Millstone Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. It is located in the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 10,566,^[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 1,596 (+17.8%) from the 8,970 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,901 (+77.0%) from the 5,069 counted in the 1990 Census.^[20]

Millstone was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1844, from portions of Freehold Township and Upper Freehold Township, as well as part of Monroe Township in Middlesex County. The portions taken from Monroe Township were relinquished in 1845. On May 29, 1937, portions of the township were taken to form the borough of Jersey Homesteads (now Roosevelt).^[21] The township was named for the Millstone River, whose name derives from an incident in which a millstone was dropped into it.^[22][23][24]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 37.274 square miles (96.539 km2), including 36.590 square miles (94.767 km2) of land and 0.684 square miles (1.772 km2) of water (1.84%).^[1][2]

There are two unincorporated communities within the township served by the United States Postal Service as post offices. Clarksburg is served by post office ZIP code 08510 and Perrineville is served as ZIP code 08535.^[25] Other unincorporated communities and place names located entirely or partially within the township include Baird, Bairdsville, Bergen Mills, Burksville, Carrs Corner, Carrs Tavern, Charleston Springs, Debows Mills, Disbrowe Mill, Ely, Elys Corner, Fair Play, Hillhurt, Holmeson, Pine Hill, Smithburg, Stone Tavern and Sweetman.^[26]

The township borders Freehold Township, Manalapan Township, Roosevelt and Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County; East Windsor Township and Robbinsville Township in Mercer County; Monroe Township in Middlesex County; and Jackson Township in Ocean County.^[27]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,566 people, 3,301 households, and 2,888.375 families residing in the township. The population density was 288.8 per square mile (111.5/km2). There were 3,434 housing units at an average density of 93.9 per square mile (36.3/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 89.44% (9,450) White, 3.59% (379) Black or African American, 0.17% (18) Native American, 4.51% (476) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.80% (85) from other races, and 1.50% (158) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.48% (579) of the population.^[9]

There were 3,301 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.5% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.5% were non-families. 9.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.20 and the average family size was 3.42.^[9]

In the township, the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 37.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.3 males.^[9]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $134,909 (with a margin of error of +/- $15,849) and the median family income was $139,535 (+/- $20,761). Males had a median income of $92,222 (+/- $13,047) versus $66,090 (+/- $14,854) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,390 (+/- $5,755). About 0.4% of families and 0.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.^[39]

As of the 2000 United States Census^[17] there were 8,970 people, 2,708 households, and 2,426 families residing in the township. The population density was 244.0 people per square mile (94.2/km2). There were 2,797 housing units at an average density of 76.1 per square mile (29.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.83% White, 1.05% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.^[37][38]

There were 2,708 households out of which 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.4% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.4% were non-families. 7.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.28 and the average family size was 3.46.^[9][38]

In the township the population was spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.^[9][38]

The median income for a household in the township was $104,561, and the median income for a family was $106,116. Males had a median income of $74,333 versus $50,036 for females. The per capita income for the township was $58,285. About 3.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.^[9][38]

Millstone is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government. The five-member Township Committee is 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.^[7][40] At an annual reorganization meeting, the council selects one of its members to serves as mayor and another as deputy mayor.

The Township Committee is Millstone's legislative body. It sets policies, approves budgets, determines municipal tax rates, and passes resolutions and ordinances to govern the town. The Committee also appoints citizen volunteers to advisory boards, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, committees, and commissions. The Committee may investigate the conduct of any department, officer or agency of the municipal government. They have full power of subpoena permitted by Statute.^[3]

As of 2018, the Millstone Township Committee consists of Mayor Gary B. Dorfman (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2018), Deputy Mayor Nancy A. Grbelja (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2018), Michael T. Kuczinski (R, 2020), Al Ferro (R, 2019; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Fiore J. Masci (R, 2020).^{[3][41][42][43][44][45]}

In September 2018, Al Ferro was selected from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been vacated by Robert Kinsey in August due to illness.^[46]

Millstone Township is located in the 4th Congressional District^[47] and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district.^[10][48][49]

For the 116th United States Congress, New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Chris Smith (R, Hamilton Township).^[50][51]

New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2021)^[52] and Bob Menendez (Paramus, term ends 2025).^[53][54]

For the 2018–2019 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 12th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Samuel D. Thompson (R, Old Bridge Township) and in the General Assembly by Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan) and Ronald S. Dancer (R, Plumsted Township).^[55][56]

Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director.^[57] As of 2018, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City, term as freeholder ends December 31, 2019; term as freeholder director ends 2018),^[58] Freeholder Deputy Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township, term as freeholder ends 2020; term as deputy director ends 2018),^[59] John P. Curley (R, Middletown Township, 2018),^[60] Patrick G. Impreveduto (R, Holmdel Township, 2020)^[61] and Dr. Gerry P. Scharfenberger (R, Middletown Township, 2019; appointed to serve an unexpired term).^[62][63] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon (R, 2020; Ocean Township),^[64][65] Sheriff Shaun Golden (R, 2019; Howell Township)^[66][67] and Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (R, 2021; Middletown Township).^[68]

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 6,954 registered voters in Millstone Township, of which 1,159 (16.7%) were registered as Democrats, 2,621 (37.7%) were registered as Republicans and 3,171 (45.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties.^[69]

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 65.5% of the vote (3,340 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 33.3% (1,698 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (60 votes), among the 5,134 ballots cast by the township's 7,344 registered voters (36 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.9%.^[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 62.8% of the vote (3,373 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 34.8% (1,867 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (64 votes), among the 5,368 ballots cast by the township's 7,032 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.3%.^[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 65.7% of the vote (3,289 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 33.3% (1,668 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (41 votes), among the 5,005 ballots cast by the township's 6,603 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.8.^[73]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 80.0% of the vote (2,384 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 18.3% (544 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (51 votes), among the 3,007 ballots cast by the township's 7,363 registered voters (28 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.8%.^[74][75] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.8% of the vote (2,875 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 19.2% (729 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 4.4% (167 votes) and other candidates with 0.3% (11 votes), among the 3,791 ballots cast by the township's 6,938 registered voters, yielding a 54.6% turnout.^[76]

The Millstone Township Schools serve public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its three schools had an enrollment of 1,909 students and 92.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 20.7:1.^[77] Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[78]) are Millstone Township Primary School^[79] (293 students; in grades preK-2), Millstone Township Elementary School^[80] (408 students; grades 3-5) and Millstone Township Middle School^[81] (487 students; grades 6-8).^[82][83]

Students in ninth through twelfth grades for public school attend Allentown High School in Allentown, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Upper Freehold Regional School District, which also includes students from Allentown and Upper Freehold Township.^[84] As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,283 students and 95.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.5:1.^[85] Students can also attend Red Bank Regional Highschool as long as they are able to test into one of their specialty programs.

The township does not have a local police department. Millstone Township is patrolled by the New Jersey State Police.^[86]

Millstone Township provides EMS and emergency care with an volunteer squad.^[87]

The local fire department consists of 10 career firefighters that provide fire protection and first responder medical care between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm. Volunteer firefighters cover from 6 pm to 6 am.^[88]

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 150.87 miles (242.80 km) of roadways, of which 122.47 miles (197.10 km) were maintained by the municipality, 23.68 miles (38.11 km) by Monmouth County and 4.72 miles (7.60 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.^[89]

Interstate 195 is the main highway serving Millstone Township. It crosses the southern part of Millstone, connecting to Upper Freehold and Jackson townships. Half of an interchange is located in Millstone (Exit 16 for CR 537) with the other half in Jackson.^[90]

CR 571, CR 524, CR 526, CR 527 and CR 537 are the main county highways which pass through Millstone. CR 539 also passes through the township, but there are no intersections prior to it entering Robbinsville Township/Upper Freehold on the south and East Windsor on the north. A small portion of Route 33 passes through the northern tip of Millstone prior to entering Manalapan and Monroe Township.

The New Jersey Turnpike (also known as Interstate 95) is accessible in neighboring Robbinsville Township (Exit 7A), East Windsor Township (Exit 8) and Monroe Township (Exit 8A).

NJ Transit provides local bus transportation on the 307 route.^[91]

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