Jackson has reinvented itself many times. The biggest township in Ocean was first a hub for lumber, cranberries, and poultry before becoming a commuter town. Now, as the home of Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari park, Jackson is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Jersey.
Let us show you around!
What is the history of Jackson Township?
Europeans claimed dominion over the land in 1665 when the Monmouth Patent was signed by the Royal Governor of the American colonies, Richard Nicolls Esq., who was acting on behalf of James Stuart, the Duke of York. The parcel assigned Ocean County and much of the
neighboring area to 12 recipients who lived, at the time, in what would later become Long Island and Rhode Island. The first incorporated European settlement in the area was Shrewsbury.
Forestry dominated the local economy, but as the number of trees shrank, farmers began to grow crops. Cranberry production then became a staple, hitting its peak in the early 1840s when there were over 200 cranberry bogs in production. The majority of the harvested cranberries were processed and shipped in crates and barrels made in local sawmills.
In 1844, Jackson was incorporated as a new municipality in Monmouth County by combining portions of Freehold Township, Upper Freehold Township, and Dover Township (now Toms River Township). In 1850, the lower half of Monmouth County was cut off to become the newly created Ocean County, which shrunk Jackson in size.
Beginning roughly in 1920, poultry farming exploded. At one point, the second-largest poultry farm in New Jersey had its residence in Jackson. However, in the 1950s, the US government stopped subsidizing chicken grain, which made the cost of feed increase 300%. By 1955, chicken had flown the coop in Ocean County.
When the Garden State Parkway arrived in the late 50s, suburban living came to Jackson. Development followed, and Jackson has been a commuter town ever since, with its population eventually growing to just under 58,000 as of 2019.
Who is Jackson Township named after?
Jackson is named after Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States.
Who were the Native people who first lived in Jackson Township?
The Lenape were the original inhabitants. During the 1700s, the Lenape were displaced by European settlers. The American Revolutionary War and the United States’ Independence pushed them further west. During the 1800s, most Lenape were forcibly removed from New Jersey because of the Indian Removal Act, which President Andrew Jackson signed.
What’s the geography of Jackson Township?
Jackson Township is 100.55 square miles. It’s mostly land with only 1.38 square miles of water. It’s the largest municipality in Ocean County and contains over two dozen unincorporated communities partially or entirely within its borders. Given its size, Jackson also borders many townships in both Ocean and Monmouth Counties.
What’s the climate of Jackson Township?
According to BestPlaces.Net, Jackson usually has
- 48 inches of rain per year on average
- 22 inches of snow
- 206 sunny days
- 85°F is the summer high
- 22°F is the winter low
Proven Roofing doesn’t send its crews out during temperatures greater than 95 °F or lower than 32 °F. Any Jackson resident will tell you such weather is not uncommon. Overall, however, Jackson has plenty of ideal weather conditions for roof installation. There also aren’t enough full days of sun for the color of your roof to make a difference, so you don’t have to worry about the most energy-efficient roof color.
What are the demographics of Jackson Township?
According to the 2010 Census, Jackson Township had:
- 54,856 people
- 19,417 households
- 15,048 families
And the economic makeup was:
- Median household income was $86,327 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,941)
- Median family income was $96,171 (+/- $2,734)
- Men had a median income of $68,985 (+/- $4,126)
- Women had a $45,714 (+/- $2,238)
- About 2.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
What are the schools like in Jackson Township?
Niche.com is a reputable source for school reviews. Here’s what they have to say about Jackson Township Schools.
Jackson Township School District Overall Grade: B+
Elementary School Overall Grades
- Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School (Pre-k – 5): B+
- Elms Elementary School (Pre-k – 5): B
- Howard C. Johnson Elementary School (Pre-k – 5): B
- Lucy N. Holman Elementary School (Pre-k – 5): B
- Switlik Elementary School (Pre-k – 5): B
- Crawford-Rodriguez Elementary School (Pre-k – 5): B-
Middle School Overall Grades
- Carl W. Goetz Middle School (6 – 8): B
- Christa McAuliffe Middle School (6 – 8): B-
High School Overall Grades
- Jackson Memorial High School: B+
- Jackson Liberty High School: B
What are the property taxes like in Jackson Township?
New Jersey has a property tax rate of 2.42%, which is the highest in the country (the national average is 1.07%). In 2020, the general tax rate was 2.368, and the effective tax rate is 2.054. In 2020, the average home was assessed at $328,520, which would mean the average homeowner would around $1,617 in municipal taxes.
No matter where you fall economically in Jackson, you shouldn’t let money stop you from getting a new roof. A roof is too important to your home not to replace when it’s time to replace! Holding off can lead to even more significant damage to your home. Luckily, you can get a new roof with no money, and you can get financing through Proven Roofing. So, if money is an issue, you can still protect your home! Let us help.
What exit is Jackson Township on the Garden State Parkway?
Jackson Township isn’t right on the Garden State. You’d have to take Exit 98 and merge onto NJ-34 N toward I-195 W/Trenton. Then you take I-195 for almost 13 miles, at which point you take Exit 21 for County Rd 527 S toward Jackson.
Does Jackson Township have a train station?
No, but nearby Spring Lake does. The trip can take between around two hours and two hours and twenty minutes. An adult one-way ticket costs $16.75, while a ticket for a child ages 5-11, senior, military member, or person with a disability costs $7.65.
Is there a bus that goes to New York City from Jackson?
Yes, you can take NJ Transit 139 from a few locations, like the Freehold Mall or the Lakewood Bus Terminal, and it will take between three to two and a half hours to get to NYC. Academy Bus also provides service to Midtown and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Can you get to Philly from Jackson Township?
Yes, the 317 NJ Transit bus takes you to Philly. It makes 127 stops between the Greyhound Terminal 10th St/Filbert St and the Asbury Park Transportation Center. By car, Philly is between an hour and five minutes and an hour and 20 minutes away.
What are some attractions in Jackson Township?
Jackson is home to major tourist attractions, shopping, and the opportunity to commune with nature!
Six Flags Great Adventure
Great Adventure and its neighboring Wild Safari animal park were combined in 2012 into Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari park, resulting in the second-largest theme park on Earth following Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Some attractions include:
- Kingda Ka: At 456 feet, Kingda Ka is currently the world’s tallest roller coaster. It also holds the record for the tallest drop at 418 feet. The ride accelerates to 128 MPH in 3.5 seconds and takes 28 seconds to complete.
- Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom: At 415 feet tall, Zumanjaro is the world’s tallest and fastest drop tower ride. It reaches upwards of 90 MPH. On a clear day, riders can see the Philadelphia skyline, which is 41 miles away.
- Jersey Devil: Currently under construction, when the Jersey Devil is completed, it will be the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest single rail ride roller coaster. It will be 13 stories tall, hit speeds upwards of 58 MPH, and have 3,000 feet of track.
- The Lasso of Truth: At 17 stories tall, the Lasso of Truth at Six Flags Great Adventure is the tallest pendulum ride in the world. It reaches speeds approaching 75 MPH and gets 172 feet into the sky. Its floorless seats mean that the riders’ feet dangle in the air.
- Bugs Bunny National Park: This is an opportunity to interact with Looney Tunes characters and enjoy a series of camp-themed rides.
- Boardwalk: The boardwalk is where you’ll find boardwalk-style games of chance, arcade games, and boardwalk-style food.
- Fright Fest: During Halloween, the entire park turns into a giant haunted house!
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
A water park that has
- Body slides
- Speed slides
- Tube slides
- Wave pools
- Lazy rivers
- Shopping and dining areas
Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure
The drive-through safari portion of Six Flags has over 1,200 animals from six different continents.
- Elephants
- Rhinos
- Tigers
- Giraffes
- Lions
- Zebras
- Baboons
- Kangaroos
- Bears
- And more!
Jackson Premium Outlets
70+ outlet stores that you can browse year-round thanks to a covered walkway.
- Nike
- Disney
- Coach
- Kate
- Spade
- Gap
- Under Armour
- Calvin Klein
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Timberland
- And more!
Howling Woods Farm
Howling Woods Farm is a 501(c)(3) educational facility that teaches visitors about wolves. The farm also rescues wolfdog hybrids and northern breed canines, known as Spitz-dogs (examples include Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes). Visitors can tour the facility by appointment, interact with the dogs, and even make an adoption.
Bunker Hill Bogs Wildlife Recreation Area
Sandy trails wind through dried cranberry bogs, presenting the opportunity for:
- Hiking
- Walking, jogging, and running
- Horse riding
- Boating
- Nature watching
- Cross country skiing
The Forest Resource Education Center (FREC)
There are eight miles of trails at the FREC. There are learning stations and informational kiosks. Some kiosks have audio components where you push a button to hear more about a particular topic. The FREC’s pineland forest provides an opportunity for:
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Biking
- Hunting
- Nature Photography
- Horseback Riding
- Bike Trails
Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area
This 12,000-acre park is in the Pine Barrens, full of sandy roads and trails that navigate pitch pine and scrub oak forests, white cedar swamps, and old cranberry bogs, fields, and ponds, beaver dams, and lakes. People come here to hunt, hike, and observe wildlife. It’s also a popular destination for birding.
Are there any good places to eat in Jackson Township?
Jackson has several well-reviewed Italian-American places and one very well-reviewed dinner.
- Mona Lisa Pizza: The #1 restaurant on Tripadvisor with 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 176 reviews.
- Brooklyn Square Pizza Jackson N.J: The #2 restaurant on Tripadvisor, with 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 137 reviews.
- Solo Bella: The #3 restaurant on Tripadvisor with 4 out of 5 stars based on 255 reviews.
- Jackson Diner: The #4 restaurant on Tripadvisor, with 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 134 reviews.
Have there been any notable residents of Jackson Township?
Zachary Phillip Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt; January 14, 1967): is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He’s best known for being the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, having appeared on eight Osbourne albums between 1988’s No Rest for the Wicked and 2007’s Black Rain. Wyle is also the founder, lead guitarist, and lead singer of Black Label Society, a heavy metal band that’s released 14 studio and live albums since 1999’s Sonic Brew. Wylde grew up in Jackson and attended Jackson Memorial High School (class of 1985).
Deena Nicole Buckner (née Cortese; born January 12, 1987): is an American reality TV personality who was on MTV’s Jersey Shore for two seasons, MTV’s Couples Counseling for one season, and has been a cast member of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation since 2018. Buckner grew up in nearby New Egypt (in Plumsted Township). She currently resides in Jackson with her husband and two children.
Wrapping Up
Proven Roofing has installed a lot of roofs in Jackson. You may have even seen one of our roofs from the top of Zumanjaro! From over 400 feet in the air, it might be hard to spot the work of a great contractor. That’s why we put together a guide for identifying a great contractor at ground level!
