Forked River, New Jersey

Place in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States

Census-designated place in New Jersey, United States

Forked River, New Jersey

Census-designated place

Lacey Schoolhouse Museum

Map of Forked River CDP in Ocean County. Inset: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey.

Forked River

Location in Ocean County

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Forked River

Location in New Jersey

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Forked River

Location in the United States

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Coordinates: 39°50′23″N 74°11′25″W﻿ / ﻿39.8398413°N 74.1901399°W﻿ / 39.8398413; -74.1901399
Country|  United States
State|  New Jersey
County| Ocean
Township| Lacey
Area

[1]

• Total| 3.47 sq mi (8.99 km2)
• Land| 2.73 sq mi (7.08 km2)
• Water| 0.74 sq mi (1.91 km2)  73.66%
Elevation

| 13 ft (4 m)
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total| 5,274
• Density| 1,928.3/sq mi (744.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code|

08731

Area code| 609
FIPS code| 34-76107[3][4][5]
GNIS feature ID| 02390441[3][6]

Forked River (/ˈfɔːrkɪd/[7]) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)[8] located within Lacey Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[9][10][11][12] As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 5,274,[2] an increase of 30 (+0.6%) from the 5,244 enumerated at the 2010 census,[13] which in turn reflected an increase of 330 (+6.7%) from the 4.914 counted in the 2000 census.[14]

Many Ocean County residents commonly refer to all of Lacey Township as Forked River. The first word is pronounced by locals with two syllables (/ˈfɔːrkɪd/). Pronouncing the first word with one syllable (/fɔːrkt/) is a sign of a new resident or outsider.[15][7]

## Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 10.336 square miles (26.768 km2), including 2.723 square miles (7.052 km2) of land and 7.613 square miles (19.717 km2) of water (73.66%).[3][16]

Forked River is located on U.S. Route 9 south of Toms River. The community of Lanoka Harbor is directly north of Forked River, Bamber Lake is to the west, Barnegat is to the southwest, and Waretown is to the south.

Forked River is also the name of a nearby river that empties into Barnegat Bay.

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1990| 4,243| | —
2000| 4,914| | 15.8%
2010| 5,244| | 6.7%
2020| 5,274| | 0.6%
Sources: 1990-2010[11] 2000[14]
2010[13] 2020[2]

### 2010 census[edit]

The 2010 United States census counted 5,244 people, 2,077 households, and 1,429 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,926.1 per square mile (743.7/km2). There were 2,610 housing units at an average density of 958.6 per square mile (370.1/km2). The racial makeup was 95.58% (5,012) White, 0.74% (39) Black or African American, 0.23% (12) Native American, 0.61% (32) Asian, 0.10% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.66% (87) from other races, and 1.09% (57) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.64% (348) of the population.[13]

Of the 2,077 households, 25.7% had children under the age of 18; 55.7% were married couples living together; 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.2% were non-families. Of all households, 24.2% were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.[13]

20.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 102.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.0 males.[13]

### 2000 census[edit]

As of the 2000 United States census[4] there were 4,914 people, 1,927 households, and 1,383 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 656.5/km2 (1,700.3/mi2). There were 2,468 housing units at an average density of 329.7/km2 (853.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.37% White, 0.73% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.83% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.38% of the population.[14]

There were 1,927 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.[14]

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.[14]

The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,433, and the median income for a family was $59,830. Males had a median income of $46,179 versus $30,987 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,696. About 6.3% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.[14]

## Education[edit]

Lacey Township School District is the local school district.

St. Mary Academy near Manahawkin CDP, a K-8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in the area. From 1997,[17] until 2019 it operated as All Saints Regional Catholic School and was collectively managed by five churches,[18] with one being St. Pius X Church,[17] in Lacey Township and adjacent to the Forked River CDP.[19][20] In 2019 St. Mary Church in Barnegat 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.[18]

## In the news[edit]

On October 11, 1989, three aides of New York business mogul Donald Trump were killed in a helicopter crash near the Garden State Parkway in Forked River. Five people, including three high-level executives of Trump's three casinos in Atlantic City were killed when their helicopter crashed in pine woodlands.[21]

On June 6, 1997, Melissa Drexler, known as The Prom Mom, delivered a baby in a restroom stall at her Lacey Township High School prom, and threw the body in the trash before returning to the dance. She pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. After serving nearly 37 months, she was released on parole.[22]

## Transportation[edit]

Garden State Parkway at the exit for Forked River

NJ Transit provides bus service to Atlantic City on the 559 bus route.[23] Academy Bus provided bus service to Jersey City and New York City on the Parkway Express.[24] Local bus service is provided by Ocean Ride.[25] Forked River is served by U.S. Route 9 and exit 74 of the Garden State Parkway.

## Notable people[edit]

See also: Category:People from Lacey Township, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Forked River include:

* Christopher J. Connors (born 1956), represents the 9th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly.[26]
* Melissa Drexler (born 1978), Prom Mom.[22]
* Chris Fleming (born 1970), basketball player and coach.[27]
* "Irish" Teddy Mann (born 1951), former middleweight boxing contender and author of Fighting For Redemption: The "Irish" Teddy Mann Story.[28]
* Scott Palguta (born 1982), Head Men's Soccer Coach at Colorado College who had played with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.[29]
* Rhett Titus (born 1987), professional wrestler.[30]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
2. ^ a b c QuickFacts Forked River CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 20, 2023
3. ^ a b c Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.
4. ^ a b U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
5. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
6. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
7. ^ a b Suhay, Lisa. "JERSEYANA; Where They Don't Speak With Forked Tongue", The New York Times, December 8, 2002. Accessed January 10, 2012. "When one person comes into the area and pronounces the name of the town Forkt River, that person is called a Benny, or an out-of-towner. 'It's FORK-ed River,' Jennifer Sawicki, 25, who was born in the town, said with a laugh. 'Nobody in town says Forkt. That would be silly.'"
8. ^ State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
9. ^ GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Ocean County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 10, 2013.
10. ^ 2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 10, 2013.
11. ^ a b New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed January 10, 2013.
12. ^ Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 18, 2015.
13. ^ a b c d e DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Forked River CDP, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 10, 2013.
14. ^ a b c d e f DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Forked River CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 10, 2013.
15. ^ Pritchard, Michael. "Say What? : From 'Morris' River to 'R-Kansas' Avenue, Area Residents have own way of speaking.", The Press of Atlantic City, April 24, 2003. Accessed January 10, 2013. "There's Forked River in Lacey Township, Ocean County; Maurice River Township in Cumberland County and Green Creek in Cape May County, to name just a few. Locals know that the river may be forked, but it's the 'FOR-ked' River."
16. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
17. ^ a b "All Saints Regional school to become St. Mary Academy under administration of Barnegat parish". Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. December 19, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
18. ^ a b Heyboer, Kelly (June 11, 2019). "These are all the N.J. Catholic schools closing and merging this year". Nj.com. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
19. ^ "Home". Saint Pius X Church. Retrieved June 23, 2020. "300 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731" \- It has a Forked River postal address but is outside the CDP.
20. ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Forked River CDP, NJ" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 23, 2020. \- Relevant page: 1
21. ^ Hanley, Robert. "Copter Crash Kills 3 Aides Of Trump", The New York Times, October 11, 1989. Accessed January 10, 2013. "Five people, including three high-level executives of Donald J. Trump's three casinos in Atlantic City, were killed yesterday when their helicopter crashed in pine woodlands on the Garden State Parkway near Forked River, N.J."
22. ^ a b Hanley, Robert. "New Jersey Charges Woman, 18, With Killing Baby Born at Prom", The New York Times, June 25, 1997. Accessed January 10, 2013. "The woman, Melissa Drexler, 18, of Forked River, was charged after an autopsy determined she had choked the baby and smothered him either with her hands or with the plastic bag, said John Kaye, the Monmouth County Prosecutor."
23. ^ Ocean County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed January 13, 2013.
24. ^ Academy Bus - Timetables
25. ^ Ocean Ride Route Information
26. ^ Assembly Member Christopher J. Connors, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 9, 2007.
27. ^ Timmons, Nate. "One Denver Nuggets coach is bringing new perspective to team", BSNDenver.com, October 21, 2015. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Fleming grew up on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, population of 8,556, but when he was 10-years-old his family moved to Forked River, New Jersey and he eventually attended Lacey Township High School. Lacey Township sits roughly 84 miles south of the Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets."
28. ^ via Associated Press. "Mann Captures Split Decision", The New York Times, August 3, 1983. Accessed January 10, 2013. "Mann, of Forked River, N.J., had lost four straight fights since beating Robbie Epps here in March 1982."
29. ^ "Palguta Named to Men's Soccer All-Ivy Second Team", CSTV. November 16, 2004. Accessed January 13, 2014. "It was announced today by the Ivy League offices that Cornell senior defenseman Scott Palguta (Forked River, N.J.) has been given All-Ivy honors, being named to the second team."
30. ^ Rhett Titus, Online World of Wrestling. Accessed January 8, 2015. "Hometown: Forked River, New Jersey"

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Municipalities and communities of Ocean County, New Jersey, United States

County seat: Toms River

Boroughs|

* Barnegat Light
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