Plumsted Township is a township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 8,072, a decrease of 349 (−4.1%) from the 2010 census count of 8,421, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,146 (+15.8%) from the 7,275 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. The 2010 population was the highest recorded in any decennial census.

Plumsted Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1845, from portions of Jackson Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County. Plumsted Township became part of the newly created Ocean County on February 15, 1850.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. The township was named for Clement Plumstead, an English Quaker who bought a large parcel of land, but never set foot in the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 20, 2015.Bice, Arlene S. New Egypt and Plumsted Township, p. 11. Arcadia Publishing, 2003. . Accessed September 21, 2015.

At one time, Plumsted included five separate Superfund sites, four of which have been removed from the National Priorities List.Plumsted Community Profile , Ocean County Library. Accessed June 3, 2015. "There are five areas in Plumsted Township that are on the EPA Superfund List. Goose Farm (off Route 539), Wilson Farm (Hawkins Road) and Hopkins Farm (Route 539) are currently on the Final National Priorities List. Pijak Farm (Route 528 & Fischer Road) and Spense Farm (Route 528) have been deleted from the National Priorities List.""This rural N.J. paradise was almost destroyed by toxic chemicals", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 5, 2019. Accessed April 11, 2024. "Eventually, discovery and testing of illegal dumps made Plumsted home to no less than five federal Environmental Superfund sites, a rare concentration for an area with little industry or manufacturing of its own. Superfund sites, commonly associated with urban industrial centers like Paterson or Jersey City, are properties so badly contaminated with carcinogens and other harmful pollutants, and so urgently in need of cleanup, that they are placed on a so-called National Priorities List..... The good news about Plumsted’s Superfund history is that it’s mostly just that, with four of the five sites having been taken off the list, meaning they had been deemed sufficiently clean to be reused or redeveloped, though typically with continued monitoring."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 39.53 square miles (102.37 km2), including 39.14 square miles (101.36 km2) of land and 0.39 square miles (1.01 km2) of water (0.99%).

New Egypt (with a 2020 Census population of 2,357) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Plumsted Township.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 31, 2012.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Archertown, Brindle Park, Head of Woods, Hockamick, Pinehurst Estates and Woodruff.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area is a wildlife management area located within portions of both Plumsted Township and Jackson Township, operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife.New Jersey Wildlife Management Areas, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Accessed November 24, 2015.Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area Ocean County - Jackson & Plumsted Townships, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Accessed November 24, 2015.

The township borders Jackson Township and Manchester Township in Ocean County; New Hanover Township, North Hanover Township and Pemberton Township in Burlington County; and Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County.Areas touching Plumsted Township, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.Ocean County Map, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 3, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Community The community has a volunteer fire station, a first aid station, and a police department. New Egypt is also home to the Plumsted Branch of the Ocean County Library system.

New Egypt also has seven Christian religious centers including: Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Bible Baptist Church, Church of Christ, Church of the Nazarene, New Egypt United Methodist Church, Plumsted Presbyterian Church, and The Christian Fellowship Church of New Egypt.

Oakford Lake is located in the middle of the town. In the early 1900s, the location thrived as a tourist and vacation attraction. New Egypt has a recreation center with four baseball fields, a football field, two softball fields, a basketball court, and three small fields used for tee ball.

It is home to the New Egypt Speedway.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 8,421 people, 2,936 households, and 2,311 families in the township. The population density was . There were 3,067 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 94.19% (7,932) White, 1.81% (152) Black or African American, 0.32% (27) Native American, 0.87% (73) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.24% (104) from other races, and 1.56% (131) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.91% (498) of the population.

Of the 2,936 households, 37.4% had children under the age of 18; 64.3% were married couples living together; 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.3% were non-families. Of all households, 16.8% were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.

26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $73,790 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,323) and the median family income was $89,279 (+/− $12,381). Males had a median income of $54,614 (+/− $8,958) versus $46,886 (+/− $3,261) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,719 (+/− $2,499). About 4.4% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Plumsted township, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,275 people, 2,510 households, and 2,002 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,628 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 93.90% White, 2.30% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.85% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Plumsted township, Ocean county, 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 Plumsted township, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.

There were 2,510 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% 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 3.22.

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $61,357, and the median income for a family was $62,255. Males had a median income of $42,610 versus $34,355 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,433. About 4.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Plumsted 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. 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, and appoints from its members a liaison for each of the Township's administrative departments.