Versatile Real Estate Appraisers offer statewide coverage throughout the entire state of New Jersey.  Our appraisers in Ocean county are more than familiar with the area and qualified to complete an acurate appraisal product.  Below is informtion about  Ocean County, New Jersey.

New Jersey's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 1850
Seat Toms River
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
916 sq mi (2,372 km²)
636 sq mi (1,647 km²)
280 sq mi (725 km²), 30.53%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
510,916
803/sq mi (310/km²)

Ocean County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the southernmost county in the New York metropolitan area; . Its county seat is Toms River[1]. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 510,916. Ocean County was established in 1850 from portions of Monmouth County except for Little Egg Harbor Township which seceded from Burlington County in 1891.

Ocean County is located 50 miles east of Philadelphia, PA, 70 miles south of New York, NY and 25 miles north of Atlantic City, NJ.

Ocean County is home to many tourist attractions including Island Beach State Park, Long Beach Island, Six Flags Great Adventure, home of the world's tallest, fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka. Ocean County is also a gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens.

The state's largest suburban school district, Toms River Regional Schools, is located in the county.

It is also home to Mantoloking (population 423), the wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,372 km² (916 sq mi). 1,648 km² (636 sq mi) of it is land and 724 km² (280 sq mi) of it (30.53%) is water. It is the second largest county by area in New Jersey.

Much of the county is flat and coastal, and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the nation. The highest point is one of three unnamed hills (one in Jackson Township, the other two in Plumsted Township) that reach at least 230 feet (70 m) in elevation. The lowest elevation in the county is sea level.

Adjacent counties

Monmouth County, New Jersey - north
Atlantic County, New Jersey - south
Burlington County, New Jersey - west

 Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.   %±
1850 10,032  —
1860 11,176  11.4%
1870 13,628  21.9%
1880 14,455  6.1%
1890 15,974  10.5%
1900 19,747  23.6%
1910 21,318  8%
1920 22,155  3.9%
1930 33,069  49.3%
1940 37,706  14%
1950 56,622  50.2%
1960 108,241  91.2%
1970 208,470  92.6%
1980 346,038  66%
1990 433,203  25.2%
2000 510,916  17.9%
Est. 2006 562,335 [2] 10.1%
historical census data source: [3][4]
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 310/km² (803/sq mi). There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km² (391/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 93.05% White, 2.99% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.24% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 5.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.9% were of Italian, 18.2% Irish, 12.5% German, 7.0% Polish and 5.4% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 200,402 households out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,443, and the median income for a family was $56,420. Males had a median income of $44,822 versus $30,717 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,054. About 4.80% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.

 Government

Ocean County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large by the voters of Ocean County in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms. Ocean County's Freeholders have both administrative and policy making powers, and are paid some $50,000 in salary and additional benefits.

As of 2008, Ocean County's Freeholders are:[6]

Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari (Toms River Township, term ends December 31, 2008)
Freeholder Deputy Director John C. Bartlett, Jr. (Pine Beach, 2009)
John P. Kelly (Eagleswood Township, 2010)
James F. Lacey (Brick Township, 2010)
Gerry P. Little (Surf City, 2009)

Politics

Ocean County is a Republican stronghold in New Jersey, which is typically a blue state. All parts of the county are represented by Republicans at the federal, state and county level.

Doug Forrester carried Ocean County by 12 points in the 2005 New Jersey gubernatorial election, winning every municipality but Lakewood Township and South Toms River Boro. A year before, George W. Bush won the county by 21 points, carrying every municipality in the county.

Attractions

Ocean County is home to many attractions including Island Beach State Park, Long Beach Island, Six Flags Great Adventure, America's largest Six Flags theme park, home of the world's tallest, fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka. Ocean County is also the northeast gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, New Jersey's largest water park, Six Flags Wild Safari, the largest drive-thru animal safari outside of Africa. Ocean County has an extensive stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, including the Jersey Shore communities and oceanfront boardwalk resorts of Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant Beach. Forty miles of barrier beaches form the Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor Bays, offering ample watersports. It also is home of the Tuckerton Seaport, a 40-acre maritime history village and the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Class A-affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Municipalities

The following is a list of the municipalities in Ocean County. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township.

Index map of Ocean County municipalities (click to see index key)Barnegat Light
Barnegat Township
Barnegat CDP
Ocean Acres (part)
Bay Head
Beach Haven
Beachwood
Berkeley Township
Holiday City-Berkeley
Holiday City South
Holiday Heights
Silver Ridge
Brick Township
Eagleswood Township
Harvey Cedars
Island Heights
Jackson Township
Vista Center
Lacey Township
Forked River
Lanoka Harbor
Lakehurst
Lakewood Township
Lakewood CDP
Leisure Village
Leisure Village East
Lavallette
Little Egg Harbor Township
Mystic Island
Long Beach Township
North Beach Haven
Manchester Township
Cedar Glen Lakes
Cedar Glen West
Crestwood Village
Leisure Knoll
Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park
Pine Ridge at Crestwood
Mantoloking
Ocean Gate
Ocean Township
Waretown
Pine Beach
Plumsted Township
New Egypt
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Beach
Seaside Heights
Seaside Park
Ship Bottom
South Toms River
Stafford Township
Beach Haven West
Manahawkin
Ocean Acres (part)
Surf City
Toms River Township (County Seat)
Dover Beaches North
Dover Beaches South
Tuckerton