Lacey Township, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Lacey Township, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Map of Lacey Township in Ocean County. Inset: Location of Ocean County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Lacey Township, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Ocean
government_footnotes =
government_type = Township
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = David Most (R, 2008)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = March 23, 1871

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 255.2
area_land_km2 = 217.6
area_water_km2 = 37.6
area_total_sq_mi = 98.5
area_land_sq_mi = 84.0
area_water_sq_mi = 14.5

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 26300
population_density_km2 = 116.5
population_density_sq_mi = 301.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882072|Lacey Township, Geographic Names Information System, accessed October 22, 2007.]
elevation_m = 42
elevation_ft = 138
latd = 39 |latm = 51 |lats = 3 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 13 |longs = 54 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08731, 08734
area_code = 609
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-37380GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0882072GR|3
website = http://www.laceytownship.org
footnotes =

Lacey Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey and is considered part of the Jersey Shore region. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 25,346. It was named for Continental Army General John Lacey.

Lacey Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1871, from portions of Dover Township (now known as Toms River Township) and Union Township (now Barnegat Township). Portions of the township were taken on June 23, 1933, to form the borough of Island Beach (which is now part of Berkeley Township)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 203.]

The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station is located in the southern part of the township.

Murray Grove is a Unitarian-Universalist retreat and conference center in Lanoka Harbor, traditionally considered the site where Universalism in America began.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 98.5 square miles (255.2 km²), of which, 84.0 square miles (217.6 km²) of it is land and 14.5 square miles (37.6 km²) of it (14.74%) is water. The township is bordered by the Barnegat Bay to the East, Berkeley Township on the North, Ocean Township to the South, and Woodland Township to the West.

Forked River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lacey Township. The township also contains the unincorporated area of Lanoka Harbor. Bamber Lakes, Laurel Harbor and Sun Rise Harbor are also areas of Lacey Township. The township names its fire stations after the various areas of Lacey Township.

In Lacey Township, the north-south track of the Garden State Parkway serves as an informal use divider under the 1979 Pinelands Act and the subsequent Comprehensive Management Plan. To the east of the Parkway are more than 95% of Lacey's residential dwellings, located in the unincorporated areas of Lanoka Harbor and Forked River. To the Parkway's west is a mostly undisturbed pine and cedar forest, part of New Jersey's vast Pine Barrens. The forest is interspersed with a scattered few farms, houses ranches, the tiny community of Bamber Lake and open pit gravel quarries - all of which predate passage of the Pinelands Act or were developed under its tight zoning rules. The conditions of grandfathering vary - the mines' exceptions are to expire upon the deaths of their owners whereas the farms' exceptions are indefinite. Development west of the parkway is strictly controlled by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.

Many Ocean County residents commonly refer to all of Lacey Township as Forked River with the first word pronounced with two syllables (FOR-ked or FORK-ed). Pronouncing the first word with one syllable is a sign of a new resident [ [http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:PACB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FAA3215810CC50C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=11ECDBF131F44C689BB0EDBA11D99EE0 Say What? : From 'Morris' River to 'R-Kansas' Avenue, Area Residents have own way of speaking.] , "The Press of Atlantic City", April 24, 2003] [ [http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:NYTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1019231FB4F39CD5&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=11ECDBF131F44C689BB0EDBA11D99EE0 "Jerseyana: Where They Don't Speak With Forked Tongue"] , "The New York Times", December 8, 2002.] or a Benny.Fact|date=February 2008

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=692
1940=752
1950=966
1960=1940
1970=4616
1980=14161
1990=22141
2000=25346
estimate= 26300
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3444100&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3444100&_street=&_county=lacey&_cityTown=lacey&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Lacey township] , United States Census Bureau, accessed July 30, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the census² of 2000, there were 25,346 people, 9,336 households, and 7,244 families residing in the township. The population density was 301.7 people per square mile (116.5/km²). There were 10,580 housing units at an average density of 126.0/sq mi (48.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.85% White, 0.36% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.

There were 9,336 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.4% 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 2.71 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,938, and the median income for a family was $61,298. Males had a median income of $47,406 versus $30,088 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,136. About 3.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Lacey Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 49.] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

Members of the Township Committee are Mayor David Most (R, term ends December 31, 2008), Deputy Mayor John C. Parker (R, 2010), Brian A. Reid (R, 2010), Mark Dykoff (R, 2009), and Gary Quinn (R, 2009). [ [http://www.laceytownship.org/content/63/default.aspx Township of Lacey Government] , Lacey Township. Accessed June 23, 2008.] [ [http://www.oceancountyclerk.com/elelectedofficials2008.pdf 2008 Elected Officials of Ocean County] , Ocean County, New Jersey. p. 5. Accessed June 23, 2008.]

Recent local controversies have surrounded development and land use. In particular, a proposal to build a road on an old railroad right of way behind the ShopRite has been a major issue in town. Other issues involve the lack of water resources to sustain the proposed Home Depot, which opened October 18, 2007 and Wal-Mart, which has yet to begin construction.

Federal, state and county representation

Lacey Township is in the Third Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 9th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 59. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Lacey Township School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3408100 Data for the Lacey Township School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 11, 2008.] ) are three K-4 elementary schools — [http://ccs.laceyschools.org/home.aspx/ Cedar Creek School] (K-4; 597 students), [http://frs.laceyschools.org/home.aspx/ Forked River School] (K-4; 545) and [http://lhs.laceyschools.org/home.aspx/ Lanoka Harbor School] (K-4; 658) — [http://mps.laceyschools.org/home.aspx/ Mill Pond School] for grades 5&6 (, 95) [http://ltms.laceyschools.org/home.aspx/ Lacey Township Middle School] for grades 7&8 (835) and
Lacey Township High School for students in grades 9-12 (1,535).

Community

The township had an annual Night of Lights on the Forked River, which was a boat parade at night in August. Owners dressed up their boats with lights and sailed down the river at night to the Captain's Inn.Fact|date=August 2008

The Cancer Walk held annually at Gille Park brings together many residents to donate money towards cancer research.

Lacey has experienced a rapid growth in recent years with the addition of many new developments and new stores being built around town. Lacey is beginning to turn into a small city due to the vast development.

One recent example of such development is the planned development of a 140,000 square foot Wal-Mart on the site of the 250-year-old Good Luck Farm., despite the availability of two nearby Wal-Mart locations in neighboring Manahawkin and Toms River. [Staff. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-29456623_ITM "Wal-Mart in preliminary planning for two stores in southern Ocean County"] , "Asbury Park Press", February 2, 2007. Accessed September 9, 2008.]

Commerce

Lacey is home to many businesses, the largest employer being the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

Points of interest

*Popcorn Park Zoo is a small convert|7|acre|m2|sing=on zoo that houses over 200 rescued animals, and includes a pet adoption center.
*The Old Schoolhouse Museum is a small old school building that was built in the mid-1800s as the first school in Forked River, and was used as a school until 1954. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4DE1F38F931A25754C0A967948260&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=2 "JERSEY SHORE DIVERSIONS BEYOND THE BEACH"] , "The New York Times", , July 12, 1981. Accessed December 11, 2007.]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Lacey Township include:
* Christopher J. Connors (born 1956), represents the 9th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly. [ [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=4186 Assembly Member Christopher J. Connors] , Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 9, 2007.]
* Traci DePasquale (born 1986), Center mid La Salle University player. [ [http://goexplorers.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/070108aaa.html "Traci DePasauqle Named to Women's Soccer Preseason A-10 All Conference"] , CSTV. July 1, 2008. ]
* Keith Elias (born 1972), former National Football League running back for the New York Giants. [ [http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2006/11/14/sports/16561.shtml THE TOP 20 GREATEST ATHLETES - No. 20: Keith Elias '94, Football, RB] , "The Daily Princetonian", November 14, 2006.]
* Scott Palguta (born 1982), professional soccer player. [ [http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/stories/111604aac.html "Palguta Named to Men's Soccer All-Ivy Second Team"] , CSTV. November 16, 2004. Accessed October 10, 2007. "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."]

References

External links

* [http://www.laceytownship.org/ Lacey Township website]
* [http://www.lacey.k12.nj.us/ Lacey Township School District]
*NJReportCard|29|2480|0|Lacey Township School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3408100 Data for the Lacey Township School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.oceancountylibrary.org/Branches/LA/la.htm Lacey Branch of Ocean County Library]