Island Heights, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Island Heights, New Jersey
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Borough
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View of Island Heights across Toms River from Pine Beach
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Location of Island Heights in Ocean County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
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Census Bureau map of Island Heights, New Jersey
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 Island Heights, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Island Heights, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Island Heights, 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 | May 6, 1887 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (small municipality) | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.92 sq mi (2.38 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2) 33.59% | |
| Area rank | 512th of 565 in state 27th of 33 in county |
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| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,650 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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1,699 | |
| • Rank | 506th of 565 in state 25th of 33 in county |
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| • Density | 2,709.7/sq mi (1,046.2/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 237th of 565 in state 11th of 33 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08732
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| Area code(s) | 732 | |
| FIPS code | 3402934530 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885262 | |
| Website | ||
Island Heights is a small town, called a borough, located in Ocean County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 1,650 people lived here. It's a unique place because it's a "dry town," meaning alcohol cannot be sold legally within its borders.
Contents
Island Heights: A Look at Its Past
Island Heights became an official borough on May 6, 1887. This happened after people voted for it in November 1886. Before that, it was part of Dover Township, which is now known as Toms River Township.
How Island Heights Got Its Name
The name "Island Heights" comes from two things. First, the area was once an island. Second, it has a steep hill, or bluff, that rises about 60 feet (18 meters) above the Toms River.
Long ago, in 1680, this place was called Doctor Johnson's island. Later, before the American Revolutionary War, it was known as Dillon's Island. This name likely came from James Dillon, a well-known person in Toms River at the time. Over the years, the land was bought and sold by different people, including John Imlay, Issac Gulick, Abraham and George Parker, and Abel Middleton.
Geography of Island Heights
Island Heights covers a total area of about 0.92 square miles (2.38 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.61 square miles (1.58 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.31 square miles (0.80 square kilometers), is water. This means a good portion of the borough is covered by water!
Neighboring Towns and Waterways
One small area within the borough is called Long Point. Island Heights shares its borders with two other towns in Ocean County: Berkeley Township and Toms River Township. The borough is also part of the Toms River watershed. This means that water from Island Heights flows into the Toms River.
Population Changes in Island Heights
Island Heights has seen its population change over many years. Here's a quick look at how many people have lived there:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 34 | — | |
| 1890 | 271 | 697.1% | |
| 1900 | 316 | 16.6% | |
| 1910 | 313 | −0.9% | |
| 1920 | 194 | −38.0% | |
| 1930 | 453 | 133.5% | |
| 1940 | 392 | −13.5% | |
| 1950 | 795 | 102.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,150 | 44.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,397 | 21.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,575 | 12.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,470 | −6.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,751 | 19.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,673 | −4.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,650 | −1.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 1,699 | 1.6% | |
| Population sources: 1880–1890 1890–2000 1890–1920 1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, there were 1,673 people living in Island Heights. Most residents, about 95.8%, were White. A small number of people were Black or African American, Native American, or Asian. About 2.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Island Heights in 2010 was 47 years old. About 18.5% of the population was under 18 years old, and 17.6% were 65 or older.
Island Heights Historic District
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Island Heights Historic District
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John F. Peto's Studio
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Toms River, Summit and River Avenues |
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| Area | 280 acres (110 ha) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Shingle Style, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003290 |
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| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1982 |
The Island Heights Historic District is a special area that covers about 280 acres. It's important because of its unique buildings and history related to fun activities and religion. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Notable Buildings in the District
The historic district includes 244 buildings that contribute to its special character. One famous building is the studio of artist John F. Peto. It's built in the Queen Anne style architecture and is now a museum. Another interesting building is St. Gertrude's Mission Church, which used to have wooden shingles. You can also find the Grenley House, often called the "Gingerbread House," known for its fancy carved wooden decorations.
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Historic district sign
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St. Gertrude's Mission Church
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Grenley House
Education in Island Heights
Students in Island Heights attend public schools through two different school districts.
Island Heights Elementary School
The Island Heights School District serves younger students from kindergarten through sixth grade. These students go to Island Heights Elementary School. In the 2022–23 school year, there were 133 students and 13.3 teachers, meaning about 10 students for every teacher. In 2020, Island Heights Elementary School was recognized as one of the best schools in New Jersey by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
Central Regional School District
For students in seventh through twelfth grade, they attend schools in the Central Regional School District. This district also serves students from nearby towns like Berkeley Township, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights, and Seaside Park.
The high school district has two schools:
- Central Regional Middle School, for grades 7 and 8.
- Central Regional High School, for grades 9 through 12.
Island Heights has one representative on the school board for this district.
Transportation Around Island Heights
Getting around Island Heights and to other places is made possible by roads and public transportation.
_along_the_border_of_Toms_River_Township_and_Island_Heights_in_Ocean_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and Highways
As of 2010, Island Heights had about 12.18 miles (19.60 km) of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the borough itself.
New Jersey Route 37 is the main highway that runs near Island Heights. It goes east towards Seaside Heights and west towards Lakehurst. Route 37 also connects to other important highways like New Jersey Route 35, U.S. Route 9, and the Garden State Parkway.
Public Transportation Options
NJ Transit offers bus services during certain seasons. You can take a bus from Island Heights to Midtown Manhattan in New York City on the 137 route. There's also a bus to Newark on the 67 route.
For local travel, the Ocean Ride bus service has a route called OC10 Toms River Connection.
Famous People from Island Heights
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Island Heights:
- Charles R. Chickering (1891–1970), an artist who designed many postage stamps for the U.S. Postal Service.
- Bessie Pease Gutmann (1876–1960), a well-known artist and illustrator.
- Gia Maione (1941–2013), a singer and the wife of famous musician Louis Prima.
- John F. Peto (1854–1907), a painter whose studio is now a museum in the historic district.
- Glenn Taranto (born 1958/59), an actor and writer who played Gomez Addams in The New Addams Family.
- Fred Wagner (1860–1940), one of the first artists in the Pennsylvania impressionist movement.
See also
In Spanish: Island Heights para niños
