Island Beach (barrier island) facts for kids

Island Beach is a long, narrow strip of land in New Jersey. It is part of the Jersey Shore, a popular coastal area. This land is located along the Atlantic Ocean in Ocean County, New Jersey. Around 1812, a waterway called Cranberry Inlet closed. This event connected Island Beach to Squan Beach. Now, Island Beach is a big part of the Barnegat Peninsula.

Geography of Island Beach

Island Beach is a barrier peninsula. This means it is a long, narrow piece of land that protects the mainland. It separates the Atlantic Ocean from Barnegat Bay. To the north, it connects with Squan Beach. To the south, it ends at Barnegat Inlet.

In 1834, people described Island Beach as being about 12 miles long. It stretched from Barnegat Inlet to where Cranberry Inlet used to be. It was never wider than half a mile. An 1878 description said it was about the same width as Squan Beach. These beaches did not have many trees. Barnegat Bay is on the inner side of Island Beach. This gives the area a nice view of the water.

Communities on the Peninsula

Several towns are located on the Island Beach peninsula. These include Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. There is also South Seaside Park, which is part of Berkeley Township.

There used to be a town called the Borough of Island Beach. This town was not very populated. It existed from 1933 until 1965. On July 6, 1965, it became part of Berkeley Township. Today, this area is known as Island Beach State Park. It is a popular place for nature and outdoor activities.