Monmouth Beach, New Jersey

History

The area was first settled in 1668 and grew into a community with the arrival of the Long Branch and Sea Shore Railroad.

Monmouth Beach was incorporated as a borough on March 9, 1906, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, when it was created from portions of Ocean Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.069 square miles (5.359 km²), including 1.075 square miles (2.785 km²) of land and 0.994 square miles (2.574 km²) of water (48.03%).

The borough is a small beach community located on the Jersey Shore, known for its Victorian houses and the new multimillion-dollar homes located throughout the neighborhood. It was recently affected by Hurricane Sandy, damaging multiple homes. Monmouth Beach is one square mile, with the ocean to the east and the Shrewsbury River to the northwest. In the Forbes magazine 2012 rankings of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", the borough was ranked 276th, with a median price of $937,020.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Galilee.

The borough is bordered by the Monmouth County communities of Little Silver, Long Branch, Oceanport, Rumson and Sea Bright.

Within Monmouth Beach are two beach clubs. These are Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion, known to locals as "Little Monmouth", and Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club, also known as "Big Monmouth". These are beautiful, spacious beach clubs equipped with pool and beach access. They have lockers, activities, swim teams, and more. Many locals attend these beach clubs, as well as people from out of town.

Monmouth Beach offers fishing, as well as surfable waves. The Shrewsbury River, which borders the borough, offers sailing, kayaking, and fishing. Places to go within the area are Pier Village in Long Branch, Red Bank, and the numerous beaches all along the shore towns to the north and south.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 3,279 people, 1,494 households, and 854.6 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,049.5 per square mile (1,177.4/km²). The borough contained 1,981 housing units at an average density of 1,842.4 per square mile (711.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.50% (3,197) White, 0.34% (11) Black or African American, 0.09% (3) Native American, 0.73% (24) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.27% (9) from other races, and 1.04% (34) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.89% (62) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,494 households, 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.8% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the borough, 20.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 35.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 89.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 86.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $94,583 (with a margin of error of +/- $29,606) and the median family income was $129,886 (+/- $7,489). Males had a median income of $108,369 (+/- $6,617) versus $76,813 (+/- $5,948) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $61,385 (+/- $8,902). About 2.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 3,595 people, 1,633 households, and 976 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1, 297.2/km² (3,354.4/sq mi). There were 1,969 housing units at an average density of 1,837.2 per square mile (710.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.66% White, 0.53% African American, 0.86% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.89% of the population.

There were 1,633 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the borough the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $80,484, and the median income for a family was $93,401. Males had a median income of $65,060 versus $45,208 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $52,862. About 1.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

The Borough of Monmouth Beach has been governed under the Walsh Act, by a three-member commission, since 1929. Members of the commission are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis in elections held every four years as part of the May municipal election.

As of 2016, members of the Borough Commission are Mayor Susan Howard (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), James F. Cunniff (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and William J. McBride Jr. (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property), whose terms of office end concurrently as of May 14, 2017.

Federal, state and county representation

Monmouth Beach is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Monmouth Beach had been in the 11th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch). 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 2,550 registered voters in Monmouth Beach, of which 605 (23.7%) were registered as Democrats, 742 (29.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,200 (47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 62.5% of the vote (1,132 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 36.6% (662 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (16 votes), among the 1,826 ballots cast by the borough's 2,620 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.3% of the vote (1,196 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.1% (837 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (24 votes), among the 2,086 ballots cast by the borough's 2,725 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.6%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 60.3% of the vote (1,270 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 38.8% (817 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (19 votes), among the 2,107 ballots cast by the borough's 2,813 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.9.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 78.7% of the vote (917 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 20.2% (235 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (13 votes), among the 1,181 ballots cast by the borough's 2,557 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.1% of the vote (1,015 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 28.4% (443 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.5% (86 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (7 votes), among the 1,559 ballots cast by the borough's 2,621 registered voters, yielding a 59.5% turnout.

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Monmouth Beach School District at Monmouth Beach School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 271 students and 25.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.7:1. Karen Ginty, a kindergarten teacher at Monmouth Beach Elementary School who had been at the school for 33 years, was named the 2006-07 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Shore Regional High School, a comprehensive regional high school that is part of the Shore Regional High School District, which serves students from the constituent districts of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 630 students and 58.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1.

Public school students from Monmouth Beach, and all of Monmouth County, are eligible to apply to attend the schools of the Monmouth County Vocational School District.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 15.76 miles (25.36 km) of roadways, of which 14.12 miles (22.72 km) were maintained by the municipality and 1.64 miles (2.64 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Ocean Avenue, New Jersey Route 36 is the main north-south road through the area, connecting the borough to Long Branch on the south and Sea Bright to the north.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service to Newark on the 61 route.

The SeaStreak ferry route to Wall Street and the East Side of Manhattan in New York City is a 10-15 minute drive to Atlantic Highlands / Highlands.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Monmouth Beach include: