2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
syllable
A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds typically made up of a syllable nucleus (most often a vowel) with optional initial and final margins (typically, consonants). Syllables are often considered the phonological "bu ...
s (). Pronouncing the first word with one syllable () is a sign of a new resident or outsider.
Geography
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%).US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
Forked River is located on
US Route 9
U.S. Route 9 (US 9) is a north–south United States highway in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, and New York in the Northeastern United States. It is one of only two U.S. Highways with a ferry connection (the Cape May–Lewes Ferry, betw ...
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
Census 2010
Census 2000
As of the
2000 United States census
The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 ce ...
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
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.
Education
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, until 2019 it operated as All Saints Regional Catholic School and was collectively managed by five churches, with one being St. Pius X Church, in Lacey Township and adjacent to the Forked River CDP. 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.
In the news
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
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
were killed when their helicopter crashed in pine woodlands.
On June 6, 1997,
Melissa Drexler
Melissa Drexler, who was nicknamed in the media as "The Prom Mom," is an American woman who, as a teenage high school student in 1997, delivered a baby in a restroom stall during her high school prom dance. The baby was later found dead in a tras ...
, 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.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."
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
on the
559
Year 559 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 559 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevale ...
Jersey City
Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.New York City on the Parkway Express. Local bus service is provided by Ocean Ride. Forked River is served by U.S. Route 9 and exit 74 of the Garden State Parkway.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Forked River include:
*
Christopher J. Connors
Christopher J. Connors (born June 26, 1956) is a New Jersey Republican Party politician, who has served in the Senate since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 9th Legislative District. He served in the General Assembly from January 9, ...
Melissa Drexler
Melissa Drexler, who was nicknamed in the media as "The Prom Mom," is an American woman who, as a teenage high school student in 1997, delivered a baby in a restroom stall during her high school prom dance. The baby was later found dead in a tras ...
(born 1978), Prom Mom.
* Chris Fleming (born 1970), basketball player and coach.
* "Irish" Teddy Mann (born 1951), former middleweight boxing contender and author of ''Fighting For Redemption: The "Irish" Teddy Mann Story''.
*
Scott Palguta
Scott Thomas Palguta (born August 23, 1982) was named the head men's soccer coach at Colorado College on February 6, 2015. He is a former American soccer player who most recently played for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.
Career
Yo ...
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...
.
* Rhett Titus (born 1987), professional wrestler.Rhett Titus Online World of Wrestling. Accessed January 8, 2015. "Hometown: Forked River, New Jersey"