Neptune Township is a township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 28,061, an increase of 126 (+0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 27,935, which in turn reflected an increase of 245 (+0.9%) from the 27,690 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
Featuring Jersey Shore Medical Center, the historic community of Ocean Grove, along with office parks and cultural amenities, Neptune Township has been a longtime regional commercial and cultural hub of the Jersey Shore.Jersey Shore Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health. Accessed January 30, 2025.Garbarine, Rachelle "In The Region: New Jersey; Vacation Area Becoming a Place to Work", The New York Times, July 5, 1987. Accessed April 16, 2024.Garbarine, Rachelle "In the Region/New Jersey; In Neptune, a Tech Park Plan for Route 66", The New York Times, September 10, 2000. Accessed April 16, 2024.Bailey, Sarah Pulliam "Can a Christian Community Close the Beach on Sunday Mornings?", The New York Times, April 12, 2024. Accessed April 16, 2024. The township was named for Neptune, the Roman water deity; referring to its location on the Atlantic Ocean.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.
History 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 (October 4, 1881), Bradley Beach (March 13, 1893) and Ocean Grove (April 5, 1920, until the action was found unconstitutional and restored to Neptune Township as of June 16, 1921).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 120. Accessed May 30, 2024.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 8.84 square miles (22.90 km2), including 8.13 square miles (21.05 km2) of land and 0.72 square miles (1.86 km2) of water (8.11%).
Ocean Grove (2020 Census population of 2,549) and Shark River Hills (3,583) 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.Community Overview, Neptune Township. Accessed January 30, 2025. "Neptune is a community with several diverse neighborhoods including Ocean Grove, Shark River Hills, Mid-Town, Bradley Park, the Gables, Seaview Island and West Neptune."Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 23, 2015.
Neptune stretches from the Atlantic Ocean west to the Garden State Parkway (Exit 100). 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.Areas touching Neptune Township, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
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.Home Page, Deal Lake Commission. Accessed July 8, 2015. "The Deal Lake Commission was created by the seven Monmouth County, NJ towns that surround Deal Lake. The Commission was chartered in 1974 by the Borough of Allenhurst, City of Asbury Park, Borough of Deal, Borough of Interlaken, Village of Loch Arbour, Neptune Township, and Ocean Township."
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 27,935 people, 11,201 households, and 6,844 families in the township. The population density was 3,414.3 per square mile (1,318.3/km2). There were 12,991 housing units at an average density of 1,587.8 per square mile (613.1/km2). The racial makeup was 53.18% (14,855) White, 38.56% (10,772) Black or African American, 0.34% (94) Native American, 2.26% (632) Asian, 0.03% (9) Pacific Islander, 2.51% (701) from other races, and 3.12% (872) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.33% (2,607) of the population.
Of the 11,201 households, 23.6% had children under the age of 18; 39.6% were married couples living together; 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.9% were non-families. Of all households, 31.8% were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.
20.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.5 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,630 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,034) and the median family income was $74,422 (+/− $5,369). Males had a median income of $56,743 (+/− $4,233) versus $43,853 (+/− $3,118) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,656 (+/− $1,559). 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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Neptune township, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.
2000 census 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 . There were 12,217 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Neptune township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Neptune township, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.
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 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025. 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 58."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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. (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2025), Deputy Mayor Kevin McMillan (term on committee ends 2027; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Jason A. Jones (D, 2025; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Derel M. Stroud (D, 2027) and Tassie D. York (D, 2025).Township Committee, Neptune Township. Accessed January 30, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Neptune Township. Accessed January 30, 2025.November 5, 2024 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated December 16, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.November 8, 2023 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated January 18, 2024. Accessed January 22, 2024.General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 27, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
In October 2024, after the township committee didn't make a choice from the three candidates nominated, the township's Democratic Party committee chose past Neptune Board of Education President Jason A. Jones to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that became vacant following the resignation of Keith Cafferty the previous month.Daye, Charles. "Candidate who was skipped over twice before gets Neptune Township Committee job", Asbury Park Press, October 24, 2024. Accessed January 30, 2025. "The local Democratic Party chose to fill the vacant seat on the Township Committee with Jason Jones, who had been passed on twice before in the past year and was once fired from his job as a school business administrator.... Township Committeeman and former mayor Keith Cafferty resigned last month due to personal reasons, leaving a vacant seat on the governing body for the third time in 12 months.... Under state law, since the Township Committee did not appoint one of the three people submitted by the local Democratic Executive Committee, it went back to the Democrats, who had until Oct. 30 to choose one of the three themselves."