Brick Township, New Jersey


Brick Township is a township situated on the Jersey Shore within Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city retained its position as the state's 13th-most-populous municipality, with a population of 73,620, a decrease of 1,452 from the 2010 census count of 75,072, which in turn reflected a decline of 1,047 residents from its population of 76,119 at the 2000 census, when it was the state's 12th most-populous municipality.
A majority of Brick Township is located on the mainland. Ocean Beaches I, II, and III are situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. The mainland and beach area of the town are not geographically adjacent. Brick Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 15, 1850, from portions of both Dover Township and Howell Township. The township was named after Joseph Brick, the owner of Bergen Iron Works located on the Metedeconk River. Portions of the township were taken to form Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, Lakewood Township, Mantoloking and Point Pleasant. In 1963, voters rejected a referendum that would have changed the township's name to "Laurelton".
After hovering for years in the top five, in 2006, the township earned the title of "America's Safest City", out of 371 cities included nationwide in the 13th annual Morgan Quitno survey. Since the year 2000, Brick Township has been the safest "city" in New Jersey. In 2003 and 2004, Brick Township was ranked as the second safest city in the United States, after Newton, Massachusetts. In 2005, Brick Township had dropped down to the fifth safest "city" in the United States, before it rebounded to the top in 2006.

History

In 1850, when the New Jersey State Legislature created Ocean County, New Jersey From parts of Monmouth and Burlington Counties, it also created Brick Township from parts of Howell and Dover Townships. The new Township was named for its most prominent citizen, Joseph W. Brick, the industrious owner of Bergen Iron Works at the time Brick Township was created.
The Havens Homestead Museum is dedicated to the Havens family that originally settled in the Laurelton/Burrsville section of Brick. The museum is the original Havens home which lies on a small plot of farmland. The museum has a gift shop and runs tours of the property daily.
Brick Township has also been in the news for a claimed autism epidemic, in which 40 children out of over 6,000 surveyed were found to be autistic, though Brick's autism rate is statistically near the national average. Many of the children found to be autistic were born in Northern New Jersey and other parts of the country. There is no evidence that the levels of autism are linked to any specific environmental factor in Brick. Parents of children diagnosed with autism have moved to the township in order to make use of the special education programs offered by the school district.
Brick has been affected by the heroin epidemic. According to the state's statistics, in 2012 Brick was ranked sixth in the state with 550 reported incidents of heroin or opiate abuse, behind Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Atlantic City and Camden. In 2017, Brick improved to 438 reported heroin abuse cases, ranked ninth in the state.
On July 11, 2004, Brick Memorial High School student, Brittney Gregory went missing. The news of her disappearance went on national news. Her body was found in a shallow grave, after a woman led the police to the area, just off. Suspect Jack Fuller Jr., a drug addict and acquaintance to Gregory's father admitted to killing Gregory. Fuller stated that he was giving her a ride to her boyfriend's house. Fuller began smoking crack in the car and Gregory became upset. Fuller punched Gregory several times and when she died, he buried her.
During the December 2010 North American blizzard, Brick Township received of snow, the highest accumulation recorded in the state. In October 2012, parts of Brick were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Barrier island and other waterfront properties were particularly hard hit. Homes and such buildings as the Shore Acres Yacht Club sustained major damage; some buildings had to be demolished.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 32.22 square miles, including 25.61 square miles of land and 6.61 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Adamston, Arrowhead Village, Breton Woods, Burrsville, Cedar Bridge, CedarCroft, Cedarwood Park, Cherry Quay, Greenbriar, Havens Cove, Havens Point, Herbertsville, Herring Island, Lanes Mills, Laurelton, Mandalay Park, Metedeconk, Metedeconk Neck, Osbornville, Playground Beach, Riviera Beach, Seaweed Point, Shore Acres, Sloop Point, Swan Point, Wardell's Neck, West Mantoloking and West Osbornville.
The communities of Herbertsville and Parkway Pines are located close to exit 91 of the Garden State Parkway, near the Monmouth County border, and are geographically distant from the rest of the township. Bayberry Court and Maypink Lane are two streets that are not accessible from any other Brick roads, and are served by the United States Postal Service as ZIP Code 07731 with Howell Township.
The township borders Bay Head, Lakewood Township, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant and Toms River Township in Ocean County; and the Monmouth County municipalities of Brielle, Howell Township and Wall Township.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 75,072 people, 29,842 households, and 20,173 families in the township. The population density was. There were 33,677 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 93.05% White, 2.00% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.80% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.06% of the population.
Of the 29,842 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18; 52.6% were married couples living together; 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.4% were non-families. Of all households, 27.2% were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
20.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $65,129 and the median family income was $81,868. Males had a median income of $60,769 versus $41,361 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,258. About 4.1% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 76,119 people, 29,511 households, and 20,775 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 32,689 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 95.81% White, 0.99% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any nationality were 3.85% of the population.
There were 29,511 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. Of all households, 25.0% were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $52,092, and the median income for a family was $61,446. Males had a median income of $44,981 versus $31,020 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,462. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Sports

The Brick Pop Warner Little Scholars Mustangs finished the 2006 season with a perfect 9–0 record and won the Jersey Shore B Division.
In 2003, and from 2006 to 2009, the Pop Warner Brick Mustang cheerleaders competed against other teams from across the nation in Disney World. In 2003, the junior peewee Mustang cheer squad won the national title.
Brick is home of the Ocean Ice Palace, built in 1960, which hosts the Brick Hockey Club. The ice rink is also home to the Brick Stars, a special needs hockey team who has home games and practices.

Parks and recreation

, with parts located in both Brick and Wall Township, covers and is encircled by a trail. Fishing is permitted on the reservoir. The reservoir can hold up to of water, which is pumped in from the Metedeconk River. The township also maintains nearly a dozen community parks, a multi-sports facility at the Drum Point Sports Complex and three oceanfront beaches as well as Windward Beach Park on the Metedeconk River.

Government

Local government

The township operates within the Faulkner Act under the Mayor-Council plan 2 form of government, as implemented on January 1, 1990, based on direct petition. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is composed of the Mayor and the seven-member Township Council, whose members are elected to serve four-year terms of office, with either three seats or four seats up for election at-large in partisan elections held on a staggered basis in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected for a four-year term without limitation as to the number of terms. In November 1988, the voters approved a referendum which returned the township to the partisan system of government, with township elections held as part of the November general election.
The mayor is the township's chief executive and administrative officer and is responsible for administering local laws and policy development. The mayor makes various appointments, prepares the township's budget, and approves or vetoes ordinances adopted by the Township Council. The mayor appoints, with the advice and consent of the Township Council, the business administrator, the township attorney, and the directors of the Departments of Public Safety, Engineering and Public Works.
, the mayor of Brick Township is Democrat Lisa Crate, who was appointed to serve a term of office ending on December 31, 2029. Members of the Township Council are Council President Steve Feinman, Council Vice President Derrick T. Ambrosino, Perry Albanese, Greg Cohen, Vincent Minichino , Lisa Reina and Melissa Travers.
In February 2023, the township council selected Lisa Crate from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant mayoral seat expiring in December 2025, following mayor John G. Ducey's resignation to take a seat as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge; Crate served on an interim basis pending the November 2023 special election where she defeated Assemblyman John Catalano. In turn, the council selected Melissa Travers to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Crate.
In October 2022, the council appointed Derrick Ambrosino to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Arthur Halloran until his resignation the previous month.
In January 2014, the Township Council appointed Andrea Zapcic to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2015 of John G. Ducey after he took office as mayor. Zapcic won election in November 2014 to serve the balance of the term.
Ducey was elected as mayor in 2013, garnering 62% of the vote to defeat Republican opponent Joseph Sangiovanni.
Former Democratic Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli resigned as of December 8, 2006, amid a federal corruption probe into township government. On January 8, 2007, Scarpelli pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges for accepting money from developers in exchange for using his official position to obtain approval for development projects. Township Clerk Virginia Lampman was appointed to fill the role of mayor until the Township Council could select a replacement. On December 17, 2007, Scarpelli was sentenced in Federal Court in Newark to serve 18 months in prison, and fined $5,000, after admitting that he had accepted bribes from 1998 to 2003.
On January 4, 2007, Daniel J. Kelly, the chairman of the township's planning board, was appointed the new mayor by a three-member township council subcommittee. On November 6, 2007, Stephen C. Acropolis defeated Kelly in a race to fill the remaining two years of Scarpelli's term, leading his four Republican mates to wins for seats on the township Council.

Federal, state, and county representation

Brick Township is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 10th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 48,760 registered voters in Brick Township, of which 9,992 were registered as Democrats, 12,206 were registered as Republicans and 26,528 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 34 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.0% were registered to vote, including 81.9% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

The Brick Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 12 schools, had an enrollment of 8,414 students and 689.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1. Schools in the district are
Herbertsville Preschool,
Warren H. Wolf Preschool,
Drum Point Elementary School,
Lanes Mill Elementary School,
Midstreams Elementary School,
Osborneville Elementary School,
Veterans Memorial Elementary School,
Emma Havens Young Elementary School,
Lake Riviera Middle School,
Veterans Memorial Middle School,
Brick Memorial High School and
Brick Township High School.
Nonsectarian private schools include Cuddle Care Early Childhood Center and Ocean Early Childhood Center.
St. Dominic Elementary School is a Roman Catholic private school overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, and St. Paul's Christian School, a Methodist private school, serve students in nursery through eighth grade.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Ocean County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The Garden State Parkway is the most prominent highway passing through Brick. It traverses the western part of the municipality with three interchanges: Exits 89, 90 and 91. Three state routes also pass through: Route 70 Route 88, and Route 35. The major county routes that pass through are County Route 528, and County Route 549.
The Laurelton Circle was located near the center of Brick Township. The traffic circle was at the junction of Route 70, Route 88 and Princeton Avenue. With an unmanageable 95,000 vehicles navigating the circle each day, it was converted to a traffic light regulated intersection in 1986, due to an increase in traffic and accidents. To reduce the need for left turns, a short portion of eastbound Route 88 was re-routed onto Princeton Avenue. Some other movements are controlled by jughandles and a two-way connection in the northwest corner.

Public transportation

offers bus service between the township and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 137 route, to Camden on the 317 and to Newark on the 67. Bus service is available from the Garden State Parkway to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan via the Academy Bus Line. Brick Township Park & Ride is located in the township off of the Garden State Parkway at exit 91. It is an express route to New York City during peak rush-hour. Ocean Ride service is provided on route 3, 3A and 4.

Media

91.9FM went on the air in 1974, originally located at Brick Township High School. The station was later moved to Brick Memorial High School. The radio station was the brainchild of a teacher named Robert Boesch who taught electronics at Brick Township High School in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The station was a student-run operation and received its FCC license from the FCC for educational broadcasting. In 1981, all township residents could receive the station's signal after the FCC approved an increase in WBGD's authorized power from 10 watts to 150.
One of the most notable broadcasts was the first ever state high school football championship game played between Brick Township High School and Camden High School in December 1974. The Brick Green Dragons defeated Camden by a score of 21–20 on the last play of the game to win the title.
In 2007, during routine roof maintenance and repair work, the broadcast tower was cut off the roof, and was never replaced or repaired. In 2010 WBGD's license was retired.
The Asbury Park Press provides daily news coverage of the township, as does WOBM-FM radio. The government of the township provides material and commentary to The Brick Times, which is one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Brick Township has a humid subtropical climate. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature above, at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above, at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Brick Township, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values at or above. On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below. The plant hardiness zone at Brick Township Beach is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of. The average seasonal snowfall total is between and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Brick Township would have two classifications; both a dominant vegetation type of Northeastern Oak/Pine with a dominant vegetation form of Southern Mixed Forest just inland from the bays and rivers, and a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie on the barrier island and near the bays and rivers.

Notable people

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