Page Contents for Toms River, New Jersey

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The New Jersey state capital is Trenton.
The population of Toms River is approximately 86,327 (2000), 88791 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 34,375 (2000), 33394 (2010).
The amount of land area in Toms River is 102.05 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Toms River is 39.4 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.896 sq kilometers.
The distance from Toms River to Washington DC is 176 miles.
The distance to the New Jersey state capital is 36 miles. (as the crow flies)
Toms River is positioned 39.95 degrees north of the equator and 74.18 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Toms River elevation is 40 feet above sea level.
Toms River median income is $ 55,659 (2000).
The Toms River median home price is $ 148,900 (2000).
Toms River average annual precipitation is 48.8 inches peryear.
Toms River average annual snowfall is 20.2 inches per year.
The average winter temperature is 31.2 degrees F.
The average spring temperature is 49.8 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 75.0 degrees F.
The average fall temperature is 55.4 degrees F.

Location

south of Lakewood in east-central New Jersey, along the Garden State Parkway. Other nearby communities include Island Heights, Pine Beach, Beachwood, South Toms River, Leisure Village East, Ocean Gate, Leisure Village and Holiday City South. New York City is about 53 miles north.

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Weather

seasonal. Here is a page for Weather information for the Toms River area.
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History & History Related Items

The origin of the name Toms River is uncertain. One tradition says the community was named for Thomas Luker, who operated a ferry across Goose Creek in the 1600s. Another says it was named for Capt. William Tom (or Toms). Tom was the Justice of the Peace and Judge here from 1676 until he died. The governor wrote his name as Tom's. At a later date, the apostrophe was dropped. Apparently, he took Toms as a surname at that time. When the community was founded, it was called Toms River.

Dover Township and Toms River are mostly inter-twined. Dover Township was formed over 80 years before Ocean County was created. Toms River, in earlier years, was the village and downtown area of the township. It is the place where the county and township offices are mostly located. It was also the main trading area in years past. It is a small area compared to the entire township. Today, Toms River has a more far-reaching area including almost all of the Dover Township. The US Census designates all but two small areas as Toms River. Even the local people refer to most of the township as Toms River rather than Dover Township. Thus, when Toms River is mentioned, it is almost always referring to the township of Dover. There is also town of Dover in the northern part of New Jersey which is a completely separate city.

Dover Township (Toms River), Ocean County, New Jersey was established in 1767

Try this history page for Dover Township.
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The founding of Toms River

1767

Attractions

Ocean Co. Tourism
Box 2191
Toms River, NJ 08754
Phone: 732-929-2000

Information on Toms River.

Toms River area Information page

Ocean County Historical Museum
26 Hadley Ave
P.O. Box 2191
Toms River, NJ 08754
Phone: 732-341-1880
Fax: 732-341-4372

Garden State Philharmonic Symphony

Ocean County College Fine Arts Center

Robert J. Novins Planetarium

River Lady Paddle Wheeler Cruises

Col. Charles Waterhouse Historical Museum

Toms River Seaport Society Maritime Museum

Cattus Island County Park & Morton Cooper Nature Center
497 acres
1170 Cattus Island Blvd.
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: 732-270-6960

Founder's Day in June each year.

Toms River is the Ocean County seat and a neighborhood (not an official municipality) within Dover Township, the official municipality. As of the 2000 census, Toms River is considered most of Dover Township rather than the small neighborhood. (for more information on this change, see this entry) This should not be confused with Dover, NJ, a community in Morris County. It is the 7th largest municipality in New Jersey according to 1999 Census estimates. Other neighborhoods with the township include East Dover, Gilford Park,Bay Shore, Green Island, shelter Cove, Pleasant PLains and Silverton. It spans across the Barnegat Bay and includes the seashore neighborhoods of Ortley Beach, Normandy Beach, Ocean Beach, and Pelican island. The township boasts three high schools: Toms River High South (The Indians), Toms River High School East (The Raiders) and Toms River High School North (The Mariners).

Bey Lea Golf Course, Winding River Ice Rink, Snug Harbor Pool and Huddy Park, site of weekend festivals during the Spring and Summer

Downtown Toms River Information
Toms River Business Improvement District
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Toms River City Government

Dover Township
33 Washington St
Toms River, NJ 08753-7642
Phone: 732-341-1000

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The Village of Toms River
The County seat
This is the small downtown area of Dover Township.

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COUNTY INFORMATION

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Toms River is the county seat for Ocean County

Ocean County official website.

Toms River Chamber

Toms River - Ocean County Chamber Of Commerce
1200 Hooper Ave
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: 732-349-0220
Fax: 732-349-1252

Toms River Organizations

Toms River - Ocean County Chamber Of Commerce
1200 Hooper Ave
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: 732-349-0220
Fax: 732-349-1252

Toms River Libraries

Ocean County Library - Toms River Branch
101 Washington St.
Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone : (732) 349-6200
Fax: (732) 341-6698

Toms River Schools

Toms River Regional Schools
1144 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, NJ 08753-8361
Phone: 732-505-5500

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St Joseph's Roman Catholic School
711 Hooper Ave
Toms River, NJ 08753-7716
Phone: 732-349-2355

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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Ocean County College
College Dr.
P.O. Box 2001
Toms River, NJ 08754-2001
Toll-free: 877-OCC-FIRST Toms River

Miscellany

Note about Toms River and Dover Township:
Special Caution on census information concerning Dover Township and Toms River When tracking census information about Dover Township from any previous census, a word of warning is needed about its common name, Toms River. Strictly speaking, Toms River is the name only of the historic downtown area that was the colonial village of Toms River. However, it is quite common for residents to refer to all of Dover Township as Toms River. This usage is seen in the schools (Toms River Regional School District), businesses (Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce) and many other areas of life (Toms River East Little League). Before the 2000 census, considerable confusion arose from the Toms River Census Designated Place or CDP. The Census defined the Toms River CDP as only the immediate downtown area. The population was given as 7,524 in 1990. Anyone from out of the area who was only familiar with the more common name Toms River naturally used the Toms River CDP figures thinking they measured the whole town. They believed from those figures that Dover Township was less than 10% of the size it really was in 1990. This confusion caused many complaints including those from real estate agents, businesses looking for financing and local groups applying for grants. For the 2000 census, local and state government officials requested that the Toms River CDP be redefined. The United States Census agreed with the proviso that a census designated place may not have the same geographical boundaries as a municipality. Now the new Toms River CDP is defined as all of Dover Township except for the two small areas on the barrier island flanking the town of Lavallette and the Dover Township section of Pelican Island. With a 2000 population reported for Dover Township of 89,706 and a 2000 population of 86,327 for the Toms River CDP, future confusion between the two will be much less serious.
This information is from the Ocean County Library.

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The population of Toms River was:
1990 - 7,524 (note - population designated area changed for the 2000 census. See above entry)
2000 - 86,327