The Township of Toms River is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, and the county seat of Ocean County . On November 7 2006, voters approved a change of the official name of Township of Dover (or, Dover Township) to the Township of Toms River, effective November 14 2006.
As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 89,706. The United States Census Bureau's 2006 population estimate was 94,889, making it one of the fastest growing cities in New Jersey as well as the seventh most populous municipality in New Jersey.
What is now Toms River Township was established by Royal Charter as Dover Township on March 1, 1768, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County. Dover Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Jackson Township (March 6, 1844), Union Township (March 10, 1846, now Barnegat Township), Brick Township (February 15, 1850), Manchester Township (April 6, 1865), Berkeley Township (March 31, 1875), Island Heights (May 6, 1887), Lavallette (December 21, 1887) and Seaside Heights (February 26, 1913). "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 202.
In 2006, Toms River was ranked by Morgan Quitno as the fourteenth safest "city" in the United States, of 369 cities nationwide.
In 2007, Toms River was ranked by CQ Press as the ninth safest "city" in the United States, of the 378 cities nationwide.
