Farrow built a railroad station, shops and even a resort hotel called The Pines with the idea of attracting people.

But only 11 people ever built houses in what Farrow called "Barnegat Park," and eventually he went bankrupt.

[24] In the 1920s, Benjamin W. Sangor purchased the area, intending to create a resort town catering to wealthy urban vacationers.

[25] The developers immediately began construction of the Pinewald pavilion and pier at the end of Butler Avenue.

Al Capone may have frequented its halls, perhaps even venturing beneath the lake in tunnels especially designed for smuggling alcohol during Prohibition.

One newspaper article interviewed an unidentified man who claimed that "in the early 1930s the then Royal Pines Hotel was frequented by society's elite who, for $1.90 a drink, consumed prohibition liquor under the watchful eye of men who had guns strapped under their coats."

[27][36][37][38] The township is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.

[39] The 2010 United States census counted 41,255 people, 20,349 households, and 11,538 families in the township.

[46][47] Since July 1, 1983, Berkeley Township has been governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government plan D, as adopted based on direct petition.

[8][51] As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Berkeley Township is Republican John A. Bacchione, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[57] In January 2015, the Township Council selected Anthony DePaola from among three candidates recommended by the municipal Republican committee to fill the at-large seat that expiring in 2015 that had been held by Robert G. Ray, who had resigned earlier that month.

[59] In November 2012, James J. Byrnes and Kevin M. Askew won the remaining 14 months on unexpired terms of office.

Byrnes had been appointed to the Ward 1 seat to fill the vacancy of Karen Davis following her resignation from office, while Askew had been appointed to fill the vacancy of Carmen F. Amato Jr. in Ward 2 after he had taken office as the township's mayor.

[62][63][64] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[65] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[75][76][77] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[78][79] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[80][81] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[85] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 73.7% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 83.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[113][114][115] The high school district's board of education is comprised of nine members, who are directly elected by the residents of the constituent municipalities to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year.

[117] The Asbury Park Press provides daily news coverage of the township, as does WOBM-FM radio.

The township provides material and commentary to The Berkeley Times, which also covers news from Beachwood, Ocean Gate, Pine Beach and South Toms River as one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.

[122] NJ Transit offers local bus service between the township and Atlantic City on the 559 route.