With its population of approximately 9,614, the borough of Spring Lake is one of the most scenic seashore communities in New Jersey. This unique resort town offers a relaxed and gracious quality of life, with beautiful beaches and extensive recreational opportunities, having both an ocean and a sparkling spring-water lake to enjoy. In addition, the town boasts charming boutiques and shops and superb eateries. And if you want some big-city living, New York is just a short commute away. It doesn’t get much better than Spring Lake!
Location
The borough of Spring Lake is located in the southern coastal portion of Monmouth County, in the New York metro area. It is nestled along a section of Atlantic Ocean, commonly known as the "Jersey Shore. Situated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain area of central New Jersey, Monmouth County is bordered by Middlesex County to the north, Mercer and Burlington Counties to the west, and Ocean County to the south.
Geography/Terrain
With a total area of 1.7 square miles, Spring Lake encompasses 1.3 square miles of land and 0.4 square miles of water. The borough is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, sitting at an average elevation of 25 feet above sea level. There is a tidal pond located on the Atlantic Ocean coast, known as Wreck Pond. The boroughs of Spring Lake and Sea Girt, as well as Wall Township surround this Pond. The entire Wreck Pond Watershed covers about 12 square miles of eastern Monmouth County. Spring-fed Spring Lake also runs through the borough.
Distance to 3 closest major cities
Spring Lake is located approximately 39 miles south of New York, NY; 62 miles northeast of Philadelphia, PA; and 38 miles east of Trenton, NJ.
Jobs
A significant portion of Monmouth County’s economy has been tied into the military and industrial sectors. The Army operates Ft. Monmouth and the Systems Management Directorate, which are two of the top three employers in the county. Other major employment sectors include healthcare service provision, restaurants, business services, engineering/management services and supermarkets. The health services industry has grown significantly, becoming one of the largest employers in the County. Additional employment sectors include seaside resorts, electrical machinery, chemicals, farming and horse breeding.
Educational, health and social services provide 20.8% of the employment in Spring Lake; finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing provide15.1%; professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services provide14.2%; and retail trade provides 10.7%. The unemployment level in the borough is 4.10%, with a 2.05% increase in available jobs within the last 12 months. The average commute time to work is 37 minutes. The median household income in Spring Lake is $71,951 and the average per capita income is $53,138.
Housing
This premier summer resort community boasts palatial summer homes, hotels, quaint cottages and guest houses, as well as year round homes. There are a good number of housing options in Spring Lake, including single-family homes, multiple dwellings, adult community homes, golf course communities and seasonal units. There are large, well-kept Victorian, Tudor and Georgian style colonial mansions set along the flawlessly groomed, tree-lined streets, with ocean and/or lake views. You can have a beautiful home on quiet streets, with superb landscaping, and close to the ocean beaches and boardwalks. Homes are on the market an average of 95 days, and right priced homes are selling well.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
There is a wealth of recreational activities available to Spring Lake residents. The borough is home to Divine Park, which surrounds Spring Lake, a naturally spring-fed lake. You can rent a boat or kayak to paddle down the calm water. Divine Park's perimeter is approximately 1 1/3 miles, and it has two wood footbridges that cut across the lake. The park has swings, a slide, and a path around the park. The lake is stocked with fish and there is an assortment of birds, ducks, geese and swans to enjoy. There are scenic and peaceful walking paths, shady nooks and rock gardens along the shores of the lake.
Spring Lake is renowned for having the longest non-commercial boardwalk in New Jersey as well as two miles of beautiful beaches to enjoy. The four main beaches are generally tranquil and sparsely populated during the week. Even though it is a quiet town, Spring Lake has many activities to offer. Tennis, fishing, bicycling, water skiing, boating, horseback riding, and even thoroughbred racing and trotters are all available nearby. Surfing can be enjoyed year-round. Scuba Diving is another popular sport, and a shipwreck just off Spring Lake attracts many divers. Both fresh and saltwater fishing can be done right off the beach.
Impressive Allaire State Park is a short 20-minute drive away from Spring Lake. The Manasquan River winds through the park, attracting canoeists and fishermen. The river’s floodplain provides habitat for more than 200 species of wildflowers, trees and plants as well as for birds and other wildlife. There are several trails through the park for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.
You can take a Wildlife River Trip, cruising the Shark River’s interesting coves and inlets, enjoying the plentiful array of shorebirds, waterfowl, and marine wildlife that populate this ocean estuary area. The Manasquan Reservoir is another great place to rent a canoe or paddle boat, as well as hike or bike.
For golfing enthusiasts, there is the Spring Lake Golf Club, a private 18-hole course. The course is tree-lined, with small greens, narrow fairways, and an undulating terrain. The Oceanside view from this course is breathtaking. Nearby Wall Township is home to the Bel-Aire Golf Course and Quail Ridge Driving Range. Bel-Aire is a 27-hole facility featuring an 18-hole executive course and a 9-hole course. Quail Ridge Golf World Driving Range has an 18-hole pitch and putt, mini golf and a driving range.
Special Attractions/Events
Spring Lake’s major attractions are its unique boardwalk and two miles of beautiful beach, which have consistently won “Best Beach” and “Best Boardwalk” awards.
You can also enjoy the town’s quaint main street, Third Avenue, which is lined with interesting shops and cafes. In fact, there are over 60 shops and boutiques, and a variety of gourmet restaurants. For culinary delights you can enjoy everything from a home-cooked meal to continental cuisine in posh surroundings.
For cultural entertainment, you can attend a concert at the Gazebo or an evening of theater at the Community House. Spring Lake Theatre was renovated in 1986, and seats over 350 patrons. The Spring Lake Theatre Company puts on six different shows per season, including Broadway musicals, comedies, and dramas. With their talented casts, lavish sets and costumes, they put on wonderful performances. There is also a Dance School program, where professional instructors and choreographers teach ballet, modern dance, as well as other styles of dance.
In nearby Jackson Township you can visit Six Flags Great Adventure, which boasts the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world: Kingda Ka. Jackson is also home to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Wild Safari. The theme park and drive-thru safari have over 100 rides, shows, and attractions including 14 water rides and a children's water play area. Or you can visit the town of Allaire, a restored 19th century iron-making community where you can ride the antique steam train on the Pine Creek Railroad.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
The community was named for the crystal clear water, which emanates from a large number of underground springs. The town was once nicknamed the "Irish Riviera" because of the large Irish-American population in the area. Spring Lake has the highest percentage of Irish Americans of any place in the United States.
Spring Lake was the location for scenes in the 1981 movie, "Ragtime". Well-known residents have included Mary Higgins Clark, a writer; Chris Kenny, a college basketball player; Craig Biggio, a Houston Astros second baseman; Chris and Johnny Candido, professional wrestlers; Katherine Close, winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2006; Al DeRogatis, TV sportscaster; Khigh Dheigh, an actor; and Jack Ford, a news anchor.
Spring Lake Historical Society Museum has historic photographs, memorabilia and other artifacts exploring the fascinating history of Spring Lake from Indian times through the Victorian era to present day. The museum is located on the top floor of Borough Hall, which was built in 1897 as the town's first public school.
Spring Lake hosts the annual Spring Lake 5 Mile Run, a race that circles the town beginning and ending at the beachfront, and draws over 5,000 participants.
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