Island Heights, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Island Heights is a borough in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,650,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 23 (−1.4%) from the 2010 census count of 1,673,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 78 (−4.5%) from the 1,751 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>
The borough is a dry town where alcohol cannot legally be sold.<ref>New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)</ref><ref>Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.</ref>
History
[edit]Island Heights was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 6, 1887, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), based on the results of a referendum held on November 18, 1886.<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. 203. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref><ref>Island Heights Borough Template:Webarchive, Ocean County Historical Society. Accessed August 3, 2006.</ref>
Island Heights takes its name from two sources: it originally was an island. It is situated by a steep bluff rising Template:Convert above the Toms River.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 2, 2015.</ref> It was originally known as Doctor Johnson's island, being included in the patent granted to him in 1680. In the century before the American Revolutionary War, it was known as Dillon's Island, probably for James Dillon, a prominent man in Toms River. The land was purchased by John Imlay of Allentown, who sold it in 1794 to Issac Gulick. In 1797, Gulick and his wife Abagail sold it to Abraham and George Parker. In 1799, the Parker brothers sold it to Abel Middleton of Upper Freehold Township.<ref>Salter, Edwin. Salter's History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties New Jersey, Embracing a Genealogical Record of Earliest Settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Their Descendants, p. 406 ff. 1890</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.92 square miles (2.38 km2), including 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2) of land and 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2) of water (33.59%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Long Point.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>
The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township and Toms River Township.<ref>Areas touching Island Heights, MapIt. Accessed February 24, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.<ref>Toms River Watershed, Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 3, 2022.</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 1,673 people, 683 households, and 487 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 831 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 95.82% (1,603) White, 0.24% (4) Black or African American, 0.12% (2) Native American, 1.37% (23) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.36% (6) from other races, and 2.09% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% (40) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 683 households, 25.0% had children under the age of 18; 57.0% were married couples living together; 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.7% were non-families. Of all households, 22.0% were made up of individuals and 9.2% 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 2.88.<ref name=Census2010/>
18.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,269 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,616) and the median family income was $96,458 (+/− $21,090). Males had a median income of $75,234 (+/− $7,830) versus $47,045 (+/− $11,606) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,493 (+/− $4,086). About 5.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Island Heights borough, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 9, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,751 people, 705 households, and 497 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 807 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.77% White, 0.11% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Island Heights borough, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Island Heights borough, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
There were 705 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the borough was $61,125, and the median income for a family was $72,596. Males had a median income of $47,500 versus $38,375 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,975. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Island Heights is governed under the Faulkner Act form of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, within the Small Municipality (Plan A), enacted by direct petition as of July 1, 1974.<ref>"The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 16, 2013.</ref> The borough is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available to municipalities with a population below 12,000 at the time of adoption.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the six-member Borough Council, whose members are elected in non-partisan elections held as part of the November general election. The mayor is directly elected to a four-year term of office. Councilmembers serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year 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. p. 53.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> As the result of an ordinance passed unanimously by the borough council in July 2011, the borough shifted its nonpartisan elections from May to November.<ref>Mayor and Council Newsletter, Borough of Island Heights, July 19, 2011. Accessed January 23, 2015. "After first reading and introduction of Ordinance 2011 – 09, the Mayor and Council Members unanimously approved an ordinance to change the regular municipal elections currently held in May to the general election date in November."</ref>
Template:As of, the Mayor of Island Heights Borough is E. Steve Doyle, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026. Borough Council members are Council President Rolf Weber (2027), Robert Baxter (2025), Alan Fumo (2025), Brian Gabriel (2026), Lynn Pendleton (2026) and Sandi Healy (2027).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Council, Borough of Island Heights. Accessed July 2, 2024.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Island Heights. Accessed July 2, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanProfile>Borough of Island Heights, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed July 2, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanOfficials>2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 2, 2024. Accessed April 17, 2024.</ref><ref name=Ocean2023>General Election Results November 7, 2023 Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Ocean2022>2022 General Election Official Results November 8, 2022, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Ocean2021>2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>
In May 2019, Lynn Pendleton was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Sean Asay until he resigned from office.<ref>Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for May 14, 2019, Borough of Island Heights. Accessed February 24, 2020. "Resolution 2019-103 Accepting the Resignation of Sean Asay... Resolution 2019-105 Appointing Lynn Pendleton to fill the unexpired term of Councilman Sean Asay"</ref> Pendeton was elected in the November 2019 general election to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Ocean2019>2019 General Election Official Results November 5, 2019, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>
Brian Taboada, who had been serving a term ending in December 2014, announced at an August 2013 council meeting that he would be stepping down from office to focus on school obligations.<ref>Mayor and Council Newsletter - Council Meeting, Borough of Island Heights, August 20, 2013. Accessed October 16, 2013. "Council Member Brian Taboada stated it is with great regrets that he informs the borough of his resignation from the Island Heights borough council."</ref>
Emergency services
[edit]The borough is protected by the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company, which was established in 1895 and the Island Height Volunteer First Aid Squad established in 1950.<ref>History Template:Webarchive, Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company Station 53. Accessed July 26, 2016. "The Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was organized on February 14th, 1895 by a group of residents who realized the need for fire protection in the community."</ref>
Federal, state, and county representation
[edit]Island Heights is located in the 4th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 10th 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>
Template:NJ Congress 04 Template:NJ Senate
Template:NJ Ocean County Commissioners
Politics
[edit]Island Heights has been a largely Republican leaning jurisdiction in presidential elections. All GOP presidential candidates since 1948 have won the borough, with six of those campaigns breaking 70% of the vote.
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,329 registered voters in Island Heights, of which 285 (21.4%) were registered as Democrats, 415 (31.2%) were registered as Republicans and 629 (47.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Ocean, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 79.4% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 97.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.5% of the vote (459 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.1% (205 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (16 votes), among the 703 ballots cast by the borough's 1,303 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.0%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 59.8% of the vote (453 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 32.6% (247 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.5% (49 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (7 votes), among the 757 ballots cast by the borough's 1,346 registered voters, yielding a 56.2% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Ocean County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
Historic district
[edit]The Island Heights Historic District is a Template:Convert historic district roughly bounded by Toms River, Summit and River Avenues in the borough. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 29, 1980, for its significance in architecture, recreation and religion. The district includes 244 contributing buildings. The artist John F. Peto's studio features Queen Anne style architecture and is now a museum. St. Gertrude's Mission Church originally had wooden shingles. The Grenley House is also known as the "Gingerbread House" and features elaborated scrollsawn woodwork.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>
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Historic district sign
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St. Gertrude's Mission Church
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Grenley House
Education
[edit]The Island Heights School District serves public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade at Island Heights Elementary School.<ref>Public Schools Directory 2023-2024; Living & Learning in Ocean County, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Island Heights School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Island Heights School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 133 students and 13.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.0:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Island Heights School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> In the 2016–17 school year, Island Heights had the 14th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 126 students.<ref>Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 14. Island Heights Borough Enrollment: 126 Grades: K-6 County: Ocean"</ref> Island Heights Elementary School was one of nine schools in New Jersey honored in 2020 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which recognizes high student achievement.<ref>2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non-Public Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed September 27, 2020.</ref><ref>Clark, Adam. "9 N.J. schools just won a huge national honor", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 24, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020. "Nine New Jersey public schools have been awarded the national Blue Ribbon designation, one of the highest honors in education. The schools were recognized Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education for high student achievement."</ref>
Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Central Regional School District, which also serves students from the municipalities of Berkeley Township, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park.<ref>Central Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Central Regional School District. Accessed May 4, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades seven through twelve in the Central Regional School District. Composition: The Central Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Berkley Township, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park."</ref><ref>Central Regional School District 2016 School Report Card Narrative Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 14, 2017. "The Central Regional School District is located in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township and draws from the constituent districts of Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights, and Seaside Park."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 2,344 students and 190.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1.<ref>District information for Central Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Central Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are Central Regional Middle School<ref>Central Regional Middle School, Central Regional School District. Accessed July 2, 2024.</ref> with 769 students in grades 7 - 8 and Central Regional High School<ref>Central Regional High School, Central Regional School District. Accessed July 2, 2024.</ref> with 1,483 students in grades 9 - 12.<ref>Our Schools, Central Regional School District. Accessed July 2, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Central Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> The district's board of education has nine members, who are directly elected by the residents of the constituent municipalities to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year.<ref>Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Central Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for the year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2024. "The School District is a Type II district located in the County of Ocean, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board is comprised of nine members appointed to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three members’ terms expire each year. The School District provides a full range of educational services appropriate to junior and senior high schools for students of the Boroughs of Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park and the Township of Berkeley, Ocean County, New Jersey."</ref> Island Heights is allocated one of the board's nine seats.<ref>Board of Education, Central Regional School District. Accessed July 2, 2024.</ref>
Transportation
[edit]_along_the_border_of_Toms_River_Township_and_Island_Heights_in_Ocean_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Ocean County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Ocean County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
New Jersey Route 37 is the main highway serving Island Heights. Route 37 brushes the north edge of the borough, heading east towards Seaside Heights and west towards Lakehurst. Route 37 also provides access to New Jersey Route 35, U.S. Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway, among other major highways.
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit offers seasonal bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 137 route and to Newark on the 67 route.<ref>Ocean County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC10 Toms River Connection route.<ref>Ocean County Bus Service Template:Webarchive, Greater Mercer TMA. Accessed August 10, 2015.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Island Heights include:
- Charles R. Chickering (1891–1970), freelance artist who designed some 77 postage stamps for the U.S. Postal Service<ref>Malone, Jack. "Stamp Gossip: U.S. adds printing to series", The Morning News, May 20, 1970. Accessed July 12, 2022. "Charles R. Chickering. designer of several U.S. stamps, died the latter part of April at his home in Island Heights, N.J."</ref>
- Bessie Pease Gutmann (1876–1960), artist and illustrator<ref>Brown, James S. "Still life artist Peto led parade to retreat", Asbury Park Press, February 8, 1981. Accessed May 29, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Another artist who summered for many years at Island Heights was Bessie Pease Gutmann, noted for her pictures of babies and small children that were widely distributed in this country and abroad as chromolithographs.... She established a summer home in Island Heights in 1925 and the balance of the year lived in South Orange."</ref>
- Gia Maione (1941–2013), singer and widow of Louis Prima<ref>Sapia, Joseph. "Louis Prima's widow seeks royalties Island Heights Woman Wed Bandleader in '63 Louis Prima's wife files suit over royalties", Asbury Park Press, December 24, 2002. Accessed July 18, 2011. "An Island Heights woman - the last of musician Louis Prima's five wives - is suing a California recording company, seeking royalties for the showman's work."</ref>
- John F. Peto (1854–1907), painter<ref>Barron, James. "Restoring America's Past: Bed and Breakfast Inns", The New York Times, May 14, 1987. Accessed June 9, 2012. "Joy Peto Smiley operates the Studio of John F. Peto, a B & B in the house in Island Heights, N.J., where her grandfather painted portraits and landscapes."</ref>
- Glenn Taranto (born 1958/59), actor and screenwriter, who played Gomez Addams in The New Addams Family<ref>Collins, Karyn D. "Area man living out an actor's dream life", Asbury Park Press, September 15, 1991. Accessed December 25, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Glenn Taranto has come a long way since the days when he walked the boards as a member of the drama club at the old St. Joseph High School in Toms River (now known as Monsignor Donovan High School), performing in his high school's productions of musicals like South Pacific and 1776. These days, Taranto, 32, whose parents, Elizabeth and Louis Sr., still live in Island Heights, is living a dream performing in one of the hottest off-Broadway plays to ever hit New York as well as performing in a showcase or workshop production of a play he wrote."</ref>
- Fred Wagner (1860–1940), one of the earliest of the Pennsylvania impressionists<ref>Brown, James S. "Five generations of artists race roots to Philadelphia", Asbury Park Press, September 14, 1980. Accessed August 7, 2020,, via Newspapers.com. "Wagner and Nunn painted extensively in the Toms River area, probably while guests at one of Bryant's Island Heights cottages."</ref>
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Island Heights website
- Island Heights School
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Island Heights School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- Central Regional School District
- Island Heights Branch of Ocean County Library
- Ocean County Historical Society: Island Heights Borough
- Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company Station 53
Template:Ocean County, New Jersey Template:NRHP in Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Jersey Shore region Template:Authority control