Ocean Township is a township situated on the Jersey Shore in east central Monmouth County, within the U.S. state of New Jersey.Capuzzo, Jill P. "Living In Ocean Township, N.J.: Ocean Township, N.J.: The ‘Ocean’ Is Aspirational" The New York Times, August 20, 2013. Accessed June 20, 2022. Ocean Township has no central downtown and consists of three main unincorporated communities: Oakhurst, Wanamassa, and Wayside. The township is divided into two ZIP codes, 07755 (Oakhurst)Oakhurst, NJ 07755, Google Maps. Accessed August 1, 2018. and 07712 (Wanamassa and Wayside).Asbury Park, NJ 07712, Google Maps. Accessed August 1, 2018. Small portions have Allenhurst (07711), Deal (07723) and Long Branch (07740) ZIP codes.The Township of Ocean, League of Women Voters of Monmouth County. Accessed May 1, 2023. "Its nearly 30,000 residents live in neighborhoods still bearing strong sectional identities. Locals are as likely to say they live in 'Oakhurst,' 'Wanamassa,' or 'Wayside,' for instance, as they are to say 'Ocean Township.' This dispersion is reflected in the Township's five different ZIP codes."
As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 27,672, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 381 (+1.4%) from the 27,291 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 332 (+1.2%) from the 26,959 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
History The township was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1849, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, at which time the newly formed township stretched from the Shrewsbury River to the southern tip of Avon-by-the-Sea.Collins, Karyn D. "Route 35 is just one part of eclectic Ocean Township", Asbury Park Press, January 7, 2005. Accessed May 8, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Originally, Ocean Township encompassed an area that was bordered by the Shrewsbury River to the south and Avon to the north." Portions of the township were since taken to form Lincoln Township (March 6, 1867; reannexed to Ocean Township effective May 1, 1868), Long Branch (April 11, 1867), Eatontown (April 4, 1873), Asbury Park (March 26, 1874), Neptune Township (February 26, 1879), Sea Bright (March 21, 1889), Allenhurst (April 26, 1897), Deal (March 7, 1898), Monmouth Beach (March 9, 1906), Interlaken (March 11, 1922), and Loch Arbour (April 23, 1957).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 183. Accessed May 31, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 210. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 12, 2015. The township derives its name from its original seaside location.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 13, 2015.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 10.99 square miles (28.47 km2), including 10.87 square miles (28.15 km2) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.32 km2) of water (1.14%).
Oakhurst (2020 Census population of 4,069) and Wanamassa (4,344) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Ocean Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cold Indian Spring Lake, Colonial Terrace, Deal Lake, Deal Park, Dogs Corners, Edgemere, Elberon Park, Green Grove, Indian Springs, Oakhurst Manor, Poplar, Shadow Lawn Manor, Wayside, Wertheins Corner, West Allenhurst and West Deal.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
Deal Lake covers and is overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, which was established in 1974. Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for of shoreline, also including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour and Neptune Township.Home Page, Deal Lake Commission. Accessed July 8, 2015. "The Deal Lake Commission was created by the seven Monmouth County, NJ towns that surround Deal Lake. The Commission was chartered in 1974 by the Borough of Allenhurst, City of Asbury Park, Borough of Deal, Borough of Interlaken, Village of Loch Arbour, Neptune Township, and Ocean Township."
The township is bordered by the Monmouth County municipalities of Eatontown and West Long Branch on the north; Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst and Interlaken on the east; Neptune and Asbury Park on the south; and Tinton Falls on the west.About Our Town, Township of Ocean. Accessed January 30, 2025. "We are presently bordered by Eatontown and West Long Branch on the north; Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst and Interlaken on the east, Neptune and Asbury Park on the south; and Tinton Falls on the west. Our many neighborhoods include Oakhurst, Wayside, Wanamassa, West Allenhurst, Deal Park, Colonial Terrace, Shadow Lawn Manor, and West Deal."Areas touching Ocean Township, MapIt. Accessed March 2, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 2, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 27,291 people, 10,611 households, and 7,417 families in the township. The population density was . There were 11,541 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 80.66% (22,013) White, 7.96% (2,173) Black or African American, 0.20% (54) Native American, 6.56% (1,791) Asian, 0.05% (13) Pacific Islander, 2.13% (582) from other races, and 2.44% (665) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.99% (2,453) of the population.
Of the 10,611 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18; 54.8% were married couples living together; 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.1% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.09.
22.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,806 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,218) and the median family income was $100,682 (+/− $8,339). Males had a median income of $66,774 (+/− $6,581) versus $42,216 (+/− $5,707) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,432 (+/− $2,161). About 4.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Ocean township, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 31, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 26,959 people, 10,254 households, and 7,341 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 10,756 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 84.48% White, 5.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 6.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.51% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Ocean township, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 31, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ocean township, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 31, 2012.
There were 10,254 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $62,058, and the median income for a family was $74,572. Males had a median income of $52,376 versus $35,439 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,581. About 3.6% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation Ocean Township has five named parks.Parks & Outdoor Facilities, Township of Ocean. Accessed January 30, 2025. The largest, Joe Palaia Park (formerly the Deal Test Site), is the site of the Township's July 4 celebration, and the Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean's annual five-day festival.Home Page, American Association of the Township of Ocean. Accessed July 5, 2022. Joe Palaia Park features many notable amenities, including a disc golf course and a playground. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the park became known for hosting a Drive-in theater for the community to enjoy, which took place at a small theater located within the park.Stine, Don. "Let's Go to the Movies; the Drive-In", The Coaster, May 6, 2020, retrieved September 18, 2023 Ocean Township also contains Weltz Park, an undeveloped parcel of the Monmouth County Park System.Weltz Conservation Area, Monmouth County Park System. Accessed January 30, 2025. Other parks within Ocean Township include Dave Dahrouge Park, which features tennis courts and softball fields, along with Wayside Park, which has basketball courts for public use.
Ocean Township maintains a membership-based pool and tennis club for residents, with the pool open during the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day.Pool and Tennis Facility, Ocean Township. Accessed January 30, 2025.
The township also offers a variety of public buildings for the community to rent out, including the Oakhurst Park Meeting Room.Indoor Facilities, Township of Ocean. Accessed January 30, 2025. Such facilities provide supplies for a wide variety of events, including appliances and tables.
Ocean Township's Municipal Gym is another notable facility, which features basketball courts on the inside and sports fields on the outside.Municipal Gym, Township of Ocean. Accessed January 30, 2025.
Government Local government