Stafford Township, New Jersey | |
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Township | |
Township of Stafford | |
Stafford Performing Arts Center in Manahawkin
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Map of Stafford Township in Ocean County. Inset; Location of Ocean County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. |
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Census Bureau map of Stafford Township, New Jersey |
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Coordinates: 39°42′20″N 74°15′51″W / 39.705632°N 74.264121°WCoordinates: 39°42′20″N 74°15′51″W / 39.705632°N 74.264121°W | |
Country | United States |
State | New Jersey |
County | Ocean |
Royal charter | March 3, 1750 |
Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
Named for | Staffordshire, England |
Government | |
• Type | Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) |
• Body | Township Council |
• Mayor | John R. Spodofora (R, term ends December 31, 2018) |
• Administrator | James A. Moran |
• Municipal clerk | Bernadette Park |
Area | |
• Total | 54.882 sq mi (142.142 km2) |
• Land | 45.849 sq mi (118.747 km2) |
• Water | 9.033 sq mi (23.395 km2) 16.46% |
Area rank | 30th of 566 in state 6th of 33 in county |
Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
Population (2010 Census) | |
• Total | 26,535 |
• Estimate (2016) | 27,153 |
• Rank | 91st of 566 in state 8th of 33 in county |
• Density | 578.8/sq mi (223.5/km2) |
• Density rank | 432nd of 566 in state 25th of 33 in county |
Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
• Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4) |
ZIP code | 08050 - Manahawkin |
Area code(s) | 609 |
FIPS code | 3402970320 |
GNIS feature ID | 0882069 |
Website | twp |
Stafford Township is a township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population increased to 26,535, reflecting an increase of 4,003 (+17.8%) from the 22,532 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 9,207 (+69.1%) from the 13,325 counted in the 1990 Census. The 2010 population was the highest level ever recorded in a decennial census for Stafford Township.
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 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.
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). The township was named for Staffordshire, England.