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Upper Freehold Township

314 Route 539
609-758-7738

Located in central New Jersey (southwestern Monmouth County), Upper Freehold Township consists of 47.45 square miles. There were 3,277 residents as of the 1990 census. The 2000 Census reflects a population of 4,282. This increase of over 30% came in the last five years when a number of developments previously held off by the permit extension act were finally completed.

Upper Freehold has been a rural agricultural area since the late 1600's with farming being the primary occupation. The residents and Local Government have been successful at maintaining the rural and historic character of this community. While the nature of the farming industry may have changed from the former large dairy farms to feed and crop farming with the expanded industry of horse breeding, the Township remains a leader in the Farmland Preservation Program.

There are now approximately 6,000 Acres of land entered into the Farmland Preservation program. The program prohibits the preserved acreage under its protection from being developed or used for anything except farming. There are 2,567 acres of the Assunpink Wildlife Preservation Area that lie within the Upper Freehold Township borders. In addition, Upper Freehold Township is the home to two County Parks; Walnford Park, with it's restored Georgian style house, working mill, carriage house and cow barn, and Clayton Park, a passive recreation area, consisting of 242 acres with a 21-acre lake. Crosswicks Creek Greenbelt contains 328 acres of county-preserved land that winds it way through many areas in Upper Freehold Township. The Township has also recently entered an agreement with Monmouth County in which the Township will acquire 43.55 acres to be used for public purposes of recreation, open space preservation, and natural resources. That land, to be known as the Byron Johnson Recreation Area, is now being developed and will consist of baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, bocce ball, tot lots, etc. A grand opening is planned for the Fall of 2003.


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