Lacey Township, New Jersey

Lacey Township is a township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is considered part of the Jersey Shore and South Jersey regions, as well as of the New York metropolitan area.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau, March 2020. Accessed October 26, 2023.</ref> As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 28,655,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 1,011 (+3.7%) from the 2010 census count of 27,644,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 2,298 (+9.1%) from the 25,346 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> The 2010 population was the highest recorded in any decennial census. It was named for Continental Army General John Lacey.<ref name=History>Township's History Template:Webarchive, Lacey Township. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

Lacey Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1871, from portions of Dover Township (now known as Toms River Township) and Union Township (now Barnegat Township). Portions of the township were taken on June 23, 1933, to form the borough of Island Beach (which is now Island Beach State Park, part of Berkeley Township).<ref name=History/><ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 203. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref> The township was named for Revolutionary War brigadier general John Lacey, who developed Ferrago Forge in 1809.<ref>Lacey Community Profile Template:Webarchive, Ocean County Library. Accessed September 2, 2015. "In 1809, John Lacey, a Revolutionary War general, built Ferrago Forge---for his contribution to the growth and importance of the area, the township was named for him when it was incorporated in 1871."</ref>

The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station is located in the southern part of the township. The single-unit 636 MWe boiling water reactor power plant adjoins the Oyster Creek and is owned and operated by Exelon Corporation. It produced 9% of the state's electricity and is the nation's oldest operating nuclear power plant, having first been brought online on December 1, 1969, and is licensed to operate until April 9, 2029.<ref>Staff. "Feds OK new license for NJ nuclear power plant", The Washington Times, April 1, 2009. Accessed December 26, 2012. "The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 3-1 on Wednesday to grant a new license to the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township, N.J. It provides 9 percent of New Jersey's electricity. Oyster Creek and Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station in upstate New York both went online Dec. 1, 1969. But Oyster Creek is considered older because its initial license was granted first."</ref> In 2010, Exelon announced that it would close the facility in 2019 as part of an agreement with the State of New Jersey under which the plant would be allowed to operate without cooling towers.<ref name=OysterCreekClosure>"Exelon to shut NJ Oyster Creek reactor in 2019", Reuters, December 9, 2010. Accessed August 12, 2014. "Exelon Corp (EXC.N) will shut the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in New Jersey in 2019, about 10 years before its license expires, in a deal with the state allowing the reactor to operate until then without building expensive cooling towers, the company said in a release late Wednesday.... The decision also delays any immediate economic impact on Lacey Township, where the plant is located, Exelon said, noting Oyster Creek is one of the largest employers in Ocean County, providing more than $70 million annually in wages for nearly 700 plant workers, property taxes and purchases of goods and services from New Jersey businesses."</ref> The plant, which had contributed a third of the township's budget through taxes, was closed in September 2018, after which a decommissioning process estimated to take eight years and cost $1.4 billion was to be undertaken.<ref>Davis, Mike. "Oyster Creek shut down: Lacey nuclear power plant, oldest in US, closed after 49 years", Asbury Park Press, September 17, 2018. Accessed September 30, 2018. "After over 49 years, the nuclear reactor at the Oyster Creek Generating Station was powered down on Monday, the final day in the life of the country's oldest commercial nuclear power plant.... Now, Oyster Creek's property taxes and energy tax receipts account for more than $13 million, over one third of the town's revenue.... Holtec will take over the process of decommissioning the plant and restoring it for future development, a process that Exelon has estimated will cost upward of $1.4 billion."</ref>

Murray Grove is a Unitarian-Universalist retreat and conference center in Lanoka Harbor, traditionally considered the site where Universalism in America began.<ref>"Towns of Lanoka Harbor and Murray Grove: Written Historical and Descriptive Data"Template:Dead link, Historic American Buildings Survey, National Park Service. Accessed December 26, 2012. "Murray Grove is further renowned as the 'birthplace of Universalism America,' where the first Universalist sermon in the United States was preached."</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 99.81 square miles (258.49 km²), including 83.25 square miles (215.62 km²) of land and 16.55 square miles (42.87 km²) of water (16.58%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Forked River (with a 2010 Census population of 5,244<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Forked River CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Lacey Township.<ref>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 Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref><ref name=CPH232>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref> Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Aserdaten, Bamber Lake, Barnegat Pines, Batuber, Cedar Creek, Cedar Crest, Deer Head Lake, Good Luck, Lake Barnegat, Lanoka Harbor, Osteam, Red Oak Grove, Union Clay Works and Webbs Mill.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed November 28, 2014.</ref> The township's fire stations are named after the various areas of Lacey Township.

The township borders the Ocean County municipalities of Barnegat Township, Berkeley Township, Manchester Township and Ocean Township, as well as Woodland Township in Burlington County.<ref>Areas touching Lacey Township, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

The north–south track of the Garden State Parkway serves as an informal use divider under the 1979 Pinelands Act and the subsequent Comprehensive Management Plan. To the east of the Parkway are more than 95% of Lacey's residential dwellings, located in the unincorporated areas of Lanoka Harbor and Forked River. To the Parkway's west is a mostly undisturbed pine and cedar forest, part of New Jersey's vast Pine Barrens. The forest is interspersed with a scattered few farms, houses and ranches, the tiny community of Bamber Lakes and open pit gravel quarries—all of which predate passage of the Pinelands Act or were developed under its tight zoning rules. The conditions of grandfathering vary—the mines' exceptions are to expire upon the deaths of their owners whereas the farms' exceptions are indefinite. Development west of the parkway, covering two-thirds of the township's area, is strictly controlled by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.<ref>Ocean County Wastewater Management Plan: Lacey Township Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey Department of Planning, January 2015. Accessed July 28, 2016. "All land west of the Garden State Parkway (about 66.93% of the municipality's total area) is located within the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan Area. The Balance of Lacey's land area is within the CAFRA region to the east."</ref>

Some Ocean County residents refer to all of Lacey Township as Forked River with the first word pronounced with two syllables (FOR-kid or FORK-id). Pronouncing the first word with one syllable is a sign of a non-native.<ref>Say What? : From 'Morris' River to 'R-Kansas' Avenue, Area Residents have own way of speaking., The Press of Atlantic City, April 24, 2003</ref><ref>Suhay, Lisa. "Jerseyana; Where They Don't Speak With Forked Tongue", The New York Times, December 8, 2002. Accessed September 13, 2013. "'It's FORK-ed River,' Jennifer Sawicki, 25, who was born in the town, said with a laugh.... Donald M. Launer, a resident and author of A Cruising Guide to New Jersey Waters (Rutgers Press, 1997), had a long laugh at the idea of asking people how to pronounce the name and at the mere thought that anyone in Forked River would say Forkt. 'The name originated in the 1700s, and it is the typical archaic pronunciation that has just stuck,' he said."</ref>

In a 2015 NJ.com poll with 91,000 respondents, Lacey Township was voted as part of South Jersey. According to the poll results, Lacey Township is South Jersey's northernmost Jersey Shore community.<ref>Stirling, Stephen. "Here are the North, Central and South Jersey borders as determined by you (Interactive)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 24, 2015. Accessed September 19, 2016.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 27,644 people, 10,183 households, and 7,607 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 11,573 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 96.15% (26,581) White, 0.60% (167) Black or African American, 0.14% (38) Native American, 0.80% (222) Asian, 0.02% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.14% (316) from other races, and 1.14% (314) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.74% (1,310) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 10,183 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18; 60.0% were married couples living together; 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.1% were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,835 (with a margin of error of ± $3,271) and the median family income was $84,031 (± $6,930). Males had a median income of $56,748 (± $3,051) versus $40,360 (± $3,340) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,552 (± $1,524). About 2.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Lacey township, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 25,346 people, 9,336 households, and 7,244 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 10,580 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 97.85% White, 0.36% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Lacey township, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Lacey township, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

There were 9,336 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.08.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $55,938, and the median income for a family was $61,298. Males had a median income of $47,406 versus $30,088 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,136. About 3.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

Lacey Township is home to many businesses, the largest employer has been the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. The facility, which closed in 2018, generated $70 million in wages in 2010 for its 700 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the county.<ref name=OysterCreekClosure/>

In the early to late 2000s, Lacey experienced rapid growth in recent years with the addition of many new developments and new "big-box" stores being built around the township. Previously, township residents had to travel to Stafford Township (Manahawkin) or Toms River to shop at these stores.

Recent local controversies have surrounded development and land use. In particular, a proposal to build a road on an old railroad right of way behind the ShopRite has been a major issue in the community. Other issues involve the lack of water resources to sustain the Home Depot (which opened in October 2007) and the Template:Convert Walmart that opened in October 2009.<ref>Procida, Lee. "Walmart Supercenter opening draws fans, critics in Lacey Township", The Press of Atlantic City, October 8, 2009. Accessed September 21, 2016.</ref>

Arts and culture

The Old Schoolhouse Museum is a small old school building that was built in the mid-19th century as the first school in Forked River, and was used as a school until 1954.<ref>"Jersey Shore Diversions Beyond The Beach", The New York Times, July 12, 1981. Accessed July 27, 2013. "In Forked River, the Old Schoolhouse Museum on Route 9 is a tworoom grade school that was built around the time of the Civil War and was not retired from service until 1954."</ref>

The township had an annual Night of Lights on the Forked River, which was a boat parade at night in August. Owners dressed up their boats with lights and sailed down the river at night to the Captain's Inn. This had been changed to Rock the River after the original family that supported the event withdrew from involvement. It is now sponsored by local business and organizations and known as the Lacey Lights Boat Parade.<ref>Farquharson, Ian. Rock the River Boat Parade in New Jersey Template:Webarchive, local.com. Accessed September 13, 2013. "Originally known as the Night of Lights Boat Parade, the event went through a few changes in the late 2000s, when local businesses took over sponsorship and organization. It became known as Rock the River in 2008, and these days commonly has the name Lacey Lights Boat Parade."</ref>

Parks and recreation

Popcorn Park Zoo is a small Template:Convert zoo that hosts a wide range of animals and features big cats, monkeys and black bears among the 200 animals on the site. The zoo was established in 1977 at a facility covering Template:Convert.<ref>Popcorn Park, Associated Humane Societies. Accessed September 13, 2013.</ref>

The Relay for Life had been held annually at Gille Park to raise money towards cancer research. However, in 2010, the Lacey Township Committee did not allow the walk to be held at Gille, and it was moved to Veteran's Park in Bayville.

Much of the nearly Template:Convert Double Trouble State Park is located within the township, but its main access point is in neighboring Berkeley Township.<ref>Double Trouble State Park, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed September 21, 2016. "Location:Berkeley and Lacey Townships"</ref> Robert J. Miller Air Park, also known as the Ocean County Airport, is a county-owned public-use airport partially located within Lacey Township, but also with its main entry point in Berkeley.<ref>Ocean County Airport, Ocean County Department of Planning. Accessed February 25, 2020. "Ocean County is an Airport is an 822-acre facility located in the heart of the NJ Pinelands in Berkeley and Lacey Townships."</ref>

Township parks located within Lacey, include Clune, Gille, Hebrew and Huffy Wallis parks.<ref>Parks, Lacey Township. Accessed September 21, 2016.</ref> The township is also home to a number of marinas, including the Forked River State Marina, which offers 125 berths.<ref>New Jersey State Marinas, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed September 21, 2016.</ref>

Tices shoal, an area located on the bay side of Island Beach State Park, is located within the township. It is a popular summer destination for boaters because of its shallow waters and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Island Beach State Park, as well as the Barnegat Inlet, are accessible from the township via boat.<ref>Campbell, Eric Scott. "Friendships run deep on shallow water of Tice's Shoal", The Press of Atlantic City, August 1, 2010. Accessed September 21, 2016.</ref>

Government

Local government

Lacey Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

Template:As of, members of the Lacey Township Committee are Mayor Peggy Sue Juliano (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Peter A. Curatolo (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Mark Dykoff (R, 2024) and Steven C. Kennis (R, 2025) and Timothy McDonald (R, 2024).<ref name=Government>Mayor and Township Committee, Lacey Township. Accessed July 3, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Lacey Township. Accessed July 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanProfile>Township of Lacey, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed July 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanOfficials>2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 2, 2024. Accessed April 17, 2024.</ref><ref name=Ocean2023>General Election Results November 7, 2023 Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Ocean2022>2022 General Election Official Results November 8, 2022, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Ocean2021>2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Lacey Township is located in the 2nd and 4th Congressional Districts<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 18,255 registered voters in Lacey Township, of which 3,172 (17.4%) were registered as Democrats, 5,043 (27.6%) were registered as Republicans and 10,035 (55.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Ocean, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 66.0% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 85.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 59.1% of the vote (7,438 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.7% (4,998 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (159 votes), among the 12,696 ballots cast by the township's 19,182 registered voters (101 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.2%.<ref name=2012Elections /><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 59.4% of the vote (8,188 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 38.4% (5,286 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (200 votes), among the 13,776 ballots cast by the township's 19,102 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.1%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 63.3% of the vote (8,300 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 35.5% (4,655 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (107 votes), among the 13,102 ballots cast by the township's 17,986 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.8.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|70.1% 12,461	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|28.3% 5,034	1.6% 226
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|67.5% 11,950	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|30.7% 5,436	1.8% 254
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|70.1% 9,762	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|26.9% 3,746	3.0% 418
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|59.1% 7,438	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|39.7% 4,998	1.3% 159
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2012.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|59.4% 8,188	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|38.4% 5,286	1.5% 200
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 24, 2012.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|63.3% 8,300	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.5% 4,655	0.6% 107

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.2% of the vote (6,394 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.1% (1,966 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (145 votes), among the 8,698 ballots cast by the township's 19,068 registered voters (193 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.3% of the vote (6,314 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 23.6% (2,154 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.0% (459 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (89 votes), among the 9,109 ballots cast by the township's 18,618 registered voters, yielding a 48.9% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Ocean County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Lacey Township School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Lacey Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-School Handicapped through twelve in the Lacey Township School District. Composition: The Lacey Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Lacey Township."</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,864 students and 334.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Lacey Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Lacey Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Mill Pond Elementary School<ref>Mill Pond Elementary School, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023.</ref> with 635 students in grades 5-6 (now PreK-K), Cedar Creek Elementary School<ref>Cedar Creek Elementary School, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023.</ref> with 437 students in grades K-4 (now 1-5), Forked River Elementary School<ref>Forked River Elementary School, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023.</ref> with 465 students in grades K-4 (now 1-5), Lanoka Harbor Elementary School<ref>Lanoka Harbor Elementary School, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023.</ref> with 449 students in grades K-4 (now 1-5), Lacey Township Middle School<ref>Lacey Township Middle School, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023.</ref> with 608 students in grades 7-8 (now 6-8) and Lacey Township High School<ref>Lacey Township High School, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023.</ref> with 1,256 students in grades 9-12.<ref>Public Schools Directory 2023-2024; Living & Learning in Ocean County, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Lacey Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed November 17, 2023.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Lacey Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

St. Mary Academy in Manahawkin, a K–8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in the area. From 1997,<ref name=MaryRenameArch>Template:Cite web</ref> until 2019 it operated as All Saints Regional Catholic School and was collectively managed by five churches,<ref name=Heyboerall>Template:Cite web</ref> with one being St. Pius X Church,<ref name=MaryRenameArch/> in the township and adjacent to the Forked River CDP.<ref>Template:Cite web - It has a Forked River postal address but is outside the CDP.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web - Relevant page: 1</ref> In 2019 St. Mary Church in Barnegat took entire control of the school, which remained on the same Manahawkin campus, and changed its name. The other churches no longer operate the school but still may send students there.<ref name=Heyboerall/>

Media

The Asbury Park Press and The Press of Atlantic City provide daily news coverage of the township, as does WOBM-FM radio. The township provides material and commentary to The Southern Ocean Times, which also serves Barnegat Township, Long Beach Island, Ocean Township (Waretown), Stafford Township (Manahawkin) and Tuckerton as one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.<ref>The Southern Ocean Times Template:Webarchive, Micromedia Publications. Accessed September 19, 2016. "First published in 2010. Expanded in 2013. Serving Lacey, Barnegat, Waretown, Manahawkin, LBI and Tuckerton in Ocean County, New Jersey."</ref>

In terms of televised news coverage, both New York City and Philadelphia television stations provide coverage of the township, as the media markets of both cities overlap in the township, as they do in much of Ocean County.Template:Citation needed

Transportation

File:2021-05-27 11 45 01 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) from the overpass for Ocean County Route 614 (Lacey Road) in Lacey Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.jpg

The southbound Garden State Parkway in Lacey Township

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Ocean County, Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.<ref>Ocean County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.</ref>

The Garden State Parkway passes through the township, connecting Ocean Township in the south to Berkeley Township in the north.<ref>Garden State Parkway Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, January 1997. Accessed August 5, 2014.</ref> The Forked River Service Area is located at milepost 76 on the Parkway and Interchange 74 is signed for access to Forked River and Waretown.<ref>Travel Resources: Interchanges, Service Areas & Commuter Lots, New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Accessed August 5, 2014.</ref> U.S. Route 9 also traverses the township in the eastern part. County Route 539 passes through in the western area but without any intersections to other roads in the municipality.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service between the township and Atlantic City on the 559 bus route.<ref>Ocean County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

Academy Bus offers Parkway Express routes from the Forked River Service Area to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan or to Wall Street in Lower Manhattan.<ref>Commuter Schedules, Academy Bus. Accessed August 11, 2015.</ref> Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC5 Lacey route.<ref>Ocean County Bus Service Template:Webarchive, Greater Mercer TMA. Accessed August 10, 2015.</ref><ref>Ocean Ride Rider's Guide Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 10, 2015.</ref><ref>Ocean County Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 10, 2015.</ref>

There is no rail service in the township. In the late nineteenth and early-to-mid twentieth centuries, the township was served by the Tuckerton Railroad, Toms River Railroad, and the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ). The CNJ's former roadbed, running parallel to Route 9, has been partially converted to the Barnegat Branch Trail, a rail trail.<ref>Barnegat Branch Trail-Conceptual Plan: Existing Right-of-Way Conditions Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey Department of Planning. Accessed September 21, 2016. "The former railroad right-of-way is an intact and largely continuous linear corridor that runs 13.6 miles and contains approximately 92 acres. As noted, the Trail corridor spans seven municipalities. From the south the municipalities include: Barnegat Township, Ocean Township (Waretown), Lacey Township (Forked River, Lanoka Harbor), Berkeley Township, (Bayville, Pinewald) Beachwood Borough, South Toms River Borough and Downtown Toms River."</ref> The Tuckerton Railroad's former roadbed runs parallel to Lacey Road, ending in nearby Whiting. Today, the closest train stations are in Bay Head, with service on the North Jersey Coast Line toward New York City, and Absecon, with service on the Atlantic City Line toward Atlantic City and Philadelphia.

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lacey Township include:

• Christopher J. Connors (born 1956), represents the 9th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate<ref>Assembly Member Christopher J. Connors, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 9, 2007.</ref>
• Tom DeBlass (born 1982), mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner<ref>Stanmyre, Matthew. "MMA fighting: New Jersey's Tom DeBlass scores KO victory over Jason Lambert at Bellator 108", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 15, 2013. Accessed May 10, 2017. "DeBlass, of Forked River, dominated the brief fight, drilling Lambert with several hard punches, opening a cut on the bridge of his nose and finishing him with a big left hook at the 1:45 mark of Round 1."</ref>
• Melissa Drexler (born 1978), was nicknamed in the media as "The Prom Mom" after she delivered a baby in a restroom stall during her high school prom in 1997<ref>Goodnough, Abby; and Weber, Bruce. "Before Prom Night, a Suspect Was the Girl Next Door", The New York Times, July 2, 1997. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>
• Keith Elias (born 1972), former National Football League running back for the New York Giants<ref>Kamin, Arthur Z. "New Jersey Q & A: Keith Elias; From the Ivy League to Giants Stadium", The New York Times, October 23, 1994. Accessed August 12, 2014. "Lacey Township is where it all began -- on the Pop Warner team, an instructional program for 7- to 13-year-olds -- for the 5-foot-9-inch 191-pound Mr. Elias, one of a small number of Ivy Leaguers to earn a place on an N.F.L. roster."</ref>
• Chris Fleming (born 1970), basketball player who played at the University of Richmond before starring in Germany and becoming an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets<ref>Carchidi, Sam. "It's Time: The Basketball Playoffs Are Here", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 29, 1988. Accessed December 21, 2014. "There isn't a clear-cut favorite among a contingent that features second-seeded Lacey Township - which is led by swingman Chris Fleming, a University of Connecticut-bound senior who is averaging 31.9 points per game - third-seeded Eastern, sixth-seeded Willingboro and seventh-seeded Middle Township, which won the Group 2 title last year."</ref> He is currently
• Mark Leiter Jr. (born 1991), baseball pitcher<ref>Joyce, Greg. "Mark Leiter Jr. gets surprise call from IronPigs to Phillies", The Express-Times, April 19, 2017. Accessed May 10, 2017. "The Lanoka Harbor, N.J. resident split 2015 between Reading and High-A Clearwater -- both starting and relieving -- after splitting 2014 between Clearwater and Low-A Lakewood, only starting."</ref>
• "Irish" Teddy Mann (born 1951), former world-rated middleweight boxer<ref>Staff. "Boxer's Big Fight Is Against Time", The New York Times, August 2, 1983. Accessed May 10, 2017. "Mann grew up in Forked River, a small, summer resort town along the Jersey shore."</ref>
• Scott Palguta (born 1982), professional soccer player<ref>"Palguta Named to Men's Soccer All-Ivy Second Team", CSTV. November 16, 2004. Accessed October 10, 2007. "It was announced today by the Ivy League offices that Cornell senior defenseman Scott Palguta (Forked River, N.J.) has been given All-Ivy honors, being named to the second team."</ref>
• Thomas Potter (1689–1777), farmer who in 1760 built a chapel in Good Luck for the purpose of spreading the doctrine of Universalism<ref>Piniat, Elaine. "Murray Grove: Its Past and Future; Still focusing on the history of the retreat and conference center, the staff of Murray Grove redirects their marketing", Lacey Patch, February 16, 2011. Accessed May 10, 2017. "The story began with Thomas Potter, a former resident of Lacey, which was then Good Luck, NJ. Potter was a Universalist and would allow those who came through the area to use his parlor for Sunday services, Masters said."</ref>
• Jorge A. Rod (born 1947), politician who served as mayor of Lacey Township and in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 9th Legislative District from 1982 to 1986<ref>Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, 1985, p. 247. Accessed April 20, 2020. "Jorge A. Rod, Rep., Lacey - Assemblyman Rod is the mayor of Lacey Township, an office he assumed in 1981, after having served nine years on the Township Committee."</ref>
• Warren Smith (born 1990), professional quarterback<ref>Sporer, Jeff. "Former Lacey Township quarterback Warren Smith has Maine challenging for conference title", The Press of Atlantic City, November 7, 2011. Accessed September 2, 2015. "Three years later, the 21-year old Lacey Township High School graduate is leading the University of Maine in a November charge toward the Colonial Athletic Association championship.... 'We call it November tough here at Maine,' said Smith, a senior from the Forked River section of Lacey Township."</ref>
• Rhett Titus (born 1987), professional wrestler<ref>Vosseller, Bob.

"Interact, Rotary, wrestlers raise funds" Template:Webarchive, Times Beacon, May 29, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2012. "A Jersey Shore title match will be held between champion Nicky Oceans versus Lacey Township's own Rhett Titus."</ref>

• Alex Wojciechowicz (1915–1992), two-way football player who played at center on offense and at linebacker on defense who has been inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame<ref>Didinger, Ray. "Eagles' Wojciechowicz was club's 'toughest guy'", Asbury Park Press, July 15, 1992. Accessed May 10, 2017. "Alex Wojciechowicz, one of 12 Philadelphia Eagles in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Monday at his home in Forked River, N.J."</ref>

External links

• Lacey Township website
• Lacey Township Business Directory (unofficial)