Hazlet is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the Bayshore region near Raritan Bay. It sits between the Raritan Bay shoreline to the north and the Route 35 corridor to the east, with Keansburg, Union Beach, Keyport, and Holmdel surrounding it. Its population of roughly 20,500 makes it a substantial, established suburb within easy reach of both New York City and the Jersey Shore. The township's history reaches back to 1848, when it was established as Raritan Township after separating from Middletown Township, taking its name from the nearby bay. Over the decades it spun off several neighboring municipalities, including Holmdel, Matawan, Keyport, Union Beach, and Keansburg. In 1967, residents voted to rename the township Hazlet, after the longtime name of its train stop on Holmdel Road, to distinguish it from other Raritan-named towns in the state. The township's modern identity was shaped by the suburban boom of the 1960s, when it grew into a community of more than 20,000 residents with neighborhood schools, a municipal pool complex, and new shopping centers. Today Hazlet is a family-oriented commuter suburb. The Hazlet Township Public Schools, anchored by Raritan High School, serve the community, and Hazlet Station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line provides direct rail service to New York Penn Station. The Garden State Parkway, Route 35, and Route 36 offer road access across the region, and the township sits minutes from the bay and the Monmouth County beaches. For homebuyers, Hazlet offers a classic mid-century suburban housing stock, strong commuter access, and proximity to both the Shore and the PNC Bank Arts Center, at a generally more attainable price point than many Monmouth County towns. It suits families, first-time buyers, and those relocating from New York City seeking space, schools, and convenience.