Toms River

Understand

The body of water the town is named after is actually a tidal inlet from the Barnegat Bay.

History

The first settlers of the area included many that were exiled from nearby colonies on basis on religion. Toms River was founded in 1767, then known as Dover Township.

The involvement of Toms River in the Revolutionary War has often been overlooked. The town had America's sole garrison, making it one of the key targets for the British Loyalists, who attacked the settlement at least thrice. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but the second and especially the third attacks breached the town's defenses. Captain Joshua Huddy, one of the defenders, was captured by a group of Loyalists while defending the Toms River Blockhouse and hanged without trial. The town was subsequently razed by arson, with the exception of two houses.

Despite this, the founders sought to rise back up from the rubble. New industries, such as the iron and then the charcoal industries, had come and gone. The first Mormon Branch in the state was established here in 1838. The 1850s saw an abrupt rise of cranberry farming in the vicinity. It was also when Dover Township, encompassing much more that it occupies today, became the county seat of the newly formed Ocean County. A new railroad through Toms River fueled further growth, although the population didn't rise above 10,000 for the first half of the 20th century.

The completion of the Garden State Parkway, which passes directly through the town, caused Toms River to sprawl beyond the downtown core, with droves of new residents raising the population to over 50,000 before 1980. In 1998, the Toms River Little League team was declared the victor of the World Series, which was celebrated by a parade on Route 37, now named to honor the victory.

The name of Dover Township was changed to Toms River Township in 2006 following a referendum.

In 2021, it was home to 97,000 people. Toms River's notoriety has grown among Orthodox Jews in the United States because of its growing religious population, spilling over from nearby Lakewood.

This article also covers Beachwood, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Pine Beach and South Toms River, but not the portion of Toms River Township on Pelican Island or the Barnegat Peninsula.

Get in

By plane

Toms River is 90 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and an hour from Atlantic City International Airport. Those wanting to travel to the nearby regions including Atlantic City can use the SJTA TransIT Link shuttle to travel between Atlantic City International Airport and the Pleasantville Bus Terminal. At the bus terminal you can catch another NJ Transit bus to Ocean County. Car rental services are available at both airports.

By train

Amtrak does not have a station in Toms River, but at stations in Point Pleasant approximately 20 miles away and in Trenton, New Brunswick, and Princeton Junction, around 40 miles away. New Jersey Transit trains also serve Point Pleasant, which is about 16 miles away by car and is connected by Ocean Ride to Lakewood Terminal, which in turn is served by NJ Transit buses to Toms River.

By bus

New Jersey Transit buses arrive approximately four times an hour, twice en route from New York to Atlantic City and twice en route from Atlantic City to New York. The local New Jersey Transit bus service runs up and down the main north-south route (Route 9) between Lakewood and Atlantic City. Those from Philadelphia and points west can ride the bus to Atlantic City, which is directly connected to Toms River by bus.

The main bus station is on Highland Parkway South, within walking distance of downtown. Other stops include the Ocean County Mall and Ocean County College, served by NJ Transit Bus 67 from Newark. Buses 137 and 559 also stop at the station and come from New York and Atlantic City, respectively.

Ocean Ride provides transport from the mall to downtown every day except Sundays after Labor Day weekend before May 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

By car

Toms River is located off the Garden State Parkway exit 82(A) which leads visitors to the main commercial corridor, NJ-37. Downtown is easily accessible from exit 81. NJ-70 passes through Toms River from the west.

By boat

There are marinas and docks for small craft to park, though most of them require a fee to rent.

Get around

By car

A car is the best method for getting around Toms River and the surrounding area. There are free parking lots along West Water Street and metered streetside parking by the Ocean County Library and other downtown streets.

By taxi

There are a number of taxi services around and within Toms River as well as services like Uber and Lyft. Fares vary.

By bike and on foot

Downtown is more walkable than other sections of the town. The bus terminal is about 15 minutes by foot from the heart of downtown Toms River. There are places to rent bikes to get around for the day.

Eat and drink

Toms River is home to many family-owned Italian restaurants.

Stay safe

You'll be glad to hear that crime isn't as prevalent in Toms River compared to cities such as Atlantic City, Camden and Trenton.

Go next

• Seaside Heights can be reached by crossing the Mathis Bridge carrying Route 37.
• Lakewood, north of Toms River, has a rapidly growing population with Jewish influence.
• Southern Ocean County has some petting zoos, along with the Albert Music Hall and Tuckerton Seaport.
• Long Beach Island, further south along the shore, is known for the Barnegat Lighthouse.
• Atlantic City, the state's gambling hub, is accessible by taking the GSP South to the Atlantic City Expressway.