Ocean County is a county located along the Jersey Shore in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Its county seat is Toms River.[2] Since 1990, Ocean County has been one of New Jersey's fastest-growing counties. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's sixth-most-populous county,[5][6] with a population of 637,229,[3][4] an increase of 60,662 (+10.5%) from the 2010 census count of 576,567,[7] which in turn reflected an increase of 65,651 (+12.8%) from the 2000 census population of 510,916.[8] The county was the fastest-growing county in New Jersey between 2000 and 2010 in terms of increase in the number of residents and second-highest in the percentage of growth.[9] Ocean County was established on February 15, 1850, from portions of Monmouth County, with the addition of Little Egg Harbor Township which was annexed from Burlington County on March 30, 1891.[1] The most populous municipality is Lakewood Township, with 135,158 residents in 2020, up from 92,843 at the 2010 Census[4][10] while Jackson Township covers 100.62 square miles (260.6 km2), the largest total area of any municipality in the county.[11]
Ocean County is located 50 miles (80 km) east of Philadelphia, 70 miles (110 km) south of New York City, and 25 miles (40 km) north of Atlantic City, making it a prime vacation destination for residents of these cities during the summer. As with the entire Jersey Shore, summer traffic routinely clogs local roadways throughout the season. Ocean County is comprised of 31.3% water.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county had as of the 2010 Census a total area of 915.40 square miles (2,370.9 km2), making it the largest county in New Jersey in terms of total area (ahead of Burlington County's), total 819.84 sq mi of which 628.78 square miles (1,628.5 km2) of land (68.7%) and 286.62 square miles (742.3 km2) of water (31.31%).[11][13]
Much of the county is flat and coastal, with many beaches. The highest point is one of three unnamed hills (one in Jackson Township, the other two in Plumsted Township) that reach at least 230 feet (70 m) in elevation.[14] The lowest elevation in the county is sea level.
Ocean County's area consists of 31.3% water. The coastal county along the Atlantic Ocean has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa and including the coast). In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Toms River have ranged from a low of 24 °F (−4 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −19 °F (−28 °C) was recorded in January 1982 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.30 inches (84 mm) in February to 4.79 inches (122 mm) in March.[15] Areas closer to the coast typically experience more mild winters and cooler summers due to the Atlantic Ocean's influence. Average monthly temperatures in Tuckerton near the south end range from 33.2 °F in January to 75.7 °F in July. [4]
This section needs expansion with: examples with reliable citations. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021)
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 576,567 people, 221,111 households, and 149,250 families in the county. The population density was 917 per square mile (354/km2). There were 278,052 housing units at an average density of 442.2 per square mile (170.7/km2). The racial makeup was 90.98% (524,577) White, 3.15% (18,164) Black or African American, 0.17% (966) Native American, 1.75% (10,081) Asian, 0.02% (129) Pacific Islander, 2.46% (14,165) from other races, and 1.47% (8,485) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.29% (47,783) of the population.[7]
Of the 221,111 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.9% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 27.8% were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16.[7]
23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 21% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.3 males.[7]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[19] there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 inhabitants per square mile (310/km2). There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km2 (391/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 93.05% White, 2.99% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 5.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[8][20] Among those who listed their ancestry, 25.3% were of Italian, 23.6% Irish, 18.7% German, 8.8% Polish and 8.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000.[20][21]
There were 200,402 households, out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.[8]
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.[8]
The median income for a household in the county was $46,443, and the median income for a family was $56,420. Males had a median income of $44,822 versus $30,717 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,054. About 4.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.[20][22]
Ocean County is home to the Ocean County Mall in Toms River, featuring a gross leasable area of 898,000 square feet (83,400 m2).[24] The now-closed Sears site will be replaced with 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of retail space.[25]
Government
County government
Ocean County Courthouse in Toms River, built in 1850
Ocean County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization held in the beginning of January, the board chooses a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members.[26] In 2016, freeholders were paid $30,000 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $31,000.[27]
As of 2023[update], Ocean County's Commissioners are (with terms for Chair and Vice-Chair ending every December 31st): [28][29]
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[35] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:[36] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
The Ocean County Prosecutor is Bradley D. Billhimer who was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy. Prosecutor Billhimer was sworn in by New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on October 12, 2018.[44][45] Ocean County constitutes Vicinage 14 of the New Jersey Superior Court and is seated at the Ocean County Courthouse Complex in Toms River; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 14 is Marlene Lynch Ford.[46][47]
Ocean County operates the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin.[48] This center offers access to all of the Ocean County government services without the need for residents to travel to the county seat some 20 miles to the north.
Ocean County is the most Republican county in New Jersey, a state that characteristically votes Democratic. In its history, it has failed to support a Republican for president only three times. All of its state legislators, County Commissioners, and countywide constitutional officers are Republicans. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win Ocean County was Bill Clinton in 1996, who carried the county with a 46% plurality of the vote. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 458,230 registered voters in Ocean County, of whom 171,085 (37.3%) were registered as Republicans, 102,005 (22.3%) were registered as Democrats and 179,085 (39.1%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 6,055 voters (1.3%) registered to other parties.[54] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 63.2% were registered to vote, including 82.6% of those ages 18 and over.[55][56]
In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.4% of the vote here (160,677 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.1% (110,189 votes) among the 276,544 ballots cast by the county's 380,712 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.6%.[57] The Republican vote totals and overall turnout were significantly down in 2012 due to damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Sandy just days before the election. In 2016 and 2020, it was New Jersey's most Republican county, and in 2020, it was the only one to give Donald Trump more than 60% of the vote.
United States presidential election results for Ocean County, New Jersey[58]
In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.6% of the vote here (124,238 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 28.4% (53,761 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 4.8% (9,068 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (1,955 votes), among the 193,186 ballots cast by the county's 371,066 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout.[59] In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.7% of the vote here (125,781 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 22.8% (37,930 votes), In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 98,135 (62.1%) of the vote, and Democrat Phil Murphy received 56,682 (35.8%) of the vote. In the 2021 gubernatorial election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli received 67.5% of the vote (145,756 ballots cast) to Democrat Phil Murphy's 31.8% (68,615 votes). Ocean County has been the most Republican in the last three gubernatorial elections.
Forty miles of barrier beaches form the Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor Bays, offering ample watersports. It also is home of the Tuckerton Seaport, a 40-acre (160,000 m2) maritime history village in Tuckerton. In addition to being the northeast gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens, Ocean County is also home to several state parks:
The county had a total of 2,958.5 miles (4,761.2 km) of roadways, of which 2,164.2 miles (3,482.9 km) are maintained by the municipality, 615.5 miles (990.6 km) by Ocean County and 140.19 miles (225.61 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 38.59 miles (62.10 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[82]
Bus route 137 provides service in three variants. One is a nonstop express between Toms River and New York City that operates seven days a week. The other two are rush hour only services, one operating along County Route 549 between Toms River and Brick Township before continuing onto New York City. The Other begins and ends in Lakewood, operating via County Line Road to the Brick park and ride before continuing to New York.
Bus route 67 operates between Toms River and Newark, providing service along County Route 549 between Toms River and Brick before continuing onto Lakewood and points north. Bus Route 317 crosses the county in an east–west fashion on its route between Philadelphia and Asbury Park. This route also provides service to Fort Dix, Camden, and other destinations. Bus route 319 makes a single stop in Toms River on its route between Atlantic City and New York.
Ocean Ride
Ocean Ride is a county wide system with 12 regular routes, many serving Ocean County Mall, which acts as transfer hub.[84][85] Of these routes, only the OC 10 (Lavallette to Toms River) operates Monday-Saturday, with the OC 4 (Point Pleasant to Lakewood) operating Monday-Friday. All other routes run 2–3 days a week. Ocean Ride also provides paratransit service throughout the county.
Other services
Academy Bus provides service between various areas in the northern part of the county and New York City. Many of the retirement communities contract for the operation of shuttle buses to connect the communities with various shopping centers in the county.
Municipalities
The 33 municipalities in Ocean County with 2010 census data for population, housing units, and area in square miles are:[86] Other, unincorporated communities in the county are listed alongside their parent municipality (or municipalities).[87] Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township.[11] The numbers in parentheses stand for the numbers on the map.
Index map of Ocean County municipalities (see index key in table below)
Interactive map of municipalities in Ocean County.
^Hopkins, Kathleen. "New Ocean County prosecutor once proposed at the courthouse", Asbury Park Press, October 12, 2018. Accessed October 13, 2018. "Flanked by Alyn and their two daughters, Mackenzie, 14, and Riley, 11, Billhimer was sworn in by state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal as Ocean County prosecutor.... Billhimer, a 48-year-old Democrat who was a criminal defense attorney for almost two decades, was sworn in privately Tuesday by Gov. Phil Murphy as the county's chief law-enforcement officer, succeeding former Prosecutor Joseph Coronato."
^[3], Who is N.J.’s most bipartisan member of Congress, really?. Accessed August 5, 2022. "As for Republicans, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) voted with Biden 37% of the time, "
^Fahim, Kareem. "As Orthodox Population Grows, So Do Tensions", The New York Times, December 10, 2007. Accessed August 23, 2014. "Many Orthodox Jews have been drawn to Lakewood by the prestige of the town's yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, one of the largest rabbinical colleges in the world. The yeshiva was founded in 1943 by a Polish-born rabbi, Aaron Kotler. In 1962, when Rabbi Kotler died, the school had 250 students. It now has about 5,000."
^ abStephen Stirling (August 3, 2017). "10 ways Lakewood is unlike anywhere else in N.J." NJ Advance Media. Retrieved April 19, 2019. The sea change can be pinned to one event: The founding of the Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva in the mid-20th century. The Orthodox Jewish community has set down roots en masse around the religious school, which is now the largest yeshiva in North America.
^Economic DevelopmentArchived 2018-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, Ocean County Department of Planning. Accessed August 23, 2014. "Toms River Regional School District in the largest suburban district in New Jersey, fourth largest overall with 18,000 students."
^Frassinelli, Mike. "Exit 7A: A perfect spot for Adventure on the N.J. Turnpike", The Star-Ledger, October 9, 2011. Accessed October 6, 2013. "What remained was still pretty grand: the largest drive-thru safari outside of Africa — providing generations of New Jerseyans with stories about how a baboon jumped on their car — and the larger-than-life Enchanted Forest. The 2,200-acre amusement park and safari, which has more than 1,200 animals, opened in July 1974.... The purchase by Six Flags in 1977 brought larger roller coasters, a trend that has continued with the arrival of Kingda Ka, which at 45 stories is the world's tallest. An acceleration of 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds also makes it North America's fastest coaster."
^Edwin P. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Accessed October 13, 2022. "Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 48,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats. More than 82 percent of Forsythe refuge is wetlands, of which 78 percent is salt marsh, interspersed with shallow coves and bays."
^About UsArchived April 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Micromedia Publications. Accessed June 27, 2016. "Micromedia Publications, Inc. was founded in 1995 by Stewart Swann and Robyn Weber for the purpose of publishing high quality local weekly newspapers within New Jersey. Following the successful launch of The Manchester Times in April of that year, the company has since introduced The Berkeley Times (1996), The Jackson Times (2000), The Brick Times (2002), The Howell Times (2004), The Toms River Times (2005) and The Lacey Barnegat Times (2010), now The Southern Ocean Times (2013)."
United States
New Jersey
![Beth Medrash Govoha (Hebrew:בית מדרש גבוה) in Lakewood is the world's largest yeshiva outside of Israel.[63][64]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/The_old_Beis_Madrash_Building_of_BMG.jpg/480px-The_old_Beis_Madrash_Building_of_BMG.jpg)
Ocean County, New Jersey
