Lakehurst, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lakehurst, New Jersey
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Borough
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Cathedral of the Air
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| Motto(s):
"Airship Capital of the World"
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Location of Lakehurst 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 Lakehurst, New Jersey
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 Lakehurst, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Lakehurst, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Lakehurst, 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 | April 7, 1921 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Borough | ||
| • Body | Borough Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 0.99 sq mi (2.56 km2) | ||
| • Land | 0.90 sq mi (2.32 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2) 9.39% | ||
| Area rank | 501st of 565 in state 25th of 33 in county |
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| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,636 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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2,703 | ||
| • Rank | 462nd of 565 in state 19th of 33 in county |
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| • Density | 2,944.8/sq mi (1,137.0/km2) | ||
| • Density rank | 220th of 565 in state 9th of 33 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
08733, 08759
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| Area code(s) | 732 | ||
| FIPS code | 3402937770 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0885270 | ||
Lakehurst is a small town, also called a borough, located in Ocean County, in the state of New Jersey. In 2020, about 2,636 people lived here.
Lakehurst became an official borough on April 7, 1921. It was created from parts of Manchester Township. The name "Lakehurst" comes from its location near lakes and woods.
Contents
History of Lakehurst
Lakehurst became famous around the early 1900s as a winter vacation spot. This happened after the Pine Tree Inn opened in 1898. In 1911, a rope factory in town burned down. This event led to the creation of a volunteer fire department to help keep the town safe.
The Hindenburg Disaster
A very famous event, the Hindenburg disaster, happened near Lakehurst on May 6, 1937. The Hindenburg was a huge German airship, like a giant blimp. It caught fire when it arrived at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station. This air station is actually in Manchester Township, not directly in the borough of Lakehurst.
Geography and Climate
Lakehurst covers about 0.99 square miles (2.56 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Lake Horicon
The borough has a lake called Lake Horicon. This lake has been around for a long time, even before 1942. Old photos and maps show it existed back in 1912. The lake is fed by streams and has "cedar water," which means it gets its color from cedar trees.
Surrounded by Manchester Township
Lakehurst is completely surrounded by Manchester Township. This makes it one of 21 "doughnut towns" in New Jersey. A "doughnut town" is when one town completely wraps around another.
Local Climate
The weather in Lakehurst usually has hot and humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Population and People
In 2010, there were 2,654 people living in Lakehurst. The population included people from many different backgrounds. About 77% were White, and 10% were Black or African American. There were also people of Asian, Native American, and other backgrounds. About 13% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households had children under 18. The average age of people in Lakehurst was about 31.9 years old.
Education in Lakehurst
Students in Lakehurst attend public schools through a local school district.
Lakehurst School District
The Lakehurst School District serves younger students. Children from pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade go to Lakehurst Elementary School. In the 2023–24 school year, the school had about 406 students. There was one teacher for every 10 students, which is a good ratio.
High School Students
After eighth grade, students from Lakehurst go to Manchester Township High School. This high school is located in Manchester Township. It's part of an agreement between the two school districts. In 2023–24, the high school had about 943 students.
Getting Around Lakehurst
Lakehurst has several roads and public transportation options.
Roads and Highways
New Jersey Route 70 is the main highway that goes through Lakehurst. New Jersey Route 37 also ends here. Another important road is County Route 547. It runs along the edge of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst area.
Public Transportation
Local bus service is available through Ocean Ride. There are routes like the OC1A Whiting Express and the OC2 Manchester routes.
Lakehurst was once on a main train line called the Central Railroad of New Jersey Southern Division. There are plans to bring back train service to Lakehurst in the future. This would be part of the NJ Transit Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line.
Local Media
For news about Lakehurst, people can read the Asbury Park Press. They can also listen to WOBM-FM radio. The local government shares news and comments in The Manchester Times. This is a weekly newspaper from Micromedia Publications.
Notable People from Lakehurst
Many interesting people have connections to Lakehurst:
- Thomas Barlow (1896–1983) was one of the first professional basketball players. He is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Leilani Correa (born 2001) is a basketball player.
- Rich Croushore (born 1970) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born in Lakehurst when his father was in the U.S. Navy.
- Marty Jannetty (born 1962) is a professional wrestler. He was part of a famous wrestling team called The Rockers.
- Abel Kiviat (1892–1991) won a silver medal in running at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
- Juice Newton (born 1952) is a famous singer who has won a Grammy Award.
- Richard Shindell (born 1960) is a folk singer and songwriter.
Images for kids
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Union Avenue, about 1910
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Route 70 at Route 37 in Lakehurst
See also
In Spanish: Lakehurst para niños
