Allentown

Originally settled in the 17th century, Allentown is a small, historic village located in the southwest corner of the County, bordered on three sides by Upper Freehold Township, and to the north by Robbinsville (Mercer County). Allentown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the largest historic districts in New Jersey. There are currently 220 buildings and homes in the village that predate 1860. The Borough has a land area of 0.6 square miles, and 56 percent of its properties are in single-family residential use.  Allentown is characterized by its tree-lined Main Street, a historic mill, and the Colonial and Victorian houses found throughout the Borough. According to the  Panhandle Region Plan (2011) , the borough seeks to maintain its historic character with a viable downtown offering goods and services to residents.

Sources:  www.allentownnj.org ;  Panhandle Region Plan (2011) 

In 2010, the Borough assisted the County with the  Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Byway Corridor Management Plan (2010) . The Plan highlights this state-designated scenic byway that showcases the pastoral landscape of horse farms, agricultural fields, historic structures, crossroad hamlets, and natural resources of western Monmouth County, as well as Allentown’s Main Street. Allentown’s  2018 Master Plan  lists seven principles and 13 objectives that follow the theme of protecting and enhancing the borough’s character, environment, economy, and operations.  In response to concerns from residents about the physical impacts resulting from regional truck traffic on their community, the County initiated The  Moving Mindfully: Monmouth/Mercer study (2019) .  This study provides an array of mitigation measures to improve conditions for users while reducing the negative effects associated with freight-related traffic without placing undue burdens on a single community or interest group.  Also, during this time the byway committee comprised of representatives from the Borough, Upper Freehold, Monmouth County, and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation was reconstituted in 2019.  As a result, the  Virtual Byway Tour  was updated, and an event was held in 2021 after wayfinding signage was reconfigured and expanded to make the byway easier to navigate.  In 2021 a new wastewater treatment facility came online, and the Borough adopted a comprehensive Land Development Regulations Ordinance that consolidated its land development and zoning regulations into a single chapter. The following year, the town completed streetscape improvements in the historic village.  

• Average Residential Taxes: $8,876
• Median Home Value: $293,116
• Net Valuation: $193,735,300

Source:  New Jersey Department of Community Affairs - Property Tax Tables 

• Residential: 201.9 acres (59.3%)
• Commercial: 17.6 acres (5.2%)
• Industrial: 0.0 acres (0.0%)
• Farmland: 0.0 acres (0.0%)
• Vacant / Undeveloped: 6.3 acres (1.9%)
• Other*: 114.7 acres (33.7%)

*Other contains the following property classes: Unknown, Public Schools, Other School Property, Public Property, Church & Charity, Cemeteries, Other Exempt, Railroad Class I, Railroad Class II

Residential contains the following property classes: Residential, Apartments

Source:  Monmouth County Tax Board ; Compiled by the  Monmouth County Division of Planning 

• Sustainable Jersey Participation Status: Registered

Source:  Sustainable Jersey