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D−History
History · South Toms River

South Toms River dates to 1927

More historic than 3% of U.S. towns. What drives it

Most of South Toms River was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1966. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1888 on, and the census since 1930.

1927founded
0on the National Register
1%homes built before 1940
5old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From South Toms River’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How South Toms River began

When was South Toms River founded?

1927

South Toms River dates its founding to 1927 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 405 in 19302020 census: 3,64399 years

How historic is South Toms River?

D−

More historic than 3% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikipedia.
History grade

What drives South Toms River’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, South Toms River is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of South Toms River’s overall grade.
Founding era1927, from Wikipedia: founded 1900–1944, an older era than 9% of U.S. townsDHomes built before 19401.3% of homes (±1.3) · typical NJ town 14.7% · U.S. 8.4%DNational RegisterNo listings counted · typical NJ town 3.7 per 10,000 · U.S. 2.4C−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 3%
NewerOlder
New Jersey towns of 2,500+ (468)#468 of 468

New Jersey towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New Jersey town has 3.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so South Toms River’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (12% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±1.3 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1927.

Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about South Toms River’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

On the map since 18888 editions of the USGS map, 1888 to 1995. Watch South Toms River change.
★ What stands out · On the map

South Toms River on the map, 1888 to 1995

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of South Toms River. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

South Toms River on the 1888 USGS mapSouth Toms River on the 1893 USGS mapSouth Toms River on the 1919 USGS mapSouth Toms River on the 1941 USGS mapSouth Toms River on the 1953 USGS mapSouth Toms River on the 1970 USGS mapSouth Toms River on the 1989 USGS mapSouth Toms River on the 1995 USGS map1888Barnegat sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of South Toms River.

The story so far

South Toms River, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of South Toms River yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

South Toms River 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 3,643, a decrease of 41 (−1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 3,684, which in turn reflected an increase of 50 (+1.4%) from the 3,634 counted in the 2000 census. South Toms River was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 28, 1927, from portions of Berkeley Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 3, 1927. The borough was named for the Toms River and the neighboring community of Toms River, which were named for Capt. William Tom.

South Toms River was established in 1927. Its population held steady between the last two censuses: 3,684 in 2010, 3,643 in 2020.

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

Timeline

South Toms River, 1888 to 1933

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1888On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 20th century
  4. 1927
    FoundingSouth Toms River is established
  5. 1933In the archiveCLOSER DETAIL VIEW OF TILES LOOKING SOUTHWEST - Birdville, Flint Road at Mill Street
By decade

South Toms River, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1930s2 items
CLOSER DETAIL VIEW OF TILES LOOKING SOUTHWEST - Birdville, Flint Road at Mill Street1933CLOSER DETAIL VIEW OF TILES LOOKING SOUTHWEST - Birdv…DETAIL VIEW OF TILES AND ARCH ON ARCADE LOOKING SOUTHWEST - Birdville, Flint Road at Mill Street1933DETAIL VIEW OF TILES AND ARCH ON ARCADE LOOKING SOUTH…
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown3 to date
Census Bureau map ofDate?Census Bureau map ofMapVIEW OF NORTHEAST SIDE OF CEMENT ARCADE - Birdville, Flint Road at Mill StreetDate?VIEW OF NORTHEAST SIDE OF CEMENT ARCADE - Birdville, …Birdville, Flint Road at Mill StreetDate?Birdville, Flint Road at Mill Street
Today5 recent
South Toms River, NJ Municipal Complex, Nov. 20252025South Toms River, NJ Municipal Complex, Nov. 2025South Toms River, NJ municipal building, Dec. 20242024South Toms River, NJ municipal building, Dec. 2024South Toms River, NJ EMS station, Dec. 20242024South Toms River, NJ EMS station, Dec. 2024Grace Chapel Church, South Toms River, NJ, Dec. 20242024Grace Chapel Church, South Toms River, NJ, Dec. 2024South toms river nj 0292005South toms river nj 029
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

CLOSER DETAIL VIEW OF TILES LOOKING SOUTHWEST - Birdville, Flint Road at Mill Street
Retake this viewCLOSER DETAIL VIEW OF TILES LOOKING SOUTHWEST - Birdville, Flint Road at Mill Street, 1933

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on South Toms River’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

South Toms River, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,00019401960198020002020Peak: 3,981

Between 405 and 3,981 people in every census since 1930.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on South Toms River’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to South Toms River

Nobody well known was born in South Toms River itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
K
Kirsten DunstAmerican actress · b. 1982
Diamond Dallas PageAmerican professional wrestler and actor · b. 1956
L
Lou Taylor PucciAmerican actor · b. 1985
Mark GeigerAmerican association football referee · b. 1974
A
Armin ShimermanAmerican actor · b. 1949
Juice NewtonAmerican pop and country singer · b. 1952
Help out

Start South Toms River’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how South Toms River’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo3 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewCLOSER DETAIL VIEW OF TILES LOOKING SOU…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

BeachwoodIts storyDToms River Township11 historic placesB+Berkeley Township2 historic placesCHoliday HeightsIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townHoliday City South1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about South Toms River’s history

What year was South Toms River founded?

In 1927, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1930 counted 405 people here.

How does South Toms River rank for history?

South Toms River is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

How old are the homes in South Toms River?

1% of South Toms River’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.3 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1966.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (9), the Library of Congress (1), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.