[26] Further growth in the Orthodox community led to a sharp increase in population in the 2020 census, with a large number of births leading to a significant drop in the township's median age.

[12] As a major hub of Orthodox Judaism, Lakewood is home to Beth Medrash Govoha, the largest yeshiva outside of Israel.

[30][31][32] The earliest documented European settlement of the present Lakewood area was by operators of sawmills, from about 1750 forward.

From 1815 until 1818, in the same area, Jesse Richards had an iron-smelting operation known as Washington Furnace, using the local bog iron ore.

After reaching out to area residents, "Lakewood" was chosen, and the United States Postal Service approved the name in March 1880.

[36] Lakewood's promoters claimed that its winter temperature was usually about ten degrees warmer than that of New York City and were warmer than points located further south,[37][38] but this claim is not substantiated by official records of the United States Weather Bureau.

[40] Grover Cleveland spent the winters of 1891–1892 and 1892–1893 in a cottage near the Lakewood Hotel, commuting to his business in New York City.

George Jay Gould I acquired an estate at Lakewood in 1896, which is now Georgian Court University.

In the 1960s, much of the woods and cranberry bogs in the township were replaced by large housing developments.

Leisure Village, a condominium retirement development on the south side of Route 70, opened for sale in 1963.

A southern portion of the township is drained by the north branch of Kettle Creek.

As implied in its name, Lakewood township has four lakes, all of them man-made; three of them—Lake Carasaljo, Manetta, and Shenandoah—are on the South Branch of the Metedeconk River, whereas the fourth—Lake Waddill—is on Kettle Creek.

[51][52][53] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Greenville, Lake Carasaljo, Seven Stars and South Lakewood.

[69] The 2010 United States census counted 92,843 people, 24,283 households, and 17,362 families in the township.

[77] Established in November 1994, the township's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in October 2025.

[92][93][94] In recent years, the Lakewood School District has had budgetary issues, shutting down briefly in 2019 due to a funding deficit.

Town leaders also cite imbalanced state funding formulas as the root of the district's financial problems.

Founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy as a women's college in North Plainfield, New Jersey, the school moved to the former estate of George Jay Gould I in Lakewood in 1924.

[28] It is a post high school institution for higher education, where students primarily focus on the study of the Talmud and halakha (Jewish law).

[103] ShoreTown Ballpark, home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, is a 6,588-seat stadium constructed at a cost of $22 million through funds raised from the township's Urban Enterprise Zone.

[106] Ocean County Park offers tennis courts, sports fields, hiking trails, beach volleyball, a driving range, swimming and cross-country skiing.

[108] The Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum is located on the campus of Georgian Court University.

It has several specialized units: Traffic and Safety, School Resource Officers, Special Response Team (SWAT), Dive Team, and a Motorcycle Patrol and Bicycle Patrol unit in the spring and summer.

The largest loss of life caused by fire occurred on February 12, 1936, when the Victoria Mansion Hotel, valued at $100,000 (equivalent to $2.2 million in 2023), located on the southeast corner of Lexington Avenue and Seventh Street, was destroyed in a fire and 16 people died.

The squads are all independently operated, but work together to provide emergency medical services for the township.

[127][128][129] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[139][140][141] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[142][143] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[144][145] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[155] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 40.8% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 70.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

It passes through the eastern part of the municipality, connecting Toms River in the south to Brick in the north[163] with one major interchange serving Lakewood at exit 89.

[170] The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line is a passenger rail project proposed by NJ Transit Rail Operations to serve the Central New Jersey counties of Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex which would serve Lakewood.