Forked River, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Forked River is a census-designated place
and unincorporated area located within Lacey Township
, in Ocean County
, New Jersey
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the CDP population was 5,244.
Many Ocean County residents commonly refer to all of Lacey Township as Forked River with the first word pronounced with two syllable
s (FOR-ked or FORK-ed). Pronouncing the first word with one syllable (forkt, which is the standard American pronunciation) is a sign of a new resident or outsider.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 26.7 km2 (10.3 mi2). 7.5 km2 (2.9 mi2) of it is land and 19.2 km2 (7.4 mi2) of it (71.97%) is water.
Forked River is located on US Route 9 south of Toms River
.
Nearby Forked River is a river that empties into Barnegat Bay
.
of 2000, 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.
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.
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.
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.
were killed in a helicopter crash near the Garden State Parkway
in Forked River. Five people, including three high-level executives of Donald J. Trump's three casinos in Atlantic City, were killed when their helicopter crashed in pine woodlands.
June 6, 1997
Death at Prom
Melissa Drexler
(born 1979, a.k.a. "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 pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. After serving nearly 37 months, she was released on parole. She was given her "Prom mom" nickname by the American mass media
.
May 23, 2003
Three arrested in killings of eight birds at a Jersey Shore
zoo
Three teenagers with a "morbid sense of entertainment" were charged with killing eight birds at a zoo for abused animals, authorities said.
Matthew Ronneberg, Thomas Cavanaugh and Matthew Mercuro, all 18, were arrested for the bludgeoning deaths of three emus, three ducks and two rheas at the Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township, NJ.
Irish Teddy Mann, Former Midleweight Boxing contender
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and unincorporated area located within Lacey Township
Lacey Township, New Jersey
Lacey Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey and is considered part of the Jersey Shore region. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 27,644...
, in Ocean County
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the CDP population was 5,244.
Many Ocean County residents commonly refer to all of Lacey Township as Forked River with the first word pronounced with two syllable
Syllable
A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds. For example, the word water is composed of two syllables: wa and ter. A syllable is typically made up of a syllable nucleus with optional initial and final margins .Syllables are often considered the phonological "building...
s (FOR-ked or FORK-ed). Pronouncing the first word with one syllable (forkt, which is the standard American pronunciation) is a sign of a new resident or outsider.
Geography
Forked River is located at 39.825842°N 74.183422°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 26.7 km2 (10.3 mi2). 7.5 km2 (2.9 mi2) of it is land and 19.2 km2 (7.4 mi2) of it (71.97%) is water.
Forked River is located on US Route 9 south of Toms River
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
.
Nearby Forked River is a river that empties into Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay is a small brackish arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles long, along the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. It is a long barrier peninsula, as well as by the north end of Long Beach Island...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,914 people, 1,927 households, and 1,383 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.38% of the population.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
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.
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
In the news
On October 11, 1989, 3 aides of New York business mogul Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
were killed in a helicopter crash near the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
in Forked River. Five people, including three high-level executives of Donald J. Trump's three casinos in Atlantic City, were killed when their helicopter crashed in pine woodlands.
June 6, 1997
Death at Prom
Melissa Drexler
Melissa Drexler
Melissa Drexler , gained infamy for delivering a baby in a restroom stall at her high school prom and putting the body in the trash before returning to the dance. She pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to fifteen years of imprisonment...
(born 1979, a.k.a. "The Prom Mom"), delivered a baby in a restroom stall at her Lacey Township High School
Lacey Township High School
Lacey Township High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Lacey Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Lacey Township School District. The school opened its doors in September 1981. Residents of Lacey Township previously attended Central...
prom, and threw the body in the trash before returning to the dance. She pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment. After serving nearly 37 months, she was released on parole. She was given her "Prom mom" nickname by the American mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
.
May 23, 2003
Three arrested in killings of eight birds at a Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
zoo
Three teenagers with a "morbid sense of entertainment" were charged with killing eight birds at a zoo for abused animals, authorities said.
Matthew Ronneberg, Thomas Cavanaugh and Matthew Mercuro, all 18, were arrested for the bludgeoning deaths of three emus, three ducks and two rheas at the Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township, NJ.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Forked River include:- Christopher J. ConnorsChristopher J. ConnorsChristopher J. Connors is an American Republican party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he currently represents the 9th legislative district...
(1956-), represents the 9th legislative district in the New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General AssemblyThe New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
. - Scott PalgutaScott PalgutaScott Palguta is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
(1982-), Professional soccer player. - Melissa DrexlerMelissa DrexlerMelissa Drexler , gained infamy for delivering a baby in a restroom stall at her high school prom and putting the body in the trash before returning to the dance. She pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, and was sentenced to fifteen years of imprisonment...
(1978-), Prom Mom.
Irish Teddy Mann, Former Midleweight Boxing contender