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is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,532.
Stafford Township was formed by Royal Charter on March 3, 1750, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, and became part of the newly-formed Ocean County on February 15, 1850. Portions of the township were taken to form Union Township (March 10, 1846, now Barnegat Township), Eagleswood Township (March 17, 1874), Long Beach City borough (September 19, 1894, now Surf City) and Long Beach Township (March 23, 1899).
Stafford Township is the gateway to the resort communities on Long Beach Island, with Route 72 providing the sole road access, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Manahawkin Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge (formally known as the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge). The Garden State Parkway and U.S. Route 9 pass through the township and provide access to Route 72.
Stafford is home to Ocean Acres, a master-planned community. Ocean Acres was started in the early 1960s, and in its first year, 2,000 lots were sold. Developers used to bus potential buyers to Stafford. Ocean Acres is currently still developing.
Ocean Acres is home to Southern Ocean County Hospital, a 144-bed hospital that started as a satellite of Burlington County Memorial Hospital and grew as the county grew.
The golf course at Ocean Acres Country Club was included in Golf Digest's "4,200 Best Places To Play" and was designed by course architect Hal Purdy.