West Long Branch, New Jersey

History

Prior to being called West Long Branch, the area had been called Mechanicsville from the 18th century through the Civil War, and then Branchburg in the 1870s. The name West Long Branch appears in the 1889 Wolverton Atlas of Monmouth County, and seems to have derived its name from its proximity to a section of the Shrewsbury River.

In 1908, the residents of what was the West Long Branch section of Eatontown thought that they were not getting a fair return on their taxes. A request was made that the West Long Branch section be separated from Eatontown. The Township of Eatontown strongly resisted as there were several large estates in the West Long Branch section that were a source of considerable taxes. An act of the New Jersey Legislature was passed on April 7, 1908, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders authorized an election. On May 5, 1908, the referendum was held in West Long Branch, with voters approving the separation. The borough takes its name from Long Branch, which in turn takes its name from the "long branch" or south branch of the Shrewsbury River.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, West Long Branch had a total area of 2.894 square miles (7.496 km²), including 2.858 square miles (7.403 km²) of land and 0.036 square miles (0.093 km²) of water (1.24%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Norwood Park.

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Eatontown, Long Branch, Ocean Township and Oceanport.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 8,097 people, 2,384 households, and 1,757 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,832.9 per square mile (1,093.8/km²). The borough contained 2,528 housing units at an average density of 884.5 per square mile (341.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.45% (7,648) White, 2.21% (179) Black or African American, 0.06% (5) Native American, 1.19% (96) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.95% (77) from other races, and 1.12% (91) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.03% (407) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,384 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the borough, 19.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 25.4% from 18 to 24, 16.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.4 years. For every 100 females the census counted 91.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 88.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $96,369 (with a margin of error of +/- $15,449) and the median family income was $114,250 (+/- $13,662). Males had a median income of $75,634 (+/- $8,441) versus $49,483 (+/- $5,714) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,822 (+/- $3,260). About 5.0% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 8,258 people, 2,448 households, and 1,860 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,859.9 people per square mile (1,103.3/km²). There were 2,535 housing units at an average density of 877.9 per square mile (338.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.22% White, 2.23% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.

There were 2,448 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 22.1% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $71,852, and the median income for a family was $80,127. Males had a median income of $59,638 versus $34,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,651. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

West Long Branch 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 West Long Branch, 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 West Long Branch is Republican Janet W. Tucci, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the West Long Branch Borough Council are John M. Aria Jr. (R, 2016), Susan Juliano (D, 2018), Fred Migliaccio (R, 2017), Christopher M. Neyhart (R, 2017), John M. Penta Jr. (D, 2018) and Jose E. Villa (R, 2016).

Police department

The West Long Branch Police Department is responsible for Law and Traffic Enforcement within the borders of the Borough of West Long Branch. Its current Chief is Paul Habermann.

The Department has two divisions, Operations and Investigations. The Operations Division consists of Patrol, Traffic, Dispatch, Firearms, Records and Special Services. The Investigations Division is responsible for all criminal investigations.

Federal, state and county representation

West Long Branch is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 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 11th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jennifer Beck (R, Red Bank) and in the General Assembly by Joann Downey (D, Freehold Township) and Eric Houghtaling (D, Neptune Township). 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 4,862 registered voters in West Long Branch, of which 1,189 (24.5%) were registered as Democrats, 1,049 (21.6%) were registered as Republicans and 2,622 (53.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.6% of the vote (2,029 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.5% (1,461 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (31 votes), among the 3,548 ballots cast by the borough's 5,079 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.4% of the vote (2,208 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.6% (1,524 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (47 votes), among the 3,844 ballots cast by the borough's 5,065 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.4% of the vote (2,202 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 41.1% (1,574 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (38 votes), among the 3,833 ballots cast by the borough's 4,926 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.8.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.7% of the vote (1,612 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.8% (573 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (32 votes), among the 2,246 ballots cast by the borough's 5,068 registered voters (29 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.1% of the vote (1,732 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 28.9% (794 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.4% (176 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (18 votes), among the 2,743 ballots cast by the borough's 4,872 registered voters, yielding a 56.3% turnout.

Education

The West Long Branch Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from West Long Branch. Students from Interlaken attend the district as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which students attend on a tuition basis. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its two schools had an enrollment of 565 students and 61.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.3:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Betty McElmon Elementary School with 241 students in pre-Kindergarten through third grade and Frank Antonides School with 338 students in fourth through eighth grades.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Shore Regional High School, a regional high school located in West Long Branch that also serves students from the constituent districts of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport and Sea Bright. The high school is part of the Shore Regional High School District. 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.

Established in 1933, Monmouth University is a four-year private university on a 155-acre (0.63 km²) campus, with 5,600 students and 232 full-time faculty. The campus is notable for Wilson Hall, a National Historic Landmark that was used in the 1982 film Annie.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 36.65 miles (58.98 km) of roadways, of which 27.84 miles (44.80 km) were maintained by the municipality, 5.19 miles (8.35 km) by Monmouth County and 3.62 miles (5.83 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 36 and Route 71 intersect in the borough.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 831 and 837 routes. The nearest train service is available at the Long Branch station on the North Jersey Coast Line.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with West Long Branch include: