Little Egg Harbor Township is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 20,065, reflecting an increase of 4,120 (+25.8%) from the 15,945 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,612 (+19.6%) from the 13,333 counted in the 1990 Census. The 2010 population was the highest recorded in any decennial census.

While the township was formed in the 1700s, Little Egg Harbor remained predominantly rural and undeveloped well into the late 20th century. It wasn’t until the late 1950s until any major development was started. During this time, the construction of manufactured waterfront bungalows on lagoons were built and marketed as vacation properties, most notably Mystic Islands, Holly Lake Harbor, as well as Atlantis; the latter of which a “research home” was constructed to test hundreds of components and finishing materials for possible inclusion in model homes. Most of the population were seasonal residents from either New York, Philadelphia, or other parts of New Jersey. Several developments were constructed in the decades following around the Mystic Islands area, mostly consisting of townhomes, duplex, and small single-family homes meant to act as either vacation homes or year-round residence.

In 1979, Pinelands Regional High School opened in the growing township, serving students from Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Bass River, and Eagleswood; those students formerly went to Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin.

By the 2000s, the township was one of the fastest-growing in Ocean County, next to Barnegat. The formerly sleepy township saw the development of several new housing developments, shopping centers, and offices. While 75% of the growth came from new retirement communities, the former resort town dubbed “Little Treasure on the Bay” saw an influx of year-round residents and families, becoming more of a suburb.

On November 3, 2004, a fighter jet on a training mission from the 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, based at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, shot seven bullets into the roof of the Little Egg Harbor Intermediate School, and many others into the parking lot. Only a few custodians were in the school, and nobody was injured. The plane had been on a training mission at the Warren Grove Gunnery Range, a 2,400-acre (10 km²) area about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the school. The school was repaired during the New Jersey Teachers’ Convention, using $519,000 paid by the Air Force to the school district.

On the morning of August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene made its second U.S. landfall in Brigantine, though initial reports placed it at the Little Egg Inlet on the border with Galloway Township. At the time it was believed to be the first hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey since 1903, but later analysis by the National Hurricane Center determined that the storm had weakened to tropical storm status by the time it made its second landfall. On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused widespread damage and flooding to the township, damaging roughly 4,000 homes, especially in the Mystic Island section. On the one-year anniversary of the storm, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie visited the township’s Community Center to celebrate both the reopening of the storm-damaged building as well as the recovery efforts from the storm.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,065 people, 8,060 households, and 5,674 families residing in the township. The population density was 423.6 per square mile (163.6/km²). There were 10,324 housing units at an average density of 218.0 per square mile (84.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.19% (18,899) White, 1.35% (271) Black or African American, 0.16% (33) Native American, 1.24% (249) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.51% (303) from other races, and 1.54% (308) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.22% (1,047) of the population.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 73.053 square miles (189.206 km²), including 47.368 square miles (122.682 km²) of land and 25.685 square miles (66.524 km²) of water (35.16%).

Mystic Island (2010 Census population of 8,493) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in the southern part of the township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Atlantis, Edge Cove, Giffordtown, Jessies Point, Nugentown, Parkertown, Storm Island, Tucker Beach and West Tuckerton.

The township borders the Ocean County municipalities of Barnegat Township, Beach Haven, Eagleswood Township, Long Beach Township and Stafford Township; Galloway Township in Atlantic County; and both Bass River Township and Woodland Township in Burlington County. Little Egg Harbor completely surrounds the independent municipality of Tuckerton, which became independent when it was incorporated in 1901. Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton share the same ZIP code.

Source: Wikipedia