[29] On July 1, 1974, under the direction of New York based entrepreneur Warner LeRoy, Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park opened in Jackson Township.

[27] The mixed-use complex features fast-food restaurants, a gas station and a family entertainment complex (with a 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) sports bubble that has 42 Top Golf bays, axe throwing, virtual reality rides, and additional restaurants and bars).

When completed, the complex will also have a surf pool, turf fields, luxury apartments, Hilton hotels, conference centers, a medical arts facility and other mixed-use amenities for business, lifestyle, healthcare, and leisure.

[34] On April 1, 2023, two separate tornadoes rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale struck Jackson Township, with winds of up to 120 miles per hour (190 km/h).

The first tornado struck western sections of the township near County Route 537 (Monmouth Road), inflicting significant damage to the Adventure Crossing USA mixed-use complex (causing the 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) sports bubble to actually collapse), a newly built warehouse development and several homes.

[37] The National Weather Service confirmed that the path of the tornado was 50 yards (46 m) wide and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) long.

[1] Vista Center (with a 2010 population of 2,095)[39] is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Jackson Township.

[67] By 2020, the Orthodox Jewish community had grown to approximately 500 families,[68] out of 19,400 total households, from a limited presence just a few years prior.

Eruvs (symbolic religious enclosures) were determined not to meet building and construction codes after a new ordinance was passed that tightened restrictions on items placed in the public "right-of-way".

[72][73] These investigations culminated in May 2020 with a federal lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against the township, alleging violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and the Fair Housing Act related to the township's new land use laws.

[76] The outlets are located roughly 2.5 miles (4.0 km) away from the Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park.

The retail outlet center offers over 70 stores and has a gross leasable area of 285,719 square feet (26,544.2 m2).

[77][78] The Asbury Park Press provides daily news coverage of the township, as does WOBM-FM radio.

The township provides material and commentary to The Jackson Times, which is one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.

[84] The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council, who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis.

[86] As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Jackson Township is Michael Reina, who was first elected in 2009 and whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[87][88][89][90][91][92] Mordechai Burnstein, president of the Jackson Republican Club and planning board member, was appointed to the township council in November 2023, replacing former councilman Martin Flemming III, who resigned the previous month.

[94] In January 2020, the Township Council appointed Martin Flemming III to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the resignation of Robert Nixon.

[98][99][100] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[110][111][112] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[113][114] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[115][116] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[120] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 62.0% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 82.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[136] In January 2015, the Jackson Board of Education voted to implement full-day kindergarten, which was introduced in September 2015.

[138] Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[139]) are: Mother Seton Academy, a Catholic School for grades Pre-K–8, which operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in nearby Howell Township.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 26, 1982 for its significance in agriculture, architecture, art, commerce, and religion.

[155] Jackson Township has its own Police Department which was established in 1946 and which operates out of the Municipal Justice Complex.

[160] until April 1, 2020, at 07:00 hrs at which time, MONOC will be out of business and RWJ Mobile Healthcare will assume responsibility for providing ALS service to Jackson Township.

[163][164][165][166] As of 2021[update], NJ Transit provides Jackson bus service on the 317 line between Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore, and seasonal express service on the 308 line between Six Flags Great Adventure and Midtown Manhattan's Port Authority Bus Terminal.

[167] Academy Bus offers service to Port Authority New York and to Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, with multiple stops in Jackson and surrounding towns.

[168] Weekly trips to local shopping centers can be reserved on the "Jackson Flex Route" of the Ocean Ride Shoppers Loop.

Located in neighboring Freehold Township, the 287-bed hospital is a partner of Atlantic Health System and is affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.