New Jersey

Ocean

637,229
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Ocean

Ocean, New Jersey, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 10,032. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 637,229.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Chestnut Neck (NJ coast), Battle of Little Egg Harbor, Battle of Toms River (NJ), and 36 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020637,229
2010576,567
2000510,916
1990433,203
1980346,038
1970208,470
1960108,241
195056,622
194037,706
193033,069
192022,155
191021,318
190019,747
189015,974
188014,455
187013,628
186011,176
185010,032
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Ocean

Military engagements that took place in Ocean, New Jersey.

Action at Chestnut Neck (NJ coast)
1778
Battle of Little Egg Harbor
1778
Battle of Toms River (NJ)
1782
Battle of Cedar Bridge (NJ)
1782
Battle of Cedar Bridge
1782

Historic places in Ocean

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ocean, New Jersey.

Horner House
Toms River
Giberson, Capt. George W., House
Toms River
Crawford House
Toms River
Beach Haven Historic District
Beach Haven
Georgian Court
Lakewood
Hangar No. 1, Lakehurst Naval Air Station
Manchester Township
Converse Cottage
Beach Haven
Strand Theatre
Lakewood
Bartlett-Rockhill-Bartlett House
Tuckerton
Cedar Bridge Tavern
Barnegat Township
Manahawkin Baptist Church
Manahawkin
Barnegat Lighthouse
Barnegat Light
Cox, Mary Etta, House
Barnegat
Orient Baptist Church
Laurelton
Little Egg Harbor Friends Meeting House
Tuckerton
Old Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet
Point Pleasant Beach
Birdsall, Capt. Amos , House
Toms River
Bay Head Historic District
Bay Head Borough
Ocean County Jail
Toms River
Williams, Dr. Edward H., House
Beach Haven
Ocean County Courthouse
Toms River
Double Trouble Historic District
Beachwood
Stewart House
Toms River
L. Ron Hubbard Residence at Bay Head
Bay Head Borough
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Other counties in New Jersey

Explore census history and historic records for more New Jersey counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Ocean County, New Jersey

This page charts the census history of Ocean County, New Jersey. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Ocean

When does Ocean first appear in the US census?
Ocean, New Jersey first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 10,032.
What is the population of Ocean?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ocean had a recorded population of 637,229.
Were any battles fought in Ocean?
5 documented military engagements took place in Ocean, including Action at Chestnut Neck (NJ coast), Battle of Little Egg Harbor, Battle of Toms River (NJ).
How many historic places are in Ocean?
36 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ocean, New Jersey.
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