Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ocean Township, New Jersey
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Township
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View along Route 18 northbound in Ocean Township, Monmouth County
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| Motto(s):
The Community of Gracious Living
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Location of Ocean Township in Monmouth County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey
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 Ocean Township, New Jersey
Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Ocean Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Ocean 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 | Monmouth | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1849 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (council–manager) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.99 sq mi (28.47 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.87 sq mi (28.15 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.32 km2) 1.14% | |
| Area rank | 202nd of 565 in state 13th of 53 in county |
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| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 27,672 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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27,796 | |
| • Rank | 90th of 565 in state 8th of 53 in county |
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| • Density | 2,546.4/sq mi (983.2/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 248th of 565 in state 30th of 53 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07712
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| Area code(s) | 732 | |
| FIPS code | 3402554270 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882601 | |
Ocean Township is a community located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It's a township that many people call home while working in nearby New York City.
Ocean Township doesn't have one big downtown area. Instead, it has three main communities: Oakhurst, Wanamassa, and Wayside. Each of these areas has its own feel.
In 2020, about 27,672 people lived in Ocean Township. This was the highest number of residents ever recorded for the township!
Contents
History of Ocean Township
Ocean Township was officially created on February 21, 1849. It was formed from parts of another township called Shrewsbury Township. Back then, it was much larger, stretching all the way to the ocean.
Over the years, many smaller towns were formed from parts of Ocean Township. This is how places like Long Branch (in 1867) and Asbury Park (in 1874) became their own separate communities. The township got its name because it was originally located right by the sea.
Exploring Ocean Township's Geography
Ocean Township covers about 10.99 square miles (28.47 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Two important communities within Ocean Township are Oakhurst and Wanamassa. Other smaller areas you might hear about include Deal Park, Green Grove, and West Allenhurst.
One special feature is Deal Lake, which is about 158 acres in size. A group called the Deal Lake Commission helps manage and protect it. Seven different towns share the lake's shoreline, including Allenhurst and Asbury Park.
Neighboring Towns
Ocean Township shares its borders with several other towns in Monmouth County. To the north, you'll find Eatontown and West Long Branch. To the east are Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst, and Interlaken. To the south, it borders Neptune and Asbury Park. Finally, to the west is Tinton Falls.
Parks and Fun in Ocean Township
Ocean Township has several great parks where you can have fun!
Joe Palaia Park
The biggest park is Joe Palaia Park. It's where the township holds its big July 4th celebration. This park has many cool things to do, like a disc golf course and a playground. During the 2020 pandemic, it even hosted a drive-in movie theater!
Other Parks and Facilities
- Weltz Park is another large, undeveloped park area.
- Dave Dahrouge Park has tennis courts and softball fields.
- Wayside Park offers basketball courts for public use.
The township also has a pool and tennis club for residents, open during the summer. You can also rent out public buildings like the Oakhurst Park Meeting Room for events. The Municipal Gym has indoor basketball courts and outdoor sports fields.
Education in Ocean Township
Students in Ocean Township attend schools within the Ocean Township School District. The district has five schools for students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade.
Schools in the District
- Ocean Township Elementary School (Pre-K–4) in Oakhurst
- Wanamassa Elementary School (K–4) in Wanamassa
- Wayside Elementary School (Pre-K–4) in Wayside
- Ocean Township Intermediate School (5–8) in Wayside
- Ocean Township High School (9–12) in Oakhurst
Ocean Township High School is recognized for its strong academic performance.
Getting Around Ocean Township
Ocean Township has many roads that help people get around.
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Major Roads
- Route 18 is a major highway on the western side of the township.
- Route 35 runs through the eastern part.
- Route 66 is along the southern border.
- Route 71 is on the eastern border.
Many businesses and shopping centers are located along these main roads. You can find places like Costco and HomeGoods in the Seaview Shopping Center.
Public Transportation Options
- Train: The NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line train passes through the township. The closest stations are in Allenhurst and Elberon. You can take the train south to towns like Point Pleasant Beach or north to Newark and even Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
- Bus: NJ Transit also provides local bus service on routes 832 and 837.
- Ferry: If you want to go to New York City by boat, you can take the SeaStreak ferry from Highlands. It's about a 25–30 minute drive from Ocean Township to the ferry terminal. The ferry can take you to different spots in Manhattan. They also offer special seasonal trips, like to the beaches on Sandy Hook or even to baseball games and Broadway shows!
Famous People from Ocean Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Ocean Township. Here are a few:
- Mary Pat Angelini (born 1954), a former member of the New Jersey government.
- Bruce Springsteen (born 1949), a very famous musician.
- Ashley Tisdale (born 1985), an actress known for Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and High School Musical.
- Wendy Williams (born 1964), a well-known talk show host and author.
- Kenny Pickett (born 1998), an American football quarterback who plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Michael Uslan (born 1951), the person who first came up with the idea for the Batman movies.
- Phil Villapiano (born 1949), a former professional football player.
- Caroline Elkins (born 1969), a historian and professor at Harvard University who won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Eric Nies (born 1971), an actor and model who was on the first season of MTV's The Real World.
