Island Heights 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 1,650, a decrease of 23 (−1.4%) from the 2010 census count of 1,673, which in turn reflected a decline of 78 (−4.5%) from the 1,751 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 borough is a dry town where alcohol cannot legally be sold.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.

History Island Heights was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 6, 1887, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), based on the results of a referendum held on November 18, 1886.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.Island Heights Borough , Ocean County Historical Society. Accessed August 3, 2006.

Island Heights takes its name from two sources: it originally was an island. It is situated by a steep bluff rising above the Toms River.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 2, 2015. It was originally known as Doctor Johnson's island, being included in the patent granted to him in 1680. In the century before the American Revolutionary War, it was known as Dillon's Island, probably for James Dillon, a prominent man in Toms River. The land was purchased by John Imlay of Allentown, who sold it in 1794 to Issac Gulick. In 1797, Gulick and his wife Abagail sold it to Abraham and George Parker. In 1799, the Parker brothers sold it to Abel Middleton of Upper Freehold Township.Salter, Edwin. Salter's History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties New Jersey, Embracing a Genealogical Record of Earliest Settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Their Descendants, p. 406 ff. 1890

Development of Island Heights began in 1878 when the Island Heights Association, a Methodist organization, was formed to establish a camp meeting site (similar to Ocean Grove). The first camp meeting was held in summer 1878, with 1,500 attending, followed by the development of cottages and the formal incorporation of the borough in 1887."Island Heights & Ocean Gate; A brief history", Asbury Park Press, April 15, 2004. Accessed October 4, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Island Heights was founded as a Methodist meeting are and retreat in 1878. On July 1, 1878, the Rev. Samuel Graw and others formed the Island Heights Association. During the first summer, around 1,500 people traveled to attend the camp meetings."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.92 square miles (2.38 km2), including 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2) of land and 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2) of water (33.59%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Long Point.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township and Toms River Township.Areas touching Island Heights, MapIt. Accessed February 24, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

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.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,673 people, 683 households, and 487 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 831 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 95.82% (1,603) White, 0.24% (4) Black or African American, 0.12% (2) Native American, 1.37% (23) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.36% (6) from other races, and 2.09% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% (40) of the population.

Of the 683 households, 25.0% had children under the age of 18; 57.0% were married couples living together; 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.7% were non-families. Of all households, 22.0% were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88.

18.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,269 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,616) and the median family income was $96,458 (+/− $21,090). Males had a median income of $75,234 (+/− $7,830) versus $47,045 (+/− $11,606) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,493 (+/− $4,086). About 5.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Island Heights borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 9, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,751 people, 705 households, and 497 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 807 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 97.77% White, 0.11% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Island Heights borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Island Heights borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.

There were 705 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $61,125, and the median income for a family was $72,596. Males had a median income of $47,500 versus $38,375 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,975. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Island Heights is governed under the Faulkner Act form of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, within the Small Municipality (Plan A), enacted by direct petition as of July 1, 1974."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 16, 2013. The borough is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available to municipalities with a population below 12,000 at the time of adoption.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 six-member Borough Council, whose members are elected in non-partisan elections held as part of the November general election. The mayor is directly elected to a four-year term of office. Councilmembers serve three-year terms of office 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. p. 53."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. As the result of an ordinance passed unanimously by the borough council in July 2011, the borough shifted its nonpartisan elections from May to November.Mayor and Council Newsletter, Borough of Island Heights, July 19, 2011. Accessed January 23, 2015. "After first reading and introduction of Ordinance 2011 – 09, the Mayor and Council Members unanimously approved an ordinance to change the regular municipal elections currently held in May to the general election date in November."

, the Mayor of Island Heights Borough is E. Steve Doyle, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026. Borough Council members are Council President Rolf Weber (2027), Robert Baxter (2025), Alan Fumo (2025), Brian Gabriel (2026), Lynn Pendleton (2026) and Sandi Healy (2027).Mayor and Council, Borough of Island Heights. Accessed July 2, 2024.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Island Heights. Accessed July 2, 2024.Borough of Island Heights, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed July 2, 2024.2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 2, 2024. Accessed April 17, 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.

In May 2019, Lynn Pendleton was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Sean Asay until he resigned from office.Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for May 14, 2019, Borough of Island Heights. Accessed February 24, 2020. "Resolution 2019-103 Accepting the Resignation of Sean Asay... Resolution 2019-105 Appointing Lynn Pendleton to fill the unexpired term of Councilman Sean Asay" Pendeton was elected in the November 2019 general election to serve the balance of the term of office.2019 General Election Official Results November 5, 2019, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.

Brian Taboada, who had been serving a term ending in December 2014, announced at an August 2013 council meeting that he would be stepping down from office to focus on school obligations.Mayor and Council Newsletter - Council Meeting, Borough of Island Heights, August 20, 2013. Accessed October 16, 2013. "Council Member Brian Taboada stated it is with great regrets that he informs the borough of his resignation from the Island Heights borough council."

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