Neptune Township, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Neptune Township is a township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 28,061,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 126 (+0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 27,935,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 245 (+0.9%) from the 27,690 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

Featuring Jersey Shore Medical Center, the historic community of Ocean Grove, along with office parks and cultural amenities, Neptune Township has been a longtime regional commercial and cultural hub of the Jersey Shore.<ref>Jersey Shore Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health. Accessed January 30, 2025.</ref><ref>Garbarine, Rachelle "In The Region: New Jersey; Vacation Area Becoming a Place to Work", The New York Times, July 5, 1987. Accessed April 16, 2024.</ref><ref>Garbarine, Rachelle "In the Region/New Jersey; In Neptune, a Tech Park Plan for Route 66", The New York Times, September 10, 2000. Accessed April 16, 2024.</ref><ref>Bailey, Sarah Pulliam "Can a Christian Community Close the Beach on Sunday Mornings?", The New York Times, April 12, 2024. Accessed April 16, 2024.</ref> The township was named for Neptune, the Roman water deity, and its location on the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.</ref>

History

Neptune was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 26, 1879, from portions of Ocean Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Neptune City (October 4, 1881), Bradley Beach (March 13, 1893) and Ocean Grove (April 5, 1920, until the action was found unconstitutional and restored to Neptune Township as of June 16, 1921).<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 120. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 8.84 square miles (22.90 km²), including 8.13 square miles (21.05 km²) of land and 0.72 square miles (1.86 km²) of water (8.11%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Ocean Grove (2010 Census population of 3,342<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Ocean Grove CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref>) and Shark River Hills (2010 population of 3,697<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Shark River Hills CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref>) are census-designated places and unincorporated communities located within Neptune Township.<ref>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref><ref>GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Monmouth County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref> Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bradley Park, the Gables, Green Grove, Hamilton, Hamilton Mills, Mid-Town, Summerfield, Seaview Island, The Observatory, West Grove, West Neptune and Whitesville.<ref name=Overview>Community Overview, Neptune Township. Accessed January 30, 2025. "Neptune is a community with several diverse neighborhoods including Ocean Grove, Shark River Hills, Mid-Town, Bradley Park, the Gables, Seaview Island and West Neptune."</ref><ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 23, 2015.</ref>

Neptune Township stretches from the Atlantic Ocean west to the Garden State Parkway (exit 100). The southern border is the Shark River estuary and the northern border is with Asbury Park and Ocean Township. Neptune Township is a diverse community, both in terms of population and landscape, extending from the seaside community of Ocean Grove, a national historic site, to Mid-town which is undergoing a municipal-led revitalization, to the riverside residential community of Shark River Hills, to the open spaces of Shark River Park and the commercial corridor on Route 66 in the west.

The township borders the Monmouth County communities of Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Neptune City, Ocean Township, Tinton Falls and Wall Township.<ref>Areas touching Neptune Township, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.</ref><ref>Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Deal Lake covers Template:Convert and is overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, which was established in 1974. Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for Template:Convert of shoreline, also including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour and Ocean Township.<ref>Home Page, Deal Lake Commission. Accessed July 8, 2015. "The Deal Lake Commission was created by the seven Monmouth County, NJ towns that surround Deal Lake. The Commission was chartered in 1974 by the Borough of Allenhurst, City of Asbury Park, Borough of Deal, Borough of Interlaken, Village of Loch Arbour, Neptune Township, and Ocean Township."</ref>

Demographics

File:Shark River Hills, NJ.jpg

The Shark River Hills neighborhood

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 27,935 people, 11,201 households, and 6,844 families in the township. The population density was 3,414.3 per square mile (1,318.3/km²). There were 12,991 housing units at an average density of 1,587.8 per square mile (613.1/km²). The racial makeup was 53.18% (14,855) White, 38.56% (10,772) Black or African American, 0.34% (94) Native American, 2.26% (632) Asian, 0.03% (9) Pacific Islander, 2.51% (701) from other races, and 3.12% (872) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.33% (2,607) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 11,201 households, 23.6% had children under the age of 18; 39.6% were married couples living together; 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.9% were non-families. Of all households, 31.8% were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/> The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,630 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,034) and the median family income was $74,422 (+/− $5,369). Males had a median income of $56,743 (+/− $4,233) versus $43,853 (+/− $3,118) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,656 (+/− $1,559). About 8.1% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Neptune township, Monmouth County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 27,690 people, 10,907 households, and 6,805 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 12,217 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 55.92% White, 38.16% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 2.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Neptune township, Monmouth County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Neptune township, Monmouth County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref>

There were 10,907 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.14.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $46,250, and the median income for a family was $57,735. Males had a median income of $42,920 versus $31,057 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,569. About 7.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Neptune Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 58.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

Template:As of, Members of the Neptune Township committee are Mayor Robert Lane Jr. (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2025), Deputy Mayor Kevin McMillan (term on committee ends 2027; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Jason A. Jones (D, 2025; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Derel M. Stroud (D, 2027) and Tassie D. York (D, 2025).<ref name=Committee>Township Committee, Neptune Township. Accessed January 30, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Neptune Township. Accessed January 30, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2024>November 5, 2024 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated December 16, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2023>November 8, 2023 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated January 18, 2024. Accessed January 22, 2024.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 27, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

In October 2024, after the township committee didn't make a choice from the three candidates nominated, the township's Democratic Party committee chose past Neptune Board of Education President Jason A. Jones to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that became vacant following the resignation of Keith Cafferty the previous month.<ref>Daye, Charles. "Candidate who was skipped over twice before gets Neptune Township Committee job", Asbury Park Press, October 24, 2024. Accessed January 30, 2025. "The local Democratic Party chose to fill the vacant seat on the Township Committee with Jason Jones, who had been passed on twice before in the past year and was once fired from his job as a school business administrator.... Township Committeeman and former mayor Keith Cafferty resigned last month due to personal reasons, leaving a vacant seat on the governing body for the third time in 12 months.... Under state law, since the Township Committee did not appoint one of the three people submitted by the local Democratic Executive Committee, it went back to the Democrats, who had until Oct. 30 to choose one of the three themselves."</ref>

In April 2021, the Township Committee selected Tassie York to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Carol J. Rizzo until she resigned from office to move out of the county.<ref>Cervenka, Susanne. "Lifelong Neptune woman joins Township Committee after previous member resigns and moves", Asbury Park Press, April 15, 2021. Accessed May 16, 2022. "The township has a new committee member after former Committeewoman Carol Rizzo moved to Ocean County. The Neptune Township Committee selected Tassie York as Rizzo's replacement Monday night."</ref> York served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Monmouth2021>November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, December 13, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In January 2016, the Township Council selected Carol J. Rizzo from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 which was vacated by Eric Houghtaling when he took office in the New Jersey General Assembly earlier that month.<ref>Stine, Don. "New Committee Member in Neptune", The Coaster, January 29, 2016. June 1, 2016. "Resident Carol J. Rizzo was appointed to the Neptune Township Committee Monday night to fill the unexpired term of Eric Houghtaling, who took office in the State Assembly earlier this month."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Neptune Township is located in the 6th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRowTemplate:PresRowTemplate:PresRow |} As of March 2011, there were a total of 18,093 registered voters in Neptune Township, of which 6,481 (35.8%) were registered as Democrats, 2,780 (15.4%) were registered as Republicans and 8,825 (48.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were seven voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Monmouth, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 71.8% of the vote (9,350 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 27.3% (3,552 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (113 votes), among the 13,109 ballots cast by the township's 18,929 registered voters (94 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.3%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 69.4% of the vote (9,900 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 28.7% (4,100 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (56 votes), among the 14,265 ballots cast by the township's 19,505 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.1%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 12, 2015.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 60.0% of the vote (7,803 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 38.8% (5,044 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (100 votes), among the 13,004 ballots cast by the township's 18,444 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.5.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.9% of the vote (3,880 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 47.7% (3,637 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (112 votes), among the 7,811 ballots cast by the township's 18,939 registered voters (182 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.2%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 51.2% of the vote (4,425 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 42.0% (3,625 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.2% (447 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (66 votes), among the 8,635 ballots cast by the township's 18,606 registered voters, yielding a 46.4% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Monmouth County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Neptune Township Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Neptune Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Neptune Township Schools, updated March 30, 2022. Accessed December 16, 2024. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-kindergarten through twelve in the Neptune Township School District. Composition The Neptune Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Neptune Township."</ref> The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. Burke<ref>What We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."</ref> which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.<ref>What We Do, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>SDA Districts, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref>

As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,411 students and 331.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.3:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Neptune Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Neptune Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>) are Gables Elementary School<ref>Gables Elementary School, Neptune Township Schools. Accessed December 16, 2024.</ref> with 288 students in grades PreK–5, Green Grove Elementary School<ref>Green Grove Elementary School, Neptune Township Schools. Accessed December 16, 2024.</ref> with 294 students in grades PreK–5, Midtown Community Elementary School<ref>Midtown Community Elementary School, Neptune Township Schools. Accessed December 16, 2024.</ref> with 430 students in grades PreK–5, Shark River Hills Elementary School<ref>Shark River Hills Elementary School, Neptune Township Schools. Accessed December 16, 2024.</ref> with 235 students in grades PreK–5, Summerfield Elementary School<ref>Summerfield Elementary School, Neptune Township Schools. Accessed December 16, 2024.</ref> with 380 students in grades PreK–5, Neptune Middle School<ref>Neptune Middle School, Neptune Township Schools. Accessed December 16, 2024.</ref> with 625 students in grades 6–8 and Neptune High School<ref>Neptune High School, Neptune Township Schools. Accessed December 16, 2024.</ref> with 1,102 students in grades 9–12.<ref>County School List N-R, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 20, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Neptune Township Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Neptune Township Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Historic district

Ocean Grove is an unincorporated community and census-designated place<ref>of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref> (CDP) that is part of Neptune Township, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.<ref name=CPH232>New Jersey: 2010 – Population and Housing Unit Counts – 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 16, 2012.</ref><ref>GCT-PH1 – Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Monmouth County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 16, 2012.</ref> It had a population of 3,057 at the 2020 United States census.<ref name=Census2020/> Founded in 1869 by a group of Methodist clergymen, led by William B. Osborn and Ellwood H. Stokes, this historic community is located on the Atlantic Ocean's Jersey Shore, between Asbury Park to the north and Bradley Beach to the south. It was here where the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association was founded as a summer camp meeting site on the New Jersey shore. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Ocean Grove is noted for its abundant examples of Victorian architecture and the Great Auditorium, acclaimed as "the state's most wondrous wooden structure, soaring and sweeping, alive with the sound of music".<ref name=Genovese>Template:Cite news</ref>

• Ocean Grove Welcome Sign
  Ocean Grove Welcome Sign
• Photograph of Ocean Grove from the early 20th century
  Photograph of Ocean Grove from the early 20th century
• Street scene of Ocean Grove from atop the North End Hotel from the early 20th century
  Street scene of Ocean Grove from atop the North End Hotel from the early 20th century
• Modern Ocean Grove cityscape
  Modern Ocean Grove cityscape
• Centennial Cottage, an example of Victorian architecture in this village
  Centennial Cottage, an example of Victorian architecture in this village
• The Great Auditorium
  The Great Auditorium

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2021-07-30 10 03 13 View north along New Jersey State Route 18 from the overpass for Monmouth County Route 17 (West Bangs Avenue) in Neptune Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 18 northbound in Neptune Township

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Monmouth County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Monmouth County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.</ref>

Route 18, Route 33, Route 35, Route 66 and Route 71 are the main highways passing through the township.<ref name=Overview/>

The Garden State Parkway is west of the township, with the best access provided via exits 100 and 102. Interstate 195 is southwest of the township in neighboring Wall Township. The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) entrance for Exit 8 is about 25 miles west on Route 33 in East Windsor, Mercer County.

Public transportation

The township is served by NJ Transit trains at the Bradley Beach station.<ref>Bradley Beach station, NJ Transit. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> Commuter service on the North Jersey Coast Line to Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction, New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.<ref name=Overview/><ref>Transportation Map - Rail Service, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref>North Jersey Coast Line schedule, NJ Transit, updated April 23, 2023. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

NJ Transit bus service between the township and Philadelphia is available on the 317 route and local service is provided by the 830, 832 and 836 routes.<ref>Bus Routes, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed April 30, 2023.</ref>

Healthcare

File:Jersey shore university medical center hope tower.jpg

HOPE Tower at Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) is a 691-bed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> non-profit, tertiary research and academic medical center located in Neptune Township. This major healthcare artery services the greater northern Jersey Shore region in Central Jersey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> JSUMC is the shore region's only university-level academic medical center and is a major partner of the Hackensack Meridian Healthcare network (it is the system's second largest hospital). JSUMC is also affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of Rutgers University,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> JSUMC is designated as a level II trauma center<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with a rooftop helipad handling medevac patients.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The medical complex also hosts the K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, which treats infants, children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 21. JSUMC is a major teaching and tertiary care hospital that has a staff of 127 interns and residents, as it's a member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Neptune Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">Template:Cite web</ref> The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of Template:Convert.

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Neptune Township include:

• Lynn Ahrens (born 1948), writer and lyricist for the musical theatre, television and film<ref>Stamelman, Peter. "Lynn Ahrens: From a Boardwalk Town to Broadway Success - Tony-winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens is making a splash yet again on the Great White Way with the revival of Once on This Island.", New Jersey Monthly, May 1, 2018. Accessed October 13, 2018. "No doubt, the 69-year-old Ahrens continues to gain inspiration when she flashes back to her youthful days in Neptune, 'flag-twirling for the Scarlet Fliers at Neptune High School, working as a carhop at a drive-in restaurant called Horner's, going to Mom's for pizza, summers on the beach, and high school graduation ceremonies under a giant, electrified American flag at Ocean Grove's Great Auditorium.'"</ref>
• Edward G. Amoroso, computer security professional, entrepreneur, author and educator<ref>"Interview: AT&T's Edward Amoroso", Infosecurity magazine, September 7, 2011. Accessed August 30, 2021. "Amoroso, who grew up in Neptune, New Jersey, hails from a large Italian-American family, which he jokingly refers to as comprising about 30 cousins along with his aunts, uncles, and other immediate family."</ref>
• Jack Armstrong (born 1965), Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins and Texas Rangers<ref>"Armstrong Disarms Mets", The Record, May 4, 1990. "OK, let's get the obvious out of the way. Born in Englewood and a star at Neptune High School who went on to pitch at Rider College and the University of Oklahoma, 6-foot-5, 220-pound Cincinnati right-hander Jack Armstrong fulfills the qualifications for the obvious nickname, All-American Boy, like the fictional character of the same name."</ref><ref>Coffey, Wayne. "Former All-Star Jack Armstrong hoping to set record straight on steroid era", New York Daily News, December 8, 2007. Accessed August 13, 2018. "Jack Armstrong was born in Englewood, raised in Neptune, N.J. and schooled at Rider College and the University of Oklahoma, where he became a No. 1 draft choice."</ref>
• Nicole Atkins (born 1978), singer-songwriter on Columbia Records<ref>"Nicole Atkins & the Sea Perform 'War Torn,' Chat 'Neptune City'", Spin (magazine), January 22, 2008. Accessed January 29, 2008 "But the neighborhood I live in is called Shark River -- it's part of Neptune -- I live right across the street from the river, and there's a bird sanctuary."</ref><ref>Kitchin, Jessica. "New Faces NJ: Nicole Atkins", New Jersey Monthly, July 18, 2008. Accessed December 1, 2008. "Growing up in Neptune, Nicole Atkins wrote songs, searching for a way to blend country and '60s rock...'I grew up in Neptune in a mostly Sicilian family,' she says. 'Everyone listened to a lot of oldies rock-n-roll like Frankie Valli and the Everly Brothers...Her home base is still Asbury Park, and she says she's regularly back with the family in Neptune 'doing lots of laundry.'"</ref><ref name=Atkins>Staff. "Pop and Rock Listings", The New York Times, June 1, 2007. Accessed January 31, 2011. "Nicole Atkins, from Neptune City, N.J., is a marvelously talented fantasist with a bit of Stevie Nicks and a bit more of Rufus Wainwright in her, spinning prom-night-beautiful piano ballads with a masterly cinematic sweep."</ref>
• Pat Battle (born 1959), WNBC-TV's New Jersey Bureau Reporter, Saturday Today (NBC) in New York co-anchor, and occasional fill-in anchor<ref>Lewis, Evelyn Stryker. Neptune and Shark River Hills, p. 88. Arcadia Publishing, 1998, via Google Books. Template:ISBN. Accessed November 13, 2015.</ref>
• Mary Porter Beegle (Template:Circa–1966), dancer, theater professional and college administrator<ref>"Grove Woman Was 'Caliban' Leader; Miss Mary Porter Beegle, Well Known Here, Directed New York Pageant.", Asbury Park Press, May 31, 1916. Accessed May 24, 2020. "Miss Mary Porter Beegle, a former resident of Ocean Grove and well known to many residents of this city, was, perhaps, the happiest young woman in New York when 'Caliban by the Yellow Sands' the Percy Mackaye Shakespeare masque, was finally presented in the City college stadium last Wednesday night."</ref>
• Fanny Crosby (1820–1915), composer of over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs<ref>"A Unique Hymn Writer.; Fanny Crosby's Method of Composing Religious Verses to Order.", The New York Times, August 22, 1897. Accessed August 24, 2023. "Among the cottagers at Ocean Grove each Summer can be seen a unique and interesting old lady, whose name is known in Sunday school and church circles the world over, and who can safely say that she has more hymns to her credit than any mortal, living or dead.... She is, too, a frail, wee creature, tipping the scales at about 100 pounds, and yet, despite this life-long infirmity, Fanny Crosby has made a generous competence .and an enduring name by composing, since 1804, over 4,000 Sunday school hymns."</ref>
• Vinny Curry (born 1988), defensive end who played in the NFL for 11 seasons, won Super Bowl LII<ref>Edelson, Stephen. "Neptune's Vinny Curry continues growth with Eagles", Asbury Park Press, August 4, 2012. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref>
• Michelle Davidson (born 1970), English Channel swimmer and U.S. Master Swimmer All-American<ref>Staff. "New Jersey paddleboarder Michelle Davidson salutes Diana Nyad's Cuba to U.S. swim" Template:Webarchive, News 12 New Jersey, September 5, 2013. Accessed November 10, 2013. "Ocean Grove - A New Jersey woman has a special appreciation for Diana Nyad's recent accomplishment.Michelle Davidson, 43, paddled from Cuba to Florida as part of a relay team back in 2004.... The Neptune resident teaches business classes at Holmdel High School now, and says she plans on talking to her students about Nyad's triumph."</ref>
• Taquan Dean (born 1983), University of Louisville basketball player in 2006<ref>Finley, Bill. "Slumping Louisville Is Beaten by Rutgers", The New York Times, January 29, 2006. Accessed December 5, 2012. "'Even with me hurting, our team stayed in the game,' said Dean, who is from Neptune, N.J. 'It came down to a couple of possessions where we couldn't get stops.'"</ref>
• Danny DeVito (born 1944), actor<ref>Van Gelder, Lawrence.

"At The Movies", The New York Times, April 18, 1986. Accessed July 30, 2012. "While Mr. DeVito, who was born in Neptune on the Jersey Shore and grew up in Asbury Park, was filming a scene for Wise Guys at the Resorts International Hotel in Atlantic City, his wife, the Brooklyn-born actress Rhea Perlman, was awaiting the birth of the couple's second child."</ref><ref>Willistein, Paul. Template:Usurped. The Morning Call. December 21, 1985. Accessed January 31, 2011. "DeVito was born in Neptune, N.J., where Jack Nicholson grew up. The first time DeVito and Nicholson met was during the filming of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'"</ref>

• Dedrick Dodge (born 1965), safety (American football position) for eight NFL seasons, from 1991 to 1998<ref>Template:Usurped, database Football. Accessed December 8, 2007.</ref>
• Darren Fenster (born 1978), manager in the Boston Red Sox minor league system<ref>Darren Fenster - Assistant Coach Template:Webarchive, Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Accessed May 29, 2013. "A native of Middletown, N.J., Fenster is also a part of four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including three as a player.... He currently resides in Neptune."</ref>
• Dan Gonzalez (born 1974), football quarterback who played two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League<ref>Cherubini, Ron. "A True Student Athlete: Standout QB Stands Out After Football" Template:Webarchive, Pirate Time Machine No. 41 (2009). Accessed June 25, 2015. "Though Gonzalez only fully had the reigns of the ECU offense for a season, his command of Logan's philosophies and his ability to execute the scheme as designed makes you wonder what might have been had the quarterback from Neptune, NJ, had two or three years under center."</ref>
• Trent Hindman (born 1995), race car driver in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
• Eric Houghtaling (born 1954), politician representing the 11th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly, who had served as mayor of Neptune Township in 2013<ref>Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed August 2, 2016.</ref>
• Robert C. Holub (1949–2023), Germanist, university professor and administrator who served as chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst<ref>Schworm, Peter. "Chancellor wants UMass-Amherst to be among the best", The Boston Globe, May 6, 2008. Accessed August 30, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Robert C. Holub Born: Aug. 22, 1949, in Neptune, N.J. Education: Public schools in Belmar and Asbury Park, N.J."</ref>
• Keith Kirkwood (born 1993), wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League<ref>Keith Kirkwood, Temple Owls football. Accessed November 12, 2018. "Hometown: Neptune, N.J."</ref>
• Harry Larrison Jr. (1926–2005), politician who served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders for nearly 39 years, marking the longest tenure of a Freeholder in New Jersey history<ref>Remembering The 20th Century: An Oral History of Monmouth County - Interview with Harry Larrison Jr., Monmouth County, New Jersey, October 30, 2000. Accessed October 14, 2018. "The family lived on West Bangs Avenue for about ten years and then we moved to the corner of Wayside Road and Slocum in the Ashby Garden section of Neptune Township.... I attended Summerfield Grammar School. Started pre-primary, graduated the eighth grade, and I went to Neptune High School and graduated from there in 1945."</ref>
• Ronald Naldi (born 1941 or 1942), singer at the Metropolitan Opera<ref>Randolf, Eleanor. "Keep the Met Open", The New York Times, July 31, 2014. Accessed August 1, 2014. "Naldi, known to his peers as Donal, was born and raised in Bound Brook. He currently resides in Ocean Grove, New Jersey."</ref>
• Cory Nelms (born 1988), NFL player<ref>Cory Nelms Template:Webarchive, Profootballarchives.com. Accessed October 2, 2014.</ref>
• Jack Nicholson (born 1937), actor<ref>Carney, Leo H. "Neptune Journal; Residents Dismayed About Cluttered Museum and Its Curator", The New York Times, May 10, 1992. Accessed July 30, 2012. "Jack Nicholson, the movie star, was born here 55 years ago."</ref>
• Joseph A. Palaia (1927–2016), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1981 to 1989 and in the State Senate from 1989 to 2008, representing the 11th Legislative District<ref>Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 2004 Edition, p. 224. Lawyers Diary and Manual, LLC., 2004. Template:ISBN. Accessed September 24, 2019. "Joseph A. Palaia, Rep., Ocean... Mr. Palaia was born in Neptune on Feb. 3, 1927. He attended grade school in Ocean Grove and Neptune High School, and graduated from Rider College, with a degree in business administration, in 1949."</ref>
• Shep Pettibone (born 1959), record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, who was most prolific in the 1980s<ref>Capuzzo, Jill P. "An Active Night Scene Is a Major Attraction", The New York Times, August 6, 2000. Accessed June 1, 2018. "Born in nearby Ocean Grove, Mr. Pettibone got started in the music business spinning discs at CJ's record store here in the 1970's."</ref>
• Haydn Proctor (1903–1996), member of the New Jersey Senate<ref>Thomas Jr., Robert McG. "Haydn Proctor, 93, a Judge And New Jersey State Senator", The New York Times, October 5, 1996. Accessed February 10, 2011. "Haydn Proctor, a longtime New Jersey official who operated at the highest levels of all three branches of state government, died on Wednesday at a hospital near his home in Lakewood, N.J."</ref>
• Q Lazzarus (1960–2022), singer best known for her 1988 song "Goodbye Horses", which became a cult classic after being prominently featured in a scene from Jonathan Demme's 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs<ref>"Q Lazzarus, N.J. singer Diane Luckey, known for ‘Goodbye Horses’ in ‘Silence of the Lambs,’ dead at 59", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 18, 2022. Accessed August 18, 2022. "The singer, a Neptune native born Diane Luckey, died July 19, according to a short obituary notice announcing funeral arrangements in the Asbury Park Press.... Luckey, the youngest of seven children, was an alumna of Neptune High School and grew up singing at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, according to a longer obituary shared by Neptune's Jackson Funeral Home."</ref>
• Ed Radwanski (born 1963), professional soccer player<ref>Atkinson, Charlie. "Dynamo Star Is Ambassador For The Game Radwanski Plays For Love Of Game, Not Money", Greensboro News-Record, May 21, 1993. Accessed December 5, 2012. "It wasn't fortune or fame that brought Ed Radwanski to Greensboro.... So why has the 30-year-old from Neptune, NJ, returned to Greensboro to play for a fledgling team in the United States Interregional Soccer League?"</ref>
• Nate Ramsey (1941–2019), safety and cornerback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles for most of his 11-year NFL career from 1963 through 1973<ref>Template:Usurped, database Football. Accessed June 19, 2007.</ref>
• Len Renery (born 1948), retired English-American professional soccer defender and coach<ref>"A player way ahead of his time", Asbury Park Press, September 23, 1992. Accessed October 14, 2018. "'I had a great time back at Neptune High School and the Jersey Shore,' said Renery, who now runs soccer camps in California. 'I was there in the beginning, I guess. I came to Neptune when I was just 13 and I had already been playing for 10 years.'"</ref>
• Karl Roberson (born 1990), professional mixed martial artist, former kickboxer, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight<ref>Feitl, Steve. "Karl Roberson fights to put Neptune on MMA map at UFC Fight Night", Asbury Park Press, November 10, 2017. Accessed November 4, 2018. "Karl Roberson is ready to show the world what he can do. But have no doubt, he also intends to show what his hometown of Neptune can do."</ref>
• Isaac Schlossbach (1891–1984), polar explorer, submariner and aviation pioneer<ref>" Neptune and Neptune City: A brief history", Asbury Park Press, January 17, 2002. Accessed September 24, 2007. "After World War II, the Asbury Park Air Terminal, later known as the Gibson Air Academy, is founded by one of Neptune's most famous residents, Lt. Cmdr. Isaac Schlossbach, who explored the Arctic three times and the Antarctic nine times with Adm. Richard E. Byrd."</ref>
• Rusty Schweickart (born 1935), astronaut<ref>Biographical Data, NASA. Accessed February 2, 2007.</ref>
• George A. Sheehan (1918–1993), cardiologist and running advocate<ref>Litsky, Frank. "Dr. George Sheehan, Running Figure, Dies at 74", The New York Times, November 2, 1993. Accessed December 6, 2012. "Dr. George Sheehan, a cardiologist who became the philosopher of the recreational running movement in the 1970's and 1980's, died yesterday at his home in Ocean Grove, N.J."</ref>
• Southside Johnny (born 1948), singer / songwriter<ref>Minor, E. Kyle. "Music; A Bar Band Once Again Takes to The Road", The New York Times, June 18, 2000. Accessed July 30, 2012. "That association was made in Mr. Lyon's youth, growing up Ocean Grove, N.J., half a mile from Asbury Park."</ref>
• Richard R. Stout (1912–1986), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1952 to 1974<ref>Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, State of New Jersey, Volume 194, Part 2; Volume 195, Parts 1-2, p. 363. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1971. "Richard R. Stout was born September 21, 1912, at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Neptune High School, Lawrenceville School, Princeton University and the Newark Law School."</ref>
• Valerie Terrigno (born 1954), former mayor of West Hollywood, California<ref>Braun, Stephen. "The Trouble With Terrigno : When West Hollywood's First Mayor Was Driven From City Hall, She Took Part of the Dream of a ‘Gay Camelot’ With Her", Los Angeles Times, June 1, 1986. Accessed March 6, 2023. "The family outgrew even the largest affordable flat and, in 1966, moved to Neptune, a small New Jersey town dominated by German Methodists."</ref>
• Ronald R. Thomas (1949–2023), writer and educator, who was the 13th president of the University of Puget Sound<ref>Schrag, Paul. "President Rocks: University Puget Sound President Ronald R. Thomas reflects on music and the '60s", University of Puget Sound Weekly Volcano, December 13, 2007. Accessed February 22, 2021. "While growing up in Ocean Grove, NJ, Thomas sat behind E-Street Band bass player Gary Tallent in home room at Neptune High School."</ref>
• Greg Trooper (1956–2017), singer-songwriter<ref>Cuccaro, Ricgard.Template:Usurped, Acoustic Live, July 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 27, 2012.Accessed July 4, 2022. "Greg was born in 1956 in Neptune, New Jersey and grew up in the town of Little Silver."</ref>
• Bob Verga (born 1945), basketball player who played for the Dallas Chaparrals, Denver Rockets, New York Nets, Pittsburgh Condors, Portland Trail Blazers and Carolina Cougars<ref>Bob Verga, Basketball-Reference. Accessed November 16, 2008.</ref>
• Joe Vetrano (1918–1995), placekicker who played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Dennis Walters (born 1949), trick-shot golfer who won the Bob Jones Award in 2018 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame with the class of 2019<ref>Edelson, Stephen. "Edelson: For paralyzed golfer Dennis Walters, Bob Jones Award fitting honor", Asbury Park Press, April 10, 2018. Accessed October 13, 2018. "That's why the United States Golf Association's decision to tap Neptune native Dennis Walters as the recipient of the 2018 Bob Jones Award, the sport's highest honor, is so important.... Walters, who played at Neptune High School and North Texas State, and lives in Jupiter, Florida, will spend a month this summer performing shows in the Philadelphia area."</ref>
• Robert Lee Watt (born 1948), French horn player<ref>Wagstaff, Malinda. Template:Usurped, WXXI-FM, January 29, 2020. Accessed April 7, 2020. "Born in Neptune Township, New Jersey, Robert Lee Watt was hired by Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic to play assistant principal horn in 1970 and remained there for 37 years before retiring in 2008."</ref>
• Clinton Wheeler (born 1959), former professional basketball player<ref>Clinton Wheeler Template:Webarchive, database Basketball. Accessed October 1, 2007.</ref>
• Ajee' Wilson (born 1994), middle-distance runner<ref>2012 Millrose Games Preps with Pros Gallery, ESPN. Accessed February 15, 2014. "High school star Ajee wilson of Neptune (Neptune Township, N.J.) trailed the leaders most of the way."</ref>
• Tim Wright (born 1990), tight end who has played in the NFL for the New England Patriots<ref>Stanmyre, Matthew. "Rutgers receiver Tim Wright keeps teammates' hair looking good", The Star-Ledger, December 23, 2012. Accessed June 16, 2014. "Growing up in Neptune, Wright was enamored by creative arts.... By high school, after his family moved to an apartment complex in Wall, Wright was cutting the hair of dozens of friends in the neighborhood."</ref>

External links

• Neptune Township official website
• Neptune Township Schools
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Neptune Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Neptune Township Public Library