Trains operated to the area by Pennsylvania Railroad served what was called "Good Luck Point", with visitors building cottages that were the start of the community that became Ocean Gate.[20]AT&T operated a shortwave radio transmitting station after purchasing 175 acres (71 ha) in 1929.[21]
The borough of Ocean Gate was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1918, from portions of Berkeley Township. An additional portion of Berkeley Township was annexed on February 28, 1953.[22]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.54 square miles (1.41 km2), including 0.45 square miles (1.17 km2) of land and 0.09 square miles (0.24 km2) of water (17.22%).[1][2]
The 2010 United States census counted 2,011 people, 832 households, and 534 families in the borough. The population density was 4,490.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,733.7/km2). There were 1,203 housing units at an average density of 2,686.1 per square mile (1,037.1/km2). The racial makeup was 95.18% (1,914) White, 1.34% (27) Black or African American, 0.05% (1) Native American, 0.20% (4) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.09% (42) from other races, and 1.14% (23) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.36% (128) of the population.[17]
Of the 832 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18; 40.5% were married couples living together; 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.8% were non-families. Of all households, 28.6% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.[17]
22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.2 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,250 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,978) and the median family income was $73,056 (+/− $23,241). Males had a median income of $61,932 (+/− $6,721) versus $43,295 (+/− $6,037) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,770 (+/− $4,691). About 2.2% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.[33]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 2,076 people, 832 households, and 546 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,749.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,833.6/km2). There were 1,152 housing units at an average density of 2,635.3 per square mile (1,017.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.53% White, 0.96% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.[30][31]
There were 832 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.06.[30][31]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.[30][31]
The median income for a household in the borough was $41,067, and the median income for a family was $50,847. Males had a median income of $33,558 versus $30,919 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,239. About 7.6% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[30][31]
Government
Local government
Ocean Gate is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[34] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[5] The borough form of government used by Ocean Gate is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[35][36]
As of 2022[update], the mayor of Ocean Gate is Republican David Kendrick, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Mark Haug (R, 2023), Bruce Cox (R, 2024;appointed to serve an unexpired term), Robert Livingston (R, 2022), Joella Nicastro (R, 2022), Laura Padham-Iaria (R, 2024) and Mildred Sheppard (R, 2023).[3][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]
In April 2020, after then-mayor Paul J. Kennedy was charged with official misconduct related to theft of borough-owned property that had been taking place for five years, the borough council cut the mayor's salary down from $50,000 to one dollar[44] After Kennedy resigned from the seat expiring in December 2022, the borough council appointed David Kendrick to fill the vacant mayoral seat; in turn, Bruce Cox was appointed to fill Kendrick's vacated council seat that expires in December 2024.[45]
Democrats Rose Kindon and Chris Theodos replaced Frank Santarpia and James McGrath, who resigned in February 2014 in protest over an increase in the mayor's compensation to $50,000.[46] The mayor was later cited and fined for ethics violation by the NJ State Local Finance Board for illegally accepting pay as a municipal employee while he was serving as mayor.[47]
Federal, state, and county representation
Ocean Gate is located in the 4th Congressional District[48] and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.[49][50][51]
Ocean County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization held in the beginning of January, the board chooses a director and a deputy director from among its members.[56] As of 2025[update], Ocean County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year and residence) are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[64][65]
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[66][67] and
Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).[68][69][70]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,287 registered voters in Ocean Gate, of which 336 (26.1%) were registered as Democrats, 387 (30.1%) were registered as Republicans and 563 (43.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[71] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 64.0% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 82.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).[71][72]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 50.4% of the vote (415 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.9% (395 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (14 votes), among the 835 ballots cast by the borough's 1,335 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.5%.[73][74] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.7% of the vote (504 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 44.5% (426 votes) and other candidates with 2.0% (19 votes), among the 957 ballots cast by the borough's 1,314 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8%.[75] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.2% of the vote (2,125 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 37.5% (1,304 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (34 votes), among the 3,475 ballots cast by the borough's 4,769 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.9.[76]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.9% of the vote (458 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.4% (177 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (11 votes), among the 664 ballots cast by the borough's 1,264 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.5%.[82][83] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.3% of the vote (420 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 30.7% (214 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.9% (41 votes) and other candidates with 1.4% (10 votes), among the 697 ballots cast by the borough's 1,284 registered voters, yielding a 54.3% turnout.[84]
Education
The Ocean Gate School District is a public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Ocean Gate Elementary School.[85] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 142 students and 15.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.2:1.[86] In the 2016–2017 school year, Ocean Gate was tied as having the 26th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 149 students.[87]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 12.30 miles (19.79 km) of roadways, of which 2.56 miles (4.12 km) were maintained by the municipality and 9.74 miles (15.68 km) by Ocean County.[96]
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways serve Ocean Gate. The main roads serving the borough are minor county roads, such as County Route 625.
^Ocean Gate Museum, FieldTrip.com. Accessed September 13, 2015. "In 1881, Ocean Gate was known as 'Good Luck Point.' The Pennsylvania Railroad cut a single track across a 600-acre farm and meadowlands owned by Captain Caleb Grant. Excursion trains passed through Good Luck Point on their way to beach resorts at Seaside Park and Bay Head."
^Miller, Patricia A. "No Man's Land In Bayville; Somewhat creepy site was once home to a major communications facility", Berkeley Patch, January 27, 2014. Accessed September 13, 2015. "The facilities were a high-frequency, shortwave radio transmitting station providing telephone high-seas service to ships at seas and to overseas locations under the callsign WOO, according to www.long-lines.net. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company liked what it saw at the Berkeley site - often referred to as the Ocean Gate or Good Luck Point site - back in the 1920s."
^Larsen, Erik via Asbury Park Press. "Ocean Gate council cuts mayor’s pay to $1; Relieved of job duties as investigation continues", Beach Haven Times, April 7, 2022. Accessed August 11, 2022. "Alternating between words of regret and defensiveness, the six-member Borough Council voted unanimously to strip Mayor Paul J. Kennedy of all his supplemental duties and municipal jobs, and reduce his annual salary from $50,000 to $1.... According to the state of New Jersey’s criminal complaint against Kennedy, 66, he had been stealing from Ocean Gate taxpayers since 2017. On March 18, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office charged him with theft and official misconduct."
^Wildstein, David. 'New Ocean Gate councilman was a foe of disgraced ex-mayor; Bruce Cox appointed to vacant seat", New Jersey Globe, June 23, 2022. Accessed August 11, 2022. "The political scandal involving former Ocean Gate Mayor Paul Kennedy’s arrest for selling municipal property and pocketing the proceeds has led to the return of a onetime Kennedy foe. The Ocean Gate Borough Council voted on Wednesday to appoint Bruce R. Cox, a 71-year-old former councilman, to fill the vacant seat of David Kendrick. Kendrick became mayor after Kennedy resigned one day before he was to be ousted."
^Bodner, Brett. "Ocean Gate councilmen resign over mayor's pay", Asbury Park Press, February 22, 2014. Accessed October 2, 2014. "The battle reached a fever pitch at a recent council meeting, ending with the governing body's two Democratic councilmen - James McGrath and Frank Santarpia - storming out and resigning their seats."
^Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 26. Ocean Gate Borough (tie); Enrollment: 149; Grades: Pre-K-6; County: Ocean; Town population: 2,011"
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Central Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education, June 30, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2020. "The School District is a Type II district located in the County of Ocean, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board has nine members appointed to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three members’ terms expire each year."
^Board Members, Central Regional School District. Accessed May 21, 2020.
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