Berkeley Township is a township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, extending from the Jersey Shore westward into the New Jersey Pine Barrens. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 43,754, the highest ever in any decennial count and an increase of 2,499 (+6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 41,255, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,264 (+3.2%) from the 39,991 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.
Berkeley Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 31, 1875, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township). Sections of the township were taken to form Seaside Park (March 3, 1898), Seaside Heights (February 6, 1913), Beachwood (March 22, 1917), Ocean Gate (February 28, 1918) Pine Beach (February 26, 1925), South Toms River (March 28, 1927), and Island Beach (June 23, 1933, reabsorbed into Berkeley Township in 1965).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 201. Accessed May 1, 2026. The township was named for John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, one of the founders of the Province of New Jersey.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.
History Army officer Lt. Edward Farrow began buying up woodland in the 1880s with the idea of building a retirement community for former Army and Navy officers. Farrow built a railroad station, shops and even a resort hotel called The Pines with the idea of attracting people. But only 11 people ever built houses in what Farrow called "Barnegat Park," and eventually he went bankrupt.Moore, Kirk. "Grand plans for 'Pinewald-On-The-Bay' died in the Depression", Asbury Park Press, March 30, 2008. Accessed August 13, 2012.
In the 1920s, Benjamin W. Sangor purchased the area, intending to create a resort town catering to wealthy urban vacationers. Between 1928 and 1929, about 8,000 lots were sold in Pinewald, a "new-type, residential, recreational city-of-the sea-and-pines." It was to contain a golf course, recreation facilities, and estate homes.Schweiger, Tristan J. , Asbury Park Press, February 8, 2007. Accessed May 14, 2013.
The developers immediately began construction of the Pinewald pavilion and pier at the end of Butler Avenue. The Royal Pines Hotel, a $1.175 million investment facing Crystal Lake, was built on the site of an earlier hotel dating back to the days of Barnegat Park.Resort Development in the Twentieth Century, An Historic Theme Study of the, National Park Service. Accessed October 14, 2007. It was the focal point of the new community. The hotel was also used as an asylum, then later a nursing home now known as the Crystal Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
The hotel was constructed by Russian architect W. Oltar-Jevsky in the early 1920s. Al Capone may have frequented its halls, perhaps even venturing beneath the lake in tunnels especially designed for smuggling alcohol during Prohibition. One newspaper article interviewed an unidentified man who claimed that "in the early 1930s the then Royal Pines Hotel was frequented by society's elite who, for $1.90 a drink, consumed prohibition liquor under the watchful eye of men who had guns strapped under their coats." In 1929, during the Great Depression, this resort community also went bankrupt.
In September 2014 residents of the South Seaside Park neighborhood of Berkeley Township submitted a petition to move from the township and become a part of the borough of Seaside Park, arguing that the neighborhood was away from the township's municipal offices and that there were minimal social connections with the rest of Berkeley Township. In 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court approved the petition and agreed that South Seaside Park may leave the township and join Seaside Park borough.Murphy, Colleen. "Tiny Jersey Shore neighborhood can secede from its town, ending 11-year legal battle", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 10, 2025. Accessed July 14, 2025. "The New Jersey Supreme Court has unanimously ruled in favor of South Seaside Park residents in their long-standing effort to leave Berkeley Township and join the neighboring Borough of Seaside Park.... Though officially part of Berkeley Township, residents argue it is geographically and socially distinct. To access most township services, they must travel up to 16 miles through seven other municipalities, according to the opinion."
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 54.25 square miles (140.51 km2), including 42.72 square miles (110.64 km2) of land and 11.53 square miles (29.87 km2) of water (21.26%).
The township is located in the central part of Ocean County along the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay, which is part of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Approximately 72% of the township's land area is within the federally designated Pinelands National Reserve and 38% is within the State's Pineland Area, which is within the Pinelands National Reserve. Toms River forms the northern border of the township, Cedar Creek and Lacey Township form the southern border. The barrier island, on which South Seaside Park and Island Beach State Park are situated, is the township's eastern boundary.Town Center Redevelopment Plan , Berkeley Township, June 10, 2009. Accessed October 31, 2016. "Berkeley shares its municipal border with Seaside Park Borough on the Barrier Island; Ocean Gate Borough, Pine Beach Borough, Beachwood Borough, South Toms River Borough and Toms River Township to the north; Manchester Township to the west in the Pinelands; and Lacey Township to the south. Berkeley technically shares a border with a two other municipalities – Island Heights and Seaside Heights. Both borders are considered inconsequential due to the fact that Island Heights is separated from Berkeley by the Toms River, and the Seaside Heights border adjoins Pelican Island, a small bay island separated from the Berkeley mainland by Barnegat Bay."
Holiday City-Berkeley (2010 Census population of 12,831, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 13, 2012.), Holiday City South (3,689 as of 2010, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 13, 2012.), Holiday Heights (2,099, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 13, 2012.) and Silver Ridge (1,133, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 13, 2012.) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located within Berkeley Township., United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 25, 2012. The four CDPs are parts of Holiday City – Silver Ridge Park, an age-restricted adult planned community with separate communities, each with its own homeowners association and amenities.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located wholly or partially within the township include Barnegat Park, Barnegat Pier, Bayville, Benders Corners, Berkeley Heights, Crossley, Double Trouble, Dover Forge, Glen Cove, Glenside Park, Good Luck Point, Holly Park, Manitou Park, Pelican Island, Pinewald, River Bank, Silver Ridge Park, Silver Ridge Park West, South Seaside Park, Stony Hill, Union Village and Zebs Bridge.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed November 29, 2014.
The township borders the Ocean County communities of Barnegat Light, Beachwood, Island Heights, Lacey Township, Manchester Township, Ocean Township, Pine Beach, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, South Toms River and Toms River; The township completely surrounds the borough of Ocean Gate.Areas touching Berkeley Township, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.Ocean County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 19, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
The township is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.Toms River Watershed , Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 3, 2022.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted people, households, and families in the township. The population density was . There were housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was % () White, % () Black or African American, % () Native American, % () Asian, % () Pacific Islander, % () from other races, and % () from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were % () of the population.
Of the households, 12.2% had children under the age of 18; 45.8% were married couples living together; 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 43.3% were non-families. Of all households, 39.3% were made up of individuals and 30.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.63.
11.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 15.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 43.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 81.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 78.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $43,049 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,988) and the median family income was $58,230 (+/− $2,406). Males had a median income of $54,959 (+/− $3,373) versus $40,935 (+/− $2,531) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,168 (+/− $1,017). About 5.2% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 13, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 39,991 people, 19,828 households, and 12,174 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 22,288 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 97.10% White, 1.30% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Berkeley township, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 13, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 13, 2012.
There were 19,828 households, out of which 11.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 29.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.52.
In the township the population was spread out, with 11.4% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 14.7% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 52.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 66 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.