Pine Beach 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 2,139, its highest ever decennial count and an increase of 12 (+0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 2,127, which in turn reflected an increase of 177 (+9.1%) from the 1,950 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.

Pine Beach was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 26, 1925, from portions of Berkeley Township.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 0.64 square miles (1.66 km2), including 0.64 square miles (1.65 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (0.78%).

The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Beachwood and Berkeley Township.Areas touching Pine Beach, 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.

The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.Toms River Subwatershed, Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed March 1, 2026.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Pine Beach had a population of 2,139. The median age was 47.0 years. 19.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.7 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 840 households in Pine Beach, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.5% were married-couple households, 13.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 931 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 0.8%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,923 89.9% Black or African American 22 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 1 0.0% Asian 31 1.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 25 1.2% Two or more races 137 6.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 133 6.2%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 2,127 people, 818 households, and 617 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 903 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 96.47% (2,052) White, 0.38% (8) Black or African American, 0.14% (3) Native American, 1.41% (30) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.71% (15) from other races, and 0.89% (19) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.71% (79) of the population.

Of the 818 households, 29.6% had children under the age of 18; 59.9% were married couples living together; 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.6% were non-families. Of all households, 21.1% were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.

22.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,972 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,628) and the median family income was $88,393 (+/− $8,889). Males had a median income of $58,542 (+/− $10,247) versus $40,781 (+/− $12,701) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,923 (+/− $3,004). About 1.9% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pine Beach borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,950 people, 767 households, and 558 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 872 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 98.41% White, 0.26% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.46% 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 Pine Beach 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 Pine Beach borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.

There were 767 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $57,366, and the median income for a family was $67,404. Males had a median income of $50,256 versus $34,038 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,487. About 2.5% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Pine Beach 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 Pine Beach 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 the Borough of Pine Beach is Republican Lawrence W. Cuneo, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Pine Beach Borough Council are Susan Coletti (R, 2023), James Keesling (R, 2024), Raymond Newman (R, 2022), Richard Polhemus (R, 2023), James Saxton (R, 2024) and Barry Wieck (R, 2022).2022 Official Directory, Borough of Pine Beach. Accessed August 15, 2022.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Pine Beach. Accessed August 15, 2022.Borough of Pine Beach, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 15, 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.

Federal, state, and county representation Pine Beach is located in the 4th Congressional District2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022. and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.

Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,609 registered voters in Pine Beach, of which 367 (22.8%) were registered as Democrats, 505 (31.4%) were registered as Republicans and 736 (45.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.Voter Registration Summary - Ocean, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 31, 2012. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 75.6% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 97.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2012.