New Egypt, New Jersey

New Egypt, New Jersey
Census-designated place
Along Main Street (CR 528)
Location of New Egypt in Ocean County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
New Egypt Location in Ocean County Show map of Ocean County, New Jersey New Egypt Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey New Egypt Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°03′54″N74°31′37″W / 40.065119°N 74.527040°W / 40.065119; -74.527040
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Ocean
Township	Plumsted
Area [1]
• Total	4.03 sq mi (10.42 km2)
• Land	3.97 sq mi (10.28 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)  1.38%
Elevation [2]	82 ft (25 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	2,357
• Density	593.70/sq mi (229.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08533 [4]
Area code	609
FIPS code	34-51360 [5] [6] [7]
GNIS feature ID	2389541 [5] [8]

New Egypt is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) ^[9] located within Plumsted Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ^{[10] [11] [12]} As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 2,512. ^[13] The community is located at the trijunction of Burlington County, Monmouth County and Ocean counties.

History

There are several explanations for how New Egypt received its name. One possibility is it was a reference by George Washington in December 1776 after the victory at the Battle of Trenton. Joseph Curtis, Washington's secretary, was sent to the town to retrieve grain for the army, and upon his return from the area, Washington exclaimed, "Joseph has been to Egypt and gotten the corn." ^[14] Having added 'New' sometime around 1845. ^[15] Other references have that the town was originally given the name "Egypt" in 1793 and "New Egypt" in 1801, the name is believed to be a biblical allusion about "going to Egypt for corn" that was plentiful in the area. ^[16]

Around 1890, the area was once known as Timmins Mill, a reference to the mill owner who owned most of the land in the area. ^{[14] [17]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 4.071 square miles (10.54 km²), including 4.015 square miles (10.40 km²) of land and 0.056 square miles (0.15 km²) of water (1.38%). ^{[5] [18]}

Author Henry Charlton Beck gave Timmins Mill the distinction of the approximate geographical center of New Jersey. ^[19] Upon reading the estimate by Beck, a Christmas tree farmer used their own methods to approximate the geographic center of New Jersey to be on their farm. They have since placed a marker on the location they determined as the geographic center of New Jersey (Coordinates 40° 05’02” N Latitude 74° 32’ 01” W longitude). The marker is on their farm located across the street from the New Egypt High School. ^[20]

Community

The community has a volunteer fire station, a first aid station, and a police department. New Egypt is also home to the New Egypt Historical Society, a clay race track called the New Egypt Speedway, and the Plumsted Branch of the Ocean County Library system.

The town also includes several Christian religious centers, Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Bethel AME Church, Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref> Church of Christ, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, New Egypt United Methodist Church, Plumsted Presbyterian Church, the Christian Fellowship Church of New Egypt, ^[21] and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Oakford Lake is located in the middle of the town. In the early 1900s the location thrived as a tourist and vacation attraction.

New Egypt also has a recreation center which includes four baseball fields, a football field, two softball fields, and a basketball court and three small fields used for tee ball.

McGuire Air Force Base is immediately south of New Egypt.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	632		—
1890	556		−12.0%
1990	2,327		—
2000	2,519		8.3%
2010	2,512		−0.3%
2020	2,460		−2.1%
Population sources: 1880-1890 [22] 1990-2010 [12] 2000 [23] 2010 [13] 2020 [3]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,512 people, 902 households, and 652 families in the CDP. The population density was 625.7 people per square mile (241.6 people/km²). There were 972 housing units at an average density of 242.1 units per square mile (93.5 units/km²). The racial makeup was 91.44% (2,297) White, 1.99% (50) Black or African American, 0.84% (21) Native American, 0.96% (24) Asian, 0.08% (2) Pacific Islander, 3.11% (78) from other races, and 1.59% (40) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.51% (264) of the population. ^[13]

Of the 902 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18; 52.9% were married couples living together; 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.7% were non-families. Of all households, 21.3% were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.21. ^[13]

25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 103.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.5 males. ^[13]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census ^[6] there were 2,519 people, 913 households, and 664 families residing in New Egypt. The population density was 241.9 people/km² (627 people/sq mi). There were 980 housing units at an average density of 94.1 units/km² (244 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of New Egypt was 91.90% White, 2.18% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 2.74% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.19% of the population. ^[23]

There were 913 households, out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18. ^[23]

In New Egypt the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males. ^[23]

The median income for a household in New Egypt was $49,297, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $38,156 versus $35,313 for females. The per capita income for New Egypt was $18,771. About 5.9% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[23]

Transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 317 bus route. ^[24] New Egypt was a major stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Pemberton & Hightstown line; it was abandoned in 1979. ^[25] The former roadbed was converted in 2010 for rail trail use as the Union Transportation Trail. ^[26]

Wineries

• Laurita Winery

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Plumsted Township, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with New Egypt include:

• Deena Nicole Cortese (born 1987), cast member of MTV's Jersey Shore . ^[27]
• Keith Jones, news anchor and reporter for WCAU in Philadelphia. ^[28]
• Duke Lacroix (born 1993), professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Indy Eleven in the North American Soccer League. ^[29]
• Rocky Marval (born 1965), pairs figure skater who finished 10th at the 1992 Winter Olympics together with partner Calla Urbanski. ^[30]
• Stephen Panasuk (born 1989), quarterback for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League. ^[31]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: New Egypt Census Designated Place, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed June 26, 2012.
3. Census Data Explorer: New Egypt CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 15, 2023.
4. Look Up a ZIP Code for New Egypt, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed June 26, 2012.
5. Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.
6. U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
7. Geographic codes for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
8. US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
9. State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
10. GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Ocean County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 11, 2013.
11. 2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 11, 2013.
12. New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed January 11, 2013.
13. DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for New Egypt CDP, Ocean County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 20, 2012.
14. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, 1945. p. 23. Accessed May 11, 2023
15. Lang, Carole. "Evening classes at New Egypt Middle School offered", The Trentonian , March 13, 2002. Accessed May 11, 2023. "Washington, fresh from his victory at Trenton in December of 1776, knew he need grain for his army. One of his advisors, Benjamin Jones from New Jersey, had a large quantity of buckwheat flour and cornmeal stored at the mills. He sent his secretary, Joseph Curtis, to bring the milled grain to Trenton. Hailing Curtis’s return, Washington exclaimed, 'Joseph has been to Egypt and gotten the corn.'"
16. Resnick, Abraham. "New Jersey Opinion; Where Did This Name Come From?", The New York Times , February 25, 1990. Accessed February 21, 2023. "There is also a New Egypt, but its origin has no connection with Egyptian immigrants. The name first appeared in 1793 as Egypt; the New was added eight years later. There are two theories about the name's origin, both revolving about the supply of corn in the area; people said they were 'going to Egypt for corn.'"
17. Salter, Edwin. A History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties: Embracing a Genealogical Record. F. Gardner & Son, 1890, p. 129
18. US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
19. Beck, Henry, Charlton. Forgotten Towns of Southern New Jersey, p. 279. E.P. Dutton, 1936, reprinted 1961, Rutgers University Press
20. Journey to the Centers of New Jersey, New Jersey Geological and Water Survey. Accessed May 10, 2023.
21. About, Christian Fellowship Church of New Egypt. Accessed June 4, 2019.
22. Report on Population of the United States at the Eleventh Census: 1890. Part I, p. 239. United States Census Bureau, 1895. Accessed October 20, 2016.
23. DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for New Egypt CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 11, 2013.
24. Ocean County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed January 13, 2013.
25. McBride, Bill. "Hobo's Guide to the PRR's Pemberton & Hightstown Railroad". Archived from the original on August 7, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
26. Jane Meggitt (September 30, 2010). "New trail takes visitors along historic railroad line". Examiner. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
27. Holt, Bob. "'Jersey Shore' star Snooki helped Deena Nicole Cortese become new cast member" Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine , NewJerseyNewsroom.com, July 29, 2010. September 9, 2011. "Jersey Shore is welcoming a new cast member for the third season, the self-proclaimed "Bad Ass Brunette" Deena Nicole Cortese, 23, who actually hails from New Egypt, Ocean County."
28. Keith Jones NBC10 Anchor/Reporter Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine , WCAU. Accessed August 11, 2015. "A native of New Egypt, New Jersey, Jones earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Villanova University, where he also minored in philosophy and journalism."
29. Staff. "Indy Eleven Sign Striker Duke Lacroix; Speedy Univ. of Pennsylvania product brings roster to 23 players" Archived 2016-01-12 at the Wayback Machine , Indy Eleven, May 21, 2015. Accessed October 17, 2015. "The native of New Egypt, N.J., attended The Lawrenceville School, where he played four years of soccer and ran three years of track his high school, his tenure as a runner including a 4x400 relay win at the prestigious Penn Relays."
30. Hersh, Phil. "Rocky Road Ends Suddenly For U.s. Duo", Chicago Tribune , July 30, 1993. Accessed June 26, 2012. "Marval, 27, of New Egypt, N.J., said he soon will begin his search for a new partner."
31. Stephen Panasuk Archived 2016-07-27 at the Wayback Machine , Cleveland Gladiators. Accessed August 3, 2016. "Prepped at New Egypt High School in New Egypt, N.J."

External links

• Plumsted Township
• New Egypt Football, Dance & Cheer
• New Egypt Fire Company Station 39