The land was purchased by John Imlay of Allentown, who sold it in 1794 to Issac Gulick.

In 1799, the Parker brothers sold it to Abel Middleton of Upper Freehold Township.

[1][2] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Long Point.

[28][29] The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.

[30] The 2010 United States census counted 1,673 people, 683 households, and 487 families in the borough.

[41] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 1,751 people, 705 households, and 497 families residing in the borough.

[45] As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Island Heights Borough is E. Steve Doyle, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026.

[3][46][47][48][49][50][51] In May 2019, Lynn Pendleton was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Sean Asay until he resigned from office.

[53] Brian Taboada, who had been serving a term ending in December 2014, announced at an August 2013 council meeting that he would be stepping down from office to focus on school obligations.

[57][58][59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[62] For the 2024-2025 session, the 10th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James W. Holzapfel (R, Toms River) and in the General Assembly by Paul Kanitra (R, Point Pleasant Beach) and Gregory P. McGuckin (R, Toms River).

[69][70][71] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[72][73] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[74][75] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[76][77][78] Island Heights has been a largely Republican leaning jurisdiction in presidential elections.

All GOP presidential candidates since 1948 have won the borough, with six of those campaigns breaking 70% of the vote.

[95] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 79.4% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 97.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 29, 1980, for its significance in architecture, recreation and religion.

The artist John F. Peto's studio features Queen Anne style architecture and is now a museum.

Route 37 brushes the north edge of the borough, heading east towards Seaside Heights and west towards Lakehurst.

[121] Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC10 Toms River Connection route.