Ocean Gate 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 1,932, a decrease of 79 (−3.9%) from the 2010 census count of 2,011, which in turn reflected a decline of 65 (−3.1%) from the 2,076 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.

History 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.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." AT&T operated a shortwave radio transmitting station after purchasing in 1929.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."

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.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 204. Accessed May 30, 2024.

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%).

The borough is bordered by the Ocean County municipality of Berkeley Township.Areas touching Ocean Gate, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Ocean County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 1, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

The borough, including its northern half, 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.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 2,011 people, 832 households, and 534 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,203 housing units at an average density of . 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.

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.

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.

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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Ocean Gate borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,076 people, 832 households, and 546 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,152 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Ocean Gate borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ocean Gate borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.

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.

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.

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.

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.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 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.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 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).Contact Us, Borough of Ocean Gate. Accessed August 11, 2022.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Ocean Gate. Accessed August 11, 2022.Borough of Ocean Gate, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 11, 2022.2022 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 1, 2022. Accessed May 1, 2022.2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.2020 General Election November 3, 2020 Official results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated December 2, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.2019 General Election Official Results November 5, 2019, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.2018 General Election Official Results November 6, 2018, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 19, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.

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 dollarLarsen, 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." 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.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."