Ocean County, New Jersey
Ocean County is a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and the southernmost county in the New York metropolitan area. The county borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and in terms of total area is the state's largest county. Its county seat is Toms River. The county is part of the Jersey Shore region and of Central Jersey.
Since 2020, Ocean County has been the fastest-growing county in New Jersey, with a population of 637,229 recorded at the 2020 United States census, its highest decennial count ever and ranking the county as the state's sixth-most populous county, with an increase of 60,662 from the 576,567 enumerated at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 65,651 from the 510,916 counted in the 2000 census. Since 2010, Ocean County's population has been growing faster than the United States as a whole. The United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program estimated a 2023 population of 659,197, an increase of 21,968 from the 2020 decennial census. Ocean County’s most populous and fastest-growing place is Lakewood Township, with an estimated 139,866 residents as of 2023, while Jackson Township covers, the largest total area of any municipality in the county.
Ocean County is located east of Philadelphia, south of New York City, and north of Atlantic City, making it a prime vacation destination for residents of these cities during the summer. As with the entire Jersey Shore, summer traffic routinely clogs local roadways throughout the season. Over 31% of Ocean County's total area is water.
Ocean County is part of the New York metropolitan area. The county is also home to many tourist attractions frequented by Philadelphia metropolitan area residents, including the beachfront communities of Seaside Heights, Long Beach Island, and Point Pleasant Beach, and Six Flags Great Adventure, an amusement park in Jackson Township that was the home to the world's tallest and second-fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka. Ocean County is a gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens, one of the largest protected land areas on the East Coast.
History
Prior to its creation, Ocean County was almost entirely within Shrewsbury Township in Monmouth County, with the exception of Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor Township. Ocean County was established on February 15, 1850, from portions of Monmouth county; Little Egg Harbor Township was annexed from Burlington County on March 30, 1891. It derives its name from the Atlantic Ocean that it borders.The most populous municipality in the county is the rapidly growing Lakewood Township with 135,158 residents in 2020, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 42,315 from its 2010 census count of 92,843. Jackson Township, which covers, is the largest municipality in Ocean County by area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of, making it the largest county in New Jersey in terms of total area, of which was land and was water.Much of the county is flat and coastal, with an extensive shoreline and many beaches along the Jersey Shore, including Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, and Surf City. The highest point is one of three unnamed hills that reach at least in elevation. The lowest elevation in the county is at sea level along the county's lengthy Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay coastlines.
Climate
Ocean County's area comprises 31.3% water. The coastal county along the Atlantic Ocean has a humid subtropical climate. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Toms River have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1982 and a record high of was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly temperatures in Tuckerton near the south end range from in January to in July.The highest monthly average temperature for the county was in July 2020; the lowest was in February 1934.
Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in March. Areas closer to the coast typically experience more mild winters and cooler summers due to the Atlantic Ocean's influence.
The highest total monthly precipitation recorded for the county was in August 2011, the same month Hurricane Irene hit the New Jersey coast; the lowest was recorded in October 2024.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 637,229 and 238,812 households, with an average household size of 2.62. The census also reported a population density of and a housing unit density of.The median age was 41.5 years; 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 83.8% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.4% from some other race, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.4% of the population.
96.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.7% lived in rural areas.
Of the 238,812 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.9% were married-couple households, 15.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 294,429 housing units, of which 18.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.6% were owner-occupied and 22.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone | 325,934 | 403,371 | 459,174 | 495,534 | 520,578 | 94.19% | 93.11% | 89.87% | 85.95% | 81.69% |
| Black or African American alone | 9,166 | 11,405 | 14,431 | 16,583 | 17,649 | 2.65% | 2.63% | 2.82% | 2.88% | 2.77% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 391 | 571 | 500 | 454 | 523 | 0.11% | 0.13% | 0.10% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Asian alone | 1,708 | 3,707 | 6,426 | 9,924 | 11,339 | 0.49% | 0.86% | 1.26% | 1.72% | 1.78% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone | x | x | 75 | 92 | 111 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone | 395 | 199 | 392 | 558 | 3,899 | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.10% | 0.61% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | x | x | 4,280 | 5,639 | 16,801 | x | x | 0.84% | 0.98% | 2.64% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,444 | 13,950 | 25,638 | 47,783 | 66,329 | 2.44% | 3.22% | 5.02% | 8.29% | 10.41% |
| Total | 346,038 | 433,203 | 510,916 | 576,567 | 637,229 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 576,567 people, 221,111 households, and 149,250 families in the county. The population density was. There were 278,052 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 90.98% White, 3.15% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.46% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 8.29% of the population.Of the 221,111 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.9% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 27.8% were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16.
23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 21% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.3 males.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 93.05% White, 2.99% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 5.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among those who listed their ancestry, 25.3% were of Italian, 23.6% Irish, 18.7% German, 8.8% Polish and 8.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000.There were 200,402 households, out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, 23.30% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.60% was from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,443, and the median income for a family was $56,420. Males had a median income of $44,822 versus $30,717 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,054. About 4.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 Census, Mantoloking was the wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey with a per capita money income of $114,017 as of 1999.