Lakehurst, NJ

Lakehurst is a borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 2,654,"DataUniverse - 2010 Census Populations: Ocean County"
''Asbury Park Press''. Accessed December 26, 2012.DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Lakehurst borough, Ocean County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Lakehurst borough
, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 26, 2012. reflecting an increase of 132 (+5.2%) from the 2,522 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 556 (−18.1%) from the 3,078 counted in the 1990 Census.

Lakehurst was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1921, from portions of Manchester Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 24, 1921.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 203. Accessed October 26, 2012. The borough is named for its location near lakes and woods.

History

The community of Lakehurst first reached international fame as a winter resort around the turn of the 20th century, following the opening of the Pine Tree Inn in 1898. In 1911, the rope factory in the town burned down, prompting the formation of a volunteer fire department.

The ''Hindenburg'' disaster, occurred on May 6, 1937; the German zeppelin '' Hindenburg'' arriving from Frankfurt am Main caught fire at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, which is located in Manchester Township (not in the borough of Lakehurst).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.99 square miles (2.56 km²), including 0.90 square miles (2.32 km²) of land and 0.09 square miles (0.24 km²) of water (9.39%).

The borough's lake, Lake Horicon, existed prior to 1942, as clearly shown in aerial photographs from 1940 and 1931 and topographical maps from 1912. The cedar water lake remains stream-fed.

Lakehurst is completely surrounded by Manchester Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.

The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lakehurst has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $67,872 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,972) and the median family income was $67,838 (+/− $7,173). Males had a median income of $44,844 (+/− $8,788) versus $34,950 (+/− $7,557) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,171 (+/− $4,950). About 2.1% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 870 households (662 of which were families of two or more) in the borough making up the total population of 2,522. The population density was . There were 961 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 84.22% White, 7.85% African American, 0.63% Native American, 2.34% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.74% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.97% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Lakehurst borough, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Lakehurst borough, Ocean County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.

There were 870 households, out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $43,567, and the median income for a family was $48,833. Males had a median income of $35,403 versus $26,667 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,390. About 4.4% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Lakehurst 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. 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 is comprised of 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.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49. The Borough form of government used by Lakehurst 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.

, the Mayor of Lakehurst Borough is Republican Harry Robbins, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.Mayor
Borough of Lakehurst. Accessed April 13, 2020. Members of the Lakehurst Borough Council are Council President Steven Oglesby (R, 2022), James W. Davis Jr. (R, 2024), Bernadette Dugan (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Brian C. DiMeo (R, 2022), Patricia A. Hodges (R, 2023), Robert McCarthy (R, 2023).Governing Body
Borough of Lakehurst. Accessed April 28, 2022. "The Borough of Lakehurst, New Jersey governing body consists of a Mayor and six Council Members elected at large. Members of the Council are elected for three year terms with two Council Members being elected each year while the Mayor is elected every four years."Borough of Lakehurst
Ocean County, New Jersey