Editing Long Branch, New Jersey (section)

==Geography==
Long Branch takes its name from the "long branch" or south branch of the [[Shrewsbury River]].<ref>Martin, George Castor. [https://books.google.com/books?id=3qdBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA2 ''History of Asbury Park and Long Branch: Together with the Traditions of the Indians & Settlers of Monmouth & Ocean Counties, N.J.''], p. 2. Privately published, 1903. Accessed August 20, 2014. "Long Branch takes its name from a brook, a branch of the South Shrewsbury River which runs in a direct line northward along the coast."</ref><ref name=Emporis>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20131205155216/http://www.emporis.com/city/longbranch-nj-usa Long Branch]}}, [[Emporis]]. Accessed August 20, 2014.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=15 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 1, 2015.</ref><ref>[[Henry Gannett|Gannett, Henry]]. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n137 <!-- pg=138 --> ''The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States''], p. 138. [[United States Government Printing Office]], 1905. Accessed September 1, 2015.</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city had a total area of 6.29 square miles (16.28&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 5.12 square miles (13.27&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 1.16 square miles (3.01&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (18.49%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The city borders the Monmouth County communities of [[Deal, New Jersey|Deal]], [[Monmouth Beach, New Jersey|Monmouth Beach]], [[Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey|Ocean Township]], [[Oceanport, New Jersey|Oceanport]] and [[West Long Branch, New Jersey|West Long Branch]].<ref>[https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/837887/touches.html Areas touching Long Branch], MapIt. Accessed February 26, 2020.</ref><ref>[http://co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/24/Figure%201.1__.png Regional Location Map], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]]. Accessed February 26, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

===Neighborhoods===
[[File:Long Branch NJ Beach.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Long Branch Beach]]
[[File:Long Branch NJ Pier Village.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Pier Village]] at Long Branch]]
There are several distinct neighborhoods and areas in the City of Long Branch, each with its own character. [[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|Unincorporated communities]], localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include [[Branchport, New Jersey|Branchport]], [[East Long Branch, New Jersey|East Long Branch]], [[Elberon, New Jersey|Elberon]] (served as [[ZIP Code]] 07740), Hollywood, Kensington Park, [[North Long Branch, New Jersey|North Long Branch]], Pleasure Bay and [[West End, Monmouth County, New Jersey|West End]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed May 15, 2015.</ref> Other areas include North End (once known as "Atlanticville"), Beachfront North and South (including [[Pier Village]], adjacent to the site of the former [[Long Branch Pier]] at the foot of Laird Street), Downtown and Uptown. As the city's redevelopment initiatives continue to expand, the lower Broadway area (a portion of the city's Downtown) will become an Arts District.

In years past, Long Branch was a major destination for beachgoers, along with [[Asbury Park, New Jersey|Asbury Park]], and enjoyed an upscale connotation with tourists. Long Branch is home to Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, named for the United States presidents who visited the fashionable resort town, including [[Ulysses S. Grant]], [[Chester A. Arthur]], [[Rutherford Hayes]], [[Benjamin Harrison]], [[William McKinley]], [[Woodrow Wilson]] and [[James Garfield]].<ref>[https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2535 Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]] Park System. Accessed January 8, 2018. "Long Branch was placed "on the map" in 1869 when President Grant made the city the nation's "Summer Capital," a tradition followed by Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, McKinley, and Wilson."</ref>

Long Branch's fame as the Nation's First Seaside Resort waned in the years following [[World War II]].<ref>[http://asburyparkpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061019/NEWS/61014020 "Refuges of the famous saw economic, political change"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', October 19, 2006. Accessed July 10, 2007. "But the moderate climate and ocean bathing soon helped Long Branch develop a reputation as the nation's 'first seaside resort.'"</ref> The defining moment marking the end of this era occurred on June 8, 1987, when the largest fire in the history of the city destroyed the landmark amusement pier and adjoining Haunted Mansion, "Kid's World" Amusement Park and other businesses.<ref>Williams, Carol Gorga. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120724095858/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1727434121.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+08%2C+2007&author=CAROL+GORGA+WILLIAMS&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=Blaze+scarred+Long+Branch+for+next+20+years&pqatl=google "Blaze scarred Long Branch for next 20 years"]}}, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', June 8, 2007. Access January 17, 2011.</ref>

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Long Branch has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''). ''Cfa'' climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature above {{convert|32.0|F|1}}, at least four months with an average temperature at or above {{convert|50.0|F|1}}, at least one month with an average temperature at or above {{convert|71.6|F|1}} and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid with a cooling afternoon [[sea breeze]] in Long Branch, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with [[heat index]] values above {{convert|104|F|0}}. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was {{convert|100.6|F|1}} on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average mean [[dew point]] was {{convert|77.7|F|1}} on August 13, 2016, and July 19, 2019. July is the peak in [[thunderstorm]] activity and the average wettest month is August. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was {{convert|5.82|in|mm|0}} on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is {{convert|3.9|F|1}}.<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|access-date= July 2, 2020|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}}</ref> Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was {{convert|-5.9|F|1}} on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with [[wind chill]] values below {{convert|-6|F|0}}. The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is {{convert|18|to|24|in|cm|0}} and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in [[nor'easter]] activity.

{{Weather box
|location = Long Branch, New Jersey (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1907–present)
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 76
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 99
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 74
|year record high F = 106
|Jan high F = 41.8
|Feb high F = 43.1
|Mar high F = 49.2
|Apr high F = 58.9
|May high F = 68.3
|Jun high F = 77.8
|Jul high F = 83.5
|Aug high F = 81.8
|Sep high F = 76.2
|Oct high F = 65.5
|Nov high F = 55.6
|Dec high F = 46.9
|year high F = 62.4
|Jan mean F = 33.3
|Feb mean F = 34.5
|Mar mean F = 40.8
|Apr mean F = 50.0
|May mean F = 59.5
|Jun mean F = 69.3
|Jul mean F = 75.1
|Aug mean F = 73.6
|Sep mean F = 67.6
|Oct mean F = 56.2
|Nov mean F = 46.4
|Dec mean F = 38.4
|year mean F = 53.7
|Jan low F = 24.8
|Feb low F = 25.9
|Mar low F = 32.3
|Apr low F = 41.0
|May low F = 50.8
|Jun low F = 60.9
|Jul low F = 66.8
|Aug low F = 65.4
|Sep low F = 58.9
|Oct low F = 46.9
|Nov low F = 37.3
|Dec low F = 30.0
|year low F = 45.1
|Jan record low F = −8
|Feb record low F = −12
|Mar record low F = 4
|Apr record low F = 12
|May record low F = 29
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 45
|Aug record low F = 43
|Sep record low F = 32
|Oct record low F = 24
|Nov record low F = 13
|Dec record low F = −8
|year record low F = −12
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.20
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.31
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.33
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.91
|May precipitation inch = 4.13
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.34
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.40
|Aug precipitation inch = 6.27
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.33
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.71
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.82
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.78
|year precipitation inch = 52.53
|Jan snow inch = 5.2
|Feb snow inch = 1.8
|Mar snow inch = 1.6
|Apr snow inch = trace
|May snow inch = 0
|Jun snow inch = 0
|Jul snow inch = 0
|Aug snow inch = 0
|Sep snow inch = 0
|Oct snow inch = 0
|Nov snow inch = 0.1
|Dec snow inch = 1.6
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11.0
|Feb precipitation days = 8.8
|Mar precipitation days = 9.8
|Apr precipitation days = 11.2
|May precipitation days = 11.7
|Jun precipitation days = 10.4
|Jul precipitation days = 9.3
|Aug precipitation days = 9.0
|Sep precipitation days = 8.8
|Oct precipitation days = 9.9
|Nov precipitation days = 9.2
|Dec precipitation days = 10.4
|year precipitation days = 119.5
|unit snow days = 0.01 in
|Jan snow days = 2
|Feb snow days = 1
|Mar snow days = 1
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 1
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=phi
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 16, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00284987&format=pdf
| title = Station: Long Branch-Oakhurst, NJ
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 16, 2021}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| single line = Y
| location = Sandy Hook, NJ Ocean Water Temperature (16 N Long Branch)
| Jan mean F = 37
| Feb mean F = 36
| Mar mean F = 40
| Apr mean F = 46
| May mean F = 55
| Jun mean F = 62
| Jul mean F = 69
| Aug mean F = 72
| Sep mean F = 68
| Oct mean F = 59
| Nov mean F = 51
| Dec mean F = 43
| year mean F = 53
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>[https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/all_meanT.html Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions], [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]. Accessed March 18, 2020.</ref>}}

===Ecology===
According to the [[A. W. Kuchler]] U.S. [[potential natural vegetation]] types, Long Branch would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian [[oak]] (''104'') with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern [[Hardwood]] Forest (''25'').<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">{{cite web|url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39|access-date= July 2, 2020|title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)}}</ref> The [[plant hardiness zone]] is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|3.9|F|1}}.<ref name="USDA"/> The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 23<ref name="National Phenology Network">{{cite web|url=https://www.usanpn.org/data/visualizations|access-date= July 5, 2020|title=Phenology Visualization Tool}}</ref> and fall color typically peaks in early-November.