1953 Map of Forked River

About this map

Forked River and its neighboring shore communities sit at a moment of mid-century transition, where the coastal wilderness of the Pine Barrens meets the growing vacation economy of Barnegat Bay. The landscape is defined by the sharp contrast between the engineering of the Garden State Parkway and the traditional marshland industries evidenced by Cranberry Bog locations near Waretown. Settlement patterns follow the Central RR of New Jersey, which links the village centers of Lanoka Harbor, Murray Grove, and Barnegat. Along the waterfront, numerous harbors such as Sands Point Harbor and Liberty Harbor illustrate the area's maritime focus, while interior landmarks like the State Game Farm and the U S Navy Range Sta reflect various public and military uses of the surrounding forests.