Editing Long Branch, New Jersey (section)

===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>