History  

The village of Toms River was christened in 1712, when a road was laid from Metedeconk over a bridge crossing the Goose Creek River, which soon changed its name to match the village. The origin of the name and the year of the village's original settlement were unsolved mysteries for many years. Some said it was named for Captain William Toms, others credit Old Indian Tom. Most believed it was named for Thomas Luker, who came to the area around 1700 and married Princess Anne, daughter of the local Indian Chief.   Only in 1992, with the dedication of a small footbridge in Huddy Park to his memory, was Thomas Luker officially recognized as the source of the “Tom” in Toms River. Over 40 of Luker’s direct descendants and their families attended the ceremony where Ocean County Historian Pauline Miller laid to rest the other stories.  It was one of many events celebrating the 225^th anniversary of Dover Township.

Dover Township, incorporated in 1767, was carved from the southern section of Shrewsbury Township in Monmouth County. The Toms River area thrived, and its earliest settlers, of English origin, supported themselves by lumbering, charcoaling, whaling, fishing, farming, and iron making. Access to the Atlantic Ocean was important, as during this time Cranberry Inlet (now the Chadwick Beach area) was open. Toms River was ranked as a leading port until a major storm in the early 1800's closed the inlet.

At the time of the Revolutionary War, the village had fifteen houses. The port area was a base for many privateering vessels which raided British or Tory craft, confiscating their cargoes. It housed an extensive salt works established by the Continental Congress. The windmill-powered facility was designed to supply the salt necessary to manufacture gunpowder and to flavor and preserve foods. A company of militia was sent by George Washington to guard the marsh flats at Shelter Cove and a block house was constructed to protect the salt works. On March 24, 1782, a band of Tories, led by British officers, burned the town and attacked the poorly-defended blockhouse. They took Captain Joshua Huddy prisoner, and later hanged him. This incident, and the subsequent demands for retribution, delayed the signing of the peace treaty ending the war until 1783.

By 1850 Toms River had grown to fifty houses, and was selected as the site of  the county seat for the newly-created Ocean County.  After the Civil War, wealthy New York merchants began spending summers in Toms River, and the arrival of the Central Railroad in 1866 and the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1880 brought hoards of vacationers to the community. Toms River's reputation as a resort contributed to its growth during the 1910-1920 period, and by 1930, the population numbered 3,970. During World War II, many came to the area because of its proximity to Lakehurst Naval Air Station and Fort Dix. With the opening of the Garden State Parkway in 1954, commuting time between Toms River and Northern New Jersey was dramatically reduced, which encouraged people to establish homes here while retaining their jobs in the northern areas of the state. The population in 1950 was 7,707 and grew to 17,414 residents by 1960; by 1970 the population had grown to 43,751; by 1980 to 64,455; by 1990 to 76,371, and by the 2000 census to 89,706.  Today’s Dover Township comprises the neighborhood sections of Toms River, East Dover, West Dover, North Dover, Pleasant Plains, Silverton and the beach areas of Ortley, Normandy Beach, and a portion of Pelican Island.

Recent events in Dover Township include the Great Nor’easter of 1992, which struck all of Ocean County hard; river and bay fronts, as well as the ocean front, felt the gales of freezing rain and 100 mile per hour winds and experienced extensive flooding and storm damage in the early hours of December 11, 1992.  A new tradition was begun on December 31, 1994, when the Township hosted its first First Night, a family-oriented, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration.  Perhaps the biggest and happiest event of the 1990’s for the Township, however, was the Toms River East Little League’s victory in the Little League World Series in 1998.  Celebrated by a parade, proclamations, congratulation signs on dozens of businesses and the renaming of Route 37 as Little League World Champions Boulevard, it was an event no one in town will soon forget.

Topography

Dover Township is located in Ocean County in central New Jersey, and is bordered to the east by the Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by Brick Township and Lakewood Township, to the west by Manchester Township and to south by the Toms River. Just across the Toms River are the towns of South Toms River, Beachwood and Pine Beach. Dover Township completely surrounds the small town of Island Heights on the northern bank of the Toms River. The western section of the town also shares part of its border with Jackson Township in the extreme northwest and Berkeley Township to the southwest. Dover Township includes two separate sections of land on the northern barrier island of Ocean County. These sections flank the town of Lavallette. Its land area is 41.09 square miles, and its water area is 11.94 square miles.

Population and Demographics

Dover Township is a diverse community, serving as a retirement center, a resort and a bedroom community for other more urban areas of the state. Traditionally the hub of Ocean County government since being chosen as the county seat in 1850, Toms River has seen the growth of retail business, banking, professional offices and residential housing since the middle of the last century. 

Dover Township's population was 89,706 in the 2000 census. This is an increase of 17.4% over the 1990 census population of  76,371.   In the 1990 census Dover Township's population  had a median age of 36.3 years. In the 2000 census, the median age has increased to 40.2 years. The State of New Jersey median age is 36.7 years and the Ocean County median age is 41 years.

While the largest age segment remains 25-54 years as it was in 1990, the percentage of the population within that range has increased slightly from 41.2% in 1990 to 42% in 2000.  Substantial numbers of residents are either young  (25.6% were under 19 in 2000) or seniors. Seniors can be defined as either those 55 years or older or 65 years or older.  Seniors over 55 were 25% of Dover Township in 1990 and are now 27.4%.  That is nearly a 10% increase in 10 years. Ocean County has the largest percentage of persons aged 65 and over (22%) in the state in 2000 census.  The total county senior population is 113,260. Dover Township’s over 65 population is 12,108 or 15.8% of the town.

From the census 2000 profile of the county:

Ocean County’s median age grew slower than expected with Cape May passing Ocean as the county with the oldest population in the state with a median age of 42.3. years.  “The slower increase of Ocean County’s median age reflected a fast growing under 65 population in the county. The number of persons under 65 years of age grew by a hefty 19.5% in Ocean County…” Census 2000 Profile of General Demographic Characteristics for New Jersey Counties  (Accessed May 23, 2001)  

            Dover Township’s population of children, ages 5-17 was 13,926 in 1990. In the 2000 census, it increased to 15,029. Although the two smaller communities nearby of South Toms River and Pine Beach have seen this age group decrease slightly, Dover Township has increased by 1103 children 5 –17 years old.  The number of children under age 5 also increased from 4,780 in 1990 to 4,956 in 2000. This concentration of age ranges in children and seniors is reflected in the number and quality of services available for people in these groups.

            Dover Township is 93.6% white in 2000 compared to 97.1% in 1990.  Hispanic or Latino (of any race) went from 1,944 residents to 4,070 residents in 2000.  African Americans were 646 in 1990 and are now 1,841.  Asian residents increased from 1,138 to 2,488. Many of the new Asian residents are from the Indian subcontinent.

            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 it 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.

Commerce

            Dover Township is the most populated municipality in the county and has continually seen considerable growth in the retail, professional and service sectors.  The downtown or historic “village” district of Toms River, which consists mainly of the Main Street and Washington Street area, contains the County Courthouse, with its adjacent justice complex, and the municipal offices of Dover Township.  There are many professional offices and several restaurants to serve the busy downtown area.   A Revitalization Project was initiated by the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce in 1992. Grants were received for providing recreational, educational, and shopping opportunities for the downtown area.  Many popular community events and festivals are now held there that are very well attended. 

            The Ocean County Mall, the county’s largest enclosed shopping mall, located on Hooper and Bay Avenues, opened in 1976 and features more than 115 specialty shops and a movie theater.  The free parking, long shopping hours and national stores have made it a popular place to shop.  The Mall is also utilized for weekend community events and craft shows, and is used by adults early in the day for exercise.  Across from the Mall is Seacourt Pavilion, a shopping center which contains approximately 15 stores, a 10-theater movie complex and several restaurants.

            Along US Route 37, there are large car dealerships, many small shopping centers, convenient fast food restaurants and discount department stores, such as  K-Mart and Wal-Mart. A corporate park, on Route 37 West, contains office space, some small businesses and warehouses. Along Hooper Avenue, going North, there are several multi-store shopping centers, some state offices, several banks, a Target discount department store and popular family chain restaurants. In the last several years, large multi-level office complexes have also appeared.  There are also commercial areas on NJ Route 70 and on US Route 9 (North of the Garden State Parkway).

            Because of its continuing growth and strong economy, Dover Township has a high employment rate.  Because of the proliferation of new home developments and large apartment complexes, there are many opportunities in the construction industry.  There is a large professional community and since the county seat is here, there are over 400 practicing attorneys.  The Toms River Regional School System, which consists of 17 schools, employs over 2,100 people and Ocean County College, New Jersey’s first county college, employs over 830.  Community Medical Center, opened in 1961, has 600 physicians on its medical staff and more than 2,000 associates. It is the state’s largest non-teaching hospital and the county’s largest and most active healthcare facility.

Transportation 

The enormous growth in population over the last thirty years and the growing year round economy as opposed to the traditional summer resort business have led to a growing traffic problem especially in the major north/south arteries through Dover Township. The population of Dover Township, as reported in the 2000 Census is 89,706, which represents a 17.4% increase since the 1990 census. Growing shore communities and strong growth in senior citizen communities have increased the pressure on some key roads.

            The three major North-South roads are the Garden State Parkway, Route 9, and Route 166. The Garden State Parkway provides access for many residents to employment in the North Jersey and New York City area, as well as connections with Atlantic City and the employment opportunities associated with the casino industry. Route 549 (Hooper Avenue) provides secondary North-South transit from the Brick/Lakewood area to Dover Township.

            The major East-West roads are Route 37 and Route 571. Route 37 starts at the barrier islands to the western border with Manchester Township. Major improvements have made Route 37 a divided highway with two and three lanes and the inevitable jughandle turns.

            New Jersey Transit offers frequent bus service from the Toms River Bus Terminal  to New York, Atlantic City, and southern Ocean County communities, as well as Jersey City and Newark. A connection to Philadelphia is also provided, via transfer through the Lakewood bus terminal. Local bus routes are also provided through Ocean County Department of Transportation’s Ocean Ride.

A number of local taxi services are available, and several limousine companies offer individual and group transport to airports and the Metro Park Train Station.

Train travel to Northern New Jersey and New York City is available from Bay Head, though schedules are designed with commuters in mind. Additional trains are scheduled for summer visitors to the Jersey Shore area. Transfer to major destinations like Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., etc., are available via the Newark Train Terminal.  Ocean County has two private airports, the Robert J. Miller Airpark and the Lakewood Airport.

            According to the Regional Transportation Plan (Access & Mobility 2025) adopted by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) on January 8, 2001, Dover Township is one of the key regional travel destinations in all of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. The enormous growth in population over the last thirty years and the growing year round economy as opposed to the traditional summer resort business have led to a growing traffic problem especially in the major north/south arteries through Toms River (Dover Township).   Approximately 24,000 commuters make Dover Township their destination every working day.  Another 25,000 commute from Dover Township to various points.

Community

            Clubs and organizations abound in Dover Township: an examination of the Library's Ocean County Clubs and Organizations Directory reveals more than eight hundred groups with chapters in Dover Township proper or extending throughout the county. The groups include the following categories of organizations: civic and fraternal, conservation or environmental, cultural, ethnic heritage, garden, homeowners, hospital auxiliaries, professional, recreation and sports, seniors, singles, women, veterans, and youth.  

The Toms River Yacht Club has the distinction of being one of the oldest in the nation. The Toms River Country Club offers golf, swimming, and dining facilities for its members. The YMCA welcomes all ages and sexes to its programs. The youth of the community are heavily involved in the structured (organizational and school sponsored) recreational sports programs, such as Pop Warner, Little League Baseball, and Toms River Youth Soccer organizations. The Toms River East Little League team was the Little League World Series Champion in 1998. Special Olympics programs are held annually

Local senior citizen communities sponsor activities for their residents, which are advertised in their newsletters and in their clubhouses. The proximity of the thousands of retirees in and around Dover Township impacts on most of the groups located in the community. Their contributions are extensive throughout the numerous volunteer programs and the cultural, ethnic, religious, political, environmental, and health support groups.

Dover Township is also home to many religious organizations, many of which date back to the middle of the nineteenth century. The Methodist Church was established in the 1830's, the Presbyterian Church in the 1850's, the Baptist Church in the 1860's, and the Catholic and Episcopal churches in the 1880's. A newer congregation is the Church of Grace and Peace in Dover Township, founded in 1985.  Today the Township includes houses of worship for all major religious beliefs.

Dover Township has experienced an elevated level of some childhood cancers that is commonly referred to as the Toms River cancer cluster. “Between 1979 and the present time, we have 110 confirmed cases of childhood cancer. Central Nervous System cancer is seven times higher, and leukemia is five times higher, than the national average.” Toxic Environment Affects Children’s Health website (accessed May 24, 2001)

One event suspected as contributing to this is the action of an independent waste hauler in the 1970’s, hired by Union Carbide to dispose of certain chemicals. He used the Dover Township Municipal Landfill and later Reich Farm, now a Superfund site, to dump barrels of waste.  There have been additional concerns over the environmental consequences from wastewater discharges that years ago came from the former dye manufacturing activities of the Ciba-Geigy company in Dover Township.

Considerable continuing community action has led to both additional scientific studies into the possible causes of childhood cancer in the Toms River area, and the closing of contaminated wells, with additional protection placed on other wells.  

Recreation and Entertainment

          A wide variety of activities are available to Dover Township residents of all ages and interests.  The township boasts eight parks, offering activities as varied as horseback riding, fishing, nature walks, and ice skating, in addition to the more traditional tennis, golf, and basketball, and three beach areas serve residents who enjoy river or ocean swimming.  Programs specifically geared toward youth include nature walks, live animal talks, and fossil discovery programs.  The County Parks and Recreation Department sponsors historical and cultural bus trips, hikes, small boat explorations of the bay area, and canoeing instruction and excursions.  Biking is very popular as well as surfing.

The Township Recreation Department utilizes the facilities of the Toms River Schools for summer youth programs, as well as evening and Saturday programs for all ages during the rest of the year.  A senior center is located in the East Dover section of the community.

Local museums include the Ocean County Historical Society and the Toms River Seaport Society.  A new addition is the Colonel Charles Waterhouse Museum devoted to United States military themed paintings.  The Ocean County Artists' Guild and the Garden State Philharmonic Society provide programs to fit the cultural and artistic interests of the community.  The Artists Guild also offers art lessons for both adults and children.

The family-oriented community takes part in large festivals organized by the Township such as Founder's Day in June, the Halloween Parade (one of the country's largest), the Chili Festival, the Ice Cream Festival and First Night.  Many also enjoy their ethnic ancestry through one of the numerous heritage groups active in the area.  The annual St. Patrick's Day parade held in Seaside Heights brings the Irish and their friends together for this celebration.  The Seaside Heights ClownFest is an annual event attended by people statewide.

The youth of the community are heavily involved in structured (organization, school, and privately sponsored) recreational sports programs.  These include traditional Little League, Pop Warner, Toms River Youth Soccer, Boy and Girl Scout groups, summer sailing programs, dance, karate, and the latest Extreme Sports Camp.

Motion picture theaters are located in the two area malls.  Ocean County College also offers plays, musicals, art displays, planetarium programs, and an arboretum.

Musical activities include the Garden State Philharmonic Symphony concerts, which attract an older audience and play to full houses.  The Ocean County Carousel of Music, sponsored by the Ocean County Parks and Recreation Department of Dover Township and the Ocean County Library, holds a series of summer musical performances presented in the courtyard of the Library's Toms River Branch.  It is not unusual to have 500 people in attendance, with lawn chairs and blankets covering the grass between the Library and Dover Township's Town Hall.  Local public and private schools sponsor musical and dance programs, and Ocean County College sponsors live theater productions in their Fine Arts Center regularly during the year.  The historic Strand Theater in nearby Lakewood is home to American Family Theater, and to the newly formed Strand Theater Productions, which feature seasoned actors along with talented youth of the community to bring great family entertainment to all.  The biggest draw of all  is the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful Jersey Shore.  

Lifestyles

Dover Township is a diverse community, serving as a retirement center, a resort and a bedroom community for other more urban areas of the state. Traditionally the hub of Ocean County government since being chosen as the county seat in 1850, Toms River has seen the growth of retail business, banking, professional offices and residential housing since the middle of the last century.

            There are twenty-three nursery schools and kindergartens in the Dover Township, some sponsored by churches, others by Community Medical Center, and the YMCA. There were only thirteen nursery schools and kindergartens in 1992. The Toms River Regional School System, the fifth largest in the state, has twelve elementary, two intermediate, and three high schools. There is a third intermediate school starting construction in the summer of 2001. The school system has been recognized for its excellence in special education, and in programs for the gifted and talented student. Located in Dover Township, St. Joseph’s Elementary School and Monsignor Donovan High School provide Catholic based education from kindergarten through high school. Dover Township is also the home of Ocean County College, a two year community college with extensive programs from education leading towards associate degrees in many fields, a distance education program, an extensive continuing education and adult school to programs for younger students during the summers.

              The community's medical needs are served by a variety of sources. In addition to providing traditional services, Community Medical Center offers special age-related programs for families and day care for adults. According to the most recent edition (2000) of the American Hospital Association Guide, Community Medical Center has 465 staffed beds, 23,685 admissions and 216,819 out-patient visits in the latest year for which statistics are available. Garden State Rehabilitation Hospital and the Children's Specialized Hospital both provide rehabilitation facilities on an in-patient or out-patient basis, and residents with mental health problems or drug or alcohol dependency concerns can contact the Shoreline Behavioral Health Center or the Schaffer Treatment Center. Hospital based emergency services are available as well as local squads of volunteer EMT personnel.

According to the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, there are seven long-term care facilities in Dover Township and there are seven facilities that provide some level of assisted living for senior citizens. Adult day care is provided by A Friends House and by Community Medical Center. Visiting home- makers service are available to provide skilled nursing care and therapy programs, and Meals-On-Wheels is sponsored by Community Services, Inc.

Ocean County has the largest percentage of persons aged 65 and over (22%) in the state  according to the 2000 census.  The total county senior population is 113,260.  Dover Township’s over 65 years of age population is 12,108, or 15.8% of the town  The county Office of Senior Services is headquartered at the One-Stop Center located on Hooper Avenue in Dover Township. This center houses many governmental agencies in one spot.  In addition to the many programs offered through the county, Dover Township also offers its own Senior Center on Garfield Avenue with many services.

Communication

           The two principal newspapers covering Dover Township are the Asbury Park Press (daily circulation in Dover Township of 18,663) and the Ocean County Observer (daily circulation in Dover Township of 3,021). Residents also buy the Newark-based Star Ledger for its coverage of legislative news.

Many clubs and organizations publish their own newsletter to promote services and programs, including The Lighthouse (Community Medical Center}, the Ocean County Office on Aging, Ocean County Parks and Recreation Department and the Toms River Chamber of Commerce; and many senior communities produce newsletters as well.

The Internet is also a source of information for Dover Township residents. The Dover Township website includes information regarding available services, history and folklore, and news releases. The Village of Toms River website gives a brief history of Toms River and features a guide to a walking tour of the historic sites in the downtown area.

Dover Township residents can tune in to several local radio stations, including WOBM, WJRZ, and WWNJ for music, news, and community events. WOBM dominates the area, reaching over 120,000 people countywide. Stations from New York and Philadelphia can also be received here. Other listening choices are New Jersey 101.5 and WWNJ, a public radio station offering classical music.

Even before special cable stations were available, Dover Township residents subscribed to cable services for clearer reception of the major networks from New York and Philadelphia stations. Comcast Cable serves mainland areas of the township; Monmouth Cable covers the barrier island areas.

Toms River Branch of Ocean County Library -- History

The Ocean County Library opened its doors to the public on September 19, 1925. Its location was a small cottage, known as the Lonan Building, on the grounds of the County Courthouse. The service area encompassed 30 of the 33 county municipalities. Dover and Lakewood Townships, and Beach Haven Borough, having municipal libraries, were excluded.

The cottage was open to the public one day a week, while a Model T panelled truck took library service to the rural portion of the 28,000 population by stopping at schools and “stations”  which  were located in post offices, stores and enclosed porches of private homes. During World War II, there was even a station at a Coast Guard Station.

            A Dover Township referendum vote in 1976 increased the Library's geographical service area to 31 municipalities. Bishop Memorial Library on Washington Street in Toms River became part of the Ocean County Library, but continued to serve Dover residents until both floors were converted to use by the Children's Services Department in 1978.

Library Headquarters was in constant need of more space. From the cottage, the library was moved to temporary quarters in the Robbins Street Firehouse before moving to the East Wing of the Courthouse in 1950. The need to acquire, catalog, process, and deliver materials required ever- increasing space and personnel. In 1962 the Library moved to 15 Hooper Avenue, a 7,400 square foot building that had been a gymnasium for St. Joseph's School, and is now the Ocean County Probation Office. From this location, the Library expanded into the "White House" on the corner of Hooper Avenue and Water Street and, in 1978, into the Bishop Building.

            On October 13, 1981, the Ocean County Library proudly opened the doors of a 50,000 square foot building at 101 Washington Street, facing the County Courthouse. This new facility provided the opportunity to expand services and to have all departments in one building. For the first time, the Library had an area for concerts, story times, film programs, book discussions and lectures. This area was the former Presbyterian Church of Toms River, dating back to 1853 when the cornerstone was laid. The original wooden structure was covered with stucco first and then, in 1937, with brick veneer. The congregation worshipped there until the spring of 1970 when the church moved to a new location. The building was purchased by Dover Township and remained empty until it was incorporated into the new library structure.

The Bishop Building, named after the writer and adventurer Nathaniel Holmes Bishop, was re-dedicated in October, 1984 to house a non-circulating local history and research collection. On September 18,1997, a new computer  training lab was dedicated in the Bishop Building. This was the Toms River Computer Lab, where free classes in Internet, e-mail and many other computer topics are offered to the public until 2006. In 2006, the services formerly available in the Bishop Building were moved to the main building. The genealogical and historical research collection was moved to the Wheeler Room and the computer training lab was expanded and re-established as the Technology Lab with all new equipment.

When the library building was opened in 1981, the Dover Township population was 64,455.  In 2000, the population was 89,706, an increase of 39%.  Toms River circulation rose from 314,394 in 1981 to 766,583 in 2000, an increase of 143%. Reference questions answered for all ages increased by almost 600%.  Toms River opened the building with 68 staff. In 2000, there were 99 full time and 81 part time employees, for an increase of 265%.

There are exciting plans for a major renovation and extension of the Toms River Branch. Some of the details include twice as much public seating to accommodate the over 1,900 people per day that visit the library in Toms River and a 250 seat multi-purpose area for concerts, author visits and special events. Over 456 programs were presented in 2000 using the less than ideal current meeting room.  There will be a new 20 seat Technology Training Laboratory.  There will be a dedicated Youth Services program area with a 40 seat Story Craft room.  The plan calls for a variety of areas from the Conference and Group Study Rooms, The Grand Reading Room and the Silent Study Tower Room.   As with any building plan, the hopes are high.  Ocean County Library is striving for a building that is designed for the multi-use needs of diverse populations that will also be a facility flexible enough to adjust to technologies still to be developed.

Information Services, Toms River