Proven Roofing is proud to serve Lacey Township, an area home to many wetlands and bogs courtesy of the Pine Barrens, a unique ecosystem that provided ample resources for early settlers. Development would eventually threaten the Pine Barrens, but the significance of such a loss inspired the establishment of large parks and preserves. They’re a real sight to see, so let us show you around!
When was Lacey Township founded?
March 23, 1871.
What is the origin of the name Lacey Township?
Lacey is named after John Lacey, a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania militia who fought during the American Revolution.
What is the history of Lacey Township?
In 1809, along with his son Thomas R. Lacey, General Lacey developed Ferrago Forge. The forge was built eight miles northwest of the Forked River on the middle branch of Ceder Creek. “Forge Pond” was the result of the dam that Lacey built.
The forge made tools out of bog iron, which is a form of impure iron found in bogs or swamps. The bog iron was made into naturally rust-resistant tools and rought iron rails.
Ferrago Village grew around the forge. In 1810, Lacey built Lacey Road to connect the forge to Forked River so that goods could be shipped to nearby Dover Forge, which was built by Lacey’s son-in-law William Smith in modern day Berkely Township.
On March 23, 1871, Lacey Township was formed from Dover and Union Townships. In 1876, some of Lacey that borders Oyster Creek became part of Waretown, and, in June 1933, Island Beach Borough was borned, and gained the southern tip of what is now Island Beach State Park in the process. Since then, Lacey’s borders have remained unchanged.
Who were the Native people who first lived in Lacey Township?
The Lenape were the original inhabitants of the area that is now Lacey Township. During the 1700s, the Lenape were displaced by European settlers. The American Revolutionary War and the United States’ Independence pushed them further west. During the 1800s, most Lenape were forcibly moved to the Indian Territory, which is in present-day Oklahoma and neighboring areas. At the time of the 2010 Census, 38 people who identified as Native American lived in Lacey Township.
What’s the geography of Lacey Township?
Lacey Township is 99.81 square miles total, with 83.25 square miles of land and 16.55 square miles of water. Lacey Township contains several unincorporated communities and localities partly or entirely within its borders. Its largest unincorporated community is Forked River, which had a population of 5,244 as of the 2010 US Census.
According to 91,000 participants in a 2015 NJ.com poll, Lacey Township is a part of South Jersey. That would make Lacey Township most northen Jersey Shore community.
How do you say Forked River?
Many people in the area call Lacey Township “Forked River” instead of Lacey. Many residents of the area also pronounce Forked River with two syllable in the “Fork”. So, either “Fork – ed River” or “Fork – id River”. Pronouncing the “Fork” as a single syllable is a give away that you’re not a local.
What are the demographics of Lacey Township?
According to the 2010 Census, Lacey Township had:
- 27,644 people
- 10,183 households
- 7,607 families
The racial makeup was:
- White 96.15% (26,581)
- Black or African American 0.60% (167)
- Hispanic or Latino of any race 7.02% (414)
- Native American 0.14% (38)
- Asian 0.80% (222)
- Pacific Islander 1.14% (316)
- Other races 1.14% (316)
- Two or more races 1.14% (314)
And the economic makeup was:
- Median household income was $72,835 (with a margin of error of ± $3,271
- Median family income was $84,031 (± $6,930)
- Men had a median income of $56,748 (± $3,051)
- Women has a median income of $40,360 (± $3,340)
- About 2.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
What are the schools like in Lacey Township?
Niche.com is a reputable source for school reviews. Here’s what Niche had to say about Lacey Township School Districts.
- Overall: B-
- Lanoka Harbor Elementary School: B-
- Forked River Elementary School: C+
- Cedar Creek Elementary School: C+
- Mill Pond Elementary School: C+
- Lacey Township Middle School: C+
- Mill Pond Middle School: C+
- Lacey Township High School: B-
What are the property taxes like in Lacey Township?
The 2020 general tax rate is 2.154%, and the 2020 effective tax rate is 2.135%. New Jersey has a property tax rate of 2.42%, which is the highest in the country (the national average is 1.07%). The average property tax bill for Lacey was $5,786, in 2018.
What’s the climate of Lacey Township?
Lacey Township is designated as a humid subtropical climate. Generally speaking, that means a resident of Lacey Township should expect an average mean temperature above freezing, at least four months are greater or equal to 50°F, and one month is at least 71.6°F.
Proven Roofing doesn’t send its crews out during temperatures greater than 95 °F and lower than 32 °F are, which any local resident will tell you is not uncommon. Overall, Lacey Township has plenty ofideal weather conditions for roof installation. There also aren’t enough full days of sun for the color of your roof to make a difference, so you don’t have to worry about themost energy-efficient roof color.
What exit is Lacey Township on the Garden State Parkway?
Lacey Township is exit 74 on the Garden State Parkway. Just make a right on Lacey Road and head into town!
Can you get to Philly from Lacey Township?
You can get to Philly by car using NJ-70 W. It takes about an hour and 20 minutes.
Is there bussing in Lacey Township?
- NJ Transit 559 provides transportation between Lakewood and Atlantic City, with a stop on Lacey Road and Route 9.
- Academy Bus provides transportation to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Wall street from the Forked River Service Area.
- Ocean Ride services the area with route OC5 (Lacey).
What are some notable places in Lacey Township?
Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station
When Oyster Creek went off line in September 2018, it was one of the oldest nuclear power plants in the US, having come online in December of 1969. At the time, the plant produced 9% of New Jersey’s electricity. Oyster Creek closed 10 years earlier than planned in order to avoid installing the cooling towers neccessary for the plant to be compliant with federal standards.
Patriot Rock or The Rock on Route 539
A week after 9/11, Patriot Rock was born. Painted red, white, and blue as a memorial to the tragedy, Patriot Rock had been previously painted to match the seasons since 1999. It was a pumpkin, a turkey, etc, but once it became Patriot Rock it never changed.
Are there any good places to eat in Lacey Township?
Being local and knowing the area well is one of the ways to identify a good roofing contractor because we can tell you where to look at our completed roofs in the area. We can also recommend places to eat!
The Forked River German Butcher: Five out of five stars on Tripadvisor based on 172 reviews. In addition to being a butcher shop, the German Butcher also sells homemade wursts and sausages, homemade lunch meats, and many Italian and German hot meals to eat in or take home.
Captain’s Inn Restaurant Restaurant & Tiki Bar: The number one rated restaurant in Lacey Township on Tripadvisor with 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 360 reviews. Featuring an assortment of seafood, poultry, pasta, burgers, cocktails, desserts, and more!
Mrs. Walker’s Famous Homemade Ice Cream Parlors: Four out of five stars based on 47 reviews. Homemade ice cream with 40+ flavors, 40+ toppings, and ice cream cakes.
What are some places to visit in Lacey Township?
Popcorn Park Zoo
An animal refuge and sanctuary in Forked River, Popcorn park is home to abandoned, injured, ill, exploited, abused, or elderly wildlife, exotic and farm animals, and birds. There are educational programs about the animals within the zoo, as well as hundreds of rescue dogs and cats to adopt. The name “Popcorn Park” comes from the small entrance fee visitors pay that earns them a box of popcorn that can be used to feed some of the animals. The zoo has over 200 animals. Visit the Popcorn Park Zoo website to read the biographies of their animals, view pictures, and potentially even sponsor an animal’s care!
Double Trouble State Park
Double Trouble State Park is located within Lacey Township, but the main entrance is in adjacent Berkeley Township. The park allows visitors to experience the Pinelands National Reserve, an extensive network of wetlands and oak-pine forests. The park is also home to the Double Trouble Historic Village, a cranberry farm and packing plant that was founded in 1909. Although, many sawmills have in the area since the mid-18th century. 14 historic structures including a general store, a schoolhouse, sawmill, homes, and the cranberry sorting and packing house have been restored. There is also a 1.5-mile loop trail known as the Double Trouble State Park Nature Trail.
Murray Grove
The story goes that, in 1770, Thomas Potter met Universalist preacher John Murray after Murray’s vessel ran aground in neighboring Barnegat Bay. Potter had built a Universalist chapel ten years earlier in Good Luck, another unincorporated community in Lacey Township, and invited Murray to preach there.
Murray interpreted the experience as a sign from God that he should commit himself to preaching Universalism, and would go on to be the minister of America’s first Universalist congragation, which was in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Murray would also become one of the founders of the Universalist Church of America, which later merged with the Uniterians in 1960 to become Unitarian-Universalism.
After Potter’s death in 1777, people began going on pilgrimages to Good Luck. The Universalists couldn’t buy Potter’s original chapel, so they built Potter Memorial Chapel in the 1870s to worship in, and in 1886 Murray Grove was founded to provide accommodations. To this day, Murray Grove remains an important and functioning Unitarian Universalist gathering and pilgrimage site. Among other things, Murray Grove celebrates the life and legacy of Potter, Murray, and other early Universalists.
Eno’s Pond County Park
Eno’s Pond County Park’s 1.1 mile trail crosses over into the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Lacey Extension. Depending on the time of year, birdwatchers may catch some
ducks, geese, wading birds, and shorebirds in the area. The park features a picnic area, open playing fields, observation decks, and a playground
Forked River Mountains
As explained by NJ Environment News, the Forked River Mountains may be called mountains but in reality they’re large sand dunes and gravel hills formed 10 – 15 million years ago. At that time, the ocean that covered New Jersey’s coastal plain pulled back, leaving rivers in its wake. Those rivers moved gravel into large deposits, creating the Forked River Mountains. The highest ridges may only be 184 and 176 feet above sea level, but they still provide beautiful panaramic views of New Jersey’s coastal plain.
In the 60s, the region was actually considered by deveopers for the site of a new city, which was to have a “supersonic jetport” and house 250,000 residents. That threat united conservationists, blueberry and cranberry farmers, hunters, and residents in a movement that culminated in the passage of New Jersey’s Pinelands Protection Act.
In 2019, the Ocean County Freeholders preserved 8,000 acres of land in the Forked River Mountains. The area is a priceless natural preserve. You can access the Forked River Mountains via nearby Wells Mills County Park in Waretown.
Wrapping Up
If you’re in Lacey, you’ll want to work with roofers who know the area as well as you do. You’ll also want to know the questions to ask your roofers so you know you’re getting a good deal and a quality roof. Proven Roofing is happy to address all your concerns!
