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Stafford Township, New Jersey

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Stafford Township is a township situated on the Jersey Shore in southern Ocean County, within the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 28,617,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,082 (+7.8%) from the 26,535 recorded at the 2010 census,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 4,003 (+17.8%) from the 22,532 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>

Stafford Township is the gateway to the resort communities on Long Beach Island, with Route 72 providing the sole road access to the island, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Barnegat Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge (formally known as the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge). The Garden State Parkway and U.S. Route 9 pass through the township and provide access to Route 72.

History

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File:Manahawkin Baptist Church.jpg
The Manahawkin Baptist Church, built in 1864

Stafford Township was formed by royal charter on March 3, 1750, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, and became part of the newly formed Ocean County on February 15, 1850. Portions of the township were taken to form Union Township (March 10, 1846, now Barnegat Township), Eagleswood Township (March 17, 1874), Long Beach City Borough (September 19, 1894, now Surf City) and Long Beach Township (March 23, 1899).<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. 205. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The township was named after Staffordshire, England.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 9, 2015.</ref>

Historically, Stafford Township was a rural area, with the notable exception of the downtown hub of Manahawkin. Significant growth began in the 1950s with the development of resort communities like Beach Haven West and Ocean Acres. These developments coincided with the completion of the Garden State Parkway and the expansion of Route 72, which formerly ran along the two-lane Bay Avenue.

While growing quickly, development was still sparse. Route 72 was still mostly wooded, aside from several car dealerships, gas stations, a drive-in movie theater, and the Manahawkin Executive Airport. The pace of development increased during the 1980s with new residential projects, including the expansion of Beach Haven West and Ocean Acres, transforming the area from seasonal vacation homes to year-round residences. This period also saw the establishment of Stafford Square, the township's first major shopping center. The Manahawkin Airport closed in the early 1990s to make way for commercial developments, including a Walmart and Pathmark.<ref>Key, Peter. "Wal-Mart Store To Open In Area / Stafford Site Set For 1992", The Press of Atlantic City, March 19, 1991. Accessed July 8, 2012. "Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced plans to open a Wal-Mart store in a shopping center being developed on the Manahawkin Airport by National Property Development Inc. of Purchase, N.Y."</ref> However, part of the runway was left intact until the 2000s, when the St. Mary's of the Pines Catholic Church and All Saints Regional Catholic School were built on the land.<ref>Larsen, Erik. "Keeping the faith Diocese confident regional school will be built", Asbury Park Press, March 11, 2000. Accessed July 8, 2012. "Last December, All Saints broke ground on about 20 acres beside Wal-Mart, which was once the site of the now-defunct Manahawkin Airport."</ref>

Stafford Township celebrates its history and community spirit through an annual Founders Day event held each June. Originating in 1964 as part of New Jersey’s 300th anniversary celebrations, Founders Day has grown into a vibrant tradition featuring a hometown parade, pie-eating contests, inflatable rides, the Miss Stafford, Jr. Miss Stafford, Little Miss Stafford, and Little Town Crier pageants, and concludes with a fireworks display.<ref>"Founders Day Calls Upon Seuss With Forward-Looking ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go, Stafford!’", The SandPaper, June 1, 2022 Accessed June 9, 2022. "According to Stafford Township Recreation Director Jason Hazelton, Founders Day started in 1964 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of New Jersey and has evolved into a multifaceted celebration that has taken place on the second Saturday in June for the past 30 years, omitting the pandemic years."</ref>

In July 2021, the township buried a 50-year time capsule, which will be opened in 2070. Stafford Township officials included various items, and residents submitted memorabilia from 2020 to give future residents a glimpse of life in Stafford Township during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Riccardi, Alyssa. "Stafford Captures The History Of 2020 With Time Capsule", Jersey Shore Online, February 3, 2021. Accessed June 9, 2022. "The time capsule is a 130-pound solid steel treasure chest that was built by Kurt Brownell of the Stafford Township Department of Public Works. Mayor Myhre explained how Brownell used scrap metal to create this one-of-a-kind time capsule. On December 31, 2020, Myhre and Williams made an initial deposit into the capsule. Inside, they put in: 2020 census bags; the Press of Atlantic City, 2020 in review paper; National Geographic photos of 2020; letters from the mayor and council; township calendars; Signs hung around the township in 2020 (for example wash your hands, wear masks, stop the spread of germs); masks and a current map of Stafford Township."</ref>

Geography

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File:Manahawkin WMA, NJ - 04.jpg
The "Bridge to nowhere" at the end of Stafford Avenue, part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 54.71 square miles (141.69 km2), including 46.11 square miles (119.44 km2) of land and 8.59 square miles (22.26 km2) of water (15.71%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> Stafford Township straddles the breadth of southern Ocean County from its eastern border at the Jersey Shore to the county's western border with Burlington County, New Jersey.

Beach Haven West (2010 Census population of 3,896<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Beach Haven West CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2012.</ref>) and Manahawkin (2,303<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Manahawkin CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2012.</ref>) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places contained within Stafford Township, while Ocean Acres (16,142<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Ocean Acres CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2012.</ref>) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area split between Barnegat Township and Stafford 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 January 2, 2013.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 2, 2013.</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 January 2, 2013.</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or entirely within the township include Bayside, Beach View, Bonnet Island, Cedar Bonnet, Cedar Grove, Cedar Run, Manahawkin Landing, Mayetta, South Beach View, and Sunshine City.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 10, 2015.</ref> Warren Grove is an unincorporated rural area located within the township as well as portions of Barnegat Township and Little Egg Harbor Township in the heart of the Pine Barrens.

The township borders the Ocean County municipalities of Barnegat Township, Eagleswood Township, Harvey Cedars, Little Egg Harbor Township, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom, and Surf City.<ref>Areas touching Stafford Township, MapIt. Accessed March 6, 2020.</ref><ref>Ocean County Map, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 6, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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The 2020 United States census counted 28,617 people in the township.<ref name=Census2020/>

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 26,535 people, 10,096 households, and 7,249 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 13,604 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 94.51% (25,077) White, 1.05% (278) Black or African American, 0.16% (42) Native American, 1.48% (394) Asian, 0.03% (8) Pacific Islander, 1.68% (445) from other races, and 1.10% (291) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.31% (1,410) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 10,096 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18; 58.9% were married couples living together; 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.2% were non-families. Of all households, 23.9% were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.0 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $68,250 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,646) and the median family income was $80,059 (+/− $4,290). Males had a median income of $60,398 (+/− $4,092) versus $43,138 (+/− $7,270) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,690 (+/− $1,364). About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Stafford township, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 22,532 people, 8,535 households, and 6,435 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 11,522 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 96.79% White, 0.74% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.41% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Stafford township, Ocean County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 3, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Stafford township, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2012.</ref>

There were 8,535 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.01.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $52,269, and the median income for a family was $59,072. Males had a median income of $44,706 versus $30,687 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,397. About 2.3% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

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Local government

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Stafford Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Small Municipality form of New Jersey municipal government. The township is one of 18 (of the 564) municipalities statewide that use this form of government, which is only available to municipalities with fewer than 12,000 residents at the time of adoption.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the six-member Township Council. The Mayor and Council members are elected to three-year terms on a concurrent basis in partisan elections. The mayor can vote on all issues. The seven-member governing body is empowered to enact local ordinances, levy municipal taxes and conduct the community's affairs.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 58.</ref><ref>Stafford Township Form Of Government, Stafford Township, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2010. Accessed January 2, 2013.</ref> In a November 2010 referendum, voters approved a change to shift from nonpartisan elections held in May to partisan elections held as part of the November general election, with costs savings from the shift cited as the primary justification for the move.<ref>Lala, Elisa. "Stafford Township voters approve moving municipal elections to November", The Press of Atlantic City, November 3, 2010. Accessed October 27, 2014. "Township residents voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to move annual nonpartisan elections from May to November.... Officials argued that moving the elections to the fall would save the township $50,000."</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Stafford Township is Republican Robert E. Henken, who was appointed to serve an unexpired term of office ending December 31, 2024. Members of the Stafford Township Council are Council President Lisa D. Mower, Steven Esposito, Paul Krier, Owen LaRocca (appointed to serve an unexpired term), Amy Otte and Thomas N. Steadman; all are Republicans and all are serving terms which end concurrently in 2024.<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor & Council, Stafford Township. Accessed August 21, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Stafford Township. Accessed August 21, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanProfile>Township of Stafford, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 21, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanOfficials>2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated August 19, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024.</ref><ref name=Ocean2021>2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

After Greg Myhre stepped down from office to take a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly in January 2024, councilmember Robert Henken was appointed to fill his seat as mayor; in turn, Owen LaRocca was appointed to fill Henken's vacant council seat.<ref>Sharkey, Pat. "Owen LaRocca Sworn In to Serve on Stafford Township Council", TAPinto Stafford / LBI, February 23, 2024. Accessed August 21, 2024. "Mayor Henken and the Township Council, along with Assemblyman Myhre, welcomed Owen LaRocca as the newest member of the Township Council during last week's Township Council meeting. LaRocca fills the opening left after the resignation of Greg Myhre and the appointment of Robert Henken as Mayor."</ref>

In November 2022, Steven Esposito was elected to fill a vacant council seat.<ref>Sharkey, Pat. "Steven Esposito Sworn In as New Stafford Councilman at Tuesday Night Council Meeting", TAPinto Stafford /LBI, November 22, 2022. Accessed August 21, 2024. "Republican Steven Esposito was sworn into Stafford Township Council by Mayor Greg Myhre on Tuesday evening to fill a two-year term."</ref> Thomas Bresnahanhad been appointed the previous August to fill the seat after Anthony Guariglia had resigned.<ref>Flesher, Thomas. "New Stafford Council Member Sworn In", Barnegat-Manahawkin, NJ Patch, August 4, 2022.Accessed August 21, 2024. "A new council member was sworn in to the Stafford Township Council on Aug. 1. The council unanimously approved Thomas Bresnahan's appointment to the council in a special meeting. Bresnahan was appointed to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Councilman Dr. Anthony Guariglia, who resigned last month."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

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Stafford Township is in the 2nd Congressional District<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=Districts2023>Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

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Template:NJ Ocean County Commissioners

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 18,029 registered voters in Stafford Township, of which 3,451 (19.1%) were registered as Democrats, 4,944 (27.4%) were registered as Republicans and 9,630 (53.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 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 January 2, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.9% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 88.0% 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 January 2, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.9% of the vote (7,159 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.0% (5,075 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (138 votes), among the 12,480 ballots cast by the township's 18,963 registered voters (108 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.8%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.3% of the vote (7,508 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.8% (5,351 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (150 votes), among the 13,113 ballots cast by the township's 18,430 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.2%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 2, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 60.4% of the vote (7,396 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 38.6% (4,722 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (90 votes), among the 12,239 ballots cast by the township's 16,776 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.0.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 2, 2013.</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|66.0% 11,839 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|32.7% 5,867 1.3% 209
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|62.4% 11,156 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.8% 6,408 1.8% 259
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|65.8% 9,116 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|31.2% 4,316 3.0% 413
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name=2012Election>Template:Cite web</ref> style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|57.9% 7,159 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|41.0% 5,075 1.1% 138
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|57.3% 7,508 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|40.8% 5,351 1.1% 150
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|60.4% 7,396 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|38.6% 4,722 0.5% 90

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.4% of the vote (5,602 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.3% (1,829 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (101 votes), among the 7,676 ballots cast by the township's 18,813 registered voters (144 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.8%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.9% of the vote (5,746 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 28.3% (2,511 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 4.9% (431 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (102 votes), among the 8,859 ballots cast by the township's 18,174 registered voters, yielding a 48.7% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Ocean County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed January 2, 2013.</ref>

Education

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The Stafford Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.<ref>Stafford Township Board of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Stafford Township School District Accessed June 16, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-kindergarten through six in the Stafford Township School District. Composition: The Stafford Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Stafford Township."</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,198 students and 190.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Stafford Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Stafford Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Oxycocus School<ref>Oxycocus School, Stafford Township School District. Accessed June 16, 2020.</ref> with 178 students in pre-kindergarten, Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center<ref>Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center, Stafford Township School District. Accessed June 16, 2020.</ref> with 274 students in kindergarten, Ocean Acres Elementary School<ref>Ocean Acres Elementary School, Stafford Township School District. Accessed June 16, 2020.</ref> with 527 students in grades 1–2, McKinley Avenue Elementary School<ref>McKinley Avenue Elementary School, Stafford Township School District. Accessed June 16, 2020.</ref> with 570 students in grades 3–4 and Stafford Intermediate School<ref>Stafford Intermediate School, Stafford Township School District. Accessed June 16, 2020.</ref> with 651 students in grades 5–6.<ref>Directions, Stafford Township School District. Accessed June 16, 2020.</ref><ref>Public Schools Directory 2019-2020; Living & Learning in Ocean County, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 16, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for Stafford Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

For seventh through twelfth grades, public school students are served by the Southern Regional School District, which serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District—Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom and Surf City—along with students from Beach Haven and Stafford Township, together with students from Ocean Township who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Ocean Township School District.<ref>Southern Regional High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 6, 2020. "Located in Manahawkin, the Southern Regional School District draws from the constituent districts of Long Beach Township, Beach Haven, Surf City, Ship Bottom, Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars and Stafford Township, as well as the tuition sending district of Ocean Township (Waretown).</ref><ref>About Us, Southern Regional School District. Accessed March 6, 2020. "Our school is a 7-12 comprehensive regional high school district. Our middle school covers grades 7-8 and our high school covers grades 9-12. The district is comprised of the constituent members of Stafford Township, Beach Haven, Long Beach Township, (which includes the municipalities of Loveladies, North Beach, High Bar Harbor and Brant Beach and Long Beach Township) Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Ship Bottom, and Surf City. Waretown is our sending district."</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–2019 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Southern Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Southern Regional Middle School<ref>Southern Regional Middle School, Southern Regional School District. Accessed January 20, 2020.</ref> with 934 students in grades 7–8 and Southern Regional High School<ref>Southern Regional High School, Southern Regional School District. Accessed January 20, 2020.</ref> with 1,952 students in grades 9–12.<ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Southern Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Both schools are in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township.

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science is a comprehensive and challenging career high school that is located on a hill in Manahawkin on the outskirts of the Southern Regional School District. MATES is part of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School and serves students from all of Ocean County.<ref>Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science - Background, Ocean County Vocational Technical School. Accessed January 2, 2013.</ref>

St. Mary Academy, a K–8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in Stafford Township, near Manahawkin CDP.<ref name=StMarytuit>Template:Cite web - It has a Manahawkin address but is outside of the Manahawkin CDP</ref><ref>Template:Cite web - St. Mary Academy is not in the CDP.</ref> It is managed by St. Mary Church of Barnegat. 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. In 2019 St. Mary 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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

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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, Lacey Township, Long Beach Island, Ocean Township (Waretown) and Tuckerton as one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.<ref>The Southern Ocean Times Template:Webarchive, Micromedia Publications. "First published in 2010. Expanded in 2013. Serving Lacey, Barnegat, Waretown, Manahawkin, LBI and Tuckerton in Ocean County, New Jersey."</ref>

Transportation

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File:2020-07-11 13 46 57 View north along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) at Exit 63A (New Jersey State Route 72 EAST, Long Beach Island) in Stafford Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.jpg
The northbound Garden State Parkway at the interchange with Route 72 in Stafford Township

Roads and highways

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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 and 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 18, 2014.</ref>

Stafford is served by a few major roads. The most prominent of these is the Garden State Parkway, which enters the Stafford Township from Eagleswood Township in the south and exits northward into Barnegat Township.<ref>Garden State Parkway Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, January 1997. Accessed October 27, 2014.</ref> The Parkway intersects with Route 72 at Interchange 63 for Route 72 to Camden / Chatsworth / Manahawkin / Long Beach Island.<ref>Travel Resources: Interchanges, Service Areas & Commuter Lots, New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Accessed October 27, 2014.</ref> In addition, U.S. Route 9 passes north–south through the center of the township and Route 72 passes from the northwest to the southeast. The most significant county road is CR 539, which traverses the western part of the township.

Public transportation

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NJ Transit provides bus service to 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 January 2, 2013.</ref>

Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC6 Little Egg Harbor – Stafford and the OC10 Long Beach Island routes.<ref>Ocean County Bus Service Template:Webarchive, Greater Mercer TMA. Accessed August 12, 2015.</ref><ref>Ocean Ride Rider's Guide Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 12, 2015.</ref><ref>Ocean County Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 12, 2015.</ref>

Notable people

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

References

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Template:Reflist

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