Island Heights, New Jersey

History

Island Heights was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 6, 1887, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), based on the results of a referendum held on November 18, 1886.

Island Heights takes its name from two sources: it originally was an island. It is situated by a steep bluff rising 60 feet (18 m) above the Toms River. It was originally known as Doctor Johnson's island, being included in the patent granted to him in 1680. In the century before the American Revolutionary War, it was known as Dillon's Island, probably for James Dillon, a prominent man in Toms River. The land was purchased by John Imlay of Allentown, who sold it in 1794 to Issac Gulick. In 1797, Gulick and his wife Abagail sold it to Abraham and George Parker. In 1799, the Parker brothers sold it to Abel Middleton of Upper Freehold Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.907 square miles (2.350 km²), including 0.611 square miles (1.582 km²) of land and 0.296 square miles (0.767 km²) of water (32.65%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Beechwood and Long Point.

The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township and Toms River Township.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,673 people, 683 households, and 487 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,738.3 per square mile (1,057.3/km²). The borough contained 831 housing units at an average density of 1,360.2 per square mile (525.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.82% (1,603) White, 0.24% (4) Black or African American, 0.12% (2) Native American, 1.37% (23) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.36% (6) from other races, and 2.09% (35) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.39% (40) of the population.

Out of a total of 683 households, 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the borough, 18.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.0 years. For every 100 females the census counted 91.4 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 90.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,269 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,616) and the median family income was $96,458 (+/- $21,090). Males had a median income of $75,234 (+/- $7,830) versus $47,045 (+/- $11,606) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,493 (+/- $4,086). About 5.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,751 people, 705 households, and 497 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,909.2 people per square mile (1,126.8/km²). There were 807 housing units at an average density of 1,340.8 per square mile (519.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.77% White, 0.11% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 705 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $61,125, and the median income for a family was $72,596. Males had a median income of $47,500 versus $38,375 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,975. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Island Heights is governed under the Faulkner Act form of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, within the Small Municipality (Plan A), enacted by direct petition as of July 1, 1974. The government consists of a mayor and a six-member council, elected in non-partisan elections held as part of the November general election. The mayor is directly elected to a four-year term of office. Councilmembers serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. As the result of an ordinance passed unanimously by the borough council in July 2011, the borough shifted its nonpartisan elections from May to November.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Island Heights Borough is Jeffrey B. Silver, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2018. Borough Council members are Council President Sean Asay (2017), John Bendel (2017), Steve Berglund (2018), Kieran E. Pillion Jr. (2016), Sandra Blain Snow (2016) and Susan Thompson (2018).

Brian Taboada, who had been serving a term ending in 2014, announced at an August 2013 council meeting that he would be stepping down from office to focus on school obligations.

Emergency services

The borough is protected by the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company, which was established in 1895.

Federal, state and county representation

Island Heights is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 10th state legislative district.

New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District is represented by Tom MacArthur (R, Toms River). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 10th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James W. Holzapfel (R, Toms River Township) and in the General Assembly by Gregory P. McGuckin (R, Toms River Township) and David W. Wolfe (R, Brick Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Ocean County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, 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. As of 2015, Ocean County's Freeholders (with party affiliation, term-end year, residence and department directorship listed in parentheses) are Freeholder Director John C. Bartlett, Jr. (R, term ends December 31, 2015, Pine Beach; Finance, Parks and Recreation), Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little (R, 2015, Surf City; Human Services), John P. Kelly (R, 2016, Eagleswood Township; Law and Public Safety), James F. Lacey (R, 2016, Brick Township; Transportation) and Joseph H. Vicari (R, 2017, Toms River; Senior Services and County Operations). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2015, Barnegat Light), Sheriff Michael Mastronardy (R, 2016; Toms River) and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2018, Beachwood).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 1,329 registered voters in Island Heights, of which 285 (21.4%) were registered as Democrats, 415 (31.2%) were registered as Republicans and 629 (47.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 79.4% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 97.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 52.2% of the vote (508 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 46.7% (454 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (11 votes), among the 978 ballots cast by the borough's 1,333 registered voters (5 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.9% of the vote (558 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 44.5% (469 votes) and other candidates with 2.1% (22 votes), among the 1,054 ballots cast by the borough's 1,371 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 53.9% of the vote (568 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 44.5% (469 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (14 votes), among the 1,054 ballots cast by the borough's 1,380 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.5% of the vote (459 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.1% (205 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (16 votes), among the 703 ballots cast by the borough's 1,303 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 59.8% of the vote (453 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 32.6% (247 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.5% (49 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (7 votes), among the 757 ballots cast by the borough's 1,346 registered voters, yielding a 56.2% turnout.

Education

The Island Heights School District serves public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade at Island Heights Elementary School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 120 students and 11.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.37:1.

Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Central Regional School District, which also serves students from the municipalities of Berkeley Township, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. The schools in the district (with 2013-14 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Central Regional Middle School for grades 7 and 8 (632 students) and Central Regional High School for grades 9 - 12 (1,309 students).

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 12.18 miles (19.60 km) of roadways, of which 9.28 miles (14.93 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.73 miles (4.39 km) by Ocean County and 0.17 miles (0.27 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers seasonal bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 137 route and to Newark on the 67 route.

Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC10 Toms River Connection route.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Island Heights include: