Ocean Acres, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Ocean Acres is a census-designated place
(CDP) split between Barnegat Township
and Stafford Township
, in Ocean County
, New Jersey
, United States
. The population was 13,155 at the 2000 census. Ocean Acres is approximately a six-square-mile community of 5,500 lots, located in the northwestern end of Stafford Township and part of Barnegat. It is the newest and biggest part of both towns.
sprawling between Stafford Township and Barnegat. Potential buyers were bused to the site and in its first year, 2,000 lots were sold. The original Ocean Acres development offered three home designs, two ranch styles and a bi-level design. The original models were located on Route 72 west of the present site of the Southern Ocean Medical Center, all three are currently used as businesses.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, growth on the community was slow. Only a handful of the streets were paved, and most homes were used as summer homes. The community offered several recreation centers, such as a lakefront park near the Nautilus Drive entrance (it was eventually leveled to make way for an expanded lake), a second lakefront park with tennis and basketball courts off of Forecastle and Canal Drive which doesn't exist anymore, a bathing beach and pool, and an 18-hole golf course. The pool has since been removed, but the bathing beach is still open to swimmers after being closed for several years throughout the 1990s. While many original recreational centers original to Ocean Acres, many new parks and recreation centers owned by Stafford Township were built since the 1990s.
For years, a state-mandated moratorium on construction west of the Garden State Parkway had limited the 5,500-lot community to less than 800 homes. In the 1990s, when the moratorium was lifted and sewer lines were installed; development skyrocketed. Several area developers built nearly thousands of homes in the 1990s. Large areas of vacant land in Ocean Acres were even set aside for other individual subdivisions, such as The Oaks at Stafford development. The Ocean Acres Elementary School opened to grades K-2 in 1999.
Development in the Barnegat side of the development was restricted for years due to environmental concerns, development was jump-started in the 2000s starting with the completion of Nautilus Blvd, which was formerly a "missing link". The Walters Group became the first developer to build in the Barnegat section, an early sales promotion for the Ocean Acres Barnegat homes included a free Toyota Yaris
hatchback to be included with the homes.
In 2010, the Garden State Parkway exit 67 in Barnegat was redesigned to redirect the southbound exit ramp onto the Lighthouse Drive entrance to Ocean Acres. The opening of the exit and redesign of the interchange fueled growth of the Barnegat section starting in the 2010s, with the opening of a CVS Pharmacy and Wawa
, as well as a major shopping center under construction at the intersection.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 15.4 square kilometre. 15.2 km2 (5.8 mi2) of it is land and 0.2 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it (1.52%) is water.
of 2000, there were 13,155 people, 4,683 households, and 3,807 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 868.2/km2 (2,248.0/mi2). There were 4,959 housing units at an average density of 327.3/km2 (847.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.34% White, 1.00% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races
, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 4,683 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,169, and the median income for a family was $58,404. Males had a median income of $42,368 versus $31,208 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $21,249. About 2.4% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) split between Barnegat Township
Barnegat Township, New Jersey
-History:Barnegat gets its name from nearby Barnegat Bay and Barnegat Inlet. The inlet was originally "Barendegat," or "Inlet of the Breakers," and was named by Dutch settlers in 1614 for the waterway's turbulent channel.-Demographics:...
and Stafford Township
Stafford Township, New Jersey
-Transportation:Stafford is served by a few major roads. CR 539 passes through in the western part. U.S. Route 9 passes north-south through the center of the township and Route 72 is the main artery that passes from the northwest to the southeast...
, in Ocean County
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 13,155 at the 2000 census. Ocean Acres is approximately a six-square-mile community of 5,500 lots, located in the northwestern end of Stafford Township and part of Barnegat. It is the newest and biggest part of both towns.
History
Ocean Acres was started in the early 1960s, on a large tract west of the Garden State ParkwayGarden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
sprawling between Stafford Township and Barnegat. Potential buyers were bused to the site and in its first year, 2,000 lots were sold. The original Ocean Acres development offered three home designs, two ranch styles and a bi-level design. The original models were located on Route 72 west of the present site of the Southern Ocean Medical Center, all three are currently used as businesses.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, growth on the community was slow. Only a handful of the streets were paved, and most homes were used as summer homes. The community offered several recreation centers, such as a lakefront park near the Nautilus Drive entrance (it was eventually leveled to make way for an expanded lake), a second lakefront park with tennis and basketball courts off of Forecastle and Canal Drive which doesn't exist anymore, a bathing beach and pool, and an 18-hole golf course. The pool has since been removed, but the bathing beach is still open to swimmers after being closed for several years throughout the 1990s. While many original recreational centers original to Ocean Acres, many new parks and recreation centers owned by Stafford Township were built since the 1990s.
For years, a state-mandated moratorium on construction west of the Garden State Parkway had limited the 5,500-lot community to less than 800 homes. In the 1990s, when the moratorium was lifted and sewer lines were installed; development skyrocketed. Several area developers built nearly thousands of homes in the 1990s. Large areas of vacant land in Ocean Acres were even set aside for other individual subdivisions, such as The Oaks at Stafford development. The Ocean Acres Elementary School opened to grades K-2 in 1999.
Development in the Barnegat side of the development was restricted for years due to environmental concerns, development was jump-started in the 2000s starting with the completion of Nautilus Blvd, which was formerly a "missing link". The Walters Group became the first developer to build in the Barnegat section, an early sales promotion for the Ocean Acres Barnegat homes included a free Toyota Yaris
Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris is a subcompact car produced by Toyota since 1999. Between 1999 and 2005, some markets received the same vehicles under the Toyota Echo name...
hatchback to be included with the homes.
In 2010, the Garden State Parkway exit 67 in Barnegat was redesigned to redirect the southbound exit ramp onto the Lighthouse Drive entrance to Ocean Acres. The opening of the exit and redesign of the interchange fueled growth of the Barnegat section starting in the 2010s, with the opening of a CVS Pharmacy and Wawa
Wawa
Wawa may refer to:*Water Authority of Western Australia*Wawa Food Markets, a convenience store/gas station chain in the United States*Wawa or Triplochiton scleroxylon, an African tree*Chinook Jargon, also known as "the Wawa" or Chinuk Wawa...
, as well as a major shopping center under construction at the intersection.
Geography
Ocean Acres is located at 39.739800°N 74.284106°W (39.739800, -74.284106).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 15.4 square kilometre. 15.2 km2 (5.8 mi2) of it is land and 0.2 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it (1.52%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 13,155 people, 4,683 households, and 3,807 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 868.2/km2 (2,248.0/mi2). There were 4,959 housing units at an average density of 327.3/km2 (847.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.34% White, 1.00% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 4,683 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,169, and the median income for a family was $58,404. Males had a median income of $42,368 versus $31,208 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $21,249. About 2.4% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.