Jackson Township

By Victoria O’Donnell & Christopher Ippolito:  Jackson Township was named after the legendary “Old Hickory,” Pres. Andrew Jackson.  For many years, the township was largely recognized by its small villages. Each of these villages had similar features–a church, general store, tavern, mill, and iconic one-room schoolhouse–which nurtured the small community and formed the foundation of modern Jackson. Mills, small farms, and horse breeding in the 19th century transitioned to cranberry bogs and chicken farms in the first half of the 20th century. As transportation became more advanced after World War II, people began to travel outside of town for work, and the once-thriving villages of industry disappeared. Today, Jackson Township, covering 100.4 square miles, is the largest municipality in Ocean County and the third largest in the state of New Jersey.