Ocean Acres, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ocean Acres, New Jersey
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Location of Ocean Acres in Ocean County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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 Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Ocean |
| Township | Barnegat / Stafford |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.96 sq mi (15.44 km2) |
| • Land | 5.83 sq mi (15.09 km2) |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.35 km2) 1.81% |
| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,185 |
| • Density | 3,121.35/sq mi (1,205.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| FIPS code | 34-54315 |
| GNIS feature ID | 02389608 |
Ocean Acres is a community in New Jersey, located in Ocean County. It's split between two areas: Barnegat Township and Stafford Township. It is also called a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area defined by the government for counting people, but it's not an official town or city.
In 2010, about 16,142 people lived in Ocean Acres. Most of them, around 15,217, lived in the Stafford Township part. About 925 people lived in the Barnegat Township part. Ocean Acres is the newest and largest section of both townships. It covers about 6 square miles (15.44 square kilometers) and has around 5,500 building lots.
Contents
History of Ocean Acres
Ocean Acres started in the early 1960s. It was built on a large piece of land west of the Garden State Parkway. This land stretched across both Stafford and Barnegat Townships.
Early Development and Growth
When it first began, people interested in buying homes were taken by bus to see the area. In the first year, 2,000 lots were sold. The first homes offered were three different designs: two ranch styles and one bi-level design. These original model homes were located on New Jersey Route 72. Today, these buildings are used as businesses.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Ocean Acres grew slowly. Only a few streets were paved, and many homes were used only during the summer. The community had several fun places for people to use.
Recreation and Parks
There was a park by a lake near the Nautilus Drive entrance. This park was later removed to make the lake bigger. Another lakefront park was built off Buccaneer Lane. This park had tennis and basketball courts, a swimming beach, and a pool. The pool is no longer there, but the swimming beach is still open. This lake is also a popular spot for fishing and kayaking. While some original recreation spots are gone, Stafford Township has built many new parks since the 1990s.
Building Boom in the 1990s
For many years, a state rule stopped most building west of the Garden State Parkway. This meant that out of 5,500 possible lots, fewer than 800 homes could be built. In the 1990s, this rule was lifted, and sewer lines were put in. After this, building quickly increased. Many developers built thousands of homes. Large empty areas in Ocean Acres were also set aside for new neighborhoods, like The Oaks at Stafford. The Ocean Acres Elementary School opened in 1999 for students in kindergarten through second grade.
Growth in Barnegat Section
Building in the Barnegat part of Ocean Acres was limited for years because of environmental concerns. However, development picked up in the 2000s. This started with the completion of Nautilus Boulevard, which had been a "missing link" in the road system. The Walters Group was the first developer to build homes in the Barnegat section. An early sales offer for these homes even included a free Toyota Yaris car!
In 2010, the Garden State Parkway exit 67 in Barnegat was changed. The southbound exit ramp was moved to connect to the Lighthouse Drive entrance of Ocean Acres. This new exit helped the Barnegat section grow even more in the 2010s. A large shopping center is now being built at this intersection.
Geography
Ocean Acres covers a total area of about 5.96 square miles (15.44 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 5.83 square miles (15.09 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.14 square miles (0.35 square kilometers), is water.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 4,850 | — | |
| 1990 | 5,587 | 15.2% | |
| 2000 | 13,155 | 135.5% | |
| 2010 | 16,142 | 22.7% | |
| 2020 | 18,185 | 12.7% | |
| Population sources: 1980 2000 2010 2020 |
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Population in 2010
The 2010 United States census counted 16,142 people living in Ocean Acres. There were 5,561 households and 4,371 families. The population density was about 2,760 people per square mile (1,066 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Ocean Acres were White (94.10%). Other groups included Black or African American (1.39%), Asian (1.45%), and Native American (0.12%). About 5.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 38.7% of the households had children under 18 years old. Most households (64.4%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.90 people, and the average family had 3.30 people.
About 27.2% of the population was under 18 years old. About 14.1% of the population was 65 years old or older. The average age of people in Ocean Acres was 39.2 years.
See also
In Spanish: Ocean Acres para niños
