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Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Borough
Borough of Point Pleasant
Map of Point Pleasant in Ocean County. Inset: Location of Ocean County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Point Pleasant in Ocean County. Inset: Location of Ocean County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Ocean
Incorporated May 19, 1920
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 4.17 sq mi (10.79 km2)
 • Land 3.49 sq mi (9.04 km2)
 • Water 0.67 sq mi (1.75 km2)  16.16%
Area rank 292nd of 565 in state
15th of 33 in county
Elevation
13 ft (4 m)
Population
 • Total 18,392
 • Estimate 
(2019)
18,772
 • Rank 140th of 566 in state
11th of 33 in county
 • Density 5,272.1/sq mi (2,035.6/km2)
 • Density rank 104th of 566 in state
1st of 33 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08742
Area code(s) 732 Exchanges: 295,701,714,892,899
FIPS code 3402959880
GNIS feature ID 0885357

Point Pleasant is a borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 18,392, down from 19,306 in 2000 but still up from 18,177 in 1990.

The Borough is a Jersey Shore community situated south of the Manasquan River and north and east of the Beaverdam Creek and its confluence with the Metedeconk River.

Point Pleasant was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 21, 1920, from portions of Brick Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 19, 1920. The borough was reincorporated on March 12, 1928. Point Pleasant is distinct from Point Pleasant Beach, which is a separate community. The borough gets its name from Point Pleasant Beach, which gets its name from its location at the northern end of the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean at the Manasquan Inlet.

History

Around 1500, the area that included the future Point Pleasant was the ceremonial meeting place of the Lenape Native Americans, who called it the "Land of Tall Timber". In approximately 1665, the first European settlers arrived in the area, mainly fishermen, farmers and boat builders.

On February 15, 1850, Governor Daniel Haines and the New Jersey Legislature separated Ocean County from Monmouth County, and created Brick Township, including the Point Pleasant area, which became independent of Brick Township in 1920, though the post office carried the designation "West Point Pleasant" until 1956. According to the town's official website, many longtime residents still use that name. The town's first mayor was Melville B. Parker, chosen after J.H. Harvey declined the position after being elected. The town was initially a logging town, although logging was never a significant part of the local economy.

In 1924, the Manasquan River-Bay Head Canal was completed as part of the inland waterway. The canal, which divides Point Pleasant in half, provides a passage for boats, and is the northern most leg of the Intracoastal Waterway which traverses the East Coast of the United States along the Atlantic Ocean between New Jersey and Florida. In 1964, Senator Clifford Case introduced legislation that changed the canal's name to the Point Pleasant Canal.

Though often regarded as a summer resort, the borough's website emphasizes that it is a "year round community of approximately 19,000 residents".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.167 square miles (10.790 km2), including 3.489 square miles (9.035 km2) of land and 0.678 square miles (1.755 km2) of water (16.26%).

The borough is bounded on the north by the Manasquan River, on the east by Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head, on the south by Beaver Dam Creek and on the west by Brick Township; the borough also borders Mantoloking in Ocean County and Brielle in Monmouth County. The town is home to the Point Pleasant Canal, completed in 1925, at the northern end of the Intracoastal Waterway. The two lift bridges over the canal, at Route 88 and Bridge Avenue, can be opened as many as 300 times per day during the summer to allow boats to pass underneath as marine traffic has the right of way.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1930 2,058
1940 2,082 1.2%
1950 4,009 92.6%
1960 10,182 154.0%
1970 15,968 56.8%
1980 17,747 11.1%
1990 18,177 2.4%
2000 19,306 6.2%
2010 18,392 −4.7%
2019 (est.) 18,772 2.1%
Population sources:
1930–2000 1930
1930–1990 2000 2010

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 18,392 people, 7,273 households, and 4,982 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,272.1 per square mile (2,035.6/km2). There were 8,331 housing units at an average density of 2,388.1 per square mile (922.1/km2)*. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.05% (17,666) White, 0.41% (75) Black or African American, 0.13% (24) Native American, 0.72% (133) Asian, 0.03% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.66% (305) from other races, and 0.99% (183) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.08% (935) of the population.

There were 7,273 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.0 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 92.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,521 (with a margin of error of ± $3,209) and the median family income was $94,399 (± $4,750). Males had a median income of $67,632 (± $4,111) versus $47,428 (± $5,097) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,596 (± $1,783). About 1.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 19,306 people, 7,560 households, and 5,231 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,461.6 people per square mile (2,111.6/km2). There were 8,350 housing units at an average density of 2,362.2 per square mile (913.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 85.83% White, 5.33% African-American, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.41%, 0.14% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races.

There were 7,560 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no spouse, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $55,987, and the median income for a family was $64,798. Males had a median income of $50,828 versus $32,886 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,715. About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

Transportation

2018-09-19 16 05 37 View east along New Jersey State Route 13 and Ocean County Route 632 (Bridge Avenue) just west of Rue Lido and Hollywood Boulevard in Point Pleasant, Ocean County, New Jersey
Route 13 eastbound in Point Pleasant

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 78.04 miles (125.59 km) of roadways, of which 64.28 miles (103.45 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.86 miles (12.65 km) by Ocean County and 3.30 miles (5.31 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

State highways include Route 13, which extends a total of .56 miles (0.90 km), most of which is in the borough with a small portion in Bay Head. Route 88 traverses the borough to its eastern terminus at Route 35, just across the border with Point Pleasant Beach.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 317 route.

Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC3A Brick – Point Pleasant and the OC4 Lakewood – Brick Link routes.

In media

Education

The Point Pleasant School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,842 students and 236.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School with 764 students in grades PreK-5, Ocean Road School with 502 students in K-5, Memorial Middle School with 675 students in 6-8 and Point Pleasant Borough High School with 871 students in grades 9-12

Saint Peter School, founded in 1923, serves students in grades K-8 and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. In 2016, the school was one of ten schools in New Jersey, and one of four private schools in the state, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education, a recognition celebrating excellence in academics.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from Point Pleasant, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Point Pleasant include: ((B) denotes that the person was born there)

  • Antonella Barba (born 1986), contestant on the sixth season of American Idol.
  • Rachel Bolan (born 1966), bass guitar player and main songwriter of the metal band, Skid Row.
  • Agnes Boulton (1893–1968), pulp fiction writer who married Eugene O'Neill, living in her home there after their marriage.
  • Peter Cancro, CEO of Jersey Mike's Subs, who started working at the chain's Point Pleasant location as a 14-year-old.
  • Caroline Casagrande (born 1976), member of the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 11th District, who was the youngest assemblywoman ever when she was elected in 2008.
  • Nancy Chard (1933–2010), politician who served in the Vermont House of Representatives and in the Vermont Senate.(B)
  • Andrew R. Ciesla (born 1953), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 2012, where he represented the 10th Legislative District.(B)
  • Fred J. Cook (1911–2003), investigative journalist and author.(B)
  • Dick Cooke (born 1956), head coach of the Davidson Wildcats baseball team since 1991 who spent three years pitching in the minor leagues for the Boston Red Sox.
  • Chris Cummiskey (born 1964), former member of both the Arizona State Senate and the Arizona House of Representatives.(B)
  • Tawny Cypress (born 1976), actress who appeared on K-Ville as Ginger "Love Tap" LeBeau.
  • Arnold D'Ambrosa (born 1933), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1974 to 1976, until is career was cut short by a political scandal.
  • Michael J. Doherty (born 1963), member of the New Jersey Senate representing the 23rd Legislative District since 2009.
  • Kirsten Dunst (born 1982), actress.(B)
  • Marlene Lynch Ford (born 1954), politician, prosecutor and jurist who served in the New Jersey General Assembly.
  • Jeff Frazier (born 1982), professional outfielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers in 2010.
  • Todd Frazier (born 1986), major league baseball player for the New York Mets.
  • Virginia E. Haines (born 1946), politician who serves on the Ocean County Board of chosen freeholders and had served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 to 1994 and as executive director of the New Jersey Lottery from 1994 to 2002.
  • Frankie Hayes (1914–1955), catcher who played for 14 seasons in Major League Baseball who holds the record for most consecutive games played by a catcher.
  • Laurel Hester (1956–2006), police officer who rose to national attention with her deathbed appeal for the extension of pension benefits to her domestic partner.
  • Jacqui Kapinowski (born 1962), Paralympian who competed in wheelchair curling at the 2010 Winter Paralympics and in rowing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
  • Leonard Lomell (1919–2011), United States Army Ranger who played a pivotal role in destroying German gun emplacements on D-Day.
  • Ryan Malleck (born 1993), American football tight end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League.
  • "Irish" Teddy Mann (born 1951), former professional boxer.(B)
  • A. Dale "Bud" Mayo, business executive who is the founder of Digital Cinema Destinations Corp.
  • James M. Murray, 26th Director of the United States Secret Service, serving in that position since May 2019.(B)
  • Eugene O'Neill (1888–1953), playwright.
  • Oona O'Neill (1925–1991), daughter of Eugene O'Neill and writer Agnes Boulton, and the fourth and last wife of comic and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin.
  • Diamond Dallas Page (born 1956), former professional wrestler.(B)
  • Christie Pearce (born 1975; formerly Christie Rampone), USA Soccer player.
  • Kurt Pellegrino (born 1979), MMA fighter who competes under the UFC brand.
  • Soraya (1969–2006), Grammy Award-winning, musician.(B)
  • Michael John Trotta (born 1978), composer and conductor.
  • Arthur Augustus Zimmerman (1869–1936), cycling sprint rider who won the first world championship in 1893.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Point Pleasant (Nueva Jersey) para niños

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