Lakehurst is a small borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. The phonetic transcription of the word "lakehurst" is /ˈleɪkˌhɜrst/. The first syllable "layk" represents the pronunciation of the word "lake", where the "a" sound is pronounced as /eɪ/. The second syllable "hirst" represents the pronunciation of "hurst", where the "u" sound is pronounced as /ɜr/. Therefore, the word "lakehurst" is spelled as it is pronounced, with the emphasis on the first syllable "layk".
Lakehurst is a noun that refers to a small borough located in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. It is a residential community and covers a total area of approximately 2.9 square miles. The name "Lakehurst" is derived from its proximity to a man-made lake known as Lake Horicon, which is situated within the community.
Lakehurst is famously recognized for its historical significance, particularly as the site of the infamous Hindenburg disaster that occurred on May 6, 1937. The disaster involved the German airship LZ 129 Hindenburg catching fire and being destroyed during its attempt to dock at the naval air station located in Lakehurst. This event resulted in a tragic loss of life and marked the end of the era of large passenger-carrying airships.
Present-day Lakehurst is also notable for being home to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which is a tri-service military facility operated by the United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. This base serves as a critical hub for transportation and logistics operations, training exercises, and maintenance support for various military units.
In terms of demographics, Lakehurst has a small population of around 2,654 residents as of the 2020 census. The community offers a suburban lifestyle with a blend of residential homes, small businesses, and public facilities, including local schools, parks, and recreational areas.
The word "Lakehurst" is primarily a toponym, meaning it is derived from the name of a place. Lakehurst is a borough located in New Jersey, United States. The etymology of "Lakehurst" can be broken down as follows:
1. Lake: The word "lake" is derived from the Middle English word "lake" or "lak(e)", which can be traced back to the Old English word "lacu" or "lac", meaning a large body of water or an inland body of water. It shares the same origin with similar words in Germanic languages.
2. Hurst: The word "hurst" is an Old English term meaning a wooded hill or an enclosed area of woodland. It comes from the Old English word "hyrst" or "hurst", which relates to the Old High German word "horst" meaning a thicket or a woody hillock.