Stafford Township, New Jersey

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Map of Stafford Township in Ocean County
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Map of Stafford Township in Ocean County

Stafford Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,532.

Stafford Township is the gateway to the resort communities on Long Beach Island, with Route 72 providing the sole road access, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Manahawkin Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge (formally known as the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge).

Paul Johnson, a native of Stafford Township, was beheaded in Saudi Arabia by Al-Qaida affiliated men.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 142.0 km² (54.8 mi²). 120.5 km² (46.5 mi²) of it is land and 21.5 km² (8.3 mi²) of it (15.12%) is water.

Beach Haven West (2000 Census population of 4,444) and Manahawkin (2,004) are census-designated places and unincorporated areas contained within Stafford Township. Ocean Acres (13,155) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area split between Barnegat Township and Stafford Township. Warren Grove is an unincorporated rural area located within the township.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 22,532 people, 8,535 households, and 6,435 families residing in the township. The population density was 187.0/km² (484.3/mi²). There were 11,522 housing units at an average density of 95.6/km² (247.6/mi²). 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.

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.

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.

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.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Stafford Township is governed by a Mayor and Six Township Council members. The Mayor and Council members are elected to 3-year terms. The Mayor can vote on all issues. This seven-member governing body is empowered to enact local ordinances, to levy municipal taxes and conduct the affairs of the community.[1]

The Mayor of Stafford Township is Carl Block. Members of the Stafford Township Council are Sal Baglio, Jeanne DiPaola, Marie-Elena O'Connor, Dr. Fred Seeber, John Spodofora and David Wyrsch.[2]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Stafford Township is in the Third Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 9th Legislative District.[3]

New Jersey's Third Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Ocean County, is represented by Jim Saxton (R, Mount Holly). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 9th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Leonard T. Connors (R, Forked River) and in the Assembly by Christopher J. Connors (R, Forked River) and Brian E. Rumpf (R, Forked River). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Ocean County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Ocean County's Freeholders are: John C. Bartlett Jr., John P. Kelly, James F. Lacey, Gerry P. Little and Joseph H. Vicari.

[edit] Education

For grades K through 6, students attend the Stafford Township School District, which serves 2,727 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade. Schools in the district are Ocean Acres School with 736 students and Oxycocus School with 343 students, which both serve grades Pre-K to 2, McKinley Avenue School with 701 students in grades 3 and 4, and Stafford Intermediate School which has an enrollment of 700 students in grades 5 and 6.

For grades 7 through 12, students attend the Southern Regional Middle School (grades 7 and 8) and Southern Regional High School (grades 9 - 12). These schools are part of the Southern Regional School District, which serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School DistrictBarnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom and Surf City — along with students students from Beach Haven and Stafford Township, together with students from Barnegat Township (grades 9 - 12 only) and Ocean Township who attend as part of sending/receiving relationships. The current district population is approximately 4,000 students. Both schools are in the Manahawkin section of the township.

Also seated in Manahawkin is the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science. It is located within a quarter mile of Southern Regional High School. MATES is a comprehensive and challenging career high school. It is part of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School District.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities of Ocean County, New Jersey
(County Seat: Toms River)
Townships Barnegat Township | Berkeley Township | Brick Township | Eagleswood Township | Jackson Township | Lacey Township | Lakewood Township | Little Egg Harbor Township | Long Beach Township | Manchester Township | Ocean Township | Stafford Township | Toms River Township
Boroughs Barnegat Light | Bay Head | Beach Haven | Beachwood | Harvey Cedars | Island Heights | Lakehurst | Lavallette | Mantoloking | Ocean Gate | Pine Beach | Point Pleasant | Point Pleasant Beach | Seaside Heights | Seaside Park | Ship Bottom | South Toms River | Surf City | Tuckerton
CDPs and
Communities
Barnegat CDP | Bayville | Beach Haven West | Cedar Glen Lakes | Cedar Glen West | Crestwood Village | Dover Beaches North | Dover Beaches South | Forked River | High Bar Harbor | Holiday City-Berkeley | Holiday City South | Holiday Heights | Lakewood CDP | Leisure Knoll | Leisure Village | Leisure Village East | Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park | Manahawkin | Mystic Island | New Egypt | North Beach Haven | Ocean Acres | Pine Ridge at Crestwood | Silver Ridge | Toms River CDP | Vista Center | Waretown | Warren Grove
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