Ocean County, New Jersey

Climate

Ocean County's area comprises 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 temperatures in Tuckerton near the south end range from 33.2 °F (0.7 °C) in January to 75.7 °F (24.3 °C) in July.^[25]

The highest monthly average temperature for the county was 78.8 °F (26.0 °C) in July 2020; the lowest was 17.2 °F (−8.2 °C) in February 1934.^[26]

Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.30 inches (84 mm) in February to 4.79 inches (122 mm) in March.^[24] Areas closer to the coast typically experience more mild winters and cooler summers due to the Atlantic Ocean's influence.

The highest total monthly precipitation recorded for the county was 15.67 in (39.8 cm) in August 2011, the same month Hurricane Irene hit the New Jersey coast; the lowest was .02 in (0.051 cm) recorded in October 2024.^[27]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 637,229 and 238,812 households, with an average household size of 2.62.^[30] The census also reported a population density of 1,014.2 inhabitants per square mile (391.6/km²) and a housing unit density of 470.6 per square mile (181.7/km²).^[4]

The median age was 41.5 years; 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males.^[30]

The racial makeup of the county was 83.8% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.4% from some other race, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.4% of the population.^[31]

96.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.7% lived in rural areas.^[32]

Of the 238,812 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.9% were married-couple households, 15.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[30]

There were 294,429 housing units, of which 18.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.6% were owner-occupied and 22.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.^[30]

Racial and ethnic composition

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 inhabitants 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 residents of any race were 8.29% (47,783) of the population.^[12]

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.^[12]

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.^[12]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census^[42] 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 (390/mi²). 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.^[13][43] 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.^[43][44] 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.^[13]

In the county, 23.30% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.60% was from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% was 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.^[13] 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.^[43][45]

As of the 2000 Census, Mantoloking was the wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey with a per capita money income of $114,017 as of 1999.^[46]

County government

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.^[50] In 2016, freeholders were paid $30,000 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $31,000.^[51] This remained unchanged in 2018.^{[citation needed]}

As of 2025^[update], Ocean County's Commissioners are (with terms for chair and vice-chair ending every December 31):^[52][53]

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).^[59] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:^[60] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:

No Democrat has won a countywide office since 1989. The Ocean County Prosecutor is Bradley D. Billhimer, who was nominated by Governor Phil Murphy. Billhimer was sworn in by New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on October 12, 2018.^[67][68] 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.^[69][70] Ocean County operates the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin.^[71] This center offers access to all of the Ocean County government services without the need for residents to travel to the county seat located about 20 miles (32 km) to the north.

Federal representatives

The 2nd and 4th Congressional Districts cover the county.^[72] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).^[73] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).^[74][75]

State representatives

The 33 municipalities of Ocean County are covered by four legislative districts.

State elections

Tertiary education

Ocean County College is the two-year community college for Ocean County, one of a network of 19 county colleges statewide. The school is in Toms River and was founded in 1964.^[86]

Georgian Court University in Lakewood Township is a private Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy college, which opened in 1908 on the former winter estate of millionaire George Jay Gould I, son of railroad tycoon Jay Gould. Lakewood is also home to Beth Medrash Govoha, a Haredi yeshiva with 5,000 students, making it one of the largest yeshivas in the world^[87] and the largest outside the State of Israel.^[88][89]

Stockton University has a campus located in Manahawkin offering undergraduate and graduate colleges of the arts, sciences and professional studies of the New Jersey state system of higher education.^[90]

Primary and secondary schools

School districts in the county include:^[91][92][93]

K-12

Secondary

• Central Regional School District
• Ocean County Vocational Technical School
• Pinelands Regional School District
• Southern Regional School District

Elementary (K-6, except as noted)

New Jersey's largest suburban school district, Toms River Regional Schools, is located in Ocean County.^[94] Toms River is also home to the county's only Roman Catholic high school, Monsignor Donovan High School, operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, which also has six elementary schools located in the county.^[95]

In addition to multiple public high schools, the county has an extensive vocational high school program, known as the Ocean County Vocational Technical School district. In addition to its campuses in Brick, Toms River, Waretown, and Jackson, it contains three magnet schools:^[96]

• Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES)
• OCVTS Performing Arts Academy – theater, dance, and vocal
• OCVTS Academy of Law and Public Safety (ALPS)^[97]

National protected area

• Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge covers 48,000 acres (19,000 ha) of wetlands and coastal habitat in Atlantic and Ocean counties.^[105]

Roads and highways

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.^[109]

Ocean County has various major roads that pass through. Those routes are listed below:^[110]

• U.S. Route 9 (The only U.S. Highway in the county)
• Route 13
• Route 35
• Route 37
• Route 70
• Route 72
• Route 88
• Route 166
• Interstate 195 (The only Interstate to pass through Ocean County; It runs entirely in Jackson Township)
• The Garden State Parkway extends 38.5 miles (62.0 km) from Bass River Township in Burlington County in the south to Wall Township in Monmouth County to the north.

Several prominent 500 series county highways make up an important portion of the automobile corridors in Ocean County. These include County Road 526, County Road 527, County Road 528, County Road 530, County Road 532, County Road 539, County Road 547, County Road 549, County Road 554, and County Road 571.

Public transportation

Former municipalities

• Island Beach (1933-1965)
• Dover Township (renamed Toms River in 2006)