Toms River, New Jersey


Toms River is a township located on the Jersey Shore in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its mainland portion is also a census-designated place of the same name, which serves as the county seat of Ocean County. Formerly known as the Township of Dover, voters in a 2006 referendum approved a change of the official name to the Township of Toms River, adopting the name of the largest unincorporated community within the township. The township is a bedroom suburb of New York City in the New York metropolitan area, and a regional commercial hub in central New Jersey.
As of the 2020 United States census, the township was the state's eighth-most-populous municipality, with a population of 95,438, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 4,199 from the 2010 census count of 91,239, which had in turn reflected an increase of 1,533 from the 89,706 counted in the 2000 census.
Toms River is featured in various TV and news media, including MTV's Made and Jersey Shore, HBO's Boardwalk Empire, and the original The Amityville Horror movie. In 1998, Toms River East Little League won the Little League World Series. The township has what is said to be the second-largest Halloween parade in the world.
In 2006, Toms River was ranked by Morgan Quitno Press as the 15th safest city in the United States, of 369 cities nationwide. In 2007, Toms River was again ranked as the 14th-safest city in the United States of 371 cities nationwide.
WWW tomsrivertownship.com

History

Founding and early history

Much of the early history of the settlement of Toms River is obscured by conflicting stories. Various sources list the eponym of the township as either English captain William Tom, or farmer and ferryman Thomas Luker. In 1992, as part of celebrations commemorating the township's 225th anniversary, official recognition was granted to the tradition that the "Tom" in "Toms River" was for Thomas Luker, who ran a ferry across Goose Creek. During the 19th century, Toms River became a center for shipbuilding, whaling, fishing, and iron and lumber production. The settlement and the river were usually spelled "Tom's River" in its early days, though its current spelling has been standard since the middle of the 19th century.
Located in the southern section of the Shrewsbury Township, a royal charter was granted on March 1, 1768, and Dover Township was formed. During the American Revolutionary War, Toms River was home to a strategically important salt works that supplied colonial militias, as well as a base for privateer vessels that plundered British and Tory ships off the coast. In March 1782, a group of British and loyalist soldiers attacked a blockhouse along the river that housed the colonial militia and captured Captain Joshua Huddy, who was later hanged at Sandy Hook. Also destroyed were the salt works and most of the houses in the village. The incident greatly complicated the tense relationship between the British, loyalists, and colonists, and was a factor in prolonging the peace negotiations that were then in progress in Paris until 1783.
Dover Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. The township's original name was for Dover, England.
The village of Toms River is listed on both the national and state registers of historic places.

Mid-19th and early 20th centuries

In 1850, Toms River became the county seat of the newly created Ocean County when it was formed out of southern Monmouth County. During the second half of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th, many new towns were carved out of Dover Township, including Brick, Jackson, Lakewood, and Berkeley. The Village of Toms River attempted twice—in 1914 and 1926—to secede from Dover Township, but residents were unsuccessful. The part of Toms River on the south side of the river stretching down to Berkeley Township incorporated as South Toms River in 1927, but the core of the original village on the north side remains part of the wider township to this day.
Portions of the township were taken to form Jackson Township, Union Township, Brick Township, Manchester Township, Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Lavallette, and Seaside Heights.

Mid and late 20th century

In the last two decades of the twentieth century, the demographics of the township changed substantially, adding over 20,000 residents just in the 1990s alone. While the village is still the center of municipal and county government, the population in the area exploded in the decades after World War II, due in part to the completion of the Garden State Parkway. Whereas the village was the largest and most densely populated section of the township for over two centuries, the vast majority of residents now shop and work in other sections of the town.

Superfund site

In the mid-1990s, state and federal health and environmental agencies identified an increased incidence of childhood cancers in Toms River from the 1970–1995 period. Multiple investigations by state and federal environmental and health agencies indicated that the likely source of the increased cancer risk was contamination from Toms River Chemical Plant, which had been in operation since 1952. The area was designated a United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site in 1983, after an underground plume of toxic chemicals was identified. The following year, a discharge pipe was shut down after a sinkhole at the corner of Bay Avenue and Vaughn Avenue revealed that it had been leaking. The plant ceased operation in 1996.
A follow-up study from the 1996–2000 period indicated that while there were more cancer cases than expected, rates had significantly fallen and the difference was statistically insignificant compared to normal statewide cancer rates.
Since 1996, the Toms River water system has been subject to the most stringent water testing in the state and is considered safe for consumption. Dan Fagin's Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation, the 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning book, examined the issue of industrial pollution in detail.

Toms River Township

"Toms River" at one time referred only to the rural farming community of Toms River, a small part of the vast Township of Dover that included several other distinct settlements. With the United States Postal Service's adoption of Toms River mailing addresses for Dover Township, coupled with demographic changes in the other sections, those inside and outside began referring to all of mainland Dover Township as Toms River. In the 1990 census, the census-designated place called "Toms River" only included the downtown village area that included fewer than 8,000 residents in 1990. Due to complaints of confusion, the CDP was broadened to include all of mainland Dover Township to better reflect the more common usage for the area.
Over the years, confusion over the name of the township had become an issue for many residents. A movement organized around the Dover Township Name Change Committee, founded by Mayor Paul Brush and supported by the Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, collected signatures to put a name change question on the ballot in November 2006. On Election Day, November 7, 2006, over 60% of residents voted to approve changing the name from the Township of Dover to the Township of Toms River. The name change campaign featured the slogan "Toms River YES", signifying a yes vote for the name change, and the name was officially changed on November 14, 2006.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 52.89 square miles, including 40.55 square miles of land and 12.34 square miles of water. Toms River is south of New York City and east of Philadelphia.
While most of Toms River is on the mainland, Dover Beaches North and South are situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Dover Beaches South adjoins the independent municipalities of Lavallette to the north and Seaside Heights to the south.
Dover Beaches North, Dover Beaches South and Toms River CDP are census-designated places and unincorporated communities located within Toms River Township. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Andrew Point, Andrews, Bay Shore, Cattus Island, Cedar Grove, Chadwick, Coates Point, East Dover, Gilford Park, Gilmores Island, Green Island, Long Point, Normandy Beach, Ocean Beach, Ortley Beach, Pelican Island, Pine View, Pleasant Plains, Shelter Cove, Silverton, Tilton Point, West Dover, and White Oak Bottom.
Toms River includes the ZIP Codes 08753, 08754, 08755, 08756, 08757, and 08739. Ortley Beach shares ZIP Code 08751 with Seaside Heights. Manchester does not have its own post office, and parts of Manchester use a Toms River mailing address under ZIP Code 08757.
Toms River borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township, Brick, Island Heights, Jackson, Lakewood, Lavallette, Manchester, Seaside Heights, and South Toms River.
The township is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.

Climate

Toms River has a humid subtropical climate, with significant rainfall throughout the year. The Köppen climate classification of the area is Cfa.
The township was severely affected by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. Many low-lying areas of the township, including Silverton and the downtown area, saw their worst flooding ever when the storm surge overwhelmed the Barnegat Bay up and down the Jersey Shore. The barrier islands, just across the bridge, suffered even worse devastation from the storm surge brought by the hurricane. Extremes range from a record high of 105 °F on both July 19, 1999, and August 9, 1896, to a low of −24 °F on January 16, 1988.

Demographics

2020 census

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010% 1990% 2000% 2010
White alone 72,59281,09377,24173,67195.05%90.40%84.66%77.19%
Black or African American alone 6131,4902,2133,1550.80%1.66%2.43%3.31%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 987283650.13%0.08%0.09%0.07%
Asian alone 1,0972,1983,2373,7801.44%2.45%3.55%3.96%
Pacific Islander alone N/A151511N/A0.02%0.02%0.01%
Other race alone 27511384450.04%0.06%0.15%0.47%
Mixed race or Multiracial N/A7171,0812,718N/A0.80%1.18%2.85%
Hispanic or Latino 1,9444,0707,23111,5932.55%4.54%7.93%12.15%
Total76,37189,70691,23995,438100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 91,239 people, 34,760 households, and 24,367 families in the township. The population density was. There were 43,334 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 89.91% White, 2.70% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 7.93% of the population.
Of the 34,760 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18; 54.4% were married couples living together; 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.9% were non-families. Of all households, 25.1% were made up of individuals and 12.1% 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 3.10.
21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $71,934 and the median family income was $83,924. Males had a median income of $59,860 versus $42,192 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,423. About 4.5% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 89,706 people, 33,510 households, and 24,428 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 41,116 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 93.57% White, 1.75% African American, 0.13% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.54% of the population.
There were 33,510 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $54,776, and the median income for a family was $62,561. Males had a median income of $47,390 versus $30,834 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,010. About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Toms River has many shopping malls including Ocean County Mall and Seacourt Pavilion, located across Bay Avenue from the Ocean County Mall. It is home to the corporate headquarters of EGM Green, as well as the headquarters for OceanFirst Bank.

Arts and culture

The RWJBarnabas Health Arena, a 3,500-seat public arena connected to Toms River High School North, is used for concerts, sporting events, and some small local events throughout the year to raise money for the school district. Starting in January 2018, the name was officially changed to the "RWJBarnabas Health Arena" after the district signed a five-year deal with RWJBarnabas Health under which the district would be paid a total of $637,500 for the naming rights.
Toms River Fest was an annual event held during the summer in Toms River, bringing many people from in and out of the area, with 25,000 attendees at the 2008 event.

Sports

Toms River made national headlines in the 1990s when their Little League Baseball team, nicknamed "Beast from the East", competed in the Little League World Series three times in five years. The team won in 1998, after defeating Japan by a score of 12–9. More than 40,000 people lined Route 37 for a parade following their victory.
Toms River Little League made it back to the 2010 World Series, giving the town its record fourth Mid-Atlantic championship, returning as regional runners up in 2021. In 2022, the team again took the New Jersey State title, but lost to Massapequa in the Metro Region championship, in Bristol, Connecticut.
Toms River is also home to many National Champion Pop Warner Cheerleading titles, with the Toms River Angels taking home championships in several divisions in 1995, 1998–2003, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2018, and 2019; the Toms River Indians winning in 1999, 2003, and 2007; and the Toms River Little Indians taking titles in 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, and 2005–2009. The Toms River Raiders won the Division 1 Jr., Pee Wee football title in 1996.

Sports complexes

John Bennett Indoor Athletic Center

Known locally as "The Bubble", the center is one of three indoor athletic complex's in Ocean County and one of the largest in New Jersey. It is located just south of Intermediate School East, and named after John Bennet, TRSD superintendent from 1960 to 1977. It was severely damaged as a result of Hurricane Sandy, reopening in January 2013, after repairs were completed.
The facility was damaged again in 2022, when over a foot of ice and snow fell during a January nor'easter, causing portions of the dome to collapse in on itself.
In May 2022, the complex was rebranded as part of a multiyear naming rights agreement. The facility is now called the Rothman Orthopaedic Sports Complex at the John Bennett Athletic Center.

RWJBarnabas Health Arena

A 3,204-seat multi-use center was opened to the public in 2004, attached to Toms River High School North. The sports, music, and convention center has gone by a number of different names, including: the Ritacco Center, Poland Spring Arena, and Pine Belt Arena.
The facility has hosted the NJSIAA boys and girls basketball Tournament of Champions, WWE NXT Live!, and musical acts in association with Toms River Fest, including: Gavin DeGraw, Daughtry, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Meat Loaf, and Joan Jett, among others.
The building also serves as the location for HS North graduation ceremonies, with the inaugural event held for the Class of 2004.

Parks and recreation

There are 13 parks located within and maintained by Toms River Township. Two of the newest recreational areas include the Toms River Skatepark, a outdoor skatepark completed in 2021, and Field of Dreams Playground, a gated playground opened in 2022 and designed for children with varying physical or developmental disabilities.
Joshua Huddy Park, which opened in 1905, is located in Downtown Toms River and is host to a replica constructed in 1931 of the Revolutionary War fort that was once standing near the site. The town played host to a short skirmish during the Revolution in which Captain Joshua Huddy was captured by a group of Loyalists while defending the Toms River Blockhouse and hanged without trial. The trail of Captain Huddy can be followed throughout the town.
In 1992, improvements to the park were made to mark the 225th anniversary of the township, during which time Luker Bridge was dedicated, named for Thomas Luker, the 17th century ferryman who is believed to be the river's namesake. In 2017, a $1.6 million renovation of the park was completed to commemorate the township's 250th anniversary.
In May 2025, Mayor Daniel T. Rodrick initiated plans to seize by eminent domain and raze the township's Christ Episcopal Church, established in 1865, for use as part of a nautical-themed public park, which would include a soccer field and eight pickleball courts. The plan was announced shortly after the church had requested approval to establish a homeless shelter with 17 beds. The parish and the parent Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, which owns the property valued at around $4 million, have stated that they will contest the seizure.

Government

Local government

Since 2002, Toms River Township has operated within the Faulkner Act under the Mayor-Council form of New Jersey municipal government. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and seven-member Township Council. The council includes four members who each represent one of four wards of the township and three who are chosen at-large. The mayor and the seven council members are chosen on a partisan basis as part of the November general election in odd-numbered years to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with the mayor and three at-large seats elected together and the four ward seats chosen simultaneously two years later.
In December 2017, the Township Council appointed Don Guardian, the former Mayor of Atlantic City to replace Paul J. Shives; Guardian was given an annual salary of $175,000, while Shives had been paid $223,000.
, the Mayor of Toms River is Republican Daniel T. Rodrick, whose term of office expires December 31, 2027. Township Council members are Council President Craig Coleman, Council Vice President Lynne O'Toole, Thomas Nivison, Justin Lamb, George Lobman, James Quinlisk, and David Ciccozzi.

Federal, state, and county representation

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

Politics

, there were a total of 71,672 registered voters in Toms River Township. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.7% were registered to vote, including 83.6% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Toms River Regional Schools, a regional public school system that is the largest suburban school district in New Jersey. In addition to students from Toms River, the district also serves the adjoining boroughs of Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River. It is the largest suburban school district in the state, and the fourth largest school district in New Jersey. It is also the largest school district in the state that is not an Abbott District. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of 18 schools, had an enrollment of 14,654 students and 1,078.7 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.6:1. Schools in the district are
Beachwood Elementary School,
Cedar Grove Elementary School,
Joseph A. Citta Elementary School,
East Dover Elementary School,
Hooper Avenue Elementary School,
North Dover Elementary School,
Pine Beach Elementary School,
Silver Bay Elementary School,
South Toms River Elementary School,
Walnut Street Elementary School,
Washington Street Elementary School,
West Dover Elementary School,
Toms River Intermediate East,
Toms River Intermediate North,
Toms River Intermediate South,
Toms River High School East,
Toms River High School North and
Toms River High School South.
Seats on the district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with six seats assigned to Toms River.
Donovan Catholic High School, Ocean County's only Catholic high school, operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. The diocese also operates St. Joseph's Grade School for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Ocean County College, a two-year college that offers four-year options in cooperation with other New Jersey colleges and universities, is located on Hooper Avenue in Toms River. In May 2014, The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation announced a $5.7 million donation to establish The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, the largest single donation received in OCC's 50-year history.

Media

The Asbury Park Press provides daily news coverage of Toms River Township, as does WOBM-FM radio. The township's government provides columns and commentary to The Toms River Times, which is one of seven weekly papers distributed for free by Micromedia Publications.
WOBM-FM radio started broadcasting from the Bayville section of Berkeley Township in March 1968. The station relocated to studios in Toms River in 2013.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Ocean County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Toms River is crisscrossed by several major roadways, including the Garden State Parkway and US 9, as well as Route 35, Route 37, Route 70, Route 166, CR 527, CR 530, CR 549, and CR 571.
Two of the most congested roads are Hooper Avenue and Route 37, which sees extra traffic from travelers to the Jersey shore during the summertime, due to it being a main artery to the shore from the Garden State Parkway at interchange 82. The township is also home to one of the state's only at-grade cloverleafs, at the intersection of Hooper Avenue and Bay Avenue.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority proposed in 1971 to build the Driscoll Expressway which was to start from exit 80 of the parkway and end north of exit 8A of the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick. This project was killed in 1980.

Public transportation

The major bus station in Toms River is located downtown, off exit 81 of the Garden State Parkway. The township is served by NJ Transit bus routes 67, 137, 319, and 559. Bus service to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan is also made available via the Academy Bus Lines. Toms River Park & Ride is located in the township off of the Garden State Parkway at exit 81. It is an express route to New York City during peak rush-hour.
Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC1 Whiting, OC1A Whiting Express, OC2 Manchester, OC3 Brick – Lakewood – Toms River, OC3A Brick – Point Pleasant and the OC10 Toms River Connection routes.
The Central Railroad of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Railroad ended service to the township in the late 1940s. The nearest rail station is the terminus of the North Jersey Coast Line in Bay Head. Service is currently being evaluated to nearby Lakehurst on the proposed Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line.
The Robert J. Miller Air Park, a public-use airport, is located in Berkeley Township, southwest of the central business district.

Health care

Community Medical Center, with 587 beds, had been the state's largest non-teaching hospital. Community Medical Center became a teaching hospital in 2021, after being approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and beginning with a group of 27 residents.

Community

  • Toms River has been featured in television, including MTV which filmed three episodes of the show Made and scenes from MTV's Jersey Shore there.
  • The toxic dumping that occurred in Toms River in 2001 was the subject of the 2013, Pulitzer Prize winning book Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation by Dan Fagin.
  • Toms River is home to many beaches located along the Jersey Shore, including Ortley Beach, Normandy Beach, Monterey Beach, Ocean Beach, Chadwick Beach, and Silver Beach.
  • The New Jersey Chili and Salsa Cook-Off, as well as the New Jersey Ice Cream Festival are held in Toms River.
  • The Toms River Branch of Ocean County Library is the headquarters of the Ocean County Library system and the largest public library in Ocean County. In January 2006, a renovation project was completed that doubled the size of the facility.
  • Toms River is home to Artisan's Brewery.
  • The 1979 movie The Amityville Horror was filmed in Toms River, rather than Amityville on Long Island. Local police and ambulance workers played extras. The Toms River Volunteer Fire Company Number One was used to provide the "rain" during one of the exterior scenes. If you look closely, you can see that it is sunny and not "raining" in the background, the next street over.
  • Downtown Toms River hosts many community events, including festivals such as Toms River Pride and the second largest Halloween parade in the world. The official logo is a 'T' with a river, forming an 'R', through it. The slogan is "Great Places. Familiar Faces."
  • Toms River gained some notoriety in 1984 when local businessman Robert O. Marshall was charged with the contract killing of his wife, Maria. The case attracted the attention of true crime author Joe McGinniss, whose bestselling book on the Marshall case, Blind Faith, was published in 1989 and adapted into an Emmy-nominated 1990 television miniseries starring Robert Urich and Joanna Kerns.
  • The Toms River post office also serves South Toms River, parts of Manchester, and parts of Berkeley.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Toms River include: