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.[23] 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.[24]
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.[25]
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.[26]
Geography
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%).[1][2] 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.
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.[33]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.
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.[18]
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.[18]
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.[48]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 22,532 people, 8,535 households, and 6,435 families residing in the township. The population density was 484.3 inhabitants per square mile (187.0/km2). There were 11,522 housing units at an average density of 247.6 per square mile (95.6/km2). 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.[46][47]
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.[46][47]
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.[46][47]
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.[46][47]
Government
Local government
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.[49][50] 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.[7][51] 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.[52]
As of 2024[update], 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.[3][53][54][55][56]
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.[57]
In November 2022, Steven Esposito was elected to fill a vacant council seat.[58] Thomas Bresnahanhad been appointed the previous August to fill the seat after Anthony Guariglia had resigned.[59]
Federal, state, and county representation
Stafford Township is in the 2nd Congressional District[60] and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.[61]
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.[66] As of 2025[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),[74][75]
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[76][77] and
Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).[78][79][80]
Politics
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.[81] 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).[81][82]
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%.[83][84] 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%.[85] 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.[86]
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%.[87][88] 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.[89]
Education
The Stafford Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.[90] 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.[91] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[92]) are
Oxycocus School[93] with 178 students in pre-kindergarten,
Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center[94] with 274 students in kindergarten,
Ocean Acres Elementary School[95] with 527 students in grades 1–2,
McKinley Avenue Elementary School[96] with 570 students in grades 3–4 and
Stafford Intermediate School[97] with 651 students in grades 5–6.[98][99][100]
St. Mary Academy, a K–8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in Stafford Township, near Manahawkin CDP.[108][109] It is managed by St. Mary Church of Barnegat. From 1997,[110] 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.[111]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 183.27 miles (294.94 km) of roadways, of which 143.29 miles (230.60 km) were maintained by the municipality, 20.06 miles (32.28 km) by Ocean County and 14.96 miles (24.08 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 4.96 miles (7.98 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[113]
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.[114] The Parkway intersects with Route 72 at Interchange 63 for Route 72 to Camden / Chatsworth / Manahawkin / Long Beach Island.[115] 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.
^"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."
^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."
^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."
^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."
^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."
^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).
^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."
^"Tuition". St. Mary Academy. Retrieved June 23, 2020. Participating parishes include: [...]400 Doc Cramer Blvd, Manahawkin, NJ 08050 - It has a Manahawkin address but is outside of the Manahawkin CDP
^Edelson, Steve. "Glenn Carson prepares for Arizona Cardinals season opener", Asbury Park Press, September 4, 2014. Accessed January 20, 2020. "Even as the congratulatory emails and text messages were pouring in on Saturday, Glenn Carson still wasn’t sure he’d actually made the Arizona Cardinals.... For many of those who were sending the Manahawkin native those voicemails and text messages during the weekend, they’ll get to see Carson play in person nine days from now, with the Cardinals headed to MetLife Stadium to take on the Giants in Week 2."
^Goldstein, Steve. "Roger 'Doc' Cramer, 85, Outfielder Who Played For Athletics, Red Sox", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 10, 1990. Accessed July 29, 2007. "Roger Maxwell "Doc" Cramer, 85, who hit .296 during an illustrious 19- year career in baseball that began when Connie Mack signed him for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929, died yesterday at his home in Manahawkin, N.J., after a seven-month battle with cancer."
^Lulgjuraj, Susan. "Galloway's Rolle, Atlantic City's Corcoran ready to realize NFL dreams", The Press of Atlantic City, April 22, 2010. Accessed April 21, 2011. "Watching the draft with family can be tough. Three years ago, Southern Regional High School and Rutgers University standout tight end Clark Harris waited in his Stafford Township home for his name to be called. As the second day of the draft grew on (there were only two days in 2007), the atmosphere became more tense."
^Staff. "More on the Soldier Kareem R. Khan", The New York Times, October 19, 2008. Accessed October 9, 2015. "On Meet the Press today, Colin L. Powell concluded his endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama by referring to the death of a Muslim soldier, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan of Manahawkin, N.J., who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6, 2007, and whose remains were buried in Arlington."
^Procida, Lee. "A younger Truex chose a passion for cars over a life at sea", The Press of Atlantic City, February 14, 2010. Accessed October 9, 2015. "When he does come home, he tends to keep to himself, hanging out at his parents' home in the Mayetta section or with his close friend from grade school Adam Sherer, who owns Sherer's Boat Basin in Barnegat Township."
^Lisberg, Adam. "Politician Richard Visotcky, 73; Served 12 years in Assembly", The Record, November 4, 2002. Accessed June 16, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "He and his wife, Lois, moved to Manahawkin 10 years ago to be closer to their son -- and because it was the only way for him to gracefully decline many civic obligations in Garfield as his health declined, the younger Visotcky said."