[23][24] The local custom is so widespread that it surprises some new residents that the official name is Ocean Township.

There was a petition drive in 2006 to get a name change to Township of Waretown on the ballot but it failed to obtain enough signatures.

When the colony left the area eleven years later, Weair, who had built a sawmill, stayed behind and became a prominent member of the community.

[27] During the American Revolutionary War, British ships sailed into the nearby Barnegat Inlet in an attempt to protect their New York-bound supply vessels from attacks by local privateers sailing schooners and whaleboats.

Another British objective was to destroy Newlin's salt works, a local supplier of a crucial commodity to the Revolutionary army, needed for food preservation and gunpowder manufacture.

[28] A massacre of local patriots occurred in October, 1782, when Captain John Bacon, loyal to the British crown, led a surprise attack on Long Beach.

Vessels such as barques, barkentines, sloops, schooners, whaleboats and sneakboxes were constructed of white cedar native to the area.

During this period, many sea captains built stately homes on bay front lots.

[28] Around the turn of the twentieth century, Waretown fishermen sold oysters, clams and scallops to dealers such as the Fulton Fish Market in New York City.

[28] Waretown became known for its hunting and fishing grounds, and celebrities like Presidents Grover Cleveland and William McKinley, baseball great Babe Ruth, and Wild West entertainer Buffalo Bill Cody came to participate in these pursuits.

[29] During World War II, blimps cruised along the Jersey coast looking for German U-boats.

[1][2] Waretown (with a 2010 Census population of 1,569[32]) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Ocean Township.

[40] All of the township is included in either the state-designated Pinelands Area or the Pinelands National Reserve, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

[41] The 2010 United States census counted 8,332 people, 3,483 households, and 2,557 families in the township.

[50] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 6,450 people, 2,446 households, and 1,743 families residing in the township.

[7][55] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

[66][67][68] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[77][78][79] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[80][81] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[82][83] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[87] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 75.0% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 89.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[117] Ocean Ride local service is provided on the Waretown Shoppers Loop route.