Toms River, New Jersey

For other uses, see Toms River (disambiguation).

Toms River Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Motto: Great Places. Familiar Faces.
Location of Toms River Township in Ocean County, NJ
Census Bureau map of Toms River Township, NJ
Coordinates: 39°58′45″N 74°10′3″W / 39.97917°N 74.1675°W / 39.97917; -74.1675Coordinates: 39°58′45″N 74°10′3″W / 39.97917°N 74.1675°W / 39.97917; -74.1675
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Ocean
Founded	March 1, 1768 (as Dover Township)
Incorporated	February 21, 1798
Renamed	November 14, 2006 (as Toms River Township)
Government
– Type	Faulkner Act Mayor-Council
– Mayor	Thomas F. Kelaher (2011)[1]
Area
– Total	52.9 sq mi (137.1 km2)
– Land	41.0 sq mi (106.1 km2)
– Water	12.0 sq mi (31.0 km2)
Elevation[2]	34 ft (13 m)
Population (2010 Census)[3]
– Total	91,239
– Density	2,225/sq mi (665.5/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	08753, 08754, 08755, 08756, 08757, 08739
Area code(s)	732
Website	http://www.tomsrivertownship.com/

The Township of Toms River is a large township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, and the county seat of Ocean County^[4]. On November 7, 2006, voters approved a change of the official name from the Township of Dover (or, Dover Township) to the Township of Toms River, effective November 14, 2006.

As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 91,239.^[3] The 2010 population represents an increase of 1,533 (1.3%) from the 89,706 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census, with the township ranking as the 8th largest municipality in the state in 2010 after having been ranked 7th in 2000. As of the 2010 Census, Toms River is the second-largest municipality in Ocean County, behind Lakewood Township, which had a population of 92,843.^[5]

What is now Toms River Township was established by Royal Charter as Dover Township on March 1, 1768, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County. Dover Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to from Jackson Township (March 6, 1844), Union Township (March 10, 1846, now Barnegat Township), Brick Township (February 15, 1850), Manchester Township (April 6, 1865), Berkeley Township (March 31, 1875), Island Heights (May 6, 1887), Lavallette (December 21, 1887) and Seaside Heights (February 26, 1913).^[6]

In 2006, Toms River was ranked by Morgan Quitno as the 14th safest "city" in the United States, of 369 cities nationwide.^[7] In 2007 and 2008, Toms River was ranked by CQ Press as the ninth safest "city" in the United States, of the 378 cities nationwide.

Toms River can be seen in various TV and news media including MTV's Made and Jersey Shore (season 1 and 3), HBO's Boardwalk Empire and the original The Amityville Horror movie. In 1998, Toms River East Little League won the Little League World Series. The township has what is said to be the second largest Halloween parade in the world. A spinoff of "Jersey Shore" featuring Snooki and JWoww will also be filmed in the township in January 2012. ^[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 52.9 square miles (137.1 km²), of which 41.0 square miles (106.1 km²) is land and 12.0 square miles (31.0 km², or 22.59%) is water. Toms River is 70 miles (110 km) south of Manhattan, New York and 55 miles (89 km) east of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

While most of Toms River is on the mainland, Dover Beaches North and South are situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.

Dover Beaches North (2000 Census population of 1,785), Dover Beaches South (1,594) and Toms River CDP (86,327) are census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Toms River Township.

Toms River includes the ZIP Codes 08753, 08754, 08755, 08756, 08757, 08739.^[9] Ortley Beach shares ZIP code 08751 with Seaside Heights, though Seaside Heights is an independent municipality that is not part of Toms River Township. Manchester Township does not have its own Post Office, and parts of Manchester use a Toms River mailing address under zip code 08757.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	910		—
1810	1,882		—
1820	1,916		1.8%
1830	2,898		51.3%
1840	2,752		−5.0%
1850	2,385		−13.3%
1860	2,378		−0.3%
1870	3,044		28.0%
1880	2,489		−18.2%
1890	2,609		4.8%
1900	2,618		0.3%
1910	2,452		−6.3%
1920	2,198		−10.4%
1930	3,970		80.6%
1940	5,165		30.1%
1950	7,707		49.2%
1960	17,414		126.0%
1970	43,751		151.2%
1980	64,455		47.3%
1990	76,371		18.5%
2000	89,706		17.5%
2010	91,239		1.7%
Population sources: 1790-1920[10] 1930-1990[11] 2000-2010[3][5][12]

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 89,706 people, 33,510 households, and 24,428 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,189.5 people per square mile (845.4/km²). There were 41,116 housing units at an average density of 1,003.5 per square mile (387.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.57% White, 1.75% African American, 0.13% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.54% of the population.^[12]

There were 33,510 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.^[12]

In the township the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.^[12]

The median income for a household in the township was $54,776, and the median income for a family was $62,561 (these figures had risen to $69,141 and $82,137 respectively as of a 2007 estimate^[14]). Males had a median income of $47,390 versus $30,834 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,010. About 4.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.^[12]

History

Founding and early history

Much of the early history of the village of Toms River is obscured by conflicting stories. Various sources list the eponym of the town as either English captain William Toms, farmer and ferryman Thomas Luker, or a Native American named Tom. The common belief is that Thomas Luker, who ran a ferry across Goose Creek (now the Toms River), is who the town is named after. In the nineteenth century, Toms River became a center for shipbuilding, whaling, fishing, and iron and lumber production.^[15]

Toms River was located in the southern section of the Township of Shrewsbury that obtained a royal charter to secede in 1767 and form Dover Township. During the American Revolution, Toms River was home to a strategically important salt works that supplied colonial militias, as well as a base for privateer vessels that plundered British and Tory ships off the coast. In March 1782, a group of British and loyalist soldiers attacked a blockhouse along the river that housed the colonial militia and captured Captain Joshua Huddy, who was later hanged at Sandy Hook. Also destroyed were the salt works and most of the houses in the village.^[16] The incident greatly complicated the tense relationship between the British, loyalist, and colonial and was a factor in prolonging the peace negotiations that were then in progress in Paris until 1783.^[15]

The settlement and the river were usually spelled "Tom's River" in its early days, though its current spelling has been standard since the middle of the 19th century.

The village of Toms River is listed on both the national^[17] and state registers of historic places.^[18]

Mid 19th and 20th centuries

Map of Toms River in 1878

In 1850, Toms River became the county seat of the newly created Ocean County when it was formed out of southern Monmouth County. During the second half of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th, many new towns were carved out of Dover Township, including Brick, Jackson, Lakewood and Berkeley. The Village of Toms River attempted twice — in 1914 and 1926 — to secede from Dover Township, but residents were unsuccessful. The part of Toms River on the south side of the river stretching down to Berkeley Township incorporated as South Toms River in 1927, but the core of the original village on the north side remains part of the wider township to this day.^[19]

Mid and late 20th century

In the last two decades of the twentieth century, the demographics of the township changed substantially, adding over 20,000 residents just in the 1990s. While the village is still the center of municipal and county government, the population in the area exploded in the decades after World War II, due in part to the completion of the Garden State Parkway. Whereas the village was the largest and most densely populated section of the township for over two centuries, the vast majority of residents now shop and work in other sections of the town.

Toms River made international headlines in the 1990s with their Little League Baseball team, nicknamed "Beast from the East", which competed in the Little League World Series three times in five years, winning in 1998 when they defeated Japan by a score of 12-9.^[20] Over 40,000 people lined Route 37 for a parade following their victory over Kashima, Japan.^[21]

Toms River is also home to many National Champion Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading titles. 1996 Toms River Raider Jr. PeeWee Football team won a National Championship. Cheerleaders from the Toms River Little Indians, Toms River Raiders, and the Toms River Angels (formerly the Saint Joe's Angels) have won many National Titles. The first National Championship title was won in 1993 by the Toms River Little Indian Midget Cheer squad. In 2001, 2002, and 2003 the Toms River Angels brought home national titles resulting in the nations second ever three peat (meaning they brought home three national titles on the same level) In 2005, The Toms River Little Indians brought home 2 more national titles, and the Toms River Raiders won one. In 2006, The Toms River Angels Midget Large Advanced Cheer Squad and the Toms River Little Indians Midget Small Intermediate Cheer Squad brought home 2 more National Titles. In 2007 The Toms River Angels brought home one and the Indians brought back 2 more to add to their history.^[22]

In the mid-1990s, state and federal health and environmental agencies identified an increased incidence of childhood cancers in Toms River from the 1970-1995 period. Multiple investigations by state and federal environmental and health agencies indicated that the likely source of the increased cancer risk was contamination from Toms River Chemical Plant (then operated by Ciba-Geigy), which had been in operation since 1952. The area was designated a United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site in 1983 after an underground plume of toxic chemicals was identified. The following year, a discharge pipe was shut down after sinkhole at the corner of Bay Avenue and Vaughn Avenue revealed that it had been leaking. The plant ceased operation in 1996.^[23][24][25] A follow up study from the 1996-2000 period indicated that while there were more cancer cases than expected, rates had significantly fallen and the difference was statistically insignificant compared to normal statewide cancer rates.^[26] Since 1996, the Toms River water system has been subject to the most stringent water testing in the state and is considered safe for consumption.^[27]

Toms River Township

"Toms River" at one time referred only to the village of Toms River, a small part of the vast Township of Dover that included several other distinct settlements. With the United States Postal Service's adoption of Toms River mailing addresses for Dover Township, coupled with demographic changes in the other sections, those inside and outside began referring to all of mainland Dover Township as Toms River.^[19][28] In the 1990 Census, the census-designated place called "Toms River" only included the downtown village area that included fewer than 8,000 residents in 1990. Due to complaints of confusion, the CDP was broadened to include all of mainland Dover Township to better reflect the more common usage for the area.^[15]

In recent years, confusion over the name of the township had become an issue for many residents. A movement organized around the Dover Township Name Change Committee,^[29] founded by Mayor Paul Brush and supported by the Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, collected signatures to put a name change question on the ballot in November 2006. On Election Day, November 7, 2006, over 60% of residents voted to approve changing the name from the Township of Dover to the Township of Toms River.^[30] The name was officially changed on November 14, 2006.^[31] The name change campaign featured the slogan "Toms River YES", signifying a yes vote for the name change.

Government

Local government

Since 2002, Toms River Township has operated under the Mayor-Council form of New Jersey municipal government.^[32] The council consists of seven members, four of whom represent one of four wards (sections) of the township and three who are chosen "at-large." The mayor and four ward council members are chosen in partisan elections to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with the mayor and three at-large seats elected together and the four ward seats chosen two years later.^[33]

As of 2011^[update], the Mayor of Toms River is Thomas P. Kelaher (R), term expires December 31, 2011). Council members are the three Councilmembers-at-Large — Melanie Donohue-Appleby (R, 2011), John "Sevas" Sevastakis (R, 2011) and George Wittmann (R, 2011) - and Maria Maruca (Ward 1; R, 2013, Brian S. Kubiel (Ward 2; R, 2013), Maurice "Mo" B. Hill (Ward 3; R, 2013) and Council President Gregory P. McGuckin (Ward 4; R, 2013).^[33][34]

Federal, state and county representation

Toms River is in the 3rd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 10th state legislative district.^[35] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.^[3]

New Jersey's Third Congressional District is represented by Jon Runyan (R, Mount Laurel Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

10th district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Andrew R. Ciesla (R, Brick Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by James W. Holzapfel (R, Toms River) and David W. Wolfe (R, Brick Township).^[36] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).^[37] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).^[38]

Ocean County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Ocean County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari (Toms River, term ends December 31, 2011), Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little (Surf City, 2012), John C. Bartlett, Jr. (Pine Beach, 2012), John P. Kelly (Eagleswood Township, 2010) and James F. Lacey (Brick Township, 2013).^[39][40]

Politics

In the 2008 Presidential Election, Democrat Barack Obama received 18,439 votes (42.1% of the vote), losing to Republican John McCain who received 25,881 (56.8%), with 45,215 (72%) of the township's 62,909 registered voters participating in the election.^[41] In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 19,906 votes (66.8% of the vote), defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received 7,948 votes (26.7%), with 29,782 (48%) of the township's 61,578 registered voters casting ballots.^[42]

Education

Students in grades K through 12 attend the Toms River Regional Schools, a regional public school system (centered primarily in Toms River Township) which is the largest suburban school district in New Jersey.^[43] In addition to Toms River Township, the district incorporates the boroughs of Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River.^[44]

Toms River Regional Schools includes 12 elementary schools, three intermediate schools which are among the largest in the state, and three high schools, which are Toms River High School South, Toms River High School North, and Toms River High School East. Of the district's enrollment of 17,372 (as of the 2009-10 school year), there are approximately 5,700 student enrolled in high school (Grades 9-12), 4,100 students enrolled in intermediate school (Grades 6-8) and 7,600 students enrolled in elementary school (Grades K-5).^[45]

In addition, Ocean County's only Catholic High School, Monsignor Donovan High School, is located in Toms River, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. The diocese also operates St. Joseph's Grade School for students in Kindergarten though 8th grade.^[46]

Ocean County College, a two-year college that offers four-year options in cooperation with other New Jersey colleges and universities, is located on Hooper Avenue in Toms River.

Transportation

Toms River is crisscrossed by several major roadways, including the Garden State Parkway and U.S. Route 9, as well as Route 35, Route 37, Route 70, Route 166, County Route 527, County Route 530, County Route 549, County Route 571.

Two of the most congested roads are Hooper Avenue and Route 37. Route 37 sees extra traffic from travelers to the Jersey shore during the summertime, due to it being a main artery to the shore from the Garden State Parkway at interchange 82.

The township is also home to one of the state's only at-grade cloverleafs, at the intersection of Hooper Avenue and Route 571(Bay Avenue).^[47]

The major bus station in Toms River is located downtown, off exit 81 of the Garden State Parkway. The township is served by New Jersey Transit bus routes 67 (to Newark and Journal Square), 137 (to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City), 319 (to PABT in New York City and the Atlantic City Bus Terminal), and 559 (to the Atlantic City Bus Terminal).^[48]

The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders operates the Ocean Ride bus line within Toms River, as well as to Brick Township, Whiting, Manchester Township, Lakewood Township, Lacey Township, Little Egg Harbor Township, Berkeley Township, Barnegat Township, Plumsted Township, Point Pleasant, and Long Beach Island.^[49]

There are a number of taxi services around and within Toms River. Fares vary depending on the service.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey and Pennsylvania Railroad ended service to the township in the late 1940s. The nearest rail station is the terminus of the North Jersey Coast Line in Bay Head. Service is currently being evaluated to nearby Lakehurst on the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line.^[50]

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority proposed in 1971 to build the Driscoll Expressway which was to start from exit 80 of the parkway and end 3 miles (4.8 km) north of exit 8A of the New Jersey Turnpike in South Brunswick. This project was killed in the 1980s.

The Robert J. Miller Air Park, a public-use airport, is located 5 miles (8 km) southwest of the central business district.

Community

Downtown Toms River during Wintertime

• Toms River has been featured in television, including MTV which filmed three episodes of the show "Made" and scenes from MTV's "Jersey Shore" were also filmed in the township.
• Toms River is home to many beaches located along the Jersey Shore, including Ortley Beach, Normandy Beach, Monterey Beach, Ocean Beach, Chadwick Beach, and Silver Beach.
• The New Jersey Chili and Salsa Cook-Off, as well as the New Jersey Ice Cream Festival are held in Toms River.
• The Toms River Branch of Ocean County Library is the headquarters of the Ocean County Library system and the largest public library in Ocean County. In January 2006, the recent renovation of the building was completed resulting in a facility that has doubled in size.
• Toms River is home to the only Indoor Athletic Complex bubble in Ocean County. It is one of the largest in New Jersey.
• New Jersey's largest non-teaching hospital, Community Medical Center, is located in Toms River.
• The Poland Spring Arena, a public arena connected to Toms River High School North, is used for major concert events and small local events throughout the year to raise money for the school district.
• Toms River Fest, is held during the summer in Toms River, bringing many people from in and out of the area to this large carnival. The festival includes acts by world renowned music artists.
• Toms River has many shopping malls including Ocean County Mall (the only enclosed mall in Ocean County), and Seacourt Pavilion, located across Bay Avenue from the Ocean County Mall.
• The 1979 movie, The Amityville Horror, was filmed in Toms River, rather than Amityville on Long Island. Local police and ambulance workers played extras. The Toms River Volunteer Fire Company Number One was used to provide the "rain" during one of the exterior scenes. If you look closely, you can see that it is sunny and not "raining" in the background, the next street over.
• Toms River has a downtown area, Downtown Toms River, which hosts many community events, including festivals and the second largest Halloween parade in the world. The official logo is a 'T' with a river, forming an 'R', through it. The slogan is "Great Places. Familiar Faces."
• Toms River gained some notoriety in 1984 when local businessman Robert O. Marshall was charged with (and later convicted of) the contract killing of his wife, Maria. The case attracted the attention of true crime author Joe McGinniss, whose bestselling book on the Marshall case, Blind Faith, was published in 1989. Blind Faith was adapted into an Emmy-nominated 1990 TV miniseries starring Robert Urich and Joanna Kerns.
• Several surrounding municipalities, due to lack of Post Offices, have Toms River mailing addresses, including South Toms River, parts of Manchester Township and parts of Berkeley Township.
• Home to the Waterhouse Museum.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Toms River include:

• Darian Barnes (born 1980), former NFL fullback.^[51]
• Mike Bucci (born 1972), former professional wrestler and talent coordinator employed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)^{[citation needed]}

Irish Teddy Mann, Former Middleweight Boxing contender

• Danny Clinch (born 1964), photographer.^[52]
• Chris Connor (1927–2009), jazz singer.^[53]
• Frank Edgar (born 1981), UFC Lightweight Champion^[54][55]
• Chris Chapman (born 1979) , former ESPN and Fox Sports Radio Talk Show Host
• Charlie Frazier (born 1980), former professional baseball player for the Florida Marlins.^[56]
• Jeff Frazier (born 1982), professional baseball player for the Washington Nationals. Brother of Todd Frazier.^[57]
• Todd Frazier (born 1986), professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds. 34th overall draft pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Brother of Jeff Frazier.^[58]
• Mia Galeotalanza, contestant on Survivor: Vanuatu^[59]
• Brian Geraghty (born 1974), actor; We Are Marshall (2006), The Guardian (2006), Bobby (2006) and Jarhead (2005).^[60]
• Ted Gillen (born 1968), former professional soccer player^[61]
• J. M. Gold (born 1980), former professional baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers.^[62]
• Pavle Jovanovic (born 1977), Olympic bobsled competitor^[63]
• Ali Koehler (born 1986), drummer for groups including the Vivian Girls and Best Coast.^[64]
• Chris Konopka (born 1985), drafted by the Kansas City Wizards in the 2007 MLS Draft, currently plays for Waterford United in Ireland^[65]
• Stephenie LaGrossa (born 1979), contestant on Survivor: Palau, Survivor: Guatemala and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, under the Heroes tribe.^[66]
• Al Leiter (born 1965), former Major League baseball player who pitched for both the New York Mets and new York Yankees.^[67]
• Mark Leiter (born 1963), former Major League baseball player^[68]
• Leonard Lomell (born 1919), U.S. Army Ranger who destroyed German gun emplacements on D-Day^[69]
• Robert O. Marshall (born 1939), businessman whose 1980s conviction in the contract murder of his wife was the subject of a controversial 1989 book and 1990 television miniseries.^[70]
• Demetri Martin (born 1973), comedian, featured on The Daily Show and Comedy Central Presents^[71]
• Robert and Michael Meeropol (1951–52), sons of convicted spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg^[72]
• Scott Palguta (born 1982), MLS player for the Colorado Rapids.^[73]
• Piper Perabo (born 1976), actress who has appeared in the movies Coyote Ugly and Cheaper by the Dozen. Star of the USA Network show Covert Affairs.^[74]
• Garret Reynolds, professional BMX rider.^[75]
• Charles Emery Rosendahl (1892–1977), Admiral United States Navy, commanding officer of Lakehurst Naval Air Station.^[76]
• Joe Scott (born 1965), former men's head basketball coach for the United States Air Force Academy and Princeton University; current men's head basketball coach at the University of Denver.^[77]
• Jason Snelling (born 1983) NFL running back for the Atlanta Falcons.^[78]

See also

• Toms River CDP, New Jersey
• Dover Beaches North, New Jersey
• Dover Beaches South, New Jersey

References

1. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed July 20, 2011.
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dover Township, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b c d} 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 10. Accessed July 20, 2011.
4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-03. http://2010.census.gov/news/xls/st34-final_newjersey.xls. Retrieved 2011-02-05. 
6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 202.
7. ^ Morgan Quitno 12th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, Morgan Quitno. Accessed June 4, 2006.
8. ^ Michels, Chelsea. "Toms River fire company publicizes details of annual Halloween parade", Asbury Park Press, October 1, 2009. Accessed January 10, 2010. "It might not be in the Guinness World Records but organizers for the township's annual parade claim it is the second largest of its kind."
9. ^ About New Jersey > ZIP codes, State of New Jersey, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 20, 2007. Accessed July 20, 2011.
10. ^ "The Jersey Shore; a social and economic history of the counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean. Wilson, Harold Fisher. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing. 1953. Vol. 2. Appendix B: Population Statistics. Ocean County Population Statistics. p. 1132."
11. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
12. ^ ^{a b c d e} Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Dover township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 20, 2011.
13. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
14. ^ 2007 Estimate for Toms River, United States Census Bureau.
15. ^ ^{a b c} Dover Township Community Profile, Ocean County Library. Accessed August 4, 2006.
16. ^ Three Dramatic Scenes in the Closing Hours of the Revolutionary Struggle, Gen. W. H. Stryker, presentation at Doylestown Meeting, January 21, 1885. Provides a comprehensive account of the incident at Toms River in 1782 and its aftermath.
17. ^ Multiple Property Submission List, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed August 7, 2006.
18. ^ New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, Ocean County, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office. Accessed August 7, 2006.
19. ^ ^{a b} History of Dover Township, Ocean County Historical Society. Accessed August 3, 2006.
20. ^ Kreidler, Mark. "Inseparable: Little League, Toms River - The town from New Jersey is back where it believes it belongs: in Williamsport", ESPN magazine, August 20, 2010. Accessed July 20, 2011. "Just three years later, Gaynor, by then coaching his younger son Casey, took another team to the World Series -- and this time Toms River won it all, defeating an entry from Japan 12-9 to take home the championship trophy. Gaynor's team made the Series again in '99, a staggering run of three Williamsport trips in five years."
21. ^ Dyer, Eric. "Toms River Champs On Parade 40,000 Fans Swooned Over The Young Kings Of The Little League Baseball World.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 6, 1998. Accessed July 20, 2011.
22. ^ PAST NATIONAL CHEER CHAMPIONS, Pop Warner Little Scholars. Accessed October 15, 2007.
23. ^ CIBA-GEIGY CORP. United States Environmental Protection Agency, dated December 14, 2004. Retrieved January 31, 2005
24. ^ New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Hazardous Site Health Evaluation Program, Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health, & US Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). (Sep. 1997). Childhood Cancer Incidence Health Consultation: A Review and Analysis of Cancer Registry Data, 1979-1995 for Dover Township (Ocean County), New Jersey
25. ^ NJDHSS, ATSDR. (Dec. 2001). Case-control Study of Childhood Cancers in Dover Township (Ocean County), New Jersey. Volume 1: Summary of the Final Technical Report PDF 134KB. See also: Dover Township Childhood Cancer Investigation. Retrieved Jan. 31, 2005.
26. ^ Citizen’s Guide to the Childhood Cancer Incidence Update: A Review and Analysis of Cancer Registry Data, 1979-2000, January 2003 [1]
27. ^ Population explosion is talk of Toms River, Jean Milke for the Asbury Park Press, November 11, 2004. Accessed January 4, 2007
28. ^ About Toms River, Ocean County. Accessed August 3, 2006.
29. ^ Toms River Now: Support the Dover Township name change, Toms River Now. Accessed August 2, 2006.
30. ^ Dover Township Election Results, accessed November 11, 2006.
31. ^ APP.COM - Dover is over; it's Toms River Township, November 7, 2007. Accessed November 8, 2006.
32. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 53.
33. ^ ^{a b} Elected Officials, Toms River Township. Accessed March 19, 2011.
34. ^ 2011 Elected Officials of Ocean County, Ocean County, New Jersey. p. 12. Accessed March 19, 2011.
35. ^ 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed July 20, 2011.
36. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
37. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
38. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
39. ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
40. ^ 2011 Organization Comments by Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
41. ^ 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 20, 2011.
42. ^ 2009 Governor: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 20, 2011.
43. ^ Michaels, Chelsea. "Some in Toms River stick by Ritacco amid latest flap", Asbury Park Press, October 19, 2010. Accessed April 6, 2011. "Ritacco, 62, of Seaside Park, has headed the state's largest suburban school district since 1991. He is also superintendent for the Seaside Heights and Seaside Park school districts."
44. ^ Toms River Regional School District 2010 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2008. "With a student population in excess of 17,000, twelve elementary schools, three intermediate schools and three high schools, Toms River Regional School District is the largest suburban school district in the state. Respective of our size, the district takes enormous pride in the neighborhood school concept providing high-quality educational programs and services to our four sending towns, Beachwood, Toms River, Pine Beach, and South Toms River."
45. ^ Toms River Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 20, 2011.
46. ^ School Directory, Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. Accessed July 20, 2011.
47. ^ Google Maps
48. ^ Ocean County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 20, 2011.
49. ^ Ocean Ride Route Information, Ocean County, New Jersey Transportation Services. Accessed July 20, 2011.
50. ^ Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line, Ocean County, New Jersey Department of Planning. Accessed July 20, 2011.
51. ^ Edelson, Stephen. "Toms River's Barnes returns to N.J. with Jets", Asbury Park Press, March 9, 2007. Accessed April 6, 2011. "Darian Barnes' professional football odyssey came full circle Thursday when the Toms River native signed a free agent contract with the Jets, nearly five years after he began his NFL career by being released by the Giants during training camp in 2002."
52. ^ Cotter, Kelly-Jane. "THAT OLD BRUCE 'MAGIC': Springsteen, E Street Band won't be doing a disappearing act anytime soon", Asbury Park Press, September 30, 2007. Accessed October 19, 2007. "Clinch, whose company is in Manhattan but who lives in Toms River, is especially proud of the portrait that runs across the center panel of the CD sleeve."
53. ^ Holden, Stephen. "Chris Connor, Jazz Singer Whose Voice Embodied a Wistful Cool, Dies at 81", The New York Times, September 1, 2009. Accessed April 6, 2011. "Chris Connor, the great jazz singer whose lush, foggy voice and compressed emotional intensity distilled a 1950s jazz reverie of faraway longing in a sad cafe, died on Saturday in Toms River, N.J. She was 81 and lived in Toms River."
54. ^ Feitl, Steve. "BACK TO HIS ROOTS: Frank Edgar part of fight card in UFC's return to New Jersey", Home News Tribune, November 15, 2007. Accessed December 28, 2007. "After an accomplished wrestling career — one that saw him place twice at states while at Toms River High School East and qualify for nationals all four years as an All-American at Clarion University in Pennsylvania — Edgar chose to train for the combat sport that merges numerous disciplines from wrestling to jiu-jitsu to kickboxing."
55. ^ UFC Fighter Profile of Frank Edgar, UFC, accessed March 15, 2007
56. ^ Kreidler, Mark. "Inseparable: Little League, Toms River - The town from New Jersey is back where it believes it belongs: in Williamsport", ESPN, August 20, 2010. Accessed January 17, 2011.
57. ^ "Former Rutgers Standout Jeff Frazier Called Up To Detroit Tigers", ScarletKnights.com, July 29, 2010.
58. ^ Christopher, Chris. "Frazier to Cincinnati; 34th overall", Ocean County Observer, June 8, 2007. "She had to do something to honor her cousin, Todd Frazier, the former Toms River High School South standout selected 34th in the supplemental first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft yesterday by the Cincinnati Reds.... Todd Frazier of Toms River, right, was picked by the Cincinnati Reds yesterday."
59. ^ Mia Galeotalanza profile, Survivor: Vanuatu at CBS.com. Accessed October 24, 2007.
60. ^ Brian Geraghty, The New York Times from Allmovie. Accessed April 6, 2011. "After viewing that performance, Geraghty -- unclear after high school about where he wanted to go or what he wanted to do -- made a beeline from his home of Toms River, NJ, to New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse, where he plunged headfirst into classical theater -- and subsequently received a bid to audition for HBO's organized crime drama The Sopranos."
61. ^ Kurland, Bob. "METROSTARS MINUS TWO -- DONADONI, RAMOS TO MISS OPENER", The Record (Bergen County), April 12, 1996. "Kearny native Ted Gillen, who grew up in Toms River, was placed on injured reserve due to a slow-healing hamstring."
62. ^ Stump, Scott. "STARTING OVER Former Toms River North star J.M. Gold has not given up on his big league dream", Asbury Park Press, May 25, 2004. Accessed January 17, 2011.
63. ^ Araton, Harvey. "Sports of The Times; One Man's Lifeblood of the Games", The New York Times, February 8, 2002. Accessed October 14, 2007. "Yesterday, an American bobsledder, Pavle Jovanovic of Toms River, N.J., lost his appeal of a suspension for flunking a similar test in December at the United States trials."
64. ^ Pressler, Jessica. "New Punks: Vivian Girls", New York (magazine), January 11, 2009. Accessed April 6, 2011. "And while Cassie and Katy have an apartment in Williamsburg, drummer Ali Koehler lives at home in Toms River, New Jersey."
65. ^ Edelson, Steve. "Konopka right at home, in Ireland", Asbury Park Press, March 12, 2008. Accessed April 8, 2008. "Since stepping off a plane at Dublin Airport on Jan. 15 and signing a contract with storied Bohemian Football Club two weeks later, Chris Konopka has experienced a side of soccer he could barely have imagined growing up in Toms River."
66. ^ "Survivor's Stephenie LaGrossa Gets Married", People (magazine) by Michelle Tan, July 7, 2006. "LaGrossa, a former pharmaceutical sales rep who now models and makes TV and personal appearances, grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia and now lives in Toms River, N.J. "
67. ^ Olney, Buster. "BASEBALL; Mets Bolster Rotation in Deal for Leiter", The New York Times, February 7, 1998. Accessed April 6, 2011. "Al Leiter grew up in Toms River, N.J., rooting for the Mets on television, a die-hard with indelible memories of the 1969 World Series. Now Mets fans will be rooting for him."
68. ^ Anastatisa, Phil. "Scout reflects on baseball love affair", Courier-Post, June 7, 2004. Accessed October 23, 2007. "Lynch mentions former Cherry Hill West left-hander Shawn Senior, Lenape left-hander Scott Schoeneweis and Toms River brothers Al Leiter and Mark Leiter among the local athletes who best caught his eye."
69. ^ Lomell, Leonard. "June 6, 1944", Time (magazine), March 31, 2003. Accessed April 7, 2008.
70. ^ Staff. "DEATH PENALTY UPHELD IN MARSHALL CASE A MILESTONE RULING FOR N.J. HIGH COURT", Philadelphia Daily News, January 24, 1991. Accessed September 14, 2010. "The state Supreme Court today upheld the death sentence for Robert O. Marshall, the Toms River businessman whose conviction for arranging the murder of his wife drew nationwide attention as the subject of a best-selling book and a television movie."
71. ^ Dremousis, Litsa. Demetri Martin, The Believer (magazine), February 2006. Accessed June 23, 2007. "The son of a Greek Orthodox priest (note: Orthodox priests can marry prior to ordination) and a nutritionist, Martin grew up with his brother and sister in Toms River, New Jersey."
72. ^ Roberts, Sam. "Metro Matters; Rosenberg Case: Family's Struggle At Reconciliation", The New York Times, June 20, 1988. Accessed December 8, 2008.
73. ^ Scott Palguta, Major League Soccer. Accessed September 14, 2010.
74. ^ Seiler, Andy. "Breakout Actress", USA Today, August 2, 2000. Accessed July 20, 2011. "Piper Perabo's unusual name soon will be on moviegoers' lips -- and her lips, which have been compared to those of sultry Liv Tyler, will be on their minds. Had Perabo, a 23-year-old native of Toms River, N.J., ever thought about her lips before critics started to write about them?"
75. ^ Palmer, Chris. "Meet Garrett Reynolds, the anti-BMX star", ESPN. Accessed September 14, 2010.
76. ^ Vice Admiral Charles E. Rosendahl Collection, University of Texas at Dallas. Accessed June 23, 2007. "1960: Retired to Toms River to write and to organize Lighter-Than-Air Museum Association at Lakehurst."
77. ^ "Destined to Coach", The Colorado Springs Gazette, March 16, 2004.
78. ^ Garafolo, Mike. "NY Giants Game Day: Look for running game to exploit weak Atlanta defense", The Star-Ledger, November 22, 2009. Accessed April 6, 2011. "The Giants’ defenders said all week third-string RB Jason Snelling (a Toms River native who moved to Virginia before high school) is just as dangerous."

External links

• Toms River Township web site
• Toms River Regional Schools
• Toms River Regional Schools's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Toms River Regional Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Toms River Branch of Ocean County Library
• Dover Township: A Brief History - from the Asbury Park Press.
• Toms River Community web site
• Toms River Community web site dedicated to the worlds 2nd largest Halloween Parade