Lakewood Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lakewood Township, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Township
|
||
|
||
|
||
Location of Lakewood Township in Ocean County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
|
||
Census Bureau map of Lakewood Township, New Jersey
<mapframe text="Interactive map of Lakewood Township, New Jersey" zoom="11" width="250" height="250"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geoshape", "ids": "Q1088792" } </mapframe> |
||
 Lakewood Township, New Jersey
Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Lakewood Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Lakewood Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County | Ocean | |
| Incorporated | March 23, 1892 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 25.08 sq mi (64.95 km2) | |
| • Land | 24.68 sq mi (63.92 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.40 sq mi (1.03 km2) 1.59% | |
| Area rank | 108th of 565 in state 12th of 33 in county |
|
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 135,158 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
139,866 | |
| • Rank | 4th of 565 in state (2023) 1st of 33 in county |
|
| • Density | 5,476.2/sq mi (2,114.4/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 100th of 565 in state 1st of 33 in county 199th in U.S. (2021) |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08701
|
|
| Area code | 732, 848 | |
| FIPS code | 34-38550 | |
| GNIS ID | 882076 | |
Lakewood Township is a busy community in Ocean County, New Jersey. It's the most populated township in the county. The number of people living here has grown very quickly!
In 2020, over 135,000 people lived in Lakewood. This was a huge jump from 2010. Lakewood is now one of the biggest towns in New Jersey. Only a few large cities have more people.
A big reason for this growth is the large Orthodox Jewish community. Lakewood is home to Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG). This is the biggest yeshiva (a school for Jewish studies) outside of Israel. More than half of Lakewood's residents are Orthodox Jewish. This community has a strong impact on the town's culture and local decisions.
Contents
History of Lakewood Township
The first European settlers came to the Lakewood area around 1750. They built sawmills. Later, in the early 1800s, an iron factory called Washington Furnace opened. This factory used iron found in the local bogs.
In 1833, Joseph W. Brick started a new iron business. He called it Bergen Iron Works. The town around it was also called Bergen Iron Works. In 1865, the town's name changed to Bricksburg.
In 1880, the town was renamed Lakewood. The developers wanted a name that sounded nicer. They chose "Lakewood" because of the many lakes and pine forests nearby. It quickly became a popular winter vacation spot.
Lakewood officially became a township on March 23, 1892. It was formed from parts of Brick Township. Later, in 1929, some parts of Howell Township were added.
Lakewood had several famous hotels. These included the Laurel House and the Laurel-in-the-Pines. In the 1890s, Lakewood was a resort for rich and famous people. Even U.S. President Grover Cleveland spent winters here. The famous writer Mark Twain also enjoyed visiting Lakewood.
Wealthy families like George Jay Gould I and John D. Rockefeller bought large properties. Gould's estate is now Georgian Court University. Rockefeller's land became Ocean County Park. While the hotel business was strong for a while, it declined in the 1960s.
In 1943, Aharon Kotler started Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG). This school grew to be one of the largest yeshivas in the world. In the 1960s, many of the forests and cranberry bogs were replaced by new housing areas.
Geography and Natural Features
Lakewood Township covers about 25 square miles (65 square kilometers). Most of the land is flat. It is about 20 to 80 feet (6 to 24 meters) above sea level. The highest point is around 150 feet (46 meters).
The Metedeconk River flows through and along the edges of Lakewood. The township also has four man-made lakes. These are Lake Carasaljo, Manetta, Shenandoah, and Lake Waddill. You can find these lakes on the Metedeconk River and Kettle Creek.
Within Lakewood Township, there are smaller communities. These include Lakewood CDP, Leisure Village, and Leisure Village East. Other local areas are Greenville and Seven Stars.
Lakewood shares borders with several other towns. These are Brick Township, Jackson Township, and Toms River in Ocean County. It also borders Howell Township in Monmouth County.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,044 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,094 | — | |
| 1910 | 5,149 | 66.4% | |
| 1920 | 6,110 | 18.7% | |
| 1930 | 7,869 | 28.8% | |
| 1940 | 8,502 | 8.0% | |
| 1950 | 10,809 | 27.1% | |
| 1960 | 16,020 | 48.2% | |
| 1970 | 25,233 | 57.5% | |
| 1980 | 38,464 | 52.4% | |
| 1990 | 45,048 | 17.1% | |
| 2000 | 60,352 | 34.0% | |
| 2010 | 92,843 | 53.8% | |
| 2020 | 135,158 | 45.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 139,866 | 50.6% | |
| Population sources: 1880 1900-2000 1900-1920 1900-1910 1910-1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
|||
Lakewood has a very diverse population. A large part of the community is Orthodox Jewish. In 2018, it was estimated that about two-thirds of the residents were Orthodox Jews. The town has also seen growth in its Latino communities.
The population growth has led to a younger average age in Lakewood. This is because many families in the Orthodox community have a large number of children.
Racial and Ethnic Makeup (2020)
The table below shows the different racial and ethnic groups in Lakewood Township as of the 2020 census.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 33,685 | 42,816 | 70,005 | 111,388 | 74.78% | 70.94% | 75.40% | 82.41% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,995 | 6,878 | 5,346 | 3,290 | 13.31% | 11.40% | 5.76% | 2.43% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 71 | 40 | 39 | 91 | 0.16% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 593 | 799 | 737 | 699 | 1.32% | 1.32% | 0.79% | 0.52% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | N/A | 5 | 6 | 7 | N/A | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 54 | 114 | 74 | 2,056 | 0.12% | 0.19% | 0.08% | 1.52% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | N/A | 765 | 574 | 1,859 | N/A | 1.27% | 0.62% | 1.38% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,650 | 8,935 | 16,062 | 15,768 | 10.32% | 14.80% | 17.30% | 11.67% |
| Total | 45,048 | 60,352 | 92,843 | 135,158 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Economy and Business
Lakewood Township is part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). This is a special area that helps businesses grow. It encourages new jobs in the town.
One benefit of being in a UEZ is a lower sales tax. Shoppers in Lakewood can pay half the usual state sales tax at certain stores. This program helps the local economy. The Lakewood Development Corporation helps manage this zone.
Education in Lakewood
The Lakewood School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district has eight schools. In the 2021-22 school year, about 5,433 students were enrolled.
The schools include:
- Lakewood Early Childhood Center (PreK)
- Ella G. Clarke School (grades 2-5)
- Clifton Avenue School (grades 2-5)
- Oak Street School (grades 1-5)
- Piner Elementary School (PreK-1)
- Spruce Street School (PreK-1)
- Lakewood Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Lakewood High School (grades 9-12)
The school district has faced money problems in recent years. This is partly due to the high cost of special education programs. Also, the district pays a lot for busing students to private schools.
Georgian Court University is a private, Catholic university in Lakewood. It is located near Lake Carasaljo. The university was founded in 1908. It moved to Lakewood in 1924.
Lakewood also has many yeshivas and Jewish day schools. These schools serve the Orthodox Jewish community. The school district provides busing for thousands of students to these private schools. Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) is a very large yeshiva for older students. They focus on studying the Talmud and Jewish law.
Other private schools include Calvary Academy. It serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Holy Family School, a Catholic school, closed in 2015.
Arts and Culture
The Strand Theater is a historic building in Lakewood. It opened in 1922. It was designed by a famous architect named Thomas W. Lamb.
Sports and Recreation
ShoreTown Ballpark is a baseball stadium in Lakewood. It is the home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. This team used to be called the Lakewood Blue Claws. The stadium can hold over 6,500 fans. It was built using special funds from the Urban Enterprise Zone.
The BlueClaws have been very popular. They often have many fans at their games.
Lakewood has great places for outdoor activities. Ocean County Park offers tennis courts, sports fields, and hiking trails. You can also play beach volleyball or go swimming there. Lakes Carasaljo and Shenandoah are perfect for canoeing and kayaking. They also have jogging trails. The Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum is a beautiful garden at Georgian Court University.
Transportation Options
_from_the_overpass_for_Ocean_County_Route_528_(Cedar_Bridge_Avenue)_in_Lakewood_Township,_Ocean_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Lakewood has many roads and highways. The Garden State Parkway is a major highway that goes through the eastern part of town. It connects Lakewood to other towns like Toms River and Brick. You can also find Route 70, Route 88, and Route 9 in Lakewood.
The Lakewood Bus Terminal is a central spot for buses. NJ Transit offers bus service from Lakewood to big cities. You can take a bus to New York City, Philadelphia, Newark, and Atlantic City.
The Lakewood Shuttle is a local bus service. It has two routes that help people get around town. Ocean Ride also provides local bus service on certain routes.
Lakewood Airport is a public airport located southeast of the town center. It is owned by the public. There are also plans for a new train line, the Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line (MOM), which would serve Lakewood.
Notable People from Lakewood
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Lakewood Township. Here are a few:
- Val Ackerman (born 1959), the first president of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
- Michael Cudlitz (born 1964), an actor known for TV shows like Southland.
- Marc Ecko (born 1972), who founded the clothing company Eckō Unltd.
- Mike Gesicki (born 1995), a professional football player for the Miami Dolphins.
- George Jay Gould I (1864–1923), a famous financier whose estate is now Georgian Court University.
- Aharon Kotler (1892–1962), who founded the large Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva.
- John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), a very wealthy industrialist who owned property in Lakewood.
- Armin Shimerman (born 1949), an actor known for playing Quark in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- J. R. Smith (born 1985), a professional basketball player who played in the NBA.
- Steve Tisch (born 1948), a film producer and chairman of the New York Giants football team.
- Mookie Wilson (born 1956), a famous baseball player for the New York Mets.
Sister cities
Bnei Brak, Israel, since 2011
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Lakewood (Nueva Jersey) para niños
