Point Pleasant, New Jersey


Point Pleasant is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore, in northern Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 18,941, an increase of 549 from the 2010 census count of 18,392, which in turn reflected a decline of 914 from the 19,306 counted at the 2000 census.
The borough is a Jersey Shore community situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean at the Manasquan Inlet; the borough derives its name from this location.
Point Pleasant was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 21, 1920, from portions of Brick Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 19, 1920. The borough was reincorporated on March 12, 1928. Point Pleasant is distinct from Point Pleasant Beach, which is a separate community. The borough gets its name from Point Pleasant Beach, which gets its name from its location at the northern end of the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean at the Manasquan Inlet.

History

Around 1500, the area that included the future Point Pleasant was the ceremonial meeting place of the Lenape Native Americans, who called it the "Land of Tall Timber". In approximately 1665, the first European settlers arrived in the area, mainly fishermen, farmers and boat builders.
On February 15, 1850, Governor Daniel Haines and the New Jersey Legislature separated Ocean County from Monmouth County and created Brick Township, including the Point Pleasant area, which became independent of Brick Township in 1920, though the post office carried the designation "West Point Pleasant" until 1956. According to the town's official website, many longtime residents still use that name. The town's first mayor was Melville B. Parker, chosen after J.H. Harvey declined the position after being elected. The town was initially a logging town, although logging was never a significant part of the local economy.
In 1925, the Manasquan River-Bay Head Canal was completed as part of the inland waterway. The canal, which divides Point Pleasant in half, provides a passage for boats, and is the northernmost leg of the Intracoastal Waterway, which traverses the East Coast of the United States along the Atlantic Ocean between New Jersey and Florida. In 1964, Senator Clifford P. Case introduced legislation that changed the canal's name to the Point Pleasant Canal. The two lift bridges over the canal, at Route 88 and Bridge Avenue, can be opened as many as 300 times per day during the summer to allow boats to pass underneath as marine traffic has the right of way.
Though often regarded as a summer resort, the borough's website emphasizes that it is a "year-round community of approximately 19,000 residents".
The borough's flag was designed by Carlo Kirk Polino, who created it at the age of 12 and presented it to the borough council in 2024, which adopted it unanimously.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.17 square miles, including 3.49 square miles of land and 0.67 square miles of water.
The borough is bounded on the north by the Manasquan River, on the east by Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head, on the south by Beaver Dam Creek and on the west by Brick Township; the borough also borders Mantoloking in Ocean County and Brielle in Monmouth County.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 18,392 people, 7,273 households, and 4,982 families in the borough. The population density was. There were 8,331 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 96.05% White, 0.41% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.66% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.08% of the population.
Of the 7,273 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18; 52.5% were married couples living together; 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. Of all households, 25.8% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.
22.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 92.3 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $78,521 and the median family income was $94,399. Males had a median income of $67,632 versus $47,428 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,596. About 1.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 19,306 people, 7,560 households, and 5,231 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 8,350 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 85.83% White, 5.33% African-American, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.41%, 0.14% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races.
There were 7,560 households, out of which 32.1% 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 spouse, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $55,987, and the median income for a family was $64,798. Males had a median income of $50,828 versus $32,886 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,715. About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Point Pleasant is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the six-member borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by Point Pleasant is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.
The mayor is the head of the municipal government; sees that state laws and borough ordinances are faithfully executed; presides over the council. The mayor is the head of municipal government; sees that state laws and borough ordinances are faithfully executed; presides over the council. Votes only to break ties; can veto ordinances subject to override by two-thirds majority of Council; and appoints subordinate officers with council approval. After thirty days or upon council disapproval, Council fills posts. The borough council is the legislative body of the municipality. The Council overrides a mayor's veto by a two-thirds majority of all members, confirms mayor's appointments. The council gains appointment power upon failure to confirm mayor's appointee or after an office vacancy for thirty days. The council has all executive responsibility, not placed in the office of mayor.
, the mayor of Point Pleasant is Republican Robert A. Sabosik, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. The members of the Borough Council are Borough President Joseph Furmato Jr., Charlene Archer, William T. Borowsky, Valerie Coulson, Antoinette "Toni" DePaola, William "Butch" Stevenson and Joseph Veni.
In the November 2022 election, Mayor Robert A. Sabosik defeated independent challenger William "Bill" Borowsky, securing another four-year mayoral term. Sabosik received 63.34% of votes, while Borowsky received 36.40% of votes. Republican incumbents Joseph Furmato Jr. and Charlene Archer will each serve another three-year term after running unopposed for borough council.
In February 2015, the borough council selected Michael Thulen Jr., from a list of three candidates recommended by the Republican municipal committee, to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Robert A. Sabosik, vacant until he was sworn in as mayor the previous month. In the November 2015 general election, Thulen was elected to serve the one year remaining on the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation

Point Pleasant is in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 10th state legislative district.
Before the 2010 Census, all of Point Pleasant had been part of the 4th 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. As part of the 2010 redistricting, 1,802 residents in a wedge-shaped section in the western part of the borough were placed in the 3rd District, while the remaining 16,590 were placed in the 4th District.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 12,681 registered voters in Point Pleasant, of which 2,336 were registered as Democrats, 4,026 were registered as Republicans and 6,311 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.9% were registered to vote, including 88.5% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

The Point Pleasant School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,659 students and 240.6 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. Schools in the district are
Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School with 708 students in grades PreK–5,
Ocean Road Elementary School with 481 students in PreK–5
Memorial Middle School with 593 students in 6–8 and
Point Pleasant Borough High School with 856 students in grades 9–12.
Saint Peter School, founded in 1923, serves students in grades K–8 and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. In 2016, the school was one of ten schools in New Jersey, and one of four private schools in the state, recognized as a National [Blue Ribbon Schools Program|National Blue Ribbon School] by the United States Department of Education, a recognition celebrating excellence in academics.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Ocean County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
State highways include Route 13, which extends a total of, most of which is in the borough with a small portion in Bay Head. Route 88 traverses the borough to its eastern terminus at Route 35, just across the border with Point Pleasant Beach. Also, Route 70 skirts through the northwest part of the borough between Brick and Brielle on the September 11th Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Manasquan River.

Public transportation

provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 317 route.
Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC3A Brick—Point Pleasant and the OC4 Lakewood—Brick Link routes.

Health care

Point Pleasant Hospital was founded in 1918 and became part of Ocean Medical Center in 1982. The hospital closed permanently in 2001.

In media

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Point Pleasant include: