Southern Ocean County stretches for more than 20 miles along the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey about 40 miles east of Philadelphia, 70 miles south of New York City and 10 miles north of Atlantic City. Major highways offer residents easy access to all of these metropolitan areas and their international airports.

The area is served by four modern high schools, five middle schools and numerous elementary schools. The widest range of educational, athletic and vocational opportunities is offered to students.

Southern Ocean county Hospital is located in Manahawkin and provides residents with a full array of modern hospital care.

Recreational activities abound. World famous Long Beach Island features the whitest, cleanest beaches in the world. The pristine Barnegat Bay offers boating, fishing, and other water activities. The Pinelands National Wildlife refuge runs along the western border of southern Ocean County and is laced with hiking trails and small rivers for canoeing. More than half of the land on the mainland has been reserved as parks, wildlife refuge or national forest, so the opportunity to enjoy our rich natural resources is ensured well into the future.

Formerly known as primarily a vacation resort area, southern Ocean County today is home to approximately 100,000 year-round residents.