Stafford Township, New Jersey
Stafford Township, New Jersey | |
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The Stafford Performing Arts Center in Manahawkin | |
Map of Stafford Township in Ocean County. Inset; Location of Ocean County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
Census Bureau map of Stafford Township, New Jersey | |
Location in Ocean County Location in New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: 39°42′21″N 74°15′52″W / 39.705726°N 74.264326°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Ocean |
| Royal charter | March 3, 1750 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Named after | Staffordshire, England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act (small municipality) |
| • Body | Township Council |
| • Mayor | Robert E. Henken (R, unexpired term ends December 31, 2024) |
| • Administrator | Matthew von der Hayden |
| • Municipal clerk | Susan Farrell |
| Area | |
• Total | 54.71 sq mi (141.69 km2) |
| • Land | 46.11 sq mi (119.44 km2) |
| • Water | 8.59 sq mi (22.26 km2) 15.71% |
| • Rank | 29th of 565 in state 5th of 33 in county |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 28,617 |
• Estimate (2023) | 30,261 |
| • Rank | 86th of 565 in state 8th of 33 in county |
| • Density | 620.6/sq mi (239.6/km2) |
| • Rank | 427th of 565 in state 25th of 33 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code | 08050 – Manahawkin |
| Area code | 609 |
| FIPS code | 3402970320 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882069 |
| Website | www |
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, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,082 (+7.8%) from the 26,535 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,003 (+17.8%) from the 22,532 counted in the 2000 census.
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.