Whiting, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whiting, New Jersey
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Center of Whiting
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 Whiting, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Whiting, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Whiting, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Ocean |
| Township | Manchester |
| Elevation | 180 ft (55 m) |
| ZIP code |
08759
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| GNIS feature ID | 0881807 |
Whiting is a community in Manchester Township, located in Ocean County, New Jersey. It's a place where many people choose to live after they retire.
The town is in the Eastern Standard time zone and sits about 180 feet above sea level. The area covered by Whiting's ZIP code (08759) had about 33,180 people living there in 2019. Most of Manchester Township's population lives in Whiting.
Whiting used to be a stop on the Central Railroad of New Jersey. This train line was famous for its fast train called the Blue Comet. The train station was at the corner of Diamond Road and Station Road. The town and the station were named after a lumber mill owned by Nathaniel Whiting.
The highest spot in Whiting is Halfmoon Hill, which is 205 feet tall. Another high point is Crow's Hill. From there, you can still see Hangar 1, which is where the Hindenburg airship disaster happened.
Contents
Whiting's Early Industries and History
Whiting has a history tied to railroads and old industries.
Railroad Connections
A man named Tehophilus T. Price built the Tuckerton Railroad. This railroad had yards in Whiting and Tuckerton. In Whiting, there was a special track setup called a "wye" that allowed different railroads, like the Tuckerton, Pennsylvania Railroad, and Central Jersey Railroad, to connect. This was later replaced by a turntable, which helps turn train engines around.
Near the train yard, there was a place called the Lancewood Hotel. In the 1920s, a place called Nature's Rest Colony was built on what used to be the Jersey Pines Poultry Farm.
Brick Making and Other Factories
Before the poultry farm, there was a brick company in the Fox Hollow area. This company, called Hydraulic Press Brick Company, closed its operations in Whiting.
There was also a Dupont gun powder factory behind the Whiting Bible Church before World War I. They sold a testing ground to the Russian Imperial Army. This is where they tested Russian artillery shells. This area is now part of the Lakehurst Naval and Air Engineering base.
Whiting Volunteer Fire Company
The Whiting Volunteer Fire Company No.1 started in 1937. For many years, it was the only fire company in Manchester Township.
Early Days of the Fire Company
The first fire engine was kept in a garage at Allegrinia's Bar, which was a popular Italian restaurant. The first fire station was built on Central Avenue. It was a simple building with two bays for trucks and a wood-burning stove for heat. To alert firefighters, they would hit a large metal ring with a sledgehammer.
Important People in Whiting's Past
Whiting has had some interesting people in its history.
Andrew M. Battles, Early Judge
In the past, Whiting was one of the first communities in the country to elect an African-American judge. His name was Andrew M. Battles. He won his position when many of the white residents were away hunting deer. He would hold court on the porch of his gas station and pause when a customer needed gas.
Roosevelt City: A Planned Community
In the 1920s, there was a plan to build a large city in Whiting called Roosevelt City. This plan was made by Joseph Parisi and his brother Frank. They wanted to build a city that could compete with New York City.
Maps in the Ocean County Clerk office show where different parts of the planned community would be. This included neighborhoods for rich and poor, churches, a city hall, factories, and train stations. All of this was planned along the Tuckerton Railroad, which would connect to other major cities.
There was even a grand road planned, named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with a fountain. This road is still unpaved today. A few concrete houses were built, and a spring water company was also started. You can still find old foundations from chicken coops, stables, and a water tower in the area.
Joe Portash and Community Development
Joe Portash was a local politician who moved to Ocean County. He became involved with Robert J. Schmertz, who owned the Boston Celtics and developed retirement communities called Leisure Villages in Manchester.
Portash worked with Miroslav “Michael” Kokes, who built the first active adult community in Whiting, called Crestwood Village, starting in 1964. Portash also helped create Harry Wright Lake and two new ponds. He also influenced road plans to benefit Kokes's shopping plaza.
Native American Heritage
The Leni Lenape people were the original native inhabitants of this area. They left their mark on the land.
Leni Lenape Land Use
They would mark their land with special tree arrangements. This included post oak trees with three trunks, surrounded by other trees like Pitch Pine and Scarlet Oak with forked tops. They also had areas with wintergreen, scrub oak for acorns, and mountain laurel hedges. They would even bend trees into unique shapes or stunt them like bonsai trees.
Education in Whiting
Manchester Township provides schooling for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Local Schools
Whiting School is the only school in the immediate Whiting area. It teaches students up to the third grade.
Catholic Schools
For students seeking a religious education, St. Mary Academy is nearby in Manahawkin. This is a K-8 school that is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. From 1997 to 2019, it was known as All Saints Regional Catholic School and was managed by five churches, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Whiting. In 2019, St. Mary Church took over the school, keeping it on the same campus but changing its name.
Notable People from Whiting
Here are some well-known people who have lived in or are connected to Whiting:
- Joe Cinderella (1927–2012), a talented jazz guitarist.
- Julia Scotti, a transgender stand-up comedian.
