Columbus Day in modern times is becoming more about celebrating Italian-American heritage than a tribute to the explorer Christopher Columbus.

The change has occurred as more criticism has focused on the negative aspects of Columbus' exploration including the enslavement of Native Americans and spread of deadly diseases.

New Jersey remains heavily Italian, in terms of reported ancestry. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 1.45 million people reported having an Italian heritage, putting the community at the top of the list. They are closely followed by Irish and German.

Of the towns with over 10,000 residents reporting Italian ancestry, Toms River in Ocean County has the highest total number of Italian-Americans. By percent, Washington Township in Gloucester County ranks highest, with more than a third of its residents claiming Italian heritage.

While celebrating Italian-American heritage on Columbus Day remains popular, a growing number of cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day or Native Americans Day, to acknowledge the residents who inhabited this land long before Columbus set foot.

Disha Raychaudhuri may be reached at draychaudhuri@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter. Find her on Facebook.