Berkeley Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Berkeley Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Island Beach State Park in Berkeley Township
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Location of Berkeley Township in Ocean County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Berkeley Township, New Jersey
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 Berkeley Township, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Berkeley Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Berkeley Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Ocean |
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| Incorporated | March 31, 1875 | |
| Named for | John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 54.25 sq mi (140.51 km2) | |
| • Land | 42.72 sq mi (110.64 km2) | |
| • Water | 11.53 sq mi (29.87 km2) 21.26% | |
| Area rank | 31st of 565 in state 6th of 33 in county |
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| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 43,754 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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44,856 | |
| • Rank | 51st of 565 in state 6th of 33 in county |
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| • Density | 1,024.4/sq mi (395.5/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 382nd of 565 in state 20th of 33 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08721
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| Area codes | 732 exchanges: 237, 269, 606 | |
| FIPS code | 3402905305 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882073 | |
| Website | ||
Berkeley Township is a township located in Ocean County, New Jersey. It stretches from the Jersey Shore all the way to the quiet New Jersey Pine Barrens. In 2020, about 43,754 people lived here, making it the most populated it has ever been!
Berkeley Township became an official township on March 31, 1875. It was created from parts of what was then Dover Township (now Toms River Township). Over the years, some areas left Berkeley Township to form their own towns, like Seaside Park and Beachwood. The township is named after John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, who was one of the people who helped start the Province of New Jersey.
Contents
History of Berkeley Township
Early Plans for a Community
In the 1880s, an army officer named Lt. Edward Farrow had a big idea. He started buying land to build a special community for retired Army and Navy officers. He even built a train station, shops, and a resort hotel called The Pines. He hoped to attract many people to his new town, which he called "Barnegat Park." However, only 11 houses were ever built, and Farrow eventually ran out of money.
Pinewald: A Resort Dream
Later, in the 1920s, a person named Benjamin W. Sangor bought the land. He wanted to create a fancy resort town for rich city people on vacation. Between 1928 and 1929, about 8,000 plots of land were sold in an area called Pinewald. This was planned as a "new-type, residential, recreational city-of-the sea-and-pines." It was supposed to have a golf course, fun activities, and large homes.
The developers quickly built the Pinewald pavilion and a pier. The Royal Pines Hotel was a huge investment, costing over a million dollars. It was built near Crystal Lake and became the main attraction of the new community. This hotel later became a nursing home, now known as the Crystal Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
The Royal Pines Hotel was built by a Russian architect named W. Oltar-Jevsky in the early 1920s. It was a popular spot for many important people. During a time when certain drinks were not allowed, the hotel was known for serving them. However, when the Great Depression hit in 1929, this resort community also faced financial difficulties.
Geography of Berkeley Township
Berkeley Township covers about 54.25 square miles (140.51 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 11.53 square miles (29.87 square kilometers) is water.
The township is in the middle part of Ocean County. It stretches along the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay, which is part of the Intracoastal Waterway.
A large part of Berkeley Township, about 72%, is inside the special New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. This is a protected area known for its unique forests and wetlands. To the north, Berkeley Township borders Toms River. To the south, it borders Cedar Creek and Lacey Township. The eastern edge of the township is a barrier island, where Island Beach State Park is located.
Communities within Berkeley Township
Several communities are located inside Berkeley Township. These include:
These four areas are part of a larger community called Holiday City – Silver Ridge Park. It's a planned community mostly for adults, with different sections, each having its own groups and activities.
Other smaller communities and places in the township include Bayville, Double Trouble, Pinewald, and South Seaside Park.
Berkeley Township shares borders with many other towns in Ocean County. It also completely surrounds the small town of Ocean Gate.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 683 | — | |
| 1890 | 786 | 15.1% | |
| 1900 | 694 | * | −11.7% |
| 1910 | 597 | −14.0% | |
| 1920 | 576 | * | −3.5% |
| 1930 | 811 | * | 40.8% |
| 1940 | 1,127 | 39.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,550 | 37.5% | |
| 1960 | 4,272 | 175.6% | |
| 1970 | 7,918 | 85.3% | |
| 1980 | 23,151 | 192.4% | |
| 1990 | 37,319 | 61.2% | |
| 2000 | 39,991 | 7.2% | |
| 2010 | 41,255 | 3.2% | |
| 2020 | 43,754 | 6.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 44,856 | 8.7% | |
| Population sources: 1880–2000 1880–1920 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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In 2010, about 41,255 people lived in Berkeley Township. There were over 20,000 households. The average age of people living in the township was about 61 years old. This means many older adults live in Berkeley Township.
Education in Berkeley Township
Local School District
The Berkeley Township School District is where younger students go to public school. This district serves children from pre-kindergarten up to sixth grade. In the 2019–2020 school year, about 2,479 students were enrolled in its four schools.
The schools in this district are:
- Bayville Elementary School (Pre-K to 4th grade)
- H. & M. Potter Elementary School (Pre-K to 4th grade)
- Clara B. Worth Elementary School (Pre-K to 4th grade)
- Berkeley Township Elementary School (5th to 6th grade)
Regional High School District
For students in seventh through twelfth grade, they attend schools in the Central Regional School District. This district serves students from Berkeley Township and several nearby towns, including Island Heights and Seaside Heights.
The schools in this regional district are:
- Central Regional Middle School (7th and 8th grade)
- Central Regional High School (9th to 12th grade)
Berkeley Township has five of the nine seats on the high school district's board of education. This is because a large number of students come from Berkeley Township.
Media and News
If you want to know what's happening in Berkeley Township, you can read the Asbury Park Press. This newspaper provides daily news coverage. You can also listen to WOBM-FM radio, which also covers local news.
The Berkeley Times is another local newspaper that provides weekly news. It covers Berkeley Township and other nearby towns like Beachwood and Ocean Gate. WOBM-FM radio started broadcasting from Bayville in 1968, but later moved its studios to Toms River.
Transportation in Berkeley Township
_at_Exit_77_(Berkeley)_in_Berkeley_Township,_Ocean_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Berkeley Township has many roads, totaling about 266 miles (428 kilometers). Most of these roads are taken care of by the township itself.
Major Roads
The main highway that goes through Berkeley Township is the Garden State Parkway. It has two exits that serve the township: Exit 77 and Exit 80. U.S. Route 9 also runs through the eastern part of the township. Route 35 passes through a small section and ends near Island Beach State Park. A small part of Route 37 also goes through Berkeley Township.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit offers local bus service. You can take the 559 bus route between Berkeley Township and Atlantic City. There are also other local bus routes provided by Ocean Ride, such as OC1, OC2, OC7, and OC8.
Notable People from Berkeley Township
Many interesting people have connections to Berkeley Township, including:
- Tom DeBlass (born 1982), a skilled martial artist.
- Jazmyn Foberg (born 2000), a talented artistic gymnast.
- Al Leiter (born 1965), a former professional baseball pitcher for teams like the New York Mets and New York Yankees.
- Phil Longo (born 1968), an American football coach.
- Megan McCafferty (born 1973), an author known for her books about a teenage character named Jessica Darling.
- Augusta Huiell Seaman (1879–1950), an author who wrote books for children.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Berkeley (Nueva Jersey) para niños
