Fair Haven, New Jersey

History

Fair Haven's first permanent settlement dates to a structure built in 1816 at the Navesink River near today's Fair Haven Road. By the mid-19th century, steamboats stopped at "Chandler's Dock" on a route between Red Bank and New York City, bringing visitors to the area and local oysters to the city. Fisk Chapel was rebuilt in 1882 to accommodate the borough's African American population.

Fair Haven has an annual Fireman's Fair during the last weekend of summer including Labor Day weekend which attracts a couple of thousand people, including noted musicians Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. The Fair Haven Fireman's Fair also has a Fireman's night and invites all firefighters from any other firehouse to come and join in the festivities. The Fireman's Fair used to raffle off a car each year, but most attendees already had their own cars and the decision was made in the 1990s to switch to a 50/50 raffle whose prize can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. The fair is on the Fire Company grounds.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.112 square miles (5.470 km²), including 1.597 square miles (4.137 km²) of land and 0.515 square miles (1.334 km²) of water (24.38%).

The borough borders the Monmouth County communities of Little Silver, Middletown Township, Red Bank and Rumson.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 6,121 people, 1,970 households, and 1,659 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,832.5 per square mile (1,479.7/km²). The borough contained 2,065 housing units at an average density of 1,292.9 per square mile (499.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.63% (5,792) White, 2.50% (153) Black or African American, 0.10% (6) Native American, 1.08% (66) Asian, 0.10% (6) Pacific Islander, 0.44% (27) from other races, and 1.16% (71) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.70% (165) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,970 households, 51.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the borough, 34.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females the census counted 96.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 91.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $112,308 (with a margin of error of +/- $18,209) and the median family income was $113,546 (+/- $18,045). Males had a median income of $109,643 (+/- $28,479) versus $62,083 (+/- $15,309) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $54,241 (+/- $6,162). About 0.9% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,937 people, 1,998 households, and 1,658 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,559.3 people per square mile (1,372.6/km²). There were 2,037 housing units at an average density of 1,221.2 per square mile (471.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.87% White, 4.09% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.

There were 1,998 households out of which 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 15.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the borough the population was spread out with 33.0% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $97,220, and the median income for a family was $109,760. Males had a median income of $83,657 versus $51,389 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $44,018. About 1.6% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Fair Haven is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Fair Haven, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the Mayor of the Borough of Fair Haven is Republican Benjamin Lucarelli, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2018. Lucarelli was chosen in February 2012 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mike Halfacre, and who left office to take a position in the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, with Eric R. Jaeger in turn chosen in March 2012 to fill Lucarelli's vacancy on the Borough Council. Members of the Fair Haven Borough Council are Council President Jonathan Peters (R, 2016), Aimee Humphreys (D, 2017), Eric R. Jaeger (R, 2018), Robert A. Marchese (R, 2018), Susan A. Sorensen (R, 2017) and Rowland O. Wilhelm Jr. (R, 2016).

Fair Haven is a participating municipality in an initiative to study regionalization of their municipal police force with one or more municipalities. The borough received a grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in the amount of $40,950 along with the Boroughs of Rumson, Little Silver, Oceanport and Shrewsbury to hire professional consultants to conduct the study on their behalf. A report is due before the end of 2007. On or about July 1, 2009, Fair Haven will close and move their Police, Fire and EMS dispatching over to Little Silver. After deadlines to begin this operation were missed, dispatching of police and emergency services will be handled by the Monmouth County Sheriff's office by October 1, 2009.

Federal, state and county representation

Fair Haven is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Fair Haven had been in the 12th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Fair Haven had been part of the 12th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 13th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph M. Kyrillos (R, Middletown Township) and in the General Assembly by Amy Handlin (R, Middletown Township) and Declan O'Scanlon (R, Little Silver). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township; term ends December 31, 2014), Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. (R, Spring Lake; 2014), Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City; 2016), John P. Curley (R, Middletown Township; 2015) and Serena DiMaso (R, Holmdel Township; 2016). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk M. Claire French (Wall Township), Sheriff Shaun Golden (Farmingdale) and Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (Middletown Township).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,201 registered voters in Fair Haven, of which 1,049 (25.0%) were registered as Democrats, 1,286 (30.6%) were registered as Republicans and 1,865 (44.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.7% of the vote (1,679 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.1% (1,411 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (37 votes), among the 3,141 ballots cast by the borough's 4,379 registered voters (14 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.5% of the vote (1,765 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 47.6% (1,664 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (33 votes), among the 3,498 ballots cast by the borough's 4,343 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.5%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51.8% of the vote (1,765 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.1% (1,604 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (27 votes), among the 3,407 ballots cast by the borough's 4,184 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.7% of the vote (1,275 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.5% (547 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (33 votes), among the 1,873 ballots cast by the borough's 4,362 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.8% of the vote (1,459 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 32.9% (817 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.2% (178 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (14 votes), among the 2,480 ballots cast by the borough's 4,238 registered voters, yielding a 58.5% turnout.

Education

The Fair Haven Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its two schools had an enrollment of 1,002 students and 78.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.7:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Viola L. Sickles School (PreK-3; 414 students) and Knollwood School (grades 4-8; 592 students).

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, together with students from Rumson, where the school is located. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 938 students and 82.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 23.95 miles (38.54 km) of roadways, of which 21.40 miles (34.44 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.55 miles (4.10 km) by Monmouth County.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides local service on the 835 route. The nearest train station is at Red Bank, where service is available on the North Jersey Coast Line.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Fair Haven include: