[20] Stafford Township is the gateway to the resort communities on Long Beach Island, with Route 72 providing the sole road access to the island, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Barnegat Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge (formally known as the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge).

[22] Historically, Stafford Township was a rural area, with the notable exception of the downtown hub of Manahawkin.

Significant growth began in the 1950s with the development of resort communities like Beach Haven West and Ocean Acres.

These developments coincided with the completion of the Garden State Parkway and the expansion of Route 72, which formerly ran along the two-lane Bay Avenue.

Route 72 was still mostly wooded, aside from several car dealerships, gas stations, a drive-in movie theater, and the Manahawkin Executive Airport.

The pace of development increased during the 1980s with new residential projects, including the expansion of Beach Haven West and Ocean Acres, transforming the area from seasonal vacation homes to year-round residences.

This period also saw the establishment of Stafford Square, the township's first major shopping center.

The Manahawkin Airport closed in the early 1990s to make way for commercial developments, including a Walmart and Pathmark.

[24] Stafford Township celebrates its history and community spirit through an annual Founders Day event held each June.

[48] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 22,532 people, 8,535 households, and 6,435 families residing in the township.

The seven-member governing body is empowered to enact local ordinances, levy municipal taxes and conduct the community's affairs.

[52] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Stafford Township is Republican Robert E. Henken, who was appointed to serve an unexpired term of office ending December 31, 2024.

Members of the Stafford Township Council are Council President Lisa D. Mower, Steven Esposito, Paul Krier, Owen LaRocca (appointed to serve an unexpired term), Amy Otte and Thomas N. Steadman; all are Republicans and all are serving terms which end concurrently in 2024.

[58] Thomas Bresnahanhad been appointed the previous August to fill the seat after Anthony Guariglia had resigned.

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

[70][71][72] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[73][74] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[75][76] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[80] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.9% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 88.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[94] The Stafford Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

[103][104][105] For seventh through twelfth grades, public school students are served by the Southern Regional School District, which serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District—Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom and Surf City—along with students from Beach Haven and Stafford Township, together with students from Ocean Township who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Ocean Township School District.

[112] St. Mary Academy, a K–8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in Stafford Township, near Manahawkin CDP.

In 2019 St. Mary took entire control of the school, which remained on the same Manahawkin campus, and changed its name.

[121] Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC6 Little Egg Harbor – Stafford and the OC10 Long Beach Island routes.