Neptune Township, New Jersey


Neptune Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 27,935, reflecting an increase of 245 from the 27,690 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 458 from the 28,148 counted in the 1990 Census.
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, Bradley Beach and Ocean Grove. The township was named for Neptune, the Roman water deity, and its location on the Atlantic Ocean.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 8.672 square miles, including 8.182 square miles of land and 0.490 square miles of water.
Ocean Grove and Shark River Hills are census-designated places and unincorporated communities located within Neptune Township. 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.
Neptune Township stretches from the Atlantic Ocean west to the Garden State Parkway. 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.
Deal Lake covers and is overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, which was established in 1974. Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for of shoreline, also including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour and Ocean Township.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $58,630 and the median family income was $74,422. Males had a median income of $56,743 versus $43,853 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,656. 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.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 27,690 people, 10,907 households, and 6,805 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,366.8 people per square mile. There were 12,217 housing units at an average density of 1,485.4 per square mile. 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.
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.
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.
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.

Government

Local government

Neptune Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Neptune Township Committee are Mayor Robert Lane Jr., Kevin McMillan, Dr. Michael Brantley, Carol J. Rizzo and Nicholas R. Williams.
In January 2016, the Township Council selected Carol J. Rizzo from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring on December 2016 that was vacated by Eric Houghtaling when he took office in the New Jersey General Assembly earlier that month.

Federal, state and county representation

Neptune Township is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Neptune Township had been part of the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 18,093 registered voters in Neptune Township, of which 6,481 were registered as Democrats, 2,780 were registered as Republicans and 8,825 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were seven voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 71.8% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 27.3%, and other candidates with 0.9%, among the 13,109 ballots cast by the township's 18,929 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 69.4% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 28.7% and other candidates with 0.4%, among the 14,265 ballots cast by the township's 19,505 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 60.0% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 38.8% and other candidates with 0.5%, among the 13,004 ballots cast by the township's 18,444 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.5.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.9% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 47.7%, and other candidates with 1.5%, among the 7,811 ballots cast by the township's 18,939 registered voters, for a turnout of 41.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 51.2% of the vote, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 42.0%, Independent Chris Daggett with 5.2% and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 8,635 ballots cast by the township's 18,606 registered voters, yielding a 46.4% turnout.

Education

The Neptune Township Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide, 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.
As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 4,063 students and 372.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. Schools in the district are
Early Childhood Center,
Gables School,
Green Grove School,
Midtown Community School,
Shark River Hills School,
Summerfield School,
Neptune Middle School and
Neptune High School.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Route 18, Route 33, Route 35, Route 66 and Route 71 are the main highways passing through the township.
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 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 on the North Jersey Coast Line to Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction, New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal.
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.

Notable people

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