Location of Lakewood Township in Ocean County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Lakewood Township, New Jersey
Lakewood Township is the most populous township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. A rapidly growing community, as of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 135,158,[11][12] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 42,315 (+45.6%) from the 2010 census count of 92,843,[21][22] which in turn reflected an increase of 32,491 (+53.8%) from the 60,352 counted in the 2000 census.[23] The township ranked as the fifth-most-populous municipality in the state in 2020,[24] after ranking seventh in 2010, and 22nd in 2000, placing the township only behind the state's four biggest cities (Newark; Jersey City; Paterson; Elizabeth).[25] The sharp increase in population from 2000 to 2010 was led largely by increases in the township's Orthodox Jewish and Latino communities.[26] Further growth in the Orthodox community led to a sharp increase in population in the 2020 census, with a large number of births leading to a significant drop in the township's median age.[27] The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the township's population was 139,506 in 2022,[11] helping the fast-growing town surpass Elizabeth as the fourth-most-populous municipality in the state.[12]
As a major hub of Orthodox Judaism, Lakewood is home to Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), the largest yeshiva outside of Israel.[28] The large Orthodox population, which comprises more than half the township's population, strongly influences the township's culture[28][29] and wields considerable political clout in the township as a voting bloc.[30][31][32]
History
The earliest documented European settlement of the present Lakewood area was by operators of sawmills, from about 1750 forward. One such sawmill—located at the east end of the present Lake Carasaljo—was known as Three Partners Mill from at least 1789 until at least 1814. From 1815 until 1818, in the same area, Jesse Richards had an iron-smelting operation known as Washington Furnace, using the local bog iron ore. The ironworks were revived in 1833 by Joseph W. Brick, who named the business Bergen Iron Works, which also became the name of the accompanying town. In 1865, the town was renamed Bricksburg, and in 1880, it was renamed Lakewood and became a fashionable winter resort.
Lakewood's developers thought that "Bricksburg" did not capture their vision for the community, and the names "Brightwood" and "Lakewood" were proposed. After reaching out to area residents, "Lakewood" was chosen, and the United States Postal Service approved the name in March 1880.[33] The name "Lakewood" was intended to focus on the location near lakes and pine forests.[34]
Lakewood's three most prominent hotels were the Laurel House (opened in 1880; closed in 1932), the Lakewood Hotel (opened January 1891, closed in 1925), and the Laurel-in-the-Pines (opened December 1891, burned down in 1967).[36] Lakewood's promoters claimed that its winter temperature was usually about ten degrees warmer than that of New York City and were warmer than points located further south,[37][38] but this claim is not substantiated by official records of the United States Weather Bureau.[39] During the 1890s, Lakewood was a resort for the rich and famous, and The New York Times devoted a weekly column to the activities of Lakewood society.[40]Grover Cleveland spent the winters of 1891–1892 and 1892–1893 in a cottage near the Lakewood Hotel, commuting to his business in New York City.[41] This cottage became part of the Tuberculosis Preventorium for Children in 1909. Mark Twain also enjoyed vacationing in Lakewood. George Jay Gould I acquired an estate at Lakewood in 1896, which is now Georgian Court University.[42]John D. Rockefeller bought a property in 1902 which later became Ocean County Park.[43] Lakewood's hotel business remained strong in the 1920s and 1950s, but went into severe decline in the 1960s.[44]
In 1943, Aharon Kotler founded Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG).[45] In time, it would grow to become the largest yeshiva outside of Israel. In the 1960s, much of the woods and cranberry bogs in the township were replaced by large housing developments. Leisure Village, a condominium retirement development on the south side of Route 70, opened for sale in 1963.[46]
Geography
Lake Shenandoah
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 25.08 square miles (64.95 km2), including 24.68 square miles (63.92 km2) of land and 0.40 square miles (1.03 km2) of water (1.59%).[3][4] Lying on the coastal plain, Lakewood is a fairly flat place: three-quarters of it is 20 to 80 feet (6.1 to 24.4 m) above sea level, and its highest point is about 150 feet (46 m).[47]
The North Branch of the Metedeconk River forms the northern boundary and part of the eastern boundary of the township, while the South Branch runs through the township. A southern portion of the township is drained by the north branch of Kettle Creek. As implied in its name, Lakewood township has four lakes, all of them man-made; three of them—Lake Carasaljo, Manetta, and Shenandoah—are on the South Branch of the Metedeconk River, whereas the fourth—Lake Waddill—is on Kettle Creek.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Greenville, Lake Carasaljo, Seven Stars and South Lakewood.[54]
The township, including a portion of its southwestern portion, is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms Riverwatershed.[58]
A study of Jewish communities published under the auspices of the Berman Jewish DataBank estimated that Lakewood had a total Jewish population of 54,500 in 2009, about 59% of the township's 2010 population.[67]NJ.com estimated in 2018 that two-thirds of the township's residents, or about 90,000 people, were Orthodox Jews.[68]
The median value of owner occupied housing is $322,000 with an average mortgage of $2,216 and additional housing expenses of $807. The median gross rent is $1,463.[69]
2020 census
This section needs expansion with: examples with reliable citations. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021)
Lakewood Township, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The 2010 United States census counted 92,843 people, 24,283 households, and 17,362 families in the township. The population density was 3,777.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,458.6/km2). There were 26,337 housing units at an average density of 1,071.6 per square mile (413.7/km2). The racial makeup was 84.33% (78,290) White, 6.35% (5,898) Black or African American, 0.30% (276) Native American, 0.84% (777) Asian, 0.02% (14) Pacific Islander, 6.68% (6,199) from other races, and 1.50% (1,389) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.30% (16,062) of the population.[21]
Of the 24,283 households, 43.2% had children under the age of 18; 58.5% were married couples living together; 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.5% were non-families. Of all households, 24.6% were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.49.[21]
41.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 11.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.0 males.[21]
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $41,527 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,797) and the median family income was $45,420 (+/− $2,296). Males had a median income of $39,857 (+/− $4,206) versus $32,699 (+/− $2,365) for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,430 (+/− $565). About 21.9% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.[74]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[75] there were 60,352 people, 19,876 households, and 13,356 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,431.8 inhabitants per square mile (938.9/km2). There were 21,214 housing units at an average density of 854.8 per square mile (330.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 78.77% White, 12.05% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 2.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.80% of the population.[65][66]
There were 19,876 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.64.[65][66]
In the township the population was spread out, with 31.8% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.[65][66]
The median income for a household in the township was $35,634, and the median income for a family was $43,806. Males had a median income of $38,967 versus $26,645 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,700. About 15.7% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.[65][66]
Economy
Portions of the township are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. Lakewood was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program.[76] In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6+5⁄8% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.[77] Established in November 1994, the township's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in October 2025.[78] The UEZ is overseen by the Lakewood Development Corporation, which works to foster the UEZ and the businesses that operate inside it through loan and grant programs.[79]
Education
Lakewood School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and is broken up into three different stages of schooling.[80][81] As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 5,433 students and 511.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1.[82] Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[83]) are
Lakewood Early Childhood Center[84] with 247 students in PreK,
Ella G. Clarke School[85] with 375 students in grades 2-5,
Clifton Avenue School[86] with 387 students in grades 2-5,
Oak Street School[87] with 633 students in grades 1-5,
Piner Elementary School[88] with 415 students in grades PreK-1,
Spruce Street School[89] with 384 students in grades PreK-1,
Lakewood Middle School[90] with 1,126 students in grades 6-8 and
Lakewood High School[91] with 1,458 students in grades 9-12.[92][93][94]
In recent years, the Lakewood School District has had budgetary issues, shutting down briefly in 2019 due to a funding deficit.[95] The district spends more money on special education programs than any other district in the state and has a high bill for mandatory busing to non-public schools. Town leaders also cite imbalanced state funding formulas as the root of the district's financial problems.[96]
There are many yeshivas and Jewish day schools serving the Orthodox Jewish community, with the school district providing busing to 18,000 students enrolled at 74 yeshivas as of 2011,[98] and 25,000 by 2016.[99] BMG, one of the world's largest yeshivas, had an enrollment in excess of 6,500.[28] It is a post high school institution for higher education, where students primarily focus on the study of the Talmud and halakha (Jewish law).[100]
The Roman Catholic-affiliated Holy Family School served youth from preschool through eighth grade under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. In 2014, the diocese announced that the school was closing at the end of the 2014–2015 school year, as fewer students were enrolling.[102]
ShoreTown Ballpark, home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, is a 6,588-seat stadium constructed at a cost of $22 million through funds raised from the township's Urban Enterprise Zone.[104]
The BlueClaws, previously known as the Lakewood Blue Claws,[105] have led the league in attendance every year since its formation in 2001 up until 2011, with more than 380,000 fans in the 2001 season, representing an average attendance of more than 6,200 fans per game.[106]
Parks and recreation
Ocean County Park offers tennis courts, sports fields, hiking trails, beach volleyball, a driving range, swimming and cross-country skiing.[107] Lakes Carasaljo and Shenandoah have canoe and kayak access, and jogging trails.[108] The Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum is located on the campus of Georgian Court University.[109]
Government
Local government
Lakewood 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.[110] 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.[9][111] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
The Township Committee controls all legislative powers of the Township except for health matters, which are controlled by the Board of Health. In addition, the Committee appoints members to boards, commissions, and committees. Each member of the township committee serves as a liaison to different divisions, departments, and committees.
The mayor, elected from among members of the committee, presides at meetings and performs other duties as the Township Committee may prescribe. The mayor has the power to appoint subcommittees with the consent of the committee. When authorized, the mayor may execute documents on behalf of the township, makes proclamations concerning holidays and events of interest, and exercises ceremonial power of the Township and other powers conferred by law.
As of 2024[update], the members of the Lakewood Township Committee are Mayor Ray Coles (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy mayor Menashe Miller (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2024), Albert Akerman (R, 2025), Deborah Fuentes (R, 2026) and Meir Lichtenstein (D, 2024).[5][112][113][114][115][116][117]
Police
Lakewood Township is served by the Lakewood Police Department (LPD), which provides police protection for the township. It has several specialized units: Traffic and Safety, School Resource Officers, Special Response Team (SWAT), Dive Team, and a Motorcycle Patrol and Bicycle Patrol unit in the spring and summer. The current Chief of Police is Gregory Meyer.[118]
Fire
Lakewood Township is served by the Lakewood Fire Department (LFD), a unified combination consisting of four Volunteer Fire Stations and one career fire station which provide fire protection for the township.[119]
The fire department was founded in October 1888. The Board of Fire Commissioners was created in 1896. The first motorized equipment was purchased in 1915. The largest fire in township history occurred on April 20, 1940, when a forest fire destroyed over 50 structures and burned down most of the southern half of town. The largest loss of life caused by fire occurred on February 12, 1936, when the Victoria Mansion Hotel, valued at $100,000 (equivalent to $2.2 million in 2023), located on the southeast corner of Lexington Avenue and Seventh Street, was destroyed in a fire and 16 people died.[120] The largest structure fire in department history occurred on March 29, 1967, when the block-long Laurel in the Pines Hotel was leveled by a suspicious fire that also killed three people. The last fire hose was picked up a week later when the fire was finally declared out.[121]
There are 33 career firefighters (including a career Fire Chief) and approximately 50 volunteer firefighters.[119][122]
The Chief of the Lakewood Fire Department is Jonathan Yahr.[119]
Fire stations
Fire stations are located across the township:[119]
Engine Company 1 – Engine 1, Engine 11; 119 First Street
Engine 2, 1350 Lanes Mills Road
Engine 3; 976 New Hampshire Avenue
Ladder 3, Engine 33; 170 Lafayette Boulevard
Engine 4, Engine 44; 300 River Avenue
Engine 5 735 Cedarbridge Avenue (Career)
Ladder 5 800 Monmouth Avenue (Career)
Support Services & RAC Unit (Rehab) 733 Cedarbridge Avenue
EMS
Lakewood Township is served by three emergency medical services (EMS) entities, which include Lakewood EMS (LEMS), Lakewood First Aid & Emergency Squad (LFAS) and Hatzolah EMS. The squads are all independently operated, but work together to provide emergency medical services for the township. Lakewood First Aid & Emergency Squad and Hatzolah EMS are volunteer organizations, while Lakewood EMS is a career municipal service under the direction of EMS Chief Crystal Van de Zilver.
In the event of a motor vehicle accident, Lakewood First Aid & Emergency Squad are the primary providers of vehicle extrication services for the township and Hatzolah EMS serves as backup.[123]
The three organizations collectively have approximately 150 volunteer and paid EMTs. Hatzolah also has a paramedic unit by special arrangement with RWJBarnabas Health.[124]
Lakewood First Aid & Emergency Squad – Squad 25 – 1555 Pine Street[125]
Hatzolah EMS – Squad 45 – Monmouth Avenue and 3rd Street, 501 West County Line Road at Heathwood Avenue
EMS Department
Lakewood EMS – Squad 52 – 1555 Pine Street
Federal, state, and county representation
Lakewood Township is located in the 4th Congressional District,[126] and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district.[127][128][129]
Ocean County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization held in the beginning of January, the board chooses a director and a deputy director from among its members.[136] As of 2024[update], Ocean County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year and residence) are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[144][145]
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[146][147] and
Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).[148][149][150]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 37,925 registered voters in Lakewood Township, of which 6,417 (16.9%) were registered as Democrats, 13,287 (35.0%) were registered as Republicans, and 18,202 (48.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 19 voters registered to other parties.[151] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 40.8% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 70.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).[151][152]
The Vaad in Lakewood is an 11-member council of elders from the Orthodox community, which greatly influences the way the community will vote, often after interviewing political candidates.[153][154]
In the 2020 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 82.5% of the vote (30,648 votes), ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with 17.2% (6,397 votes), and other candidates with 0.3% (117 votes).[155] Trump won his greatest margin from any municipality in the whole state. In the 2016 presidential election, Trump received 74.4% of the vote (17,914 votes), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 24.2% (5,841 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (333 votes).[156] In the 2012 presidential election. Republican Mitt Romney received 72.9% of the vote (19,273 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 26.7% (7,062 votes), and other candidates with 0.3% (87 votes), among the 26,590 ballots cast by the township's 41,233 registered voters (168 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.5%.[157][158] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 69.1% of the vote (19,173 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 29.7% (8,242 votes), and other candidates with 0.5% (144 votes), among the 27,750 ballots cast by the township's 39,640 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0%.[159] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 66.4% of the vote (16,045 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 32.5% (7,852 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (137 votes), among the 24,152 ballots cast by the township's 35,217 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.6.[160]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 82.4% of the vote (11,850 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 16.9% (2,427 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (107 votes), among the 14,921 ballots cast by the township's 41,567 registered voters (537 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 35.9%.[161][162] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.9% of the vote (10,528 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 30.8% (5,910 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 2.6% (506 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (142 votes), among the 19,171 ballots cast by the township's 37,928 registered voters, yielding a 50.5% turnout.[163]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 193.15 miles (310.84 km) of roadways; of which 135.26 miles (217.68 km) were maintained by the municipality, 43.28 miles (69.65 km) by Ocean County, 11.22 miles (18.06 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and 3.39 miles (5.46 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[164]
The Garden State Parkway is the most prominent highway in Lakewood. It passes through the eastern part of the municipality, connecting Toms River in the south to Brick in the north[165] with one major interchange serving Lakewood at exit 89.[166] Drivers can access Route 70 from exit 89, after exit 88 was permanently closed in November 2014.[167] The state and U.S. routes that pass through are Route 70, Route 88 and Route 9. Major county routes that pass through are CR 526, CR 528, CR 547 and CR 549.
Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll (born 1975), activist and writer whose work focuses on women's rights in Orthodox Judaism and the visibility of women in Israel's Orthodox communities.[200]
Yosef Reinman, rabbi and author who has written about inter-community dialogue within Judaism[214]
Richard Roberts (born 1957), pharmaceutical executive, philanthropist and political activist[215]
John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), industrialist and philanthropist, had an estate in Lakewood, as well as other homes in Ohio, New York, and Florida. His family donated a large tract of land it owned in Lakewood to Ocean County, where the County built the current Ocean County Park on Route 88, Lakewood[216]
^Steve Strunsky (April 16, 2019). "Lakewood yeshiva looks to use old golf course for new campus". New Jersey On-Line LLC. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019. Beth Medrash Gohova is said to be the world's largest Jewish-affiliated university outside of Israel.
^Stephen Stirling (August 3, 2017). "10 ways Lakewood is unlike anywhere else in N.J." NJ Advance Media. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019. The sea change can be pinned to one event: The founding of the Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva in the mid-20th century. The Orthodox Jewish community has set down roots en masse around the religious school, which is now the largest yeshiva in North America.
^Rundquist, Jeanette. "Lakewood, N.J.'s fastest-growing town, is defined by its diversity"Archived February 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, The Star-Ledger, February 6, 2011. Accessed September 5, 2011. "The 54 percent population increase, according to residents and community leaders in Lakewood, was fueled by growth in the Jewish community, the Latino community, and a third group, senior citizens. The town's African-American population, meanwhile, dropped slightly."
^Cervenka, Susanne. "Ocean no longer among state's oldest counties; Affordable housing, access to Parkway behind population shift"Archived January 27, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Home News Tribune, August 5, 2022. Accessed June 27, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Lakewood leads Ocean County's youth movement. The township, which is New Jersey's fastest growing community, saw its median age drop from 24.6 years in 2010 to 18.5 years last year, the most recent year for which data is available. Much of its growth, and the decline in median age is a result of the burgeoning Orthodox Jewish community.... Families are also typically large in the Orthodox community, and state data shows Lakewood has been experiencing a baby boom for much of the last 20 years."
^ abcDi Ionno, Mark. "How Lakewood became a worldwide destination for Orthodox Jews"Archived May 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Star-Ledger, May 7, 2017. Accessed May 12, 2017. "It is Friday in Lakewood. A few thousand young men in black suits and wide-brimmed black hats are rushing toward Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), the world's largest yeshiva outside of Israel... The yeshiva has about 6,500 students, equal in enrollment to the College of New Jersey."
^Goldberg, Rabbi Meir. "NJ Orthodox: Lots of variation in Lakewood's Jewish community"Archived September 30, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Asbury Park Press, June 27, 2019. Accessed February 6, 2022. "Lakewood's Orthodox Jews have created an economic engine that employs tens of thousands of Jews and non-Jews alike, including construction, tech, health care, real estate, law, medicine, finance, service and home repair industries and more."
^Peterson, Iver. "Tragedy Forces Town To Face Its Divisions; Breaching Barriers of Creed and Culture"Archived February 7, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, August 19, 1995. Accessed June 20, 2016. "The community is not withdrawn in politics, however. The Orthodox vote as a nearly solid bloc, making them the dominant political power in Lakewood, and a power that can only grow: Leaders of the yeshiva community, which had about 400 members in 1968, expect their numbers to top 27,000 by the turn of the century."
^Weiss, Steven I. "U.S. gets another Orthodox mayor"Archived February 7, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 12, 2006. Accessed February 6, 2022. "That's certainly the case in Lakewood, where Meir Lichtenstein was inaugurated as mayor in January. Orthodox Jews make up nearly half of the village's 70,000 residents, and they often vote as a bloc, with a council of leaders determining whom they should support."
^Stilton, Phil. Jack Ciattarelli visits Lakewood, making a pitch for the Lakewood bloc voteArchived February 7, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Shore News Network, May 31, 2021. Accessed February 6, 2022. "New Jersey candidate for Governor Ciattarelli this week visited Lakewood to lobby for that town's large and highly coveted 'bloc vote'. In politics, the Lakewood Orthodox Jewish community often votes as a bloc, but not always, guided by a council of rabbis and business owners in the growing city called 'the VAAD'. The Lakewood vote can often make or break a candidate's campaign and Ciattarelli knows that."
^History of LakewoodArchived April 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, VillageProfile.com. Accessed September 2, 2015. "Because the name of the town did not suit the visions its promoters had for it, Samuel D. Davis suggested the name 'Brightwood'. Erastus Dickinson suggested 'Lakewood' and the times and Journal conducted a house-to-house canvass of the citizens, who voted for 'Lakewood' by a large majority. On March 20, 1880, the Post Office officially recognized the name of the village as 'Lakewood.'"
^Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and AnswersArchived January 12, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "In 1994 the legislation was amended and ten more zones were added to this successful economic development program. Of the ten new zones, six were predetermined: Paterson, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Lakewood, Asbury Park/Long Branch (joint zone). The four remaining zones were selected on a competitive basis. They are Carteret, Pleasantville, Union City and Mount Holly."
^http://www.lakewoodnj.gov/department/uez Urban Enterprise ZoneArchived December 14, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, Township of Lakewood. Accessed November 19, 2019. "The Lakewood Development Corporation administers Lakewood's Urban Enterprise Zone program and the Lakewood Foreign Trade Zone. Both programs are designed to encourage economic development through the location and/or expansion of businesses to the municipality. The LDC offers business loans and grants to certified UEZ businesses as well as numerous other business encouragement incentives."
^Lakewood Board of Education District Policy 0110 - IdentificationArchived August 20, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Lakewood School District. Accessed May 5, 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 twelve in the Lakewood School District. Composition: The Lakewood School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Lakewood."
^Ahearn, James. "Opinion: In Central Jersey, a school imbroglio"Archived 2017-04-07 at the Wayback Machine, The Record, June 5, 2012. Accessed April 6, 2017. "The answer was eye-opening. Eighteen thousand kids. That is, to repeat, 18,000. They attended 74 yeshiva schools, served by 14 bus companies, on 400 routes, more than any other district in the state."
^Rinde, Meir. "Is Lakewood on the Verge of a Meltdown?"Archived June 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, NJ Spotlight, June 21, 2016. Accessed April 6, 2017. "State and local educational funding systems aren't built to handle a town with 25,000 children in religious institutions and 6,000 in the public schools, says Rev. Glenn Wilson."
^Fahim, Kareem. "As Orthodox Population Grows, So Do Tensions"Archived October 30, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, December 10, 2007. Accessed September 5, 2011. "Many Orthodox Jews have been drawn to Lakewood by the prestige of the town's yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, one of the largest rabbinical colleges in the world. The yeshiva was founded in 1943 by a Polish-born rabbi, Aaron Kotler. In 1962, when Rabbi Kotler died, the school had 250 students. It now has about 5,000. The wider yeshiva community includes more than a hundred temples, and about 50 schools."
^Terry, Nicquel. "Shore Catholic schools set to close in 2015", Asbury Park Press. December 2, 2014. Accessed August 30, 2015. "Two Shore area Catholic schools will close in 2015, citing declining enrollment in recent years as more families opt to send their children to public schools. Officials from both St. Denis School in Manasquan and Holy Family School in Lakewood confirmed Tuesday that the schools would shut down at the end of this school year." ()
^The History of The StrandArchived 2015-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, Strand Center of the Arts. Accessed September 15, 2014. "The famous theater architect Thomas Lamb was commissioned in the early 1900s by the Ferber Amusement Company to design a theater in Lakewood, New Jersey.... In 1922, The Strand opened in a time when Lakewood was a popular playground for the rich and famous, including Grover Cleveland and John D. Rockefeller."
^Luttrell, Jim. "Baseball: Minor League Notebook; Phillies' Class A Team Plays in First-Class Park"Archived January 12, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, May 25, 2001. Accessed September 5, 2011. "While the final touches are being applied to new stadiums in Staten Island and Brooklyn, the eighth minor league franchise in New Jersey has already unveiled its $22 million facility.... The Lakewood stadium, which was built in an urban enterprise zone and which the team says is the largest urban enterprise project in the state, has 6,588 reserved seats and general admission grass seating beyond the outfield fences that accommodates another 3,000 people."
^Staff. "Blueclaws Lead League In Attendance For 11th Straight Year"Archived November 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, News Record, September 6, 2011. Accessed August 20, 2012. "For the 11th time in as many years, the Lakewood BlueClaws minor league baseball team has led the South Atlantic League in attendance. With 6,263 fans per game coming to FirstEnergy Park – 93 fans per game more than 2010 – the BlueClaws wrapped up their 11th straight attendance title and now begin the push towards five million fans, which will happen early in 2012. The BlueClaws drew 382,070 to FirstEnergy Park this year, bringing their 11-year total to 4,838,603 fans, 161,397 shy of 5-million."
^Sister Mary Grace Burns ArboretumArchived February 25, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Georgian Court University. Accessed February 25, 2020. "The arboretum, established in 1989, is named after Sister Mary Grace Burns, who was the chairperson of the biology department and professor of biology from 1927 to 1968. It comprises the entire campus (approx. 155 acres)."
^ abcdFire Department, Township of Lakewood. Accessed March 16, 2024. "The Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1888. The Lakewood Fire Department is a combination department. There are currently 50 active firefighters and support members in the volunteer fire department. The Career Division of the Department was started in the 1950s and currently employs 33 firefighters and officers, which includes the Chief of Department."
^Lakewood Fire District 1, NJ Fire Districts. Accessed March 16, 2024. "The Lakewood Fire District is comprised of a combination volunteer and career fire department under the leadership of Chief Jonathan Yahr and Deputy Chief David Wolf who report to the Board of Fire Commissioners. The volunteer department was established in 1888 and has grown to include seven strategically placed fire stations.... The career department fire stations are manned 24/7 and employ thirty-two career firefighters."
^"Governor - Ocean County"(PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Archived(PDF) from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^Higgs, Larry. "Parkway exit to close permanently Monday night"Archived May 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 10, 2014, Update as of April 8, 2015. Accessed May 17, 2015. "Exit 88 is scheduled to close permanently at 7 p.m., Monday and traffic to Route 70 will diverted to a new service road at Interchange 89."
^Halachic authorityArchived 2017-12-25 at the Wayback Machine "after the passing of Rabbi Kotler, Rabbi Abadi became the Posek and the exclusive Halachic authority in Lakewood."
^Val AckermanArchived October 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Times. Accessed February 9, 2011. "Valerie B. Val Ackerman was born on November 7, 1959, in Lakewood, New Jersey, but grew up in Pennington, New Jersey, United States."
^"Jay Alders ProfileArchived February 20, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, ResinMag.com, February 2010. Accessed February 19, 2018. "Resinmag.com: Where were you Born? Jay Alders: In Lakewood, NJ, about 12 or so miles from the beaches of Jersey."
^Hegedus, Eric. "Shooting from the lip: 'Southland' cop sounds off on NBC cancellation and TNT rescue"Archived July 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, New York Post, February 28, 2010. Accessed February 10, 2011. "Cudlitz, 45, has moved on. The Flushing native and former Lakewood, NJ, resident, has aroused a lot of interest in his portrayal of Cooper, who has many personal issues, including his developing gay identity, a prescription drug dependency and a job-threatening back injury, and an ex-wife who figures into his pill-popping problem."
^"The Beleaguered Man", Time, April 4, 1955. Accessed March 27, 2008. "For the best part of two years (1951-1953) he made his home at the Maryknoll Junior Seminary in Lakewood, N.J.. often going down to Washington to buttonhole State Department men and Congressmen and urge them not to support French colonialism."
^Walker, Rob. Cul-de-Sac CredArchived November 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, July 10, 2005. Accessed January 3, 2012. "Marc Milecofsky grew up in Lakewood, N.J., about an hour and a half south of Manhattan."
^Jones, Abigail. "In Orthodox Jewish Divorce, Men Hold All the Cards"Archived December 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Newsweek, April 8, 2015. Accessed December 14, 2021. "'Basically, what we are going to be doing is kidnapping a guy for a couple of hours and beating him up and torturing him and then getting him to give the get," Rabbi Mendel Epstein told two potential clients. It was August 14, 2013, and he was sitting in his home in Lakewood, New Jersey, with a young Orthodox Jewish woman and her brother."
^Horner, Shirley. "No Headline"Archived January 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, August 26, 1984. Accessed March 24, 2016. "'Lottery losers might soon end up winning books here, too,' Hazel Gluck of Lakewood, director of the New Jersey Division of the State Lottery, said the other day."
^"Success is habit forming to Goldstein"Archived February 12, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Asbury Park Press, October 22, 1980. Accessed February 11, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Success is getting to be a habit with William Goldstein, a film composer and arranger who grew up in Lakewood.... Goldstein was graduated from Lakewood High School, Trenton State College, the Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard School of Music."
^"Rav Yehuda Jacobs zt'l"Archived June 4, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Matzav.com, April 27, 2020. Accessed May 31, 2020. "Settling in Lakewood with his wife, Mrs. Ruthie Jacobs, he grew along with the yeshiva, eventually being instated as one of the mashgichim."
^Staff. "Serge Jaroff"Archived November 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, October 8, 1985. Accessed February 9, 2011. "Serge Jaroff, founder and director of the Don Cossack Chorus, died Saturday in the Paul Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, N.J. He was 89 years old and lived in Lakewood."
^The George Jay Gould Estate, Georgian Court University. Accessed February 9, 2011. "The health benefits of Lakewood enticed George Jay Gould, son of railroad magnate Jay Gould, to build Georgian Court in 1896. The construction began ten years after his marriage to a lovely young actress named Edith Kingdon. Edith and George Gould believed Lakewood would be an ideal spot in which to rear their two sons and four daughters."
^Pack FamilyArchived June 24, 2016, at the Wayback Machine,- Arizona Historical Society. Accessed November 23, 2017. "Arthur Newton Pack was born February 20th, 1893, in Cleveland, Ohio.... He eventually moved to Lakewood, New Jersey where he lived until his death in 1937."
^Ocean County ParkArchived 2008-09-14 at the Wayback Machine, Ocean County Department of Parks & Recreation. Accessed February 9, 2011. "Ocean County Park was originally part of Financier John D. Rockefeller's vacation estate."
^Eliezer Schindler, The Bais Yaakov Project. Accessed March 13, 2024. "In 1938 he emigrated to America and became a farmer near Lakewood, New Jersey."
^via United Press International. "Bulls' Bid Denied"Archived November 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Times-Union, July 12, 1972. Accessed February 10, 2011. "Robert Schmertz, a real estate executive from Lakewood, has received unanimous approval from the National Basketball Association Board of Governors to purchase the Boston Celtics, but another group was rejected in its bid to buy the Chicago Bulls."
^P., Ken. "An Interview with Armin Shimerman: Deep Space Nine's Quark discusses his career."Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, IGN, August 4, 2003. Accessed February 9, 2011. "IGN Filmforce: Am I correct in understanding that you're originally from Lakewood, New Jersey? Armin Shimerman: Yes ... a small town in the mid-section of New Jersey, Ocean County. It was a great, great childhood and it was a terrific town – probably still is. I haven't been there for decades. I keep waiting for them to invite me back to be sort of a VIP at one of their parades, but it hasn't happened yet."
^Staff. "Arthur Siegel, Song Composer And Pianist, 70"Archived September 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, September 17, 1994. Accessed August 5, 2013. "Mr. Siegel, whose career in show business spanned nearly five decades, was born in Lakewood, N.J., on Dec. 31, 1923, and grew up in Asbury Park, N.J. He came to New York City in the 1930s and studied at the Juilliard School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he met the entertainer Eddie Cantor's daughter and got his first big break as Cantor's accompanist."
^BiographyArchived March 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, LewSoloff.com. Accessed September 5, 2011. "Born in Brooklyn, on February 20, 1944, Soloff was raised in Lakewood, New Jersey and started studying piano at an early age."
^Staff. "Steve Tisch"Archived March 18, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Los Angeles Times. Accessed February 9, 2011. "Born in Lakewood, N.J., Tisch graduated from Tufts University and began his entertainment career as Peter Guber's assistant at Columbia Pictures."
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