Howell Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 51,075, reflecting an increase of 2,172 (+4.4%) from the 48,903 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 9,916 (+25.4%) from the 38,987 counted in the 1990 Census.

Howell Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1801, from portions of Shrewsbury Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Brick Township in the newly created Ocean County (February 15, 1850), Wall Township (March 7, 1851) and Farmingdale (April 8, 1903). The township was named for Richard Howell, who served from 1794 to 1801 as the third Governor of New Jersey.

The township completely surrounds Farmingdale, making it part of 21 pairs of “doughnut towns” in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders Colts Neck Township, Freehold Township and Wall Township in Monmouth County; and Brick Township, Jackson Township and Lakewood Township in Ocean County.

Howell was formed from territory taken from Shrewsbury Township under an act of the New Jersey General Assemblypassed February 23, 1801. The township, as formed, included in addition to its present area all of what is now Wall Township, Lakewood Township, Brick Township, and all the boroughs along the Atlantic Ocean from Barnegat Inlet of the Shark River Inlet at Belmar.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 51,075 people, 17,260 households, and 13,618 families residing in the township. The population density was 843.4 per square mile (325.6/km²). There were 17,979 housing units at an average density of 296.9 per square mile (114.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.30% (45,100) White, 3.65% (1,865) Black or African American, 0.15% (79) Native American, 4.52% (2,309) Asian, 0.05% (23) Pacific Islander, 1.61% (822) from other races, and 1.72% (877) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.13% (4,153) of the population.

Source: Wikipedia