Editing Ocean County, New Jersey

{{short description|County in New Jersey, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Ocean County
| state              = New Jersey
| type               = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
| ex image           = NJ LBI Lighthouse 04.JPG
| ex image cap       = [[Sunrise]] at [[Barnegat Lighthouse]] on [[Long Beach Island]], facing the [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| ex image size      = 300px
| flag               = Flag of Ocean County, New Jersey.gif
| seal               = Ocean County Seal.png
| founded year       = 1850<ref name=Story/>
| founded date       = 
| seat               = [[Toms River (CDP), New Jersey|Toms River]]<ref name=CountyMap/>
| largest city       = [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood Township]] (population)<br>[[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]] (area)
| city type          = municipality
| named for          = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| leader_title       = Commissioner Director
| leader_name        = Barbara Jo Crea ([[Republican Party (New Jersey)|R]], term ends December 31, 2024) 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 914.84
| area_land_sq_mi    = 628.29
| area_water_sq_mi   = 286.55
| area percentage    =  31.3
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=CensusArea/>
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_total   = 637229
| population_footnotes =<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/>
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| population_est     = 666434 {{increase}}
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name=Census2020/><ref name=PopEst/>
| population_density_sq_mi = 1060
| population_density_km2 = auto
| coordinates = {{coord|39.87|-74.25|display=inline,title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NJ_source:UScensus1990}}
| district = 2nd
| district2 = 4th
|website={{URL|co.ocean.nj.us}}
|time zone=Eastern
}}
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502564|type=shape|text=Interactive map of Ocean County, New Jersey}}

'''Ocean County''' is a [[List of counties in New Jersey|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]] and the southernmost county in the [[New York metropolitan area]]. The county borders the [[Atlantic Ocean]] on the east and in terms of total area is the state's largest county.<ref name=CensusArea/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Toms River (CDP), New Jersey|Toms River]].<ref name=CountyMap>[https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/catctytable.html New Jersey County Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313034019/http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/catctytable.html |date=March 13, 2017 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref> The county is part of the [[Jersey Shore]]<ref>[https://bestofnj.com/nj-regions-page/ "Regions: North, Central, South, Shore - Best of NJ"], ''Best of NJ'', Accessed May 30, 2024. "Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean County make up the Jersey Shore region."</ref> and is considered part of the [[Central Jersey]] region of the state,<ref>Willis, David P. [https://www.app.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2023/02/20/central-jersey-debate-ocean-union-county-nj/69914996007/ "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."</ref> though it was not among the four counties explicitly listed as included in Central Jersey as part of legislation signed into law in 2023.<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562023/20230824a.shtml "Governor Murphy Settles Central Jersey Debate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213081411/https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562023/20230824a.shtml |date=February 13, 2024 }}, [[Governor of New Jersey]] [[Phil Murphy]], August 24, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2024. "Governor Phil Murphy today signed S3206 to promote Central Jersey tourism. The bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism, within the Department of State, to re-draw the State tourism map to create a 'Central Jersey' region and to incorporate it in all regional marketing campaigns, including publications and on VisitNJ.org. The 'Central Jersey' region will be comprised of, at minimum, the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset."</ref>

Since 2020, Ocean County has been the fastest-growing county in New Jersey,<ref name=OceanCountyFastestGrowing>{{cite web|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/ocean-county-towns-see-significant-population-growth-see-the-top-14/70248592007/|title=State of growing: 14 New Jersey towns where population is growing the fastest|quote=Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nowhere in New Jersey has been growing as fast as Ocean County..Ocean County grew by nearly 3 percent — the largest increase in the state. Four of the five fastest growing towns in New Jersey are in Ocean..[[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood]], which has been the fastest growing town in New Jersey for decades, retained its title. But seven other Ocean County towns, like [[Brick Township, New Jersey|]], [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]], and [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|]], also bucked state trends and experienced significant population growth.|author=Ryan Forgosh, Asbury Park Press|publisher=USA TODAY Network|date=May 25, 2023|access-date=May 27, 2023|archive-date=June 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604195827/https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/ocean-county-towns-see-significant-population-growth-see-the-top-14/70248592007/|url-status=live}}</ref> with a population of 637,229 recorded at the [[2020 United States census]],<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest [[United States Census|decennial count]] ever and ranking the county as the state's [[List of counties in New Jersey|sixth-most populous county]],<ref name=Largest2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_PL94_Summary/Table_1_2020.xlsx Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213121552/https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_PL94_Summary/Table_1_2020.xlsx |date=February 13, 2023 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/new-jersey-population-change-between-census-decade.html "New Jersey: 2020 Census - New Jersey Population Topped 9 Million in Last Decade"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526234100/https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/new-jersey-population-change-between-census-decade.html |date=May 26, 2023 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]], August 25, 2021. Accessed December 25, 2022.</ref> with an increase of 60,662 (+10.5%) from the 576,567 enumerated at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name=Census2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 65,651 (+12.8%) from the 510,916 counted in the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref name=Census2000/> Since 2010, Ocean County's population has been growing faster than the United States as a whole.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/new-jersey/county/ocean-county/|title=How has the population changed in Ocean County?|quote=The population of Ocean County, New Jersey in 2021 was 648,998, 12.4% up from the 577,574 who lived there in 2010. For comparison, the US population grew 7.3%|publisher=USAFacts|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422194419/https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/new-jersey/county/ocean-county/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United States Census Bureau]]'s [[Population Estimates Program]] estimated a 2023 population of 659,197, an increase of 21,968 (+3.4%) from the 2020 decennial census.<ref name=PopEst/> Ocean County’s most populous and fastest-growing place is [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood Township]], with an estimated 139,866 residents as of 2023,<ref name=LakewoodTownshipPopulation>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2023-POP-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023], [[United States Census Bureau]], released May 2024. Accessed June 4, 2024.</ref> while [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]] covers {{convert|100.62|sqmi}}, the largest total area of any municipality in the county.

Ocean County is located {{convert|50|mi|km}} east of [[Philadelphia]], {{convert|70|mi|km}} south of [[New York City]], and {{convert|25|mi|km}} north of [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]], making it a prime vacation destination for residents of these cities during the summer. As with the entire [[Jersey Shore]], summer traffic routinely clogs local roadways throughout the season. Over 31% of Ocean County's total area is water.

Ocean County is part of the New York metropolitan area.<ref>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/reference-maps/2020/state-maps/34_NewJersey_2020.pdf New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413103924/https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/reference-maps/2020/state-maps/34_NewJersey_2020.pdf |date=April 13, 2023 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed October 22, 2021.</ref> The county is also home to many tourist attractions frequented by [[Delaware Valley|Philadelphia metropolitan area]] residents, including the beachfront communities of [[Seaside Heights, New Jersey|Seaside Heights]], [[Long Beach Island]], and [[Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey|Point Pleasant Beach]], and [[Six Flags Great Adventure]], an amusement park in [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]] that was the home to the world's tallest and second-fastest [[roller coaster]], [[Kingda Ka]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yikes! The World's 10 Tallest Roller Coasters will Freak You Out |url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/tallest-roller-coasters-in-the-world-3226411 |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=TripSavvy |language=en |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813154540/https://www.tripsavvy.com/tallest-roller-coasters-in-the-world-3226411 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ocean County is a gateway to New Jersey's [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|Pine Barrens]], one of the largest protected land areas on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]].

==History==
Prior to its creation, Ocean County was almost entirely within [[Shrewsbury Township, New Jersey|Shrewsbury Township]] in [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]], with the exception of [[Tuckerton, New Jersey|Tuckerton]] and [[Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey|Little Egg Harbor Township]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=history of NJ |url=https://www.nj.gov/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf}}</ref> Ocean County was established on February 15, 1850, from portions of Monmouth county; Little Egg Harbor Township was annexed from [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington County]] on March 30, 1891.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf#page=191 ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314055548/https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf#page=191 |date=March 14, 2022 }}, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 201. Accessed January 21, 2013.</ref> It derives its name from the Atlantic Ocean that it borders.

The most populous municipality in the county is the rapidly growing [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood Township]] with 135,158 residents in 2020, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 42,315 (+45.6%) from its 2010 census count of 92,843.<ref name="LWD2020" /><ref>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/lakewoodtownshipoceancountynewjersey QuickFacts Lakewood township, Ocean County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609080053/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/lakewoodtownshipoceancountynewjersey |date=June 9, 2023 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 25, 2022.</ref> [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]], which covers {{convert|100.62|sqmi}}, is the largest municipality in Ocean County by area.<ref name="CPH232" />

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of {{convert|914.84|sqmi}}, making it the largest county in New Jersey in terms of total area (ahead of [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington County]]), of which {{convert|628.29|sqmi}} was land (68.7%) and {{convert|286.55|sqmi}} was water (31.3%).<ref name=CensusArea>[https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_34.txt 2020 Census Gazetteer File for Counties in New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402173917/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_34.txt |date=April 2, 2023 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed April 1, 2023.</ref>

Much of the county is flat and coastal, with an extensive [[shoreline]] and many beaches along the [[Jersey Shore]], including [[Barnegat Light, New Jersey|Barnegat Light]], [[Beach Haven, New Jersey|Beach Haven]], [[Harvey Cedars, New Jersey|Harvey Cedars]], [[Lavallette, New Jersey|Lavallette]], [[Mantoloking, New Jersey|Mantoloking]], [[Seaside Heights, New Jersey|Seaside Heights]], [[Seaside Park, New Jersey|Seaside Park]], [[Ship Bottom, New Jersey|Ship Bottom]], and [[Surf City, New Jersey|Surf City]]. The highest point is one of three unnamed hills (one in [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]], the other two in [[Plumsted Township, New Jersey|Plumsted Township]]) that reach at least {{convert|230|ft}} in elevation.<ref>[http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=13320 New Jersey County High Points] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518173742/http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=13320 |date=May 18, 2015 }}, Peakbagger.com. Accessed October 5, 2013.</ref> The lowest elevation in the county is at [[sea level]] along the county's lengthy [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Barnegat Bay]] coastlines.

===Climate===
{{Weather box 
|location = Jackson Township, New Jersey
|width = auto
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 41
|Feb high F = 44
|Mar high F = 51
|Apr high F = 61
|May high F = 71
|Jun high F = 80
|Jul high F = 85
|Aug high F = 83
|Sep high F = 77
|Oct high F = 67
|Nov high F = 57
|Dec high F = 46

|Jan low F = 22
|Feb low F = 24
|Mar low F = 30
|Apr low F = 39
|May low F = 49
|Jun low F = 59
|Jul low F = 64
|Aug low F = 62
|Sep low F = 55
|Oct low F = 43
|Nov low F = 35
|Dec low F = 27

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.92 
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.30
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.79 
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.07 
|May precipitation inch = 3.73 
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.80 
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.60 
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.69 
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.79 
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.90 
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.11 
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.51 
|source 1 =<ref>[http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/08527 Monthly Weather for Jackson, NJ 08527] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218081526/https://weather.com/nl-NL/weer/monthly/l/52.35,4.92 |date=February 18, 2020 }}, [[Weather.com]]</ref>
|date=April 2012
}}
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| single line = Y
| location = Beach Haven Beach, New Jersey (1981–2010 averages)
| Jan high F  =   	40.6
| Feb high F  =   	42.5
| Mar high F  =   	49.2
| Apr high F  =   	57.7
| May high F  =   	67.9
| Jun high F  =   	77.0
| Jul high F  =   	82.7
| Aug high F  =   	81.6
| Sep high F  =   	75.6
| Oct high F  =   	65.1
| Nov high F  =   	55.1
| Dec high F  =   	45.3
| year high F =   	61.8
| Jan mean F  =   	33.4
| Feb mean F  =   	35.4
| Mar mean F  =   	41.7
| Apr mean F  =   	50.5
| May mean F  =   	60.3
| Jun mean F  =   	69.7
| Jul mean F  =   	75.4
| Aug mean F  =  	74.5
| Sep mean F  =   	68.2
| Oct mean F  =   	57.1
| Nov mean F  =   	47.7
| Dec mean F  =   	38.2
| year mean F =   	54.4
| Jan low F  =   	26.3
| Feb low F  =   	28.2
| Mar low F  =   	34.3
| Apr low F  =   	43.2
| May low F  =   	52.7
| Jun low F  =   	62.4
| Jul low F  =   	68.2
| Aug low F  =   	67.5
| Sep low F  =   	60.7
| Oct low F  =   	49.0
| Nov low F  =   	40.3
| Dec low F  =   	31.1
| year low F =   	47.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch  =   	3.21
| Feb precipitation inch  =   	3.06
| Mar precipitation inch  =   	3.97
| Apr precipitation inch  =   	3.40
| May precipitation inch  =   	2.80
| Jun precipitation inch  =   	2.68
| Jul precipitation inch  =   	3.80
| Aug precipitation inch  =   	4.09
| Sep precipitation inch  =   	2.83
| Oct precipitation inch  =   	3.44
| Nov precipitation inch  =   	2.90
| Dec precipitation inch  =   	3.32
| year precipitation inch =   	39.50
| humidity colour = green
| Jan humidity    =	68.1
| Feb humidity    =	65.8
| Mar humidity    =	64.5
| Apr humidity    =	65.3
| May humidity    =	69.0
| Jun humidity    =	72.6
| Jul humidity    =	71.9
| Aug humidity    =	73.3
| Sep humidity    =	72.4
| Oct humidity    =	70.2
| Nov humidity    =	69.5
| Dec humidity    =	68.4
| year humidity   =	69.3
| Jan dew point F =	24.0
| Feb dew point F =	25.1
| Mar dew point F =	30.6
| Apr dew point F =	39.3
| May dew point F =	50.1
| Jun dew point F =	60.5
| Jul dew point F =	65.7
| Aug dew point F =	65.4
| Sep dew point F =	59.0
| Oct dew point F =	47.5
| Nov dew point F =	38.2
| Dec dew point F =	28.7
| year dew point F =	44.6
|source 1 = PRISM<ref name=prism>[http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ Time Series Values for Individual Locations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725164937/http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ |date=July 25, 2019 }}, PRISM Climate Group [[Oregon State University]]. Accessed March 18, 2020.</ref>}}
{{climate chart
|[[Toms River, New Jersey]]
|24|41|3.92
|25|44|3.30
|32|51|4.79
|41|61|4.07
|51|71|3.73
|61|80|3.80
|66|85|4.60
|64|83|4.69
|58|77|3.79
|46|67|3.90
|38|57|4.11
|29|46|4.51
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=[[The Weather Channel]]<ref name="weather">[http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNJ0520 Monthly Averages for Toms River, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521073407/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNJ0520 |date=May 21, 2013 }}, 
[[The Weather Channel]]. Accessed October 13, 2012.</ref>}}
Ocean County's area comprises 31.3% water. The coastal county along the [[Atlantic Ocean]] has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'' and including the coast). In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Toms River have ranged from a low of {{convert|24|F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-19|F}} was recorded in January 1982 and a record high of {{convert|105|F}} was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly temperatures in Tuckerton near the south end range from {{convert|33.2|F}} in January to {{convert|75.7|F}} in July.<ref>[http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ Time Series Values for Individual Locations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725164937/http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ |date=July 25, 2019 }}, [[Oregon State University]] PRISM. Accessed March 31, 2023.</ref>

The highest monthly average temperature for the county was {{Convert|78.8|F|C|abbr=on}} in July 2020; the lowest was {{Convert|17.2|F|C|abbr=on}} in February 1934.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ONJSC :: Historical Monthly Summary Tables |url=https://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim_v1/nclimdiv/index.php?stn=NJ00&elem=avgt |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=climate.rutgers.edu |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503170946/https://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim_v1/nclimdiv/index.php?stn=NJ00&elem=avgt |url-status=live }}</ref>

Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|3.30|in}} in February to {{convert|4.79|in}} in March.<ref name="weather" /> Areas closer to the coast typically experience more mild winters and cooler summers due to the Atlantic Ocean's influence.

The highest total monthly precipitation recorded for the county was {{Convert|15.67|in|cm|abbr=on}} in August 2011, the same month [[Hurricane Irene]] hit the New Jersey coast; the lowest was {{Convert|.02|in|cm|abbr=on}} recorded in October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ONJSC :: Historical Monthly Summary Tables |url=https://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim_v1/nclimdiv/index.php?stn=NJ00&elem=pcpn |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=climate.rutgers.edu |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503170945/https://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim_v1/nclimdiv/index.php?stn=NJ00&elem=pcpn |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 10032
|1860= 11176
|1870= 13628
|1880= 14455
|1890= 15974
|1900= 19747
|1910= 21318
|1920= 22155
|1930= 33069
|1940= 37706
|1950= 56622
|1960=108241
|1970=208470
|1980=346038
|1990=433203
|2000=510916
|2010=576567
|2020=637229
| estyear=2024
| estimate=666434
| estref=
|footnote=Historical sources:<br>1790–1990<ref>Forstall, Richard L. [https://books.google.com/books?id=sezaSI_LPA8C&pg=PA108 ''Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 from the Twenty-one Decennial Censuses''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930084231/https://books.google.com/books?id=sezaSI_LPA8C&pg=PA108#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=September 30, 2023 }}, pp. 108–109. [[United States Census Bureau]], March 1996. {{ISBN|9780934213486}}. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref> 1970–2010<ref name=CPH232>[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-32.pdf#page=32 ''New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts; 2010 Census of Population and Housing''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126223213/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-32.pdf#page=32 |date=January 26, 2022 }}, p. 6, CPH-2-32. [[United States Census Bureau]], August 2012. Accessed August 29, 2016.</ref><br>2010<ref name=Census2010>[https://archive.today/20200212095042/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US34029 DP1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Ocean County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed March 25, 2016.</ref><!-- this reference is needed by template:USCensusDemographics --> 2000–2010<ref name=Census2010Press>[https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb11-cn15.html U.S. Census Bureau Delivers New Jersey's 2010 Census Population Totals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208012643/http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb11-cn15.html |date=February 8, 2011 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]], February 3, 2011. Accessed February 5, 2011.</ref> 2020<ref name=Census2020>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/oceancountynewjersey/ QuickFacts: Ocean County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513201324/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/oceancountynewjersey/ |date=May 13, 2024 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed April 9, 2023.</ref><ref name=LWD2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_Mun/MCD%200_All.pdf Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213084623/https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_Mun/MCD%200_All.pdf |date=February 13, 2023 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> 2024<ref name=PopEst>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328182719/https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop-34.xlsx |date=March 28, 2024 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]], released March 2024. Accessed March 15, 2024.</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]] counted 637,229 people and 237,729 households in the county. The population density was {{convert|1014.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 295,648 housing units at an average density of {{convert|470.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup was 92.2% (587,525) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 3.9% (24,852) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.3% (1,912) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 2.1% (13,382) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.1% (637) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], and 1.5% (9,558) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race were 10.2% (64,997) of the population. The average household size was 2.62.<ref name=Census2020/>

24.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 52.6% from 18 to 64, and 22.8% were 65 years of age or older. Females made up 51.3% of the total population.<ref name=Census2020/>

===2010 census===
The [[2010 United States census]] counted 576,567 people, 221,111 households, and 149,250 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|917|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 278,052 housing units at an average density of {{convert|442.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup was 90.98% (524,577) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 3.15% (18,164) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.17% (966) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 1.75% (10,081) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.02% (129) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.46% (14,165) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 1.47% (8,485) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race were 8.29% (47,783) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 221,111 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.9% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 27.8% were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 21% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.3 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]]<ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |date=July 9, 2021 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref> there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|803|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of {{convert|151|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.05% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.99% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.28% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.24% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.29% from two or more races. 5.02% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.<ref name=Census2000>[https://archive.today/20200212085756/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0500000US34029 DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000; Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ocean County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 23, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000DP1to4>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080706205336/http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/05034029.pdf Tables DP-1 to DP-4 from Census 2000 for Ocean County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of July 6, 2008. Accessed October 1, 2013.</ref> Among those who listed their ancestry, 25.3% were of [[Italian people|Italian]], 23.6% [[Irish people|Irish]], 18.7% [[German people|German]], 8.8% [[Polish people|Polish]] and 8.5% [[English people|English]] ancestry according to Census 2000.<ref name=Census2000DP1to4/><ref>[https://archive.today/20200212093435/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF3/DP2/0500000US34029 DP-2 - Profile of Selected Social Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 3 (SF 3) - Sample Data for Ocean County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 30, 2013.</ref>
There were 200,402 households, out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were [[Marriage|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.<ref name=Census2000/>

In the county, 23.30% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.60% was from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% was 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.<ref name=Census2000/>
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 4.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000DP1to4/><ref>[https://archive.today/20200212102431/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF3/DP3/0500000US34029 DP-3 - Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000 from Census 2000 Summary File 3 (SF 3) - Sample Data for Ocean County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 30, 2013.</ref>

As of the 2000 Census, [[Mantoloking, New Jersey|Mantoloking]] was [[New Jersey locations by per capita income#New Jersey places ranked by per capita income|the wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey]] with a per capita money income of $114,017 as of 1999.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031215005613/http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi25/pub/NJSDC-P4.pdf#page=66 Money Income (1989 and 1999) and Poverty (1999) New Jersey, Counties and Municipalities], New Jersey State Data Center, April 2003. Accessed October 1, 2013.</ref>

==Economy==
The [[Bureau of Economic Analysis]] calculated that the county's [[gross domestic product]] was $23.8&nbsp;billion in 2022, which ranked 12th of 21 in the state. This was a 4.1% increase from the prior year, the 5th largest percent change in the state. The 2022 GDP numbers reflected the second year in a row of positive growth for the county, after 2020 saw a -0.4% change from 2019.<ref>[https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/lagdp1223.pdf Gross Domestic Product by County and Metropolitan Area, 2022] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213200707/https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/lagdp1223.pdf |date=December 13, 2023 }}

Released Thursday, December 7, 2023. Accessed May 3, 2024</ref>

Ocean County is home to the [[Ocean County Mall]] in Toms River, featuring a [[Floor area (building)|gross leasable area]] of {{convert|898000|sqft}}.<ref>[http://business.simon.com/leasing/ocean-county-mall Ocean County Mall] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823024837/http://business.simon.com/leasing/ocean-county-mall |date=August 23, 2016 }}, [[Simon Property Group]]. Accessed June 27, 2016.</ref> The now-closed [[Sears]] site will be replaced with {{convert|100000|sqft}} of retail space.<ref>Willis, David P. [https://www.app.com/story/money/business/main-street/whats-going-there/2019/05/07/ocean-county-malls-big-changes-include-la-fitness-homesense/1130120001/ "Ocean County Mall's big changes will include LA Fitness, Homesense"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513201257/https://www.app.com/story/money/business/main-street/whats-going-there/2019/05/07/ocean-county-malls-big-changes-include-la-fitness-homesense/1130120001/ |date=May 13, 2024 }}, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', May 7, 2019. Accessed April 12, 2020. "The 104,000-square-foot Sears store is being replaced with 97,679-square-feet of retail space, along with a new mall entrance on the north side of the building and new landscaping."</ref>

==Government==
===County government===
[[File:Ocean County Courthouse.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[Ocean County Courthouse]] in [[Toms River (CDP), New Jersey|Toms River]] was built in 1851.]]
Ocean County is governed by a [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|Board of County Commissioners]] comprised of five members who are elected on an [[at-large]] basis in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization held in the beginning of January, the board chooses a Director and a deputy director from among its members.<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=266 Freeholder to Commissioner History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208013641/https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=266 |date=December 8, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref> In 2016, freeholders were paid $30,000 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $31,000.<ref>Gallo Jr., Bill. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/how_much_your_county_freeholders_others_in_nj_earn.html "Which N.J. county freeholders are paid the most?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026113548/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/how_much_your_county_freeholders_others_in_nj_earn.html |date=October 26, 2017 }}, [[NJ.com]], March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder director: $31,000; Other freeholders: $30,000"</ref> This remained unchanged in 2018

{{As of|2025}}, Ocean County's Commissioners are (with terms for chair and vice-chair ending every December 31):<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmMeetCommissioners.aspx Meet our Commissioners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130145504/https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmMeetCommissioners.aspx |date=November 30, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx County Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407015002/https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx |date=April 7, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Commissioner 
! Party, Residence, Term 
|-
| Robert Arace
| R, [[Manchester Township, New Jersey|Manchester Township]], 2027<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=177 Commissioner Barbara Jo Crea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130131004/https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=177 |date=November 30, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Jennifer Bacchione
| R, [[Berkeley Township, New Jersey|Berkeley Township]], 2027<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=5578 Commissioner Gary Quinn] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130151050/https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=5578 |date=November 30, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
|-
| [[Virginia E. Haines]] 
| [[Republican Party (United States)|R]], [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]], 2025<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=2671 Commissioner Director Virginia E. Haines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130132944/https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=2671 |date=November 30, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
|-
| John P. Kelly 
| R, [[Eagleswood Township, New Jersey|Eagleswood Township]], 2025<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=175 Commissioner John P. Kelly] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130143145/https://co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=175 |date=November 30, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Frank Sadeghi
| R, Toms River, 2026<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=173 Commissioner Joseph H. Vicari] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118060147/https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=173 |date=November 18, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
|}

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the [[New Jersey State Constitution]], each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the [[County Clerk]] and [[Probate Court|County Surrogate]] (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the [[Sheriff|County Sheriff]] (elected for a three-year term).<ref>[http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/docconst47.html#page16 New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101123505/http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/docconst47.html#page16 |date=November 1, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed October 26, 2017.</ref> Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:<ref name="co.ocean.nj.us">[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/WebContentFiles/70fc90f8-5e4e-4454-a3c1-8ca3d0911f87.pdf 2022 Ocean County and Municipal Elected Officials] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415061538/https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/WebContentFiles/70fc90f8-5e4e-4454-a3c1-8ca3d0911f87.pdf |date=April 15, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref> Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Office
! Party, Residence, Term 
|-
| County Clerk Scott M. Colabella 
| R, [[Barnegat Light, New Jersey|Barnegat Light]], 2025<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=179 County Clerk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208013640/https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=179 |date=December 8, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[http://coanj.com/member-list/clerks/ Clerks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119064437/http://coanj.com/member-list/clerks/ |date=November 19, 2022 }}, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy 
| R, Toms River, 2025<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=180 County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208013644/https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=180 |date=December 8, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/sheriffs/ Sheriffs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917074252/https://coanj.com/member-list/sheriffs/ |date=September 17, 2021 }}, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Surrogate [[Jeffrey Moran]] 
| R, [[Beachwood, New Jersey|Beachwood]], 2028<ref>[https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=181 County Surrogate Jeffrey W. Moran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208013642/https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/frmGovDirPage.aspx?ID=181 |date=December 8, 2022 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/surrogates/ Surrogates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917074254/https://coanj.com/member-list/surrogates/ |date=September 17, 2021 }}, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref><ref name="co.ocean.nj.us"/>
|}

No Democrat has won a countywide office since 1989. The Ocean County Prosecutor is Bradley D. Billhimer, who was nominated by Governor [[Phil Murphy]]. Billhimer was sworn in by New Jersey Attorney General [[Gurbir Grewal]] on October 12, 2018.<ref>[https://ocponj.gov/staff/bradley-d-billhimer/ Bradley D. Billhimer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525072934/https://ocponj.gov/staff/bradley-d-billhimer/ |date=May 25, 2022 }}, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Accessed June 1, 2022.</ref><ref>Hopkins, Kathleen. [https://www.app.com/story/news/local/courts/2018/10/12/bradley-d-billhimer-sworn-ocean-county-prosecutor/1536063002/ "New Ocean County prosecutor once proposed at the courthouse"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513200614/https://www.app.com/story/news/local/courts/2018/10/12/bradley-d-billhimer-sworn-ocean-county-prosecutor/1536063002/ |date=May 13, 2024 }}, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', October 12, 2018. Accessed October 13, 2018. "Flanked by Alyn and their two daughters, Mackenzie, 14, and Riley, 11, Billhimer was sworn in by state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal as Ocean County prosecutor.... Billhimer, a 48-year-old Democrat who was a criminal defense attorney for almost two decades, was sworn in privately Tuesday by Gov. Phil Murphy as the county's chief law-enforcement officer, succeeding former Prosecutor Joseph Coronato."</ref> Ocean County constitutes Vicinage 14 of the [[New Jersey Superior Court]] and is seated at the Ocean County Courthouse Complex in Toms River; the Assignment Judge for [[Vicinage Clause|Vicinage]] 14 is Marlene Lynch Ford.<ref>[http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/njcourts-10.html Local Courthouse Addresses] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408044758/http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/njcourts-10.html |date=April 8, 2016 }}, New Jersey Courts. Accessed June 27, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/courts/vicinages/ocean.html Ocean Vicinage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010211100/https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/courts/vicinages/ocean.html |date=October 10, 2017 }}, New Jersey Courts. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref> Ocean County operates the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin.<ref>[http://twp.stafford.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/243 Ocean County Southern Service Center]{{Dead link|date=January 2022|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} Accessed March 18, 2017</ref> This center offers access to all of the Ocean County government services without the need for residents to travel to the county seat located about {{convert|20|mi}} to the north.

=== Federal representatives ===
The 2nd and 4th [[New Jersey's congressional districts|Congressional Districts]] cover the county.<ref>[https://www.njredistrictingcommission.org/documents/2021/Data2021/Plan%20Components.pdf Plan Components Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028193337/https://www.njredistrictingcommission.org/documents/2021/Data2021/Plan%20Components.pdf |date=October 28, 2022 }}, [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2022.</ref> {{NJ Congress 02}} {{NJ Congress 04}}

=== State representatives ===
The 33 municipalities of Ocean County are covered by four legislative districts.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!District
!Senate<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=New Jersey Legislature - Legislative Roster|url=https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=www.njleg.state.nj.us|archive-date=February 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218054229/https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
!Assembly<ref name=":0" />
!Municipalities
|-
|[[New Jersey's 9th legislative district|9th]]
|[[Carmen Amato (politician)|Carmen Amato]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|[[Brian E. Rumpf]] (R)
[[Greg Myhre]] (R)
|[[Barnegat Township, New Jersey|Barnegat Township]], [[Barnegat Light, New Jersey|Barnegat Light]], [[Beach Haven, New Jersey|Beach Haven]], [[Beachwood, New Jersey|Beachwood]], [[Berkeley Township, New Jersey|Berkeley Township]], [[Eagleswood Township, New Jersey|Eagleswood Township]], [[Harvey Cedars, New Jersey|Harvey Cedars]], [[Lacey Township, New Jersey|Lacey Township]], [[Lakehurst, New Jersey|Lakehurst]], [[Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey|Little Egg Harbor Township]], [[Long Beach Township, New Jersey|Long Beach Township]], [[Manchester, New Jersey|Manchester Township]], [[Ocean Township, Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean Township]], [[Ocean Gate, New Jersey|Ocean Gate]], [[Pine Beach, New Jersey|Pine Beach]], [[Ship Bottom, New Jersey|Ship Bottom]], [[Stafford Township, New Jersey|Stafford Township]], [[Surf City, New Jersey|Surf City]] and [[Tuckerton, New Jersey|Tuckerton]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 10th legislative district|10th]]
|[[James W. Holzapfel]] (R)
|[[Gregory P. McGuckin]] (R)
[[Paul Kanitra]] (R)
|[[Bay Head, New Jersey|Bay Head]], [[Brick Township, New Jersey|Brick Township]], [[Island Heights, New Jersey|Island Heights]], [[Lavallette, New Jersey|Lavallette]], [[Mantoloking, New Jersey|Mantoloking]], [[Point Pleasant, New Jersey|Point Pleasant]], [[Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey|Point Pleasant Beach]], [[Seaside Park, New Jersey|Seaside Park]], [[Seaside Heights, New Jersey|Seaside Heights]], [[South Toms River, New Jersey|South Toms River]], and [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River Township]]. The remainder of this district includes portions of [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 12th legislative district|12th]]
|[[Owen Henry]] (R)
|[[Alex Sauickie]] (R)
[[Robert D. Clifton]] (R)
|[[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]] and [[Plumsted Township, New Jersey|Plumsted Township]]. The remainder of this district includes portions of [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington County]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]] & [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 30th legislative district|30th]]
|[[Robert Singer (American politician)|Robert Singer]] (R)
|[[Sean T. Kean]] (R)
[[Avi Schnall]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|[[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood Township]]. The remainder of this district includes portions of [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]].
|}

==Politics==
Ocean County is the most Republican county in New Jersey, a state that characteristically votes Democratic. In its history, it has failed to support a Republican for president only three times. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win Ocean County was [[Bill Clinton]] in [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]], who carried the county with a 46% plurality of the vote. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1964. The only other time it did not back a Republican was in [[1912 United States presidential election|1912]] when it voted for [[Theodore Roosevelt]]'s Progressive Party with a plurality of the vote. In 2024, the county's Republican tilt increased in support of [[Donald Trump]], the best such performance since [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]'s 1984 landslide.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>

As of 2024, all of its state legislators, County commissioners, and countywide constitutional officers are Republicans. As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 458,230 registered voters in Ocean County, of whom 171,085 (37.3%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], 102,005 (22.3%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] and 179,085 (39.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|unaffiliated]]. There were 6,055 voters (1.3%) registered to other parties.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/svrs-reports/2021/2021-10-voter-registration-by-county.pdf Statewide Voter Registration Summary as of October 1, 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812171838/https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/svrs-reports/2021/2021-10-voter-registration-by-county.pdf |date=August 12, 2022 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed July 28, 2022.</ref> Among the county's 2010 Census population, 63.2% were registered to vote, including 82.6% of those ages 18 and over.<ref name="VoterRegistration">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-ocean-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Ocean] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617094855/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-ocean-co-summary-report.pdf |date=June 17, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 24, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.census.gov GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State &ndash; County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |date=July 9, 2021 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 24, 2012.</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Ocean County, New Jersey|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 10, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|227,232|105,789|5,014|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|217,740|119,456|5,550|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|179,079|87,150|10,496|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|146,475|102,300|3,079|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|160,677|110,189|4,111|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|154,204|99,839|2,424|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|105,684|102,104|8,605|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|82,830|94,243|25,903|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|95,984|75,431|44,828|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|124,587|64,474|1,497|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|124,391|51,012|1,710|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|98,433|46,923|12,212|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|77,875|56,413|2,493|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|77,979|27,710|1,978|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|41,995|26,909|9,059|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|25,985|36,892|837|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|31,430|20,113|355|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|28,033|9,367|79|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|23,490|8,660|117|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|16,740|6,366|661|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|13,317|7,683|32|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|13,394|8,762|26|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|11,293|9,889|190|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|10,513|7,508|439|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|12,301|4,452|54|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|8,677|2,594|951|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,840|2,138|161|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,386|2,076|65|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|919|1,858|2,163|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,326|1,634|145|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,666|1,709|185|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,182|1,413|240|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,384|1,068|210|New Jersey}}
|}

{{Hidden begin
|titlestyle = background:#ccccff;
|title      = Gubernatorial elections results
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0;"
|+ '''Gubernatorial elections results'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=October 9, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2021|2021]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.6% ''' ''143,148''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.7% ''67,176''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.3% ''649''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017|2017]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''62.1% ''' ''98,135''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.8% ''56,582''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.2% ''3,446''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''75.7% ''' ''125,781''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|22.8% ''37,930''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''2,536''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.6% ''' ''124,238''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|28.4% ''53,761''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|6.0% ''11,317''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2005|2005]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.2% ''' ''93,693''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.6% ''71,953''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.2% ''7,242''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2001|2001]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.1% ''77,726''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.3% ''' ''84,538''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.6% ''2,690''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1997|1997]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.8% ''' ''84,897''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.7% ''57,944''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|9.6% ''15,076''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1993|1993]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.4% ''' ''87,943''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.7% ''78,132''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.9% ''4,879''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1989|1989]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.1% ''62,700''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.1% ''' ''83,587''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.8% ''2,669''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1985|1985]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''73.7% ''' ''90,670''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|25.1% ''30,948''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.3% ''1,455''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1981|1981]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.5% ''' ''78,757''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.3% ''52,036''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.2% ''1,610''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1977|1977]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.3% ''45,513''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.1%''' ''59,307''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.6% ''5,391''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1973|1973]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.2% ''32,502''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.4%''' ''53,688''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.4% ''2,751''
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

==Education==
===Tertiary education===
[[Ocean County College]] is the two-year [[community college]] for Ocean County, one of a network of 19 [[:Category:New Jersey County Colleges|county colleges]] statewide. The school is in [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]] and was founded in 1964.<ref>[http://www.ocean.edu/advancement/Heritage_Society.htm Heritage Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616043656/http://www.ocean.edu/advancement/Heritage_Society.htm |date=June 16, 2012 }}, [[Ocean County College]]. Accessed October 1, 2013.</ref>

[[Georgian Court University]] in [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood Township]] is a private [[Roman Catholic]] [[Sisters of Mercy]] college, which opened in 1908 on the former winter estate of millionaire [[George Jay Gould I]], son of railroad tycoon [[Jay Gould]]. Lakewood is also home to [[Beth Medrash Govoha]], a [[Haredi]] [[yeshiva]] with 5,000 students, making it one of the largest yeshivas in the world<ref>Fahim, Kareem. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/nyregion/10lakewood.html "As Orthodox Population Grows, So Do Tensions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030150557/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/nyregion/10lakewood.html |date=October 30, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 10, 2007. Accessed August 23, 2014. "Many Orthodox Jews have been drawn to Lakewood by the prestige of the town's yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, one of the largest rabbinical colleges in the world. The yeshiva was founded in 1943 by a Polish-born rabbi, Aaron Kotler. In 1962, when Rabbi Kotler died, the school had 250 students. It now has about 5,000."</ref> and the largest outside the [[State of Israel]].<ref name=LargestYeshivaOutsideIsrael/><ref name=LargestYeshivaNorthAmerica/>

[[Stockton University]] has a campus located in [[Manahawkin, New Jersey|Manahawkin]] offering [[undergraduate education|undergraduate]] and [[graduate education|graduate]] colleges of the arts, sciences and professional studies of the New Jersey state system of higher education.<ref>[https://stockton.edu/manahawkin/ Manahawkin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319112045/https://stockton.edu/manahawkin/ |date=March 19, 2017 }}, [[Stockton University]]. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref>

===Primary and secondary schools===
[[File:The old Beis Madrash Building of BMG.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Beth Medrash Govoha]] in [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood]] is the world's largest [[yeshiva]] outside of [[Israel]].<ref name=LargestYeshivaOutsideIsrael>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2019/04/lakewood-yeshiva-looks-to-use-old-golf-course-for-new-campus.html|title=Lakewood yeshiva looks to use old golf course for new campus|author=Steve Strunsky|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|date=April 16, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2019|quote=Beth Medrash Gohova is said to be the world's largest Jewish-affiliated university outside of Israel.|archive-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416231806/https://www.nj.com/news/2019/04/lakewood-yeshiva-looks-to-use-old-golf-course-for-new-campus.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LargestYeshivaNorthAmerica>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/ocean/2017/08/11_ways_lakewood_is_like_nowhere_else_in_nj.html|title=10 ways Lakewood is unlike anywhere else in N.J.|author=Stephen Stirling|date=August 3, 2017|publisher=NJ Advance Media|access-date=April 19, 2019|quote=The sea change can be pinned to one event: The founding of the Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva in the mid-20th century. The Orthodox Jewish community has set down roots en masse around the religious school, which is now the largest yeshiva in North America.|archive-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416233313/https://www.nj.com/ocean/2017/08/11_ways_lakewood_is_like_nowhere_else_in_nj.html|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
School districts in the county include:<ref name=NJDOE>[https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/directory/district.php?source=01&county=ocean New Jersey School Directory for Ocean County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129022054/https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/directory/district.php?source=01&county=ocean |date=November 29, 2022 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed August 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&details=1&State=34&County=Ocean+County Search for Public School Districts in Ocean County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513201323/https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&details=1&State=34&County=Ocean+County |date=May 13, 2024 }}, [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed August 1, 2022.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st34_nj/schooldistrict_maps/c34029_ocean/DC20SD_C34029.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807025430/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st34_nj/schooldistrict_maps/c34029_ocean/DC20SD_C34029.pdf|archive-date=August 7, 2022|url-status=live|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Ocean County, NJ|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 6, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st34_nj/schooldistrict_maps/c34029_ocean/DC20SD_C34029_SD2MS.txt Text list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807025435/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st34_nj/schooldistrict_maps/c34029_ocean/DC20SD_C34029_SD2MS.txt |date=August 7, 2022 }}</ref>

;K-12:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Barnegat Township School District]]
* [[Brick Public Schools]]
* [[Jackson School District (New Jersey)|Jackson School District]]
* [[Lacey Township School District]]
* [[Lakewood School District (New Jersey)|Lakewood School District]]
* [[Manchester Township School District]]
* [[Plumsted Township School District]]
* [[Point Pleasant Beach School District]]
* [[Point Pleasant School District]]
* [[Toms River Regional Schools]]
{{div col end}}

;Secondary:
* [[Central Regional School District]]
* [[Ocean County Vocational Technical School]]
* [[Pinelands Regional School District]]
* [[Southern Regional School District]]

;Elementary (K-6, except as noted):
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Bay Head School District]] (K-8)
* [[Beach Haven School District]]
* [[Berkeley Township School District]]
* [[Eagleswood Township School District]]
* [[Island Heights School District]]
* [[Lakehurst School District]] (K-8)
* [[Lavallette School District]] (K-8)
* [[Little Egg Harbor Township School District]]
* [[Long Beach Island Consolidated School District]]
* [[Ocean Gate School District]]
* [[Ocean Township School District (Ocean County, New Jersey)|Ocean Township School District]]
* [[Seaside Heights School District]]
* [[Seaside Park School District]] (non-operating)
* [[Stafford Township School District]]
* [[Tuckerton School District]]
{{div col end}}

New Jersey's largest suburban school district, [[Toms River Regional Schools]], is located in Ocean County.<ref>[http://www.planning.co.ocean.nj.us/econdev.htm Economic Development] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329185225/http://www.planning.co.ocean.nj.us/econdev.htm |date=March 29, 2018 }}, Ocean County Department of Planning. Accessed August 23, 2014. "Toms River Regional School District in the largest suburban district in New Jersey, fourth largest overall with 18,000 students."</ref> Toms River is also home to the county's only Roman Catholic high school, [[Monsignor Donovan High School]], operated by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton]], which also has six elementary schools located in the county.<ref>[http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/ocean-county-schools/ Ocean County Catholic Schools] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411001420/http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/ocean-county-schools/ |date=April 11, 2016 }}, [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton]]. Accessed January 22, 2017.</ref>

In addition to multiple [[List of high schools in New Jersey#Ocean County|public high schools]], the county has an extensive vocational high school program, known as the [[Ocean County Vocational Technical School]] district. In addition to its campuses in [[Brick Township, New Jersey|Brick]], Toms River, [[Waretown, New Jersey|Waretown]], and [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson]], it contains three [[magnet schools]]:<ref>[http://www.ocvts.org/htm/academies.html Full Time Academies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008203847/http://www.ocvts.org/htm/academies.html |date=October 8, 2013 }}, [[Ocean County Vocational Technical School]]. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref>
*[[Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science]] (MATES)
*[[OCVTS Performing Arts Academy]] – theater, dance, and vocal
*OCVTS Academy of Law and Public Safety (ALPS)<ref>{{Cite web |title=OCVTS {{!}} Academy of Law and Public Safety (ALPS) |url=https://www.ocvts.org/alps |access-date=September 24, 2023 |website=OCVTS |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116171023/https://www.ocvts.org/alps |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Attractions==
Ocean County has an extensive [[shoreline]] stretching along the [[Atlantic Ocean]], including the [[Jersey Shore]] communities and oceanfront boardwalk resorts of [[Seaside Heights, New Jersey|Seaside Heights]] and [[Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey|Point Pleasant Beach]].

[[Six Flags Great Adventure]], America's largest Six Flags theme park, was home to the world's tallest and formerly fastest roller coaster, [[Kingda Ka]], which closed in November 2024. The park also contains [[Six Flags Hurricane Harbor#Six Flags Great Adventure|Six Flags Hurricane Harbor]], New Jersey's largest [[water park]], and the {{convert|2200|acre|adj=on}} [[Safari Off Road Adventure]], the largest drive-thru animal safari outside of Africa.<ref>Frassinelli, Mike. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/exit_7a_a_perfect_spot_for_adv.html "Exit 7A: A perfect spot for Adventure on the N.J. Turnpike"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113302/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/exit_7a_a_perfect_spot_for_adv.html |date=August 26, 2014 }}, ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', October 9, 2011. Accessed October 6, 2013. "What remained was still pretty grand: the largest drive-thru safari outside of Africa — providing generations of New Jerseyans with stories about how a baboon jumped on their car — and the larger-than-life Enchanted Forest. The 2,200-acre amusement park and safari, which has more than 1,200 animals, opened in July 1974.... The purchase by Six Flags in 1977 brought larger roller coasters, a trend that has continued with the arrival of Kingda Ka, which at 45 stories is the world's tallest. An acceleration of 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds also makes it North America's fastest coaster."</ref>

Approximately {{Convert|40|mi|km}} of barrier beaches form the Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor Bays, offering ample watersports. It also is home of the [[Tuckerton Seaport]], a {{convert|40|acre|m2|adj=on}} maritime history village in [[Tuckerton, New Jersey|Tuckerton]]. In addition to being the northeast gateway to New Jersey's [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|Pine Barrens]], Ocean County is also home to several [[List of New Jersey state parks|state parks]]:
*[[Barnegat Lighthouse State Park]] covers {{convert|32|acres}} surrounding Barnegat Lighthouse at the northern tip of Long Beach Island.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/barnlig.html Barnegat Lighthouse State Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024005645/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/barnlig.html |date=October 24, 2017 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref>
*[[Island Beach State Park]] has {{convert|3000|acres}} of coastal dunes.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html Island Beach State Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022085020/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html |date=October 22, 2017 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref>
*[[Double Trouble State Park]] includes {{convert|8000|acres}} of land in the [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|New Jersey Pine Barrens]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/double.html Double Trouble State Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106081154/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/double.html |date=November 6, 2017 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref>
*[[Brendan T. Byrne State Forest]] includes {{convert|37000|acres}} and was formerly known as Lebanon State Forest.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/byrne.html Brendan T. Byrne State Forest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016015428/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/byrne.html |date=October 16, 2017 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref>
*[[List of New Jersey state parks#State marinas|Forked River State Marina]]<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/marinas.html Forked River State Marina] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203173807/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/marinas.html |date=December 3, 2017 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref>

[[ShoreTown Ballpark]] located in Lakewood, opened in 2001 with 6,588 reserved seats and is home of the [[Jersey Shore BlueClaws]], the High-A affiliate of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref>[https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-8089998 Stadium Guide: FirstEnergy Park], [[Minor League Baseball]]. Accessed June 27, 2016.</ref>

===National protected area===

*[[Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge]] covers {{convert|48000|acres}} of wetlands and coastal habitat in [[Atlantic County, New Jersey|Atlantic]] and Ocean counties.<ref>[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/edwin-b-forsythe ''Edwin P. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013210722/https://www.fws.gov/refuge/edwin-b-forsythe |date=October 13, 2022 }}, [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]]. Accessed October 13, 2022. "Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 48,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats. More than 82 percent of Forsythe refuge is wetlands, of which 78 percent is salt marsh, interspersed with shallow coves and bays."</ref>

==Media==
The ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' and ''[[The Press of Atlantic City]]'' are daily newspapers that cover Ocean County.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/ocean/ |title=Ocean County News |access-date=March 19, 2017 |archive-date=April 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401175903/http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/ocean/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Micromedia Publications]] publishes six weekly local newspapers in the county; their seventh covers [[Howell Township, New Jersey]] in [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]].<ref>[http://micromediapubs.com/about-us/ About Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405020739/http://micromediapubs.com/about-us/ |date=April 5, 2016 }}, Micromedia Publications. Accessed June 27, 2016. "Micromedia Publications, Inc. was founded in 1995 by Stewart Swann and Robyn Weber for the purpose of publishing high quality local weekly newspapers within New Jersey. Following the successful launch of The Manchester Times in April of that year, the company has since introduced ''The Berkeley Times'' (1996), ''The Jackson Times'' (2000), ''The Brick Times'' (2002), ''The Howell Times'' (2004), ''The Toms River Times'' (2005) and ''The Lacey Barnegat Times'' (2010), now ''The Southern Ocean Times'' (2013)."</ref>

[[WOBM-FM|92.7 WOBM]] provides news, traffic and weather updates. WOBM-FM radio started broadcasting from the [[Bayville, New Jersey|Bayville]] section of [[Berkeley Township, New Jersey|Berkeley Township]] in March 1968. The station relocated to studios in [[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]] in 2013.<ref>Michaels, Shawn. [https://wobm.com/wobm-is-moving-join-us-for-a-look-back-at-nearly-45-years/ "WOBM Is Moving – Join Us For A Look Back At Nearly 45 Years"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321215156/https://wobm.com/wobm-is-moving-join-us-for-a-look-back-at-nearly-45-years/ |date=March 21, 2023 }}, [[WOBM-FM]], January 20, 2013. Accessed March 21, 2023. "Townsquare Media has designed and constructed a new state of the art facility in Downtown Toms River (8 Robbins Street) and we are very excited to begin the new chapter for your 'Hometown' Station 92.7 WOBM. WOBM went on the air March 1, 1968 in these Bayville studios ....in the middle of a snowstorm!"</ref>

[[WBNJ|91.9 WBNJ]] provides local news, PSAs and events; as well as weather updates.

==Transportation==
===Roads and highways===
[[File:2018-09-16 15 25 28 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) between Exit 50 and Exit 58, entering Little Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County from Bass River Township, Burlington County in New Jersey.jpg|thumb|300px|Entering Ocean County on the northbound [[Garden State Parkway]] in [[Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey|Little Egg Harbor Township]]]]
The county had a total of {{convert|2958.5|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|2164.2|mi}} are maintained by the municipality, {{convert|615.5|mi}} by Ocean County and {{convert|140.19|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] and {{convert|38.59|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Turnpike Authority]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Ocean.pdf Ocean County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102145105/http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Ocean.pdf |date=January 2, 2020 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.</ref>

Ocean County has various major roads that pass through. Those routes are listed below:<ref>{{Cite web |title=NJDOT SLD Sheet Viewer |url=https://njsld.org/NJDOT/SLD/SheetViewer |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=njsld.org |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031233709/https://njsld.org/NJDOT/SLD/SheetViewer |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey|U.S. Route 9]] (The only U.S. Highway in the county)
* [[New Jersey Route 13|Route 13]]
* [[New Jersey Route 35|Route 35]]
* [[New Jersey Route 37|Route 37]]
* [[New Jersey Route 70|Route 70]]
* [[New Jersey Route 72|Route 72]]
* [[New Jersey Route 88|Route 88]]
* [[New Jersey Route 166|Route 166]]
* [[Interstate 195 (New Jersey)|Interstate 195]] (The only Interstate to pass through Ocean County; It runs entirely in [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson Township]])
* The [[Garden State Parkway]] extends {{Convert|38.5|mi}} from Bass River Township in Burlington County in the south to Wall Township in Monmouth County to the north.

Several prominent [[List of 500-series county routes in New Jersey|500 series]] county highways make up an important portion of the automobile corridors in Ocean County. These include [[County Route 526 (New Jersey)|County Road 526]], [[County Route 527 (New Jersey)|County Road 527]], [[County Route 528 (New Jersey)|County Road 528]], [[County Route 530 (New Jersey)|County Road 530]], [[County Route 532 (New Jersey)|County Road 532]], [[County Route 539 (New Jersey)|County Road 539]], [[County Route 547 (New Jersey)|County Road 547]], [[County Route 549 (New Jersey)|County Road 549]], [[County Route 554 (New Jersey)|County Road 554]], and [[County Route 571 (New Jersey)|County Road 571]].

===Public transportation===
====Train====
[[NJ Transit]]'s (NJT) [[North Jersey Coast Line]], which serves [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|New York Penn Station]] and passes through Middlesex and Monmouth counties, offers service at the [[Bay Head station|Bay Head]] and [[Point Pleasant Beach station|Point Pleasant Beach]] stations, located at the northernmost corner of the county.<ref>[http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=LineDetailsTo&selLine=NJCL North Jersey Coast Line] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723025516/http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=LineDetailsTo&selLine=NJCL |date=July 23, 2013 }}, [[NJ Transit]]. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref> The [[Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line]] is a passenger rail project proposed by NJT to serve the northern central part of the county. Southern Ocean County is also located about 25 miles from the [[Atlantic City Line]], which provides service to [[Philadelphia]].

====Bus====
=====NJ Transit=====
Bus service is provided on [[List of NJ Transit bus routes (100–199)#To points south of the Raritan River|NJ Transit bus routes 130, 132, 136, and 139]] to and from [[Lakewood Bus Terminal]] on the [[U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey|U.S. Route 9]] corridor. Expanded use [[Bus rapid transit in New Jersey#Route 9 BBS|Route 9 BBS]] (bus bypass shoulder lanes) is under study. Bus route 559 provides service along Route 9 between Lakewood and [[Pleasantville, New Jersey|Pleasantville]] before continuing to [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]].

Bus route 137 provides service in three variants. One is a nonstop express between Toms River and [[New York City]] that operates seven days a week. The other two are rush hour only services, one operating along [[County Route 549 (New Jersey)|County Route 549]] between Toms River and [[Brick Township, New Jersey|Brick Township]] before continuing onto New York City. The Other begins and ends in [[Lakewood, New Jersey|Lakewood]], operating via County Line Road to the Brick park and ride before continuing to New York.

Bus route 67 operates between Toms River and [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], providing service along County Route 549 between Toms River and Brick before continuing onto Lakewood and points north. Bus Route 317 crosses the county in an east–west fashion on its route between [[Philadelphia]] and [[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park]]. This route also provides service to [[Fort Dix, New Jersey|Fort Dix]], [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]], and other destinations. Bus route 319 makes a single stop in Toms River on its route between Atlantic City and New York.

=====Ocean Ride=====
Ocean Ride is a county wide system with 12 regular routes, many serving [[Ocean County Mall]], which acts as transfer hub.<ref>[http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/transportation/ Ocean Ride Transportation Services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004034912/http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/transportation/ |date=October 4, 2017 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/transportation//pdfs//transportation//TransitMap.pdf Ocean County Transit Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003091010/http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/Transportation/PDFs/Transportation/TransitMap.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213021618/http://www.co.ocean.nj.us/Transportation//pdfs//transportation//TransitMap.pdf |archive-date=December 13, 2010 |url-status=live |date=October 3, 2018 }}, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref> Of these routes, only the OC 10 (Lavallette to Toms River) operates Monday-Saturday, with the OC 4 (Point Pleasant to Lakewood) operating Monday-Friday. All other routes run 2–3 days a week. Ocean Ride also provides paratransit service throughout the county.

=====Other services=====
[[Academy Bus]] provides service between various areas in the northern part of the county and [[New York City]]. Many of the retirement communities contract for the operation of shuttle buses to connect the communities with various shopping centers in the county.

==Municipalities==
The 33 municipalities in Ocean County with 2010 census data for population, housing units, and area in square miles are:<ref>[https://archive.today/20150419174657/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34029 GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County &ndash; County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Ocean County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 25, 2015.</ref> Other, [[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|unincorporated communities]] in the county are listed alongside their parent municipality (or municipalities).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709092825/http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt |date=July 9, 2016 }}, State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed January 25, 2015.</ref> Most of these areas are [[census-designated place]]s that have been created by the [[United States Census Bureau]] for enumeration purposes within a [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]].<ref name=CPH232/> The numbers in parentheses stand for the numbers on the map.
[[File:Ocean County, New Jersey Municipalities (indexed map).png|thumb|upright=1.1|Index map of Ocean County municipalities (see index key in table below)]]
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Municipality (map index)
!Map key
! Mun.<br>type
! Pop.
! Housing<br>units
! Total<br>area
! Water<br>area
! Land<br>area
! Pop.<br>density
! Housing<br>density
! School<br>district
! Unincorporated<br>communities/notes
|-
|[[Barnegat Light, New Jersey|Barnegat Light]] 
|6|| borough || 640 || 1,282 || 0.85 || 0.12 || 0.73 || 785.1 || 1,753.6 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Long Beach Island Consolidated School District|Long Beach Island]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|[[Barnegat Township, New Jersey|Barnegat]] 
|29|| township || 24,296 || 9,085 || 40.78 || 6.41 || 34.38 || 609.0 || 264.35 || [[Barnegat Township School District|Barnegat Township]] || [[Barnegat (CDP), New Jersey|Barnegat CDP]] (3,894), [[Howardsville, New Jersey|Howardsville]],<br>[[Ocean Acres, New Jersey|Ocean Acres]] (part; 925), [[Warren Grove, New Jersey|Warren Grove]]
|-
|[[Bay Head, New Jersey|Bay Head]] 
|16|| borough || 930 || 1,023 || 0.70 || 0.12 || 0.58 || 1,662.8 || 1,757.3 || [[Point Pleasant Beach School District|Point Pleasant Beach]] (9–12) ([[Sending/receiving relationship|S/R]])<br>[[Bay Head School District|Bay Head]] (K-8) ||
|-
|[[Beach Haven, New Jersey|Beach Haven]] 
|2|| borough || 1,027 || 2,667 || 2.32 || 1.34 || 0.98 || 1,196.0 || 2,726.2 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Beach Haven School District|Beach Haven]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|[[Beachwood, New Jersey|Beachwood]] 
|12|| borough || 10,859 || 3,826 || 2.85 || 0.00 || 2.85 || 3,878.4 || 1,343.5 || [[Toms River Regional Schools|Toms River]] ||
|-
|[[Berkeley Township, New Jersey|Berkeley Township]] 
|26|| township || 43,754 || 23,818 || 56.00 || 13.13 || 42.86 || 962.5 || 555.7 || [[Central Regional School District|Central Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Berkeley Township School District|Berkeley Township]] (PK-6) || [[Bayville, New Jersey|Bayville]] (20,512), [[Cedar Beach, New Jersey|Cedar Beach]],<br>[[Crossley, New Jersey|Crossley]], [[Glen Cove, New Jersey|Glen Cove]], [[Holiday City-Berkeley, New Jersey|Holiday<br>City-Berkeley]] CDP (12,943), [[Holiday City South, New Jersey|Holiday<br>City South]] CDP (4,124), [[Holiday Heights, New Jersey|Holiday<br>Heights]] CDP (2,143), [[Holly Park, New Jersey|Holly Park]],<br>[[Pelican Island (New Jersey)|Pelican Island]], [[Silver Ridge, New Jersey|Silver Ridge]] CDP (1,167)
|-
|[[Brick Township, New Jersey|Brick]] 
|23|| township || 73,620 || 33,677 || 32.32 || 6.60 || 25.72 || 2,919.4 || 1,309.6 || [[Brick Public Schools|Brick]] || [[Adamston, New Jersey|Adamston]], [[Breton Woods, New Jersey|Breton Woods]], [[Burrsville, New Jersey|Burrsville]], Cedarcroft, [[Herbertsville, New Jersey|Herbertsville]], [[Laurelton, New Jersey|Laurelton]], [[Osbornsville, New Jersey|Osbornsville]], [[Parkway Pines, New Jersey|Parkway Pines]]
|-
|[[Eagleswood Township, New Jersey|Eagleswood]] 
|31|| township || 1,722 || 760 || 18.86 || 2.80 || 16.06 || 99.8 || 47.3 || [[Pinelands Regional School District|Pinelands Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Eagleswood Township School District|Eagleswood]] (PK-6) || [[West Creek, New Jersey|West Creek]]
|-
|[[Harvey Cedars, New Jersey|Harvey Cedars]] 
|5|| borough || 391 || 1,214 || 1.19 || 0.63 || 0.56 || 604.6 || 2,178.0 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Long Beach Island Consolidated School District|Long Beach Island]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|[[Island Heights, New Jersey|Island Heights]] 
|10|| borough || 1,650 || 831 || 0.91 || 0.30 || 0.61 || 2,738.3 || 1,360.2 || [[Central Regional School District|Central Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Island Heights School District|Islands Heights]] (K-6) ||
|-
|[[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson]] 
|21|| township || 58,544 || 20,342 || 100.62 || 1.38 || 99.24 || 552.7 || 205.0 || [[Jackson School District (New Jersey)|Jackson]] || [[Bennetts Mills, New Jersey|Bennetts Mills]], [[Cassville, New Jersey|Cassville]], [[Harmony, Ocean County, New Jersey|Harmony]],<br>[[Holmeson, New Jersey|Holmeson]] (part; 5,231), [[Jackson Mills, New Jersey|Jackson Mills]], [[Prospertown, New Jersey|Prospertown]], [[Vista Center, New Jersey|Vista Center]] CDP (2,370), [[Whitesville, Ocean County, New Jersey|Whitesville]]
|-
|[[Lacey Township, New Jersey|Lacey Township]] 
|27|| township || 28,655 || 11,573 || 98.53 || 15.27 || 83.26 || 332.0 || 139.0 || [[Lacey Township School District|Lacey Township]] || [[Aserdaten, New Jersey|Aserdaten]], [[Barnegat Pines, New Jersey|Barnegat Pines]], [[Forked River, New Jersey|Forked<br>River]] CDP (5,274), [[Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey|Lanoka Harbor]]
|-
|[[Lakehurst, New Jersey|Lakehurst]] 
|19|| borough || 2,636 || 943 || 1.01 || 0.09 || 0.91 || 2,900.8 || 1,030.7 || [[Manchester Township School District|Manchester]] (9–12) ([[Sending/receiving relationship|S/R]])<br>[[Lakehurst School District|Lakehurst]] (PK-8) ||
|-
|[[Lakewood Township, New Jersey|Lakewood]] 
|22|| township || 135,158 || 26,337 || 24.98 || 0.41 || 24.58 || 3,777.7 || 1,071.6 || [[Lakewood School District (New Jersey)|Lakewood]] || [[Lakewood (CDP), New Jersey|Lakewood CDP]] (69,398), [[Leisure Village, New Jersey|Leisure<br>Village]] CDP (4,966), [[Leisure Village East, New Jersey|Leisure Village<br>East]] CDP (4,189)
|-
|[[Lavallette, New Jersey|Lavallette]] 
|14|| borough || 1,787 || 3,207 || 0.95 || 0.15 || 0.81 || 2,319.2 || 3,966.8 || [[Point Pleasant Beach School District|Point Pleasant Beach]] (9–12) ([[Sending/receiving relationship|S/R]])<br>[[Lavallette School District|Lavallette]] (K-8) ||
|-
|[[Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey|Little Egg Harbor]] 
|33|| township || 20,784 || 10,324 || 73.05 || 25.69 || 47.37 || 423.6 || 218.0 || [[Pinelands Regional School District|Pinelands Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Little Egg Harbor Township School District|Little Egg Harbor]] (PK-6) || [[Mystic Island, New Jersey|Mystic Island]] CDP (8,301), [[Nugentown, New Jersey|Nugentown]],<br>[[Parkertown, New Jersey|Parkertown]] [[Warren Grove, New Jersey|Warren Grove]], [[West Tuckerton, New Jersey|West<br>Tuckerton]]
|-
|[[Long Beach Township, New Jersey|Long Beach]] 
|32|| township || 3,153 || 9,216 || 22.04 || 16.59 || 5.44 || 560.5 || 1,693.0 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Long Beach Island Consolidated School District|Long Beach Island]] (PK-6) || [[High Bar Harbor, New Jersey|High Bar Harbor]], [[Loveladies, New Jersey|Loveladies]], [[North Beach Haven, New Jersey|North<br>Beach Haven]] CDP (2,198)
|-
|[[Manchester Township, New Jersey|Manchester Township]]
|25|| township || 45,115 || 25,886 || 82.69 || 1.07 || 81.62 || 527.7 || 317.2 || [[Manchester Township School District|Manchester]] || [[Bullock, New Jersey|Bullock]], [[Cedar Glen Lakes, New Jersey|Cedar Glen Lakes]] CDP (1,517), [[Cedar Glen West, New Jersey|Cedar Glen West]] CDP (1,379), [[Crestwood Village, New Jersey|Crestwood<br>Village]] CDP (8,426), [[Leisure Knoll, New Jersey|Leisure Knoll]] CDP (3,692), [[Leisure Village West, New Jersey|Leisure Village West]] (3,493), [[Pine Lake Park, New Jersey|Pine Lake<br>Park]] CDP (8,913), [[Pine Ridge at Crestwood, New Jersey|Pine Ridge at Crestwood]] CDP (2,537), [[Ridgeway, New Jersey|Ridgeway]], Roosevelt City, [[Wheatland, New Jersey|Wheatland]], [[Whiting, New Jersey|Whiting]]
|-
|[[Mantoloking, New Jersey|Mantoloking]] 
|15|| borough || 331 || 535 || 0.64 || 0.26 || 0.39 || 767.9 || 1,387.9 || [[Point Pleasant Beach School District|Point Pleasant Beach]] (9–12) ([[Sending/receiving relationship|S/R]]) ||
|-
|[[Ocean Gate, New Jersey|Ocean Gate]] 
|9|| borough || 1,932 || 1,203 || 0.45 || 0.01 || 0.45 || 4,490.3 || 2,686.1 || [[Central Regional School District|Central Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Ocean Gate School District|Ocean Gate]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|[[Ocean Township, Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean Township]] 
|28||township || 8,835 || 4,291 || 32.04 || 11.49 || 20.56 || 405.3 || 208.8 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12) ([[Sending/receiving relationship|S/R]]) (9–12)<br>[[Ocean Township School District (Ocean County, New Jersey)|Ocean Township]] (PK-6) || [[Brookville, Ocean County, New Jersey|Brookville]], [[Waretown, New Jersey|Waretown]] CDP (1,483)
|-
|[[Pine Beach, New Jersey|Pine Beach]] 
|11|| borough || 2,139 || 903 || 0.62 || 0.00 || 0.61 || 3,465.4 || 1,471.2 || [[Toms River Regional Schools|Toms River]] ||
|-
|[[Plumsted Township, New Jersey|Plumsted]]
|20|| township || 8,072 || 3,067 || 40.15 || 0.44 || 39.71 || 212.1 || 77.2 || [[Plumsted Township School District|Plumsted Township]] || [[Archertown, New Jersey|Archertown]], [[Brindletown, New Jersey|Brindletown]], [[New Egypt, New Jersey|New<br>Egypt]] CDP (2,357)
|-
|[[Point Pleasant, New Jersey|Point Pleasant]] 
|18|| borough || 18,941 || 8,331 || 4.17 || 0.68 || 3.49 || 5,272.1 || 2,388.1 || [[Point Pleasant School District|Point Pleasant]] ||
|-
|[[Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey|Point Pleasant Beach]] 
|17|| borough || 4,766 || 3,373 || 1.74 || 0.32 || 1.43 || 3,270.1 || 2,364.4 || [[Point Pleasant Beach School District|Point Pleasant Beach]] || [[Clarks Landing, Ocean County, New Jersey|Clark's Landing]]
|-
|[[Seaside Heights, New Jersey|Seaside Heights]] 
|8|| borough || 2,440 || 3,003 || 0.75 || 0.13 || 0.62 || 4,662.9 || 4,850.2 || [[Central Regional School District|Central Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Seaside Heights School District|Seaside Heights]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|[[Seaside Park, New Jersey|Seaside Park]] 
|7|| borough || 1,436 || 2,703 || 0.77 || 0.12 || 0.65 || 2,429.4 || 4,158.7 || [[Central Regional School District|Central Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Lavallette School District|Lavallette]] (K-6) (Opt. 1)<br>[[Toms River Regional Schools|Toms River]] (K-6) (Opt. 2)||
|-
|[[Ship Bottom, New Jersey|Ship Bottom]] 
|3|| borough || 1,098 || 2,066 || 1.00 || 0.29 || 0.71 || 1,620.6 || 2,896.3 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Long Beach Island Consolidated School District|Long Beach Island]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|[[South Toms River, New Jersey|South Toms River]] 
|13|| borough || 3,643 || 1,160 || 1.23 || 0.06 || 1.17 || 3,146.7 || 990.8 || [[Toms River Regional Schools|Toms River]] ||
|-
|[[Stafford Township, New Jersey|Stafford Township]] 
|30|| township || 28,617 || 13,604 || 54.88 || 9.03 || 45.85 || 578.8 || 296.7 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Stafford Township School District|Stafford Township]] (PK-6) || [[Beach Haven West, New Jersey|Beach Haven West]] CDP (4,143), [[Cedar Run, New Jersey|Cedar Run]], [[Manahawkin, New Jersey|Manahawkin]] CDP (2,413), [[Mayetta, New Jersey|Mayetta]], [[Ocean Acres, New Jersey|Ocean Acres]] (part; 15,217), [[Warren Grove, New Jersey|Warren Grove]]
|-
|[[Surf City, New Jersey|Surf City]] 
|4|| borough || 1,243 || 2,566 || 0.92 || 0.17 || 0.75 || 1,616.5 || 3,442.4 || [[Southern Regional School District|Southern Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Long Beach Island Consolidated School District|Long Beach Island]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|[[Toms River, New Jersey|Toms River]] 
|24|| township || 95,438 || 43,334 || 52.88 || 12.40 || 40.49 || 2,253.5 || 1,070.3 || [[Toms River Regional Schools|Toms River]] || [[Cattus Island Park|Cattus Island]], [[Chadwick Beach Island, New Jersey|Chadwick Beach Island]],<br>[[Dover Beaches North, New Jersey|Dover Beaches North]] CDP (1,277), [[Dover Beaches South, New Jersey|Dover Beaches South]] CDP (1,331), [[Gilford Park, New Jersey|Gilford Park]], [[Pelican Island (New Jersey)|Pelican Island]], [[Silverton, New Jersey|Silverton]], [[Toms River (CDP), New Jersey|Toms River]] CDP (92,830)
|-
|[[Tuckerton, New Jersey|Tuckerton]] 
|1|| borough || 3,577 || 1,902 || 3.80 || 0.44 || 3.36 || 995.1 || 565.5 || [[Pinelands Regional School District|Pinelands Regional]] (7–12)<br>[[Tuckerton School District|Tuckerton]] (PK-6) ||
|-
|Ocean County 
| || county || 637,229 || 278,052 || 915.40 || 286.62 || 628.78 || 917.0 || 442.2  || || 
|}

===Former municipalities===
*[[Island Beach, New Jersey|Island Beach]] (1933-1965)

==See also==
{{portal|New Jersey}}
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ocean County, New Jersey]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Salter, Edwin. [https://archive.org/details/historyofmonmou00salt ''A History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties Embracing a Genealogical Record of Earliest Settlers of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Their Descendants; The Indians: Their Language, Manners, and Customs; Important Historical Events: The Revolutionary War, Battle of Monmouth, The War of the Rebellion: Names of Officers and Men of Monmouth and Ocean Counties Engaged in It, etc., etc.''] Bayonne, NJ: E. Gardner and Son, 1890.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.co.ocean.nj.us Official county website]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Ocean County, New Jersey
|North     = [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = 
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Atlantic County, New Jersey|Atlantic County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington County]]
|Northwest = 
}}
{{Jersey Shore region}}
{{Ocean County, New Jersey}}
{{New Jersey}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ocean County, New Jersey| ]]
[[Category:1850 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Counties in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Geography of the Pine Barrens (New Jersey)]]
[[Category:Central Jersey]]
[[Category:Jersey Shore]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1850]]