Lakehurst is a borough in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,636, a decrease of 18 (−0.7%) from the 2010 census count of 2,654, which in turn reflected an increase of 132 (+5.2%) from the 2,522 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.
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 May 29, 2024. The borough is named for its location near lakes and woods.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 2, 2015.
History
The community of Lakehurst first reached international recognition 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.Chronology of Lakehurst History, Borough of Lakehurst. Accessed February 25, 2020.
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.Lake Horicon Park, Borough of Lakehurst. Accessed April 13, 2020.
Lakehurst is completely surrounded by Manchester Township,Areas touching Lakehurst, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.
The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.Toms River Watershed , Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 3, 2022.
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.Climate Summary for Lakehurst, New Jersey
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Lakehurst had a population of 2,636. The median age was 37.0 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.5 males age 18 and over.
99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.
There were 908 households in Lakehurst, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.4% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 979 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,799 68.2% Black or African American 259 9.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 14 0.5% Asian 105 4.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 184 7.0% Two or more races 275 10.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 505 19.2%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 2,654 people, 881 households, and 662 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 943 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 77.24% (2,050) White, 10.81% (287) Black or African American, 0.64% (17) Native American, 2.11% (56) Asian, 0.23% (6) Pacific Islander, 3.65% (97) from other races, and 5.31% (141) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.07% (347) of the population.
Of the 881 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18; 50.7% were married couples living together; 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.9% were non-families. Of all households, 18.5% were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.43.
28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 105.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.8 males.
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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Lakehurst borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.
2000 census 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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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.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.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
, the mayor of Lakehurst Borough is Republican Harry Robbins, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.Mayor, Borough of Lakehurst. Accessed July 2, 2024. Members of the Lakehurst Borough Council are Council President Steven Oglesby (R, 2025), Jeffrey Emmons (R, 2027), Brian C. DiMeo (R, 2025), Bernadette Dugan (R, 2027; elected to serve an unexpired term), Patricia A. Hodges (R, 2026) and Robert McCarthy (R, 2026).Governing Body, Borough of Lakehurst. Accessed July 2, 2024. "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."2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Lakehurst. Accessed July 2, 2024.Borough of Lakehurst, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed July 2, 2024.2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 2, 2024. Accessed July 1, 2024.General Election Results November 7, 2023 Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.2022 General Election Official Results November 8, 2022, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.