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| Brick Township, New Jersey | |
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| Township | |
| Township of Brick | |
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Damage from Hurricane Sandy on the township's barrier island portion
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| Nickname(s): Bricktown | |
 Map of Brick Township in Ocean County. Inset: Location of Ocean County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. |
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 Census Bureau map of Brick Township, New Jersey |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Ocean |
| Incorporated | February 15, 1850 |
| Named for | Joseph W. Brick |
| Area | |
| • Total | 32.315 sq mi (83.697 km2) |
| • Land | 25.715 sq mi (66.602 km2) |
| • Water | 6.600 sq mi (17.095 km2) 20.42% |
| Area rank | 76th of 566 in state 10th of 33 in county |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population (2010 Census) | |
| • Total | 75,072 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 75,012 |
| • Rank | 13th of 566 in state 3rd of 33 in county |
| • Density | 2,919.4/sq mi (1,127.2/km2) |
| • Density rank | 218th of 566 in state 9th of 33 in county |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC−4) |
| ZIP codes | 08723-08724 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 3402907420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882075 |
| Website | www |
Brick Township (also commonly known as Bricktown or Brick) is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 75,072, making it the state's 13th-largest municipality and the third most populous municipality in Ocean County (behind Lakewood Township and Toms River Township), having seen a decline of 1,047 residents (-1.4%) from its population of 76,119 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 12th most-populous municipality.
While the majority of Brick Township is located on the mainland, Ocean Beaches I, II and III are situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. The mainland and beach area of the town are not geographically adjacent. Brick Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 15, 1850, from portions of both Dover Township (now Toms River Township) and Howell Township. The township was named after Joseph Brick, the owner of Bergen Iron Works located on the Metedeconk River. Portions of the township were taken to form Point Pleasant Beach (May 18, 1886), Bay Head (June 15, 1886), Lakewood Township (March 23, 1892), Mantoloking (April 10, 1911) and Point Pleasant (April 21, 1920). In 1963, voters rejected a referendum that would have changed the township's name to "Laurelton".
The Havens Homestead Museum is dedicated to the Havens family that originally settled in the Laurelton/Burrsville section of Brick. The museum is the original Havens home which lies on a small plot of farmland. The museum has a gift shop and runs tours of the property daily.
After hovering for years in the top five, in 2006, the township earned the title of "America's Safest City", out of 371 cities included nationwide in the 13th annual Morgan Quitno survey. Since the year 2000, Brick Township has been the safest "city" (population over 75,000) in New Jersey. In 2003 and 2004, Brick Township was ranked as the second safest city in the United States, after Newton, Massachusetts. In 2005, Brick Township had dropped down to the fifth safest "city" (population over 75,000) in the United States, before it rebounded to the top in 2006. In 2009, Brick Township ranked No. 6 on Newsmax magazine's list of the "Top 25 Most Uniquely American Cities and Towns," a piece written by current CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg. In determining his ranking, Greenberg cited Brick's consistent nod as a safe city and that its "commercial development of big-box stores, department stores, and chain restaurants has made it a shopping destination for much of northern Ocean County."
Brick Township has also been in the news for a claimed autism epidemic, in which 40 children out of over 6,000 surveyed were found to be autistic, though Brick's autism rate is statistically near the national average. Many of the children found to be autistic were born in Northern New Jersey and other parts of the country. There is no evidence that the levels of autism are linked to any specific environmental factor in Brick. Parents of children diagnosed with autism have moved to the township in order to make use of the special education programs offered by the school district.
During the December 2010 North American blizzard, Brick Township received 30 inches (760 mm) of snow, the highest accumulation recorded in the state. In October 2012, parts of Brick were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Barrier island and other waterfront properties were particularly hard hit. Homes and such buildings as the Shore Acres Yacht Club sustained major damage; some buildings had to be demolished.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 32.315 square miles (83.697 km2), including 25.715 square miles (66.602 km2) of land and 6.600 square miles (17.095 km2) of water (20.42%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Adamston, Arrowhead Village, Breton Woods, Burrsville, Cedar Bridge, Cedarwood Park, Cherry Quay, Greenbriar, Havens Cove, Havens Point, Herbertsville, Herring Island, Lanes Mills, Laurelton, Mandalay Park, Mardells Neck, Metedeconk, Metedeconk Neck, Osbornville, Playground Beach, Riviera Beach, Seaweed Point, Shore Acres, Sloop Point, Swan Point, West Mantoloking and West Osbornville.
The communities of Herbertsville and Parkway Pines are located close to exit 91 of the Garden State Parkway, near the Monmouth County border, and are geographically distant from the rest of the township.
The township borders Bay Head, Lakewood Township, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant and Toms River Township in Ocean County; and the Monmouth County municipalities of Brielle, Howell Township and Wall Township.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,558 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,835 | 17.8% | |
| 1870 | 2,724 | 48.4% | |
| 1880 | 2,990 | 9.8% | |
| 1890 | 4,065 | * | 36.0% |
| 1900 | 2,130 | * | −47.6% |
| 1910 | 2,177 | 2.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,084 | * | −4.3% |
| 1930 | 1,172 | * | −43.8% |
| 1940 | 1,376 | 17.4% | |
| 1950 | 4,319 | 213.9% | |
| 1960 | 16,299 | 277.4% | |
| 1970 | 35,057 | 115.1% | |
| 1980 | 53,629 | 53.0% | |
| 1990 | 66,473 | 23.9% | |
| 2000 | 76,119 | 14.5% | |
| 2010 | 75,072 | −1.4% | |
| Est. 2015 | 75,012 | −0.1% | |
| Population sources: 1850-2000 1850-1920 1850-1870 1850 1870 1880-1890 1890-1910 1910-1930 1930-1990 2000 2010 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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As of the census of 2010, there were 75,072 people, 29,842 households, and 20,173 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,919.4 per square mile (1,127.2/km2). There were 33,677 housing units at an average density of 1,309.6 per square mile (505.6/km2)*. The racial makeup of the township was 93.05% (69,856) White, 2.00% (1,502) Black or African American, 0.14% (104) Native American, 1.56% (1,173) Asian, 0.04% (27) Pacific Islander, 1.80% (1,350) from other races, and 1.41% (1,060) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.06% (5,301) of the population.
There were 29,842 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township, the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 87.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,129 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,969) and the median family income was $81,868 (+/- $2,081). Males had a median income of $60,769 (+/- $1,755) versus $41,361 (+/- $1,655) for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,258 (+/- $891). About 4.1% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 76,119 people, 29,511 households, and 20,775 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,901.5 people per square mile (1,120.5/km²). There were 32,689 housing units at an average density of 1,246.0 per square mile (481.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.81% White, 0.99% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any nationality were 3.85% of the population.
There were 29,511 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $52,092, and the median income for a family was $61,446. Males had a median income of $44,981 versus $31,020 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,462. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Brick Township Reservoir, with parts located in both Brick and Wall Township, covers 80 acres (32 ha) and is encircled by a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) trail. Fishing is permitted on the reservoir. The reservoir can hold up to 1,000,000,000 US gallons (3.8×109 l; 830,000,000 imp gal) of water, which is pumped in from the Metedeconk River.
The major county routes that pass through are CR 528, and CR 549 (as well as its spur). Three state routes pass through: Route 70 Route 88, and Route 35. The Garden State Parkway passes through the western part of the municipality with three interchanges: Exits 91, 90, and 89 (Exit 91 is only accessible from the south-bound Garden State Parkway).
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 318.77 miles (513.01 km) of roadways, of which 256.23 miles (412.36 km) were maintained by the municipality, 46.64 miles (75.06 km) by Ocean County and 12.61 miles (20.29 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 3.29 miles (5.29 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The Laurelton Circle was located near the center of Brick Township. The traffic circle was at the junction of Route 70, Route 88 and Princeton Avenue. It was converted to a traffic light regulated intersection in 1986, due to an increase in traffic and accidents. To reduce the need for left turns, a short portion of eastbound Route 88 was re-routed onto Princeton Avenue. Some other movements are controlled by jughandles and a two-way connection in the northwest corner.
NJ Transit offers bus service between the township and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 137 route, to Philadelphia on the 317 and to Newark on the 67. Ocean Ride service is provided on route 3, 3A and 4.
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