| Official Name: | Manahawkin, New Jersey |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Mapsize: | 300px |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New Jersey Ocean County#USA New Jersey#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Manahawkin |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Ocean County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ocean |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name3: | Stafford |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.03 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.78 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.25 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.94 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.84 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.10 |
| Area Water Percent: | 4.98 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 2413 |
| Population Density Km2: | 505.09 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1307.86 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | −05:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −04:00 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [3] |
| Elevation M: | 7 |
| Elevation Ft: | 23 |
| Coordinates: | 39.6935°N -74.2502°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 08050[4] |
| Area Code: | 609 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | [5] [6] [7] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 02390114[8] |
Manahawkin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)[9] located within Stafford Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[10] [11] [12] As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 2,413, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 110 (+4.8%) from the 2,303 recorded at the 2010 census,[13] which in turn had reflected an increase of 299 (+14.9%) from the 2,004 counted at the 2000 census. Manahawkin has been thought to be a Lenape word meaning "land of good corn", although this has been disputed by recent scholars claiming that it translates to "fertile land sloping into the water."[14]
Manahawkin 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).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 1.922mi2, including 1.827mi2 of it is land and 0.096mi2 of water (4.98%) is water.[5] [15]
The 2010 United States census counted 2,303 people, 931 households, and 586 families in the CDP. The population density was 1260.7/mi2. There were 1,071 housing units at an average density of 586.3/mi2. The racial makeup was 91.58% (2,109) White, 0.43% (10) Black or African American, 0.43% (10) Native American, 2.52% (58) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 4.17% (96) from other races, and 0.87% (20) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.25% (190) of the population.[13]
Of the 931 households, 25.5% had children under the age of 18; 46.6% were married couples living together; 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.1% were non-families. Of all households, 30.9% were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06.[13]
20.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.4 males.[13]
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,004 people, 757 households, and 555 families living in the CDP. The population density was 425.1/km2. There were 827 housing units at an average density of 175.4/km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.86% White, 0.05% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.45% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.90% of the population.[16]
There were 757 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.[16]
In the CDP the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.[16]
The median income for a household in the CDP was $59,663, and the median income for a family was $62,702. Males had a median income of $53,396 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,875. About 1.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.[16]
For grades K through 6, public school students attend the schools of the Stafford Township School District. For grades 7 through 12, students attend the schools of the Southern Regional School District.
Students also have the option of attending the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science, a specialized high school operated by the Ocean County Vocational Technical School that is located in Manahawkin and focuses on marine and environmental sciences.[17]
St. Mary Academy, a K-8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in Stafford Township, near Manahawkin CDP.[18] [19] It is managed by St. Mary Church of Barnegat. From 1997,[20] until 2019 it operated as All Saints Regional Catholic School and was collectively managed by five churches. In 2019 St. Mary 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.[21]
NJ Transit provides bus service to Atlantic City on the 559 bus route.[22]
The Asbury Park Press and The Press of Atlantic City provide daily news coverage of the township, as does WOBM-FM radio. The township provides material and commentary to The Southern Ocean Times, which also serves Barnegat Township, Lacey Township, Long Beach Island, Ocean Township (Waretown) and Tuckerton as one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.[23]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Manahawkin include: