Forked River is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Lacey Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 5,244.Many Ocean County residents commonly refer to all of Lacey Township as Forked River with the first word pronounced with two syllables. Pronouncing the first word with one syllable is a sign of a new resident or outsider.