) White, 4.43% (81) Black or African American, 0.11% (2) Native American, 1.53% (28) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.88% (16) from other races, and 2.08% (38) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% (65) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 704 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18; 54.8% were married couples living together; 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.1% were non-families. Of all households, 22.7% were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.<ref name=Census2010/>

24.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $93,250 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,183) and the median family income was $101,875 (+/− $5,413). Males had a median income of $75,125 (+/− $13,989) versus $55,119 (+/− $7,348) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,970 (+/− $2,599). About 1.8% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Allentown borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 27, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,882 people, 708 households, and 526 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 718 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 90.65% White, 6.43% African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Allentown borough, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 27, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Allentown borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 27, 2012.</ref>

There were 708 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $71,193, and the median income for a family was $79,843. Males had a median income of $55,441 versus $38,667 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,455. About 1.0% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Allentown is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 135.</ref> The borough form of government used by Allentown is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Allentown is Independent Thomas C. Fritts, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Council President John A. Elder III (I, 2026), Nikki A. Darling (D, 2027), Erica DeKranes (I, 2026), Michael Drennan (I, 2027), Martha A. Johnson (I, 2025) and Daniel Payson (I, 2025).<ref name=Officials>Elected Officials, Borough of Allentown. Accessed January 23, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Allentown. Accessed January 23, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2024>November 5, 2024 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated December 16, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2023>November 8, 2023 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated January 18, 2024. Accessed January 22, 2024.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 27, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

With only one candidate on the ballot for the two available seats in the November 2021 general election, Nikki Darling won a seat on the borough council after receiving 159 write-in votes.<ref>Rosman, Mark. "Write-in candidate Darling wins seat on Allentown Borough Council", CentralJersey.com, November 18, 2021. Accessed May 9, 2022. "Nikki Darling, a lifelong resident of Allentown who launched a write-in campaign in a bid to win a seat on the Borough Council, has won a three-year term on the governing body. According to election results posted online by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office on Nov. 16, Darling received 159 write-in votes to win a seat on the six-member council.... There were two three-year terms available in the 2021 municipal election. Drennan was the only resident who filed a nominating petition to run for office, which opened the possibility for a write-in candidate to win a seat on the council."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Allentown is located in the 3rd Congressional district<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |} As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,255 registered voters in Allentown, of which 327 (26.1%) were registered as Democrats, 340 (27.1%) were registered as Republicans and 586 (46.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Monmouth, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.2% of the vote (540 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 41.9% (403 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (18 votes), among the 964 ballots cast by the borough's 1,312 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.5%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.7% of the vote (576 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 42.4% (446 votes) and other candidates with 1.4% (15 votes), among the 1,053 ballots cast by the borough's 1,334 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.9%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.3% of the vote (489 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 49.2% (488 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (11 votes), among the 991 ballots cast by the borough's 1,317 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.2.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.7% of the vote (436 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.6% (259 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (12 votes), among the 718 ballots cast by the borough's 1,319 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.7% of the vote (397 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 36.8% (267 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.7% (49 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (8 votes), among the 726 ballots cast by the borough's 1,283 registered voters, yielding a 56.6% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Monmouth County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref>

Education

Students in public school for kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the schools of the Upper Freehold Regional School District, together with students from Upper Freehold Township.<ref>Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Upper Freehold Regional School District. Accessed January 28, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades kindergarten through twelfth in the Upper Freehold Regional School District. Composition: The Upper Freehold Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Allentown and Upper Freehold Township."</ref> Millstone Township sends students to the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Millstone Township Schools.<ref>Upper Freehold Regional School District 2016 School Report Card Narrative Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 17, 2020. "The students served by the UFRSD attend three different schools. Students in pre-kindergarten through grade 4 attend Newell Elementary School (NES), students in grades 5-8 attend the state-of-the-art Stone Bridge Middle School, (SBMS) and Allentown High School (AHS) welcomes students from Allentown, Upper Freehold, and Millstone."</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 2,124 students and 176.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Upper Freehold Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>Data for the Upper Freehold Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Newell Elementary School<ref>Newell Elementary School, Upper Freehold Regional School District. Accessed January 28, 2023.</ref> with 516 students in grades PreK-4, Stone Bridge Middle School<ref>Stone Bridge Middle School, Upper Freehold Regional School District. Accessed January 28, 2023.</ref> with 460 students in grades 5-8 and Allentown High School<ref>Allentown High School, Upper Freehold Regional School District. Accessed January 28, 2023.</ref> with 1,131 students in grades 9-12.<ref>County School list A-D, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed January 28, 2023.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Upper Freehold Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Upper Freehold Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> The operations of the district are overseen by a nine-member board of education, with the board's trustees elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year.<ref>Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Upper Freehold Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed March 1, 2020. "The Board of Education, comprised of ten members, nine are elected to three-year terms and one is appointed by the Millstone Board of Education annually."</ref> The nine seats are allocated to the two constituent municipalities based on population, with four assigned to Allentown.<ref>Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education District Policy 0141.2 - Board Member And Term - Receiving District, Upper Freehold Regional School District. Accessed March 17, 2020. "The Board of Education shall consist of 10 members (4 Allentown Borough, 5 Upper Freehold Township, 1 member shall represent the Millstone community as an AHS representative). The term shall be 3 years for each of the Allentown and Upper Freehold representatives. The Millstone Board member is selected by the Millstone Board of Education."</ref>

Historic district

Template:Infobox NRHP The Allentown Historic District is a Template:Convert historic district encompassing the community along North and South Main streets, Church, Pearl and Hamilton streets, Lakeview Drive and Yardville Road. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1982, for its significance in architecture, commerce, education, industry, invention, religion, and transportation. The district includes 219 contributing buildings, including the Allentown Mill, which was added individually to the NRHP in 1978.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>

The Allentown Presbyterian Church was built in 1837, expanded in 1858, and features Greek Revival architecture. The Georgian-style John Imlay House, built Template:Circa, was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1936.<ref name="nrhpdoc"/> The Ephraim Robbins House now serves as the Borough Hall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The former First Baptist Church is now used by the Allentown Public Library Association.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• John Imlay House
  John Imlay House
• Ephraim Robbins House
  Ephraim Robbins House
• Former First Baptist Church
  Former First Baptist Church
• Allentown Mill
  Allentown Mill

Transportation

File:2018-05-27 14 43 34 View west along Monmouth County Route 524 and Monmouth County Route 526 and south along Monmouth County Route 539 (Main Street) at Waker Avenue in Allentown, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg

CR 524, CR 526 and CR 539 all converge in downtown Allentown

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Monmouth County.<ref>Monmouth County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The only major roads that pass through are CR 524, CR 526 and CR 539.

Limited access roads that are accessible just outside the borough include Interstate 195 and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).

Allentown is about one hour southwest of Manhattan via the Turnpike and about 50 minutes northeast of Philadelphia. Both Princeton and Trenton are easily accessible from Allentown via I-195.

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Allentown include:

• Doc Imlay (1889–1948), Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in nine games during the 1913 Philadelphia Phillies season<ref>Doc Imlay, Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed October 27, 2017.</ref>
• William Longstreet (1759–1814), inventor who designed an improved cotton gin, a portable sawmill, and builder of a small steamboat that worked on the Savannah River<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Tom McCarthy (born 1968), TV announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies<ref>Tom McCarthy, WFAN, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 27, 2007. Accessed August 26, 2007. "A 1986 graduate of Brick Memorial High School and a 1990 graduate of TCNJ, Tom and his wife Meg have four children: Patrick (10), Tommy (8), Maggie (5) and Kerri (3), and live in Allentown, NJ."</ref>
• Linda K. Meirs (1884–1972), American Red Cross and Army nurse during World War I who was one of the first six American recipients of the Florence Nightingale Medal<ref>"Historically Speaking: Linda Konover Meirs 1884-1972 Part Five", Messenger-Press, March 28, 2002. Accessed July 9, 2019. "Melinda Konover Meirs was born in Cream Ridge on June 5, 1884.... She lived in Cream Ridge during World War II, and would use her sugar ration to make cookies for the GIs, whom she considered 'her boys.'"</ref>
• George Middleton (1800–1888), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district from 1863 to 1865<ref>George Middleton, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 18, 2007.</ref>
• John B. Montgomery (1794–1872), United States Navy officer during the American Civil War, who later commanded the Pacific Squadron<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
• William A. Newell (1817–1901), physician and politician<ref>William Augustus Newell, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed April 11, 2007.</ref>
• George R. Robbins (1814–1875), politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1855 to 1859<ref>George Robbins Robbins, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 25, 2007.</ref>
• Warren Lincoln Rogers (1877–1938), bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio from 1930 to 1938<ref>Warren Lincoln Rogers, National Portrait Gallery, London. Accessed November 15, 2020. "Warren Lincoln Rogers (14 Nov. 1877-6 Nov. 1938), bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio (1925-30) and fifth bishop (1930-38), was born in Allentown, N.J., son of Samuel Hartshorne and Josephine (Lincoln) Rogers."</ref>
• Billy Schuler (born 1990), soccer player for the Carolina RailHawks in the North American Soccer League<ref>Billy Schuler, North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer. Accessed August 11, 2016. "Hometown: Allentown, N.J.... Played prep soccer at The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J."</ref><ref>Staff. "Ex-Peddie standout is finalist for college soccer's highest honor", Examiner, December 29, 2011. Accessed March 28, 2024. "Allentown’s Billy Schuler, who starred at the Peddie School before going on to the University of North Carolina, is one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy, which is the highest award for a college soccer player."</ref>

External links

• Allentown Borough website
• Allentown business website
• Template:HABS