Ocean County, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ocean County, New Jersey | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of New Jersey |
|
 New Jersey's location in the U.S. |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1850 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Toms River |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
916 sq mi (2,372 km²) 636 sq mi (1,647 km²) 280 sq mi (725 km²), 30.53% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
510,916 803/sq mi (310/km²) |
| Website: www.co.ocean.nj.us | |
Ocean County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the southernmost county in the New York metropolitan area; . Its county seat is Toms River[1]. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 510,916. Ocean County was established in 1850 from portions of Monmouth County except for Little Egg Harbor Township which seceded from Burlington County in 1891.
Ocean County is located 50 miles east of Philadelphia, PA, 70 miles south of New York, NY and 25 miles north of Atlantic City, NJ.
Ocean County is home to many tourist attractions including Island Beach State Park, Long Beach Island, Six Flags Great Adventure, home of the world's tallest, fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka. Ocean County is also a gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens.
The state's largest suburban school district, Toms River Regional Schools, is located in the county.
It is also home to Mantoloking (population 423), the wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey and Brick Township, America's safest city.[2]
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,372 km² (916 sq mi). 1,648 km² (636 sq mi) of it is land and 724 km² (280 sq mi) of it (30.53%) is water. It is the second largest county by area in New Jersey.
Much of the county is flat and coastal, and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the nation. 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. The lowest elevation in the county is sea level.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Monmouth County, New Jersey - north
- Atlantic County, New Jersey - south
- Burlington County, New Jersey - west
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 10,032 |
|
|
| 1860 | 11,176 | 11.4% | |
| 1870 | 13,628 | 21.9% | |
| 1880 | 14,455 | 6.1% | |
| 1890 | 15,974 | 10.5% | |
| 1900 | 19,747 | 23.6% | |
| 1910 | 21,318 | 8.0% | |
| 1920 | 22,155 | 3.9% | |
| 1930 | 33,069 | 49.3% | |
| 1940 | 37,706 | 14.0% | |
| 1950 | 56,622 | 50.2% | |
| 1960 | 108,241 | 91.2% | |
| 1970 | 208,470 | 92.6% | |
| 1980 | 346,038 | 66.0% | |
| 1990 | 433,203 | 25.2% | |
| 2000 | 510,916 | 17.9% | |
| Est. 2006 | 562,335 | [3] | 10.1% |
| historical census data source: [4][5] | |||
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 310/km² (803/sq mi). 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. 24.9% were of Italian, 18.2% Irish, 12.5% German, 7.0% Polish and 5.4% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
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.
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.
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 4.80% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
Ocean County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large by the voters of Ocean County in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms. Ocean County's Freeholders have both administrative and policy making powers, and are paid some $50,000 in salary and additional benefits.
As of 2008, Ocean County's Freeholders are:[7]
- Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari (Toms River Township, term ends December 31, 2008)
- Freeholder Deputy Director John C. Bartlett, Jr. (Pine Beach, 2009)
- John P. Kelly (Eagleswood Township, 2010)
- James F. Lacey (Brick Township, 2010)
- Gerry P. Little (Surf City, 2009)
[edit] Politics
Ocean County is a Republican stronghold in New Jersey, which is typically a blue state. All parts of the county are represented by Republicans at the federal, state and county level.
Doug Forrester carried Ocean County by 12 points in the 2005 New Jersey gubernatorial election, winning every municipality but Lakewood Township and South Toms River Boro. A year before, George W. Bush won the county by 21 points, carrying every municipality in the county.
[edit] Attractions
Ocean County is home to many attractions including Island Beach State Park, Long Beach Island, Six Flags Great Adventure, America's largest Six Flags theme park, home of the world's tallest, fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka. Ocean County is also the northeast gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, New Jersey's largest water park, Six Flags Wild Safari, the largest drive-thru animal safari outside of Africa. Ocean County has an extensive stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, including the Jersey Shore communities and oceanfront boardwalk resorts of Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant Beach. 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 maritime history village and the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Class A-affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
[edit] Municipalities
The following is a list of the municipalities in Ocean County. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township.
- Barnegat Light
- Barnegat Township
- Barnegat CDP
- Ocean Acres (part)
- Bay Head
- Beach Haven
- Beachwood
- Berkeley Township
- Brick Township
- Eagleswood Township
- Harvey Cedars
- Island Heights
- Jackson Township
- Lacey Township
- Lakehurst
- Lakewood Township
- Lavallette
- Little Egg Harbor Township
- Long Beach Township
- Manchester Township
- Mantoloking
- Ocean Gate
- Ocean Township
- Pine Beach
- Plumsted Township
- Point Pleasant
- Point Pleasant Beach
- Seaside Heights
- Seaside Park
- Ship Bottom
- South Toms River
- Stafford Township
- Surf City
- Toms River Township (County Seat)
- Tuckerton
[edit] References
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ 13th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, Morgan Quitno. Accessed October 30, 2006.
- ^ QuickFacts: Ocean County, New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-07-24.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930.
- ^ Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed March 27, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Ocean County website
- Ocean County Planning Board's Databook
- Ocean County Historical Museum: History of Ocean County
- History of the County Courthouse from County Clerk's website
- Ocean County Library
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