Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey

History

The Township of Ocean 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. Portions of the township have been taken to form 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). The township derives its name from its original seaside location.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 11.002 square miles (28.493 km²), including 10.877 square miles (28.170 km²) of land and 0.125 square miles (0.323 km²) of water (1.13%).

Oakhurst (2010 Census population of 3,995) and Wanamassa (2010 population 4,532) 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 Springs, 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.

Deal Lake covers 158 acres (64 ha) and is overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, which was established in 1974. Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline, also including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour and Neptune Township.

The township is 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.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 27,291 people, 10,611 households, and 7,417 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,509.1 per square mile (968.8/km²). The township contained 11,541 housing units at an average density of 1,061.1 per square mile (409.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township 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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.99% (2,453) of the population.

Out of a total of 10,611 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 24.9% of all households 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.

In the township, 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 census counted 93.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 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.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 26,959 people, 10,254 households, and 7,341 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,443.3 people per square mile (943.7/km²). There were 10,756 housing units at an average density of 974.8 per square mile (376.5/km²). 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 of any race were 4.51% of the population.

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. 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 four-day festival. Ocean Township also contains Weltz Park, an undeveloped parcel of the Monmouth County Park System.

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.

Local government

Ocean Township operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager form of government (Plan A), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of July 1, 1963. The Township Committee is elected at large by the voters in nonpartisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor. The five-member Council sets policy and adopts local ordinances while the Council-appointed Township Manager oversees the day-to-day administration of the Township. The Mayor presides over the Council and, as a member, has a voice and a vote in its proceedings.

As of 2017, members of the Township Council are Mayor Christopher P. Siciliano, Deputy Mayor Robert V. Acerra Sr., Richard H. Long, John Napolitani and Donna L. Schepiga, all serving concurrent terms of office ending on June 30, 2019.

In January 2017, John Napolitani was chosen to fill the seat vacated by Deputy Mayor William Garofalo when he resigned from office in December 2016.

In the May 2015 municipal election, the One Ocean slate won, with incumbents William Garofalo, Richard Long, Donna Schepiga and Christopher P. Siciliano winning re-election together with Robert Acerra, who won his first term of office.

At its January 1, 2015, meeting, the Township Council chose Christopher Siciliano to fill the position of mayor that was vacated when William Larkin resigned from office the previous November after 24 years on the council and the previous 12 years as mayor. The council appointed Richard Long to fill Larkin's vacant council seat.

On October 10, 2002, former mayor Terrance D. Weldon, who was also the city manager of Asbury Park, pleaded guilty in United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark to taking $64,000 in bribes from developers. His arrest was part of the first phase of a federal investigation known as Operation Bid Rig. On August 25, 2007, after almost five years, Weldon was sentenced to 58 months of prison and assessed a fine of $20,000 by Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Walls.

Federal, state and county representation

Ocean Township is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Ocean Township had been part of the 6th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). 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 11th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jennifer Beck (R, Red Bank) and in the General Assembly by Joann Downey (D, Freehold Township) and Eric Houghtaling (D, Neptune Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township; term ends December 31, 2014), Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. (R, Spring Lake; 2014), Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City; 2016), John P. Curley (R, Middletown Township; 2015) and Serena DiMaso (R, Holmdel Township; 2016). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk M. Claire French (Wall Township), Sheriff Shaun Golden (Farmingdale) and Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (Middletown Township).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 18,379 registered voters in Ocean Township, of which 4,936 (26.9%) were registered as Democrats, 3,813 (20.7%) were registered as Republicans and 9,621 (52.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.6% of the vote (6,621 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 48.3% (6,326 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (140 votes), among the 13,185 ballots cast by the township's 19,049 registered voters (98 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.7% of the vote (7,278 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.9% (6,737 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (134 votes), among the 14,364 ballots cast by the township's 19,444 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.3% of the vote (6,941 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.7% (6,721 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (112 votes), among the 13,791 ballots cast by the township's 18,237 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.6.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.6% of the vote (5,335 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.1% (2,456 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (103 votes), among the 7,995 ballots cast by the township's 19,142 registered voters (101 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.7% of the vote (5,314 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 35.4% (3,324 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.7% (625 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (59 votes), among the 9,377 ballots cast by the township's 18,743 registered voters, yielding a 50.0% turnout.

Education

Ocean Township is part of the Ocean Township School District, a consolidated school district serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from both Loch Arbour and Ocean Township. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its five schools had an enrollment of 3,877 students and 364.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1.

Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Ocean Township Elementary School (in Oakhurst; with 422 students, in grades PreK-4), Wanamassa Elementary School (Wanamassa; 306, K-4), Wayside Elementary School (Wayside; 663, PreK-4), Ocean Township Intermediate School (Wayside; 1,140, 5-8) and Ocean Township High School (Oakhurst; 1,213, 9-12).

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 131.98 miles (212.40 km) of roadways, of which 119.74 miles (192.70 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.56 miles (7.34 km) by Monmouth County and 7.68 miles (12.36 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Ocean Township is accessible by several major roads. The Route 18 freeway traverses the western part while Route 35 passes through in the east. Route 66 runs along the southern border with Neptune and Route 71 straddles the eastern border with Deal and West Long Branch. The Garden State Parkway is located west of Ocean in neighboring Tinton Falls.

Public transportation

A brief stretch of NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line passes through in the east, but the closest stations are Allenhurst and Elberon.

NJ Transit provides local bus transportation on the 832 and 837 routes.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Ocean Township include: