Brick Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brick Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Southward view of the Garden State Parkway in Brick Township
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| Nickname(s):
Bricktown USA
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Location of Brick 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 Brick Township, New Jersey
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 Brick Township, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Brick Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Brick 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 | February 15, 1850 | |
| Named for | Joseph W. Brick | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 32.22 sq mi (83.44 km2) | |
| • Land | 25.61 sq mi (66.34 km2) | |
| • Water | 6.61 sq mi (17.11 km2) 20.50% | |
| Area rank | 77th of 565 in state 11th of 33 in county |
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| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 73,620 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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76,021 | |
| • Rank | 13th of 565 in state 3rd of 33 in county |
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| • Density | 2,877.2/sq mi (1,110.9/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 225th of 565 in state 10th of 33 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes |
08723–08724
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| Area code(s) | 732 | |
| FIPS code | 3402907420 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882075 | |
Brick Township is a fun place to live on the Jersey Shore in Ocean County, New Jersey. It's called a township, which is a type of local government area. In 2020, about 73,620 people lived here, making it one of the largest towns in New Jersey.
Most of Brick Township is on the mainland. But it also has parts on the Barnegat Peninsula. This is a narrow strip of land that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. So, Brick has both mainland areas and beautiful ocean beaches!
Brick Township was officially created on February 15, 1850. It was named after Joseph Brick, who owned an iron factory nearby. Over the years, some parts of Brick Township became separate towns. These include Point Pleasant Beach and Lakewood Township.
Brick Township is known for being a very safe place. In 2006, it was even named "America's Safest City" among many cities nationwide. Since 2000, it has often been the safest large town in New Jersey.
Contents
History of Brick Township
The Havens Homestead Museum is a cool place to visit. It's an old home that belonged to the Havens family. They were one of the first families to settle in the Laurelton/Burrsville area of Brick. You can take tours of the museum and learn about the past.
Brick Township is also known for its special education programs in schools. These programs help students with unique learning needs. Many families have moved to Brick because of these great schools.
In December 2010, Brick Township had a huge snowstorm. It received 30 inches of snow, which was the most in New Jersey! In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of damage. Especially hit were the areas near the ocean and bay. Many homes and buildings needed big repairs or even had to be rebuilt.
Where is Brick Township?
Brick Township covers about 32 square miles. A little over 25 square miles is land, and about 6.6 square miles is water. This water includes parts of the bay and rivers.
Many smaller communities are part of Brick Township. Some of these include Adamston, Breton Woods, and Herbertsville. The areas of Herbertsville and Parkway Pines are a bit separate from the main part of Brick. They are located near Exit 91 of the Garden State Parkway.
Brick Township shares its borders with several other towns. These include Toms River Township and Point Pleasant in Ocean County. It also borders towns like Howell Township in Monmouth County.
People in Brick 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% | |
| 2020 | 73,620 | −1.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 76,021 | 1.3% | |
| Population sources: 1850–2000 1850–1920 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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The population of Brick Township has changed a lot over the years. In 1850, only about 1,558 people lived here. By 2020, the population grew to over 73,000 people! This shows how much the township has grown and developed.
Sports and Fun
Brick Township has a strong sports community. The Brick Pop Warner Little Scholars Mustangs football team had a perfect season in 2006. They won their division championship. The Pop Warner cheerleaders have also won national titles in Disney World.
The Ocean Ice Palace, built in 1960, is a popular spot. It's home to the Brick Hockey Club. It also hosts the Brick Stars, a special needs hockey team.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
The Brick Township Reservoir is a great place to enjoy nature. It covers 80 acres and has a 1.7-mile trail around it. You can go fishing there too! The reservoir holds a billion gallons of water.
Brick Township also has many community parks. There's a big sports complex called Drum Point Sports Complex. Plus, there are three ocean beaches and Windward Beach Park on the Metedeconk River. Lots of places to play and relax!
Education in Brick Township
The Brick Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The school district has 12 schools. These include elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.
- Herbertsville Preschool (PreK)
- Warren H. Wolf Preschool (PreK)
- Drum Point Elementary School (K-5)
- Lanes Mill Elementary School (K-5)
- Midstreams Elementary School (K-5)
- Osborneville Elementary School (K-5)
- Veterans Memorial Elementary School (K-5)
- Emma Havens Young Elementary School (K-5)
- Lake Riviera Middle School (6-8)
- Veterans Memorial Middle School (6-8)
- Brick Memorial High School (9-12)
- Brick Township High School (9-12)
There are also private schools in Brick Township. These include St. Dominic Elementary School, a Roman Catholic school. St. Paul's Christian School is a Methodist private school.
Getting Around Brick Township
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Brick Township has many roads and highways. The Garden State Parkway is a major highway that goes through the western part of town. It has three exits in Brick. Other important roads include Route 70, Route 88, and Route 35.
Years ago, there was a big traffic circle called the Laurelton Circle. It was at the meeting point of Route 70, Route 88, and Princeton Avenue. In 1986, it was changed to a traffic light intersection to help with traffic and accidents.
For public transportation, NJ Transit offers bus service. You can take a bus from Brick to places like Midtown Manhattan in New York City. There's also the Brick Township Park & Ride. This is a special bus stop for express buses to New York City during busy times.
Media and News
Brick Township used to have its own student-run radio station, WBGD 91.9FM. It started in 1974 at Brick Township High School. Students ran the station and even broadcasted the first state high school football championship game in 1974! Sadly, the station's broadcast tower was damaged in 2007 and the license was retired in 2010.
Today, you can get news about Brick Township from the Asbury Park Press newspaper. WOBM-FM radio also provides local news. The Brick Times is a weekly newspaper that covers the township.
Climate and Nature
Brick Township has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and mild winters. In summer, you might feel a cool breeze from the ocean. But sometimes it can get very hot and humid. July is usually the wettest month, with lots of thunderstorms. In winter, it can get very cold and windy.
The area gets about 18 to 24 inches of snow each winter. February is usually the snowiest month.
Brick Township has two main types of natural areas. Inland, you'll find forests with Oak and Pine trees. Near the bays and rivers, and on the barrier island, you'll see Cordgrass and coastal prairies.
Famous People from Brick Township
- Joe Acanfora (born 1950), an educator and activist.
- Jay Alders (born 1973), a famous artist known for his surf art.
- Harry Bernstein (1910–2011), an author.
- Hank Borowy (1916–2004), a professional baseball pitcher for teams like the New York Yankees.
- John Catalano (born 1949), a politician.
- Nick Catone (born 1981), a mixed martial artist.
- Andrew R. Ciesla (born 1953), a politician who served in the New Jersey Senate.
- Jim Dowd (born 1968), a former professional ice hockey player who won a Stanley Cup.
- John Paul Doyle (born 1942), a politician.
- Kirsten Dunst (born 1982), a well-known actress.
- Dana Eskelson, an actress.
- Garrett Graham (born 1986), a former NFL tight end.
- Jack Martin (1887–1980), a professional baseball infielder.
- Tom McCarthy (born 1968), a television announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Gregory P. McGuckin (born 1961), a politician.
- Eli Mintz (1904–1988), an actor.
- Daniel F. Newman (1935–2009), a politician and former Mayor of Brick Township.
- Nick Piantanida (1932–1966), an amateur parachute jumper who set records.
- John Sadak (born 1979), a sports announcer for the Cincinnati Reds and other networks.
- Craig Scarpelli (born 1961), a retired professional soccer goalkeeper.
- Leah Scarpelli (born 2001), a professional soccer player.
- Betsy Sholl (born 1945), a poet.
- George Tardiff (1936–2012), a football head coach.
- Ja'Sir Taylor (born 1999), an NFL cornerback for the Los Angeles Chargers.
- Art Thoms (born 1947), a former NFL defensive tackle.
- Scott Thomsen (born 1993), a professional soccer player.
- George Wirth, a singer-songwriter.
- Warren Wolf (1927–2019), a long-time football coach for Brick Township High School and a politician.
- David W. Wolfe (born 1942), a politician.
Images for kids
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The historic First Baptist Church of Laurelton in Brick Township, located on New Jersey State Route 88
