Toms River, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toms River, New Jersey
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Township
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Last address of architect Sergey Padyukov at 610 Main Street
Luker Bridge over the Toms River in Huddy Park
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| Motto(s):
"Great Places. Familiar Faces."
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Location of Toms River in Ocean County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Toms River Township, NJ
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 Toms River, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Toms River, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Toms River, 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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| Royal charter | March 1, 1768 (as Dover Township) | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Renamed | November 14, 2006 (as Toms River Township) | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 52.89 sq mi (136.98 km2) | |
| • Land | 40.55 sq mi (105.03 km2) | |
| • Water | 12.34 sq mi (31.95 km2) 23.32% | |
| Area rank | 32nd of 565 in state 7th of 33 in county |
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| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 95,438 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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99,091 | |
| • Rank | 8th of 565 in state 2nd of 33 in county |
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| • Density | 2,354.1/sq mi (908.9/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 263rd of 565 in state 12th of 33 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes |
08753–08757
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| Area code(s) | 732/848 | |
| FIPS code | 3402973125 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882074 | |
Toms River is a township located on the Jersey Shore in Ocean County, New Jersey. It is the county seat of Ocean County. The area was once called Dover Township. In 2006, voters decided to change the official name to Toms River Township.
Toms River is a bedroom suburb of New York City. It is also a major business area in central New Jersey. In 2020, the township had a population of 95,438 people. This was the highest number of people ever counted in Toms River.
Toms River has appeared in many TV shows and movies. These include MTV's Made and Jersey Shore. It was also seen in HBO's Boardwalk Empire and the movie The Amityville Horror. In 1998, the Toms River East Little League team won the Little League World Series. The town also hosts what is said to be the world's second-largest Halloween parade. Toms River was ranked as one of the safest cities in the U.S. in 2006 and 2007.
Contents
Exploring Toms River's Past
How Toms River Began
The early history of Toms River has some unclear stories. The town's name might come from Captain William Tom or farmer Thomas Luker. In 1992, it was officially recognized that "Tom" likely came from Thomas Luker. He ran a ferry across Goose Creek, which is now the Toms River.
In the 1800s, Toms River was important for shipbuilding, fishing, and making iron and lumber. The name was often spelled "Tom's River" in the past. The current spelling became common in the mid-1800s.
Toms River During the American Revolution
On March 1, 1768, Dover Township was officially formed. During the American Revolutionary War, Toms River was very important. It had a salt works that provided salt for colonial soldiers. It was also a base for privateer ships. These ships attacked British and loyalist vessels.
In March 1782, British and loyalist soldiers attacked a fort along the river. They captured Captain Joshua Huddy, a colonial militia leader. He was later executed. The salt works and most homes in the village were destroyed. This event made things very difficult between the British, loyalists, and colonists. It even affected peace talks happening in Paris.
Dover Township became one of New Jersey's first 104 townships on February 21, 1798. Its original name came from Dover, England. The village of Toms River is listed on both national and state lists of historic places.
Growth and Changes in the 1800s and 1900s
In 1850, Toms River became the main town for the new Ocean County. Many new towns were created from Dover Township in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These included Brick, Jackson, Lakewood, and Berkeley. The village of Toms River tried to become its own town twice but did not succeed. In 1927, the part of Toms River south of the river became South Toms River. However, the main part of the village stayed within the larger township.
Over the years, parts of the township were used to form other towns. These include Jackson Township (1844) and Brick Township (1850). Other towns formed were Manchester Township (1865) and Berkeley Township (1875). Also, Island Heights (1887), Lavallette (1887), and Seaside Heights (1913) were created.
Toms River in Recent Times
In the late 1900s, Toms River grew a lot. Over 20,000 new people moved there in the 1990s alone. This growth was partly due to the Garden State Parkway being finished. While the old village is still the center of government, most people now live and work in other parts of the town.
Environmental Cleanup and Safety
In the 1990s, health agencies looked into why there were more childhood cancer cases in Toms River. This was for the years 1970 to 1995. They found that pollution from a chemical plant was likely the cause. The plant had been operating since 1952.
The area was named a EPA cleanup site in 1983. This happened after toxic chemicals were found underground. A discharge pipe was shut down in 1984 because it was leaking. The plant stopped working in 1996.
A study from 1996 to 2000 showed that cancer rates had dropped a lot. Since 1996, Toms River's water system has been tested very strictly. The water is now considered safe to drink. A book called Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation won a Pulitzer Prize in 2014. It tells the story of this pollution and cleanup.
Changing the Name to Toms River Township
For many years, people were confused about the township's name. The postal service used "Toms River" for all of Dover Township. This made people start calling the whole area "Toms River."
A group worked to change the name. On November 7, 2006, over 60% of residents voted to approve the change. The name officially became the Township of Toms River on November 14, 2006.
Geography and Climate of Toms River
Toms River covers about 52.89 square miles (136.98 km²). Most of this is land, but about 12.34 square miles (31.95 km²) is water. Toms River is about 70 miles (113 km) south of Manhattan. It is also about 55 miles (89 km) east of Philadelphia.
Most of Toms River is on the mainland. But some parts, like Dover Beaches North and South, are on the Barnegat Peninsula. This narrow strip of land separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.
Toms River has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain throughout the year. The weather can range from very hot summers to cold winters. The highest temperature ever recorded was 105 °F (41 °C). The lowest was −24 °F (−31 °C).
In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit Toms River hard. Many low-lying areas had their worst flooding ever. The storm surge from Barnegat Bay caused a lot of damage. The barrier islands, just across the bridge, were even more affected.
People and Population
Toms River has grown a lot over the years. In 1790, about 910 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 95,438. This shows how much the area has developed.
The population includes people from many different backgrounds. This makes Toms River a diverse community.
Economy and Local Businesses
Toms River has many places to shop. These include Ocean County Mall, which is the only enclosed mall in Ocean County. There is also Seacourt Pavilion. Toms River is home to the main offices of EGM Green and OceanFirst Bank.
Arts, Culture, and Sports
The RWJBarnabas Health Arena is a large public arena. It is connected to Toms River High School North. This arena holds concerts, sports events, and local activities. These events help raise money for the school district.
Toms River Fest was a summer event that brought many people to the area. In 2008, 25,000 people attended. It was planned to be yearly, but it has not been held since 2008.
Sports Achievements
Toms River is famous for its Little League Baseball teams. The "Beast from the East" team competed in the Little League World Series three times in five years. They won in 1998, beating Japan 12–9. Over 40,000 people lined Route 37 for a parade after their victory.
Toms River Little League returned to the World Series in 2010. They also won the New Jersey State title in 2022.
Toms River is also home to many National Champion Pop Warner Cheerleading teams. The Toms River Angels have won many championships. The Toms River Indians and Toms River Little Indians have also won titles. The Toms River Raiders won a football title in 1996.
Sports Facilities
John Bennett Indoor Athletic Center
This center is known as "The Bubble." It is one of the largest indoor sports complexes in New Jersey. It was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 but reopened after repairs. In 2022, heavy snow caused part of the dome to collapse. The center was later renamed the Rothman Orthopaedic Sports Complex.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Toms River Township has 13 parks. Two new areas are the Toms River Skatepark, which opened in 2021. It is a 7,000 square foot outdoor skatepark. The Field of Dreams Playground opened in 2022. This 3.5-acre playground is designed for children with different abilities.
Joshua Huddy Park opened in 1905 in Downtown Toms River. It has a replica of a Revolutionary War fort. Captain Joshua Huddy was captured here during a skirmish. Luker Bridge was dedicated in 1992. It is named after Thomas Luker, who may have given the river its name. The park was renovated in 2017 for the township's 250th anniversary.
Education in Toms River
Students from pre-kindergarten through high school attend the Toms River Regional Schools. This is the largest suburban school district in New Jersey. It also serves students from Beachwood, Pine Beach, and South Toms River. The district has 18 schools and over 15,000 students.
Some of the schools include:
- Beachwood Elementary School (grades K–5)
- Cedar Grove Elementary School (Pre-K–5)
- Toms River Intermediate East (grades 6–8)
- Toms River High School East (grades 9–12)
- Toms River High School North (grades 9–12)
- Toms River High School South (grades 9–12)
Donovan Catholic High School is the only Catholic high school in Ocean County. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. St. Joseph's Grade School is also run by the diocese for younger students.
Ocean County College is a two-year college in Toms River. It offers four-year degree options with other New Jersey colleges. In 2014, the college received a large donation to create The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts.
Media and News
The Asbury Park Press provides daily news about Toms River. WOBM-FM radio also covers the area. The Toms River Times is a weekly paper that includes news from the township. WOBM-FM radio moved its studios to Toms River in 2013.
Getting Around Toms River
_from_the_overpass_for_Ocean_County_Route_527_(Lakehurst_Road)_in_Toms_River_Township,_Ocean_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Toms River has many major roads. These include the Garden State Parkway and US 9. Other important routes are Route 35, Route 37, and Route 70.
Two of the busiest roads are Hooper Avenue and Route 37. Route 37 gets extra traffic in the summer. This is because it is a main road to the Jersey Shore from the Garden State Parkway.
Public Transportation Options
The main bus station in Toms River is downtown. NJ Transit buses offer routes to Newark, Journal Square, and Midtown Manhattan. There are also buses to the Atlantic City Bus Terminal. The Academy Bus Line provides service to Lower Manhattan. The Toms River Park & Ride offers express bus service to New York City during busy times.
Local bus service is also available through Ocean Ride. These routes connect different parts of Toms River and nearby towns.
Train service to Toms River ended in the late 1940s. The closest train station is in Bay Head. There are plans to bring train service to nearby Lakehurst. The Robert J. Miller Air Park, a public airport, is located about 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Toms River.
Community Highlights
- Toms River has been featured on TV shows like MTV's Made and Jersey Shore.
- The book Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation by Dan Fagin won a Pulitzer Prize. It tells the story of pollution that happened in Toms River.
- Toms River has many beaches along the Jersey Shore. These include Ortley Beach, Normandy Beach, and Silver Beach.
- The New Jersey Chili and Salsa Cook-Off and the New Jersey Ice Cream Festival are held here.
- The Toms River Branch of Ocean County Library is the main library for Ocean County. It was made twice as big in 2006.
- The 1979 movie The Amityville Horror was filmed in Toms River. Local police and ambulance workers were extras in the movie.
- Downtown Toms River hosts many community events. These include festivals like Toms River Pride and the second largest Halloween parade in the world.
- The official slogan for Toms River is "Great Places. Familiar Faces."
Famous People from Toms River
Many notable people have connections to Toms River. Here are a few:
- Platt Adams (1885–1961), an athlete who won a gold medal in the standing high jump at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
- Rachel Bolan (born 1966), the bass guitar player and main songwriter for the band Skid Row.
- Mike Bucci (born 1972), a professional wrestler known as Nova and Simon Dean.
- Marguerite de Angeli (1889–1987), a writer and illustrator of children's books. She won the Newbery Award for The Door in the Wall.
- Jerry Dipoto (born 1968), a former professional baseball player and general manager for the Seattle Mariners.
- Frankie Edgar (born 1981), a former UFC Lightweight Champion.
- Todd Frazier (born 1986), a professional baseball player for the New York Mets and an Olympic silver medalist.
- Tom Guiry (born 1981), an actor best known for his role in the film The Sandlot.
- Al Leiter (born 1965), a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Mets and New York Yankees.
- Marty Jannetty (born 1962), a professional wrestler known as one-half of The Rockers.
- Tony Meola (born 1969), a former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States men's national soccer team in three World Cups.
- Piper Perabo (born 1976), an actress known for her role in the film Coyote Ugly.
- Maria Ressa, a Filipino-American journalist and author who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.
- Jason Snelling (born 1983), a former NFL running back for the Atlanta Falcons.
