Ocean County was established in 1850 from portions of Monmouth County except for Little Egg Harbor Township which seceded from Burlington County in 1891. In 1891, Little Egg Harbor merged into the new political subdivision. Located along the Jersey Shore, its county seat is Toms River, which, like the county itself, has been one of the fastest growing areas of the state since the 1990s.
As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 576,567. The 2000 Census population for the county was 510,916, making Ocean County the fastest growing in the state of New Jersey in terms of growth in the number of residents and second-highest in percentage growth.
Key Demographics:
- Area: 279.60 sq. miles
- Population: 510,916
- Median Household income: $74,142
- Percent below poverty level: 7.00%
- Political subdivisions: 33, consisting of six cities/boroughs combined and 27 townships.
CFSJ Grants & Support
- A $5,000 grant was given to the Food bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties to support the Mobile Pantry Program which provides emergency food to areas of Ocean County which have large numbers of people living in poverty, but which are not adequately served by existing pantries.
Fun Facts:
- Ocean County includes the boardwalk resort of Seaside Heights featured in Mtv’s much publicized series Jersey Shore.
- Lakewood is home to Six Flags Great Adventure with the world’s tallest, and fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka.
- Forty miles of barrier beaches form the Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor Bays.
- Ocean County is also home to the Lakewood BlueClaws.