Beachwood, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beachwood, New Jersey
Borough
Beachwood Community Center
Seal
Location of Beachwood in Ocean County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Beachwood, New Jersey
Beachwood, New Jersey Location in Ocean County, New Jersey Show map of Ocean County, New Jersey Beachwood, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Beachwood, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Ocean
Incorporated	April 12, 1917
Government
• Type	Borough
• Body	Borough Council
Area
• Total	2.76 sq mi (7.16 km2)
• Land	2.76 sq mi (7.16 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.04%
Area rank	358th of 565 in state 17th of 33 in county
Elevation	62 ft (19 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,859
• Estimate  (2023)	11,153
• Rank	232nd of 565 in state 12th of 33 in county
• Density	3,930.1/sq mi (1,517.4/km2)
• Density rank	164th of 565 in state 5th of 33 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08722
Area codes	732/848
FIPS code	3402904180
GNIS feature ID	0885153
Website

Beachwood is a small town, also called a borough, located in the Jersey Shore area of Ocean County, in the state of New Jersey. In 2020, about 10,859 people lived here. Beachwood became an official borough on April 12, 1917.

History of Beachwood

How Beachwood Started

Beachwood began in 1914 as a summer vacation spot. The people who published the New-York Tribune newspaper bought a large piece of land. They divided it into smaller plots.

People could buy a plot of land for $19.60. As a bonus, they also got a six-month subscription to The Tribune! The first families moved to Beachwood in April 1915.

Early Days and Fun Activities

Right away, plans were made for fun places like a Club House, a Pier, and a Bath House. There was also a Lodge, a dining hall, and a train station. By the end of May, many of these were ready.

The community also had tennis courts. Along the beach and river, people could go canoeing, sailing, and swimming. The first small vacation homes, called "cottages," were built that very first summer.

Becoming an Official Town

In 1916, the property owners formed a group. They wanted Beachwood to become its own independent town. The state government agreed, and a vote was held on April 12, 1917. The people voted yes!

On May 11, the first town council was chosen. Joseph H. Senior became Beachwood's first mayor. A year later, a school board was created. School transportation was quite unique back then: students rode in the back of a truck with wooden benches!

Preserving History

In 2008, the Beachwood Historical Alliance was formed. Their goal is to find, fix up, and protect important historical places and items in Beachwood. This helps everyone remember the town's past.

Geography of Beachwood

Where is Beachwood Located?

Beachwood is a small area, covering about 2.76 square miles (7.16 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land, with very little water.

Neighboring Towns

Beachwood shares its borders with a few other towns in Ocean County. These include Berkeley Township, Pine Beach, and South Toms River.

Waterways and Environment

Beachwood is one of eleven towns in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed. This means that water from Beachwood eventually flows into the Toms River.

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

Beachwood has grown a lot since it started. In 1920, only 20 people lived there! By 2020, the population had grown to 10,859 people. This shows how much the town has developed over the years.

A Look at the Community

In 2010, there were 11,045 people living in Beachwood. About 25.5% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Beachwood was 37 years old.

Most households were families, with many married couples living together. The average household had about three people.

Education in Beachwood

School System for Students

Students in Beachwood attend public schools that are part of the Toms River Regional Schools district. This is a very large school system in New Jersey. It serves students from kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade.

Besides Beachwood, this school district also includes students from Toms River Township, Pine Beach, and South Toms River.

Local Schools

• Younger students (kindergarten to 5th grade) go to Beachwood Elementary School. Some might also attend Pine Beach Elementary in the nearby town of Pine Beach.
• Middle school students (grades 6-8) attend Toms River Intermediate School South, which is located in Beachwood.
• High school students (grades 9-12) go to Toms River High School South in Toms River Township.

The school board that runs the district has nine members. One of these members represents Beachwood.

Transportation in Beachwood

The northbound Garden State Parkway in Beachwood

Roads and Highways

Beachwood has many miles of roads. Most of these roads are taken care of by the town itself. Larger roads are maintained by Ocean County or the state of New Jersey.

The Garden State Parkway is a major highway that goes through Beachwood. It connects Beachwood to Berkeley Township in the south and South Toms River in the north.

Public Bus Service

For those who use public transportation, NJ Transit offers bus service. The Route 559 bus travels to and from Atlantic City.

Notable People from Beachwood

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Beachwood:

• Melbourne Armstrong Carriker (1879–1965), a scientist who studied birds.
• Mark Geiger (born 1974), a soccer referee who worked at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• Jeffrey Moran (born 1946), a local government official who also served on the Beachwood Borough Council.

See also

In Spanish: Beachwood (Nueva Jersey) para niños