The U.S. Census has released the 2008 population estimates showing Ocean County’s population totaling 569,111, a 0.8% increase over last year and a 10.8% increase since the last Census in 2000, according to Freeholder Director John C. Bartlett Jr. “While we do not want uncontrolled growth, it is a positive sign that people find Ocean County a desirable place to live at the same time the state is losing population,” Freeholder Director Bartlett said.
Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as Census liaison said, “While these figures are estimates, 2010 will be a critical year for us as that is the next official decennial census. That will determine our representation in Congress and provide population statistics which will be used for funding grants, marketing research and long term planning.”
The three largest communities in Ocean County continue to be Toms River Township with a population of 95,933, Brick with 78,419, and Lakewood with 70,983. However, local askanim and officials believe that the number for Lakewood is significantly low, and that the more accurate figure is about 10,000 higher.
The three municipalities that have grown the most since the 2000 base year Census show a southern expansion with Barnegat Township experiencing 44.7% growth with a 2008 population estimate of 22,255, Ocean Township, 38.9% grown with a population of 8,993, and Little Egg Harbor Township, 28.7%, and 20,699.
Ocean Township led the county in growth from 2007-2008 with a 4.2% increase.
Three of the county’s municipalities have less than 1,000 year round residents. They are all barrier beach communities: Barnegat Light, 838, Mantoloking 452 and Harvey Cedars, 393.
Overall, Ocean County’s population has grown 10.8% since 2000 as compared with the State of New Jersey, which grew 3.0%.
{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
