Demographics

As of the census

Census

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 6,450 people, 2,446 households, and 1,743 families residing in the township. 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 310.1 people per square mile (119.7/km²). There were 2,981 housing units at an average density of 143.3 per square mile (55.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.33% White, 0.74% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.36% 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 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.10% of the population.

There were 2,446 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $46,461, and the median income for a family was $55,379. Males had a median income of $39,149 versus $32,188 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 township was $22,830. About 5.6% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Ocean Township is governed under the Township

Township (New Jersey)

A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...

 form of government with a three-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected at-large by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

, Township Committee members are Mayor Joe Lachawiec (R

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, term ends December 31, 2012), Deputy Mayor Dennis Tredy (R, 2013) and Tina Wetter (R, 2011).

On July 23, 2009, local Republican party member and former Mayor Daniel Van Pelt

Daniel Van Pelt

Daniel Van Pelt is an American Republican politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 8, 2008, until July 31, 2009, when he resigned after being arrested in connection with Operation Bid Rig on federal corruption charges for allegedly accepting a $10,000 bribe. He was...

 was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of a state-wide money laundering investigation. In May 2010, Van Pelt was convicted on federal corruption charges, and is scheduled to be sentenced to federal prison on November 4, 2010.

Federal, state and county representation

Ocean Township is in the 3rd Congressional district.

Ocean Township is in the

Education

For grades K through 6, public school students attend the Ocean Township School District

Ocean Township School District (Ocean County, New Jersey)

The Ocean Township School District is a community public school district that serves students from Ocean Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States which serves 536 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade ....

, which serves 533 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics

National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...

) are
Waretown Elementary School with an enrollment of 321 students in pre-K to 3rd grade and Frederic A. Priff Elementary School with 215 students in grades 4 - 6.

For grades 7 through 12, public school students attend the Southern Regional Middle School (grades 7 and 8) and Southern Regional High School

Southern Regional High School

Southern Regional High School is a regional public high school in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in grades 9 - 12 and operating as part of the Southern Regional School District. The school is located on of wooded land, upon which future projects are to be completed...

 (grades 9 - 12). These schools are part of the Southern Regional School District

Southern Regional School District

The Southern Regional School District is a regional public school district in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in grades 7–12...

, which serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District

Long Beach Island Consolidated School District

The Long Beach Island Consolidated School District is a regional consolidated public school district which serves students in kindergarten through sixth grade from five communities bordering the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island, in Ocean County, New Jersey...

 — Barnegat Light

Barnegat Light, New Jersey

Barnegat Light is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 574. The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island and is home to Barnegat Lighthouse....

, Harvey Cedars

Harvey Cedars, New Jersey

Harvey Cedars is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 337. The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island....

, Long Beach Township

Long Beach Township, New Jersey

Long Beach Township is a Walsh Act Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 3,051....

, Ship Bottom

Ship Bottom, New Jersey

Ship Bottom is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,156. The borough is located on Long Beach Island and borders the Atlantic Ocean....

 and Surf City

Surf City, New Jersey

Surf City is a borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,205. The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island....

 — along with students from Beach Haven

Beach Haven, New Jersey

Beach Haven is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. The borough is located on Long Beach Island and borders the Atlantic Ocean...

 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...

, together with the sending district of Ocean Township. Both schools are in Manahawkin

Manahawkin, New Jersey

Manahawkin is a census-designated place and unincorporated area contained within Stafford Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. Manahawkin translates to 'land of good corn' although this has been disputed by recent scholars claiming that it translate to “fertile land sloping into...

.

Transportation

The Garden State Parkway

Garden 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...

 (accessible via Exit 69) and U.S. Route 9 both pass through the township, as does County Route 532

County Route 532 (New Jersey)

County Route 532 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 35.19 miles from Stokes Road on the Medford Township-Medford Lakes border to Bryan Road in Ocean Township...

.

External links

• Ocean Township website
• Ocean Township School District
• Data for the Ocean Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
  National Center for Education Statistics
  The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
  
  
• Southern Regional School District
• Waretown Branch of Ocean County Library