Monmouth Beach, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Monmouth Beach is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated on the Jersey Shore in Central Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,174,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 105 (−3.2%) from the 2010 census count of 3,279,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn had reflected a decline of 316 (−8.8%) from the 3,595 counted at the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

The area was first settled in 1668 and grew into a community with the arrival of the Long Branch and Sea Shore Railroad.<ref name=Thinking2002>Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Monmouth Beach; A Town Where Water Lovers Abound", The New York Times, October 6, 2002. Accessed September 7, 2015. "Monmouth Beach started in 1668 as a farm developed by a Quaker named Eliakim Wardell, who eventually became the first sheriff of Monmouth County. Two centuries later, the area was made accessible to wealthy New Yorkers with the arrival of the Long Branch and Sea Shore Railroad that connected to the steamboat terminal at Sandy Hook to the south.... Among those who constructed mansions, which they called 'cottages,' were the wireless pioneer Guglielmo Marconi; the apple juice magnate Samuel Mott; a United States vice president, Garret A. Hobart; a founder of Wells Fargo, William G. Fargo; a candy manufacturer, William H. Heide, whose company made Jujyfruits; and the robber baron Jay Gould."</ref> Many early residents were professional fishermen with Norwegian backgrounds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Monmouth Beach was incorporated from portions of Ocean Township as a borough on March 9, 1906, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 182. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>

In 2023, the average home price according to Zillow was $974,409, which was up by 1.4% from the previous year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.07 square miles (5.37 km²), including 1.04 square miles (2.70 km²) of land and 1.03 square miles (2.67 km²) of water (49.81%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

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.<ref name=Thinking>Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In / Monmouth Beach; A Town Where Water Lovers Abound", The New York Times, October 6, 2002. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref>

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Galilee.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref> The Sea Bright–Monmouth Beach Seawall parallel to the ocean.

The borough is bordered by the Monmouth County communities of Little Silver, Long Branch, Oceanport, Rumson and Sea Bright.<ref>Areas touching Monmouth Beach, MapIt. Accessed February 27, 2020.</ref><ref>Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed February 27, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

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 spacious beach clubs equipped with pool and beach access. They have lockers, activities, swim teams, and more. Many locals and area residents attend these beach clubs.

Monmouth Beach offers fishing, as well as surfable waves. The Shrewsbury River, which borders the borough, offers sailing, kayaking, and fishing. The great majority of the borough of Monmouth Beach is residential. Places to go within the area include the many restaurants, lounges, and bars in West End, and Pier Village in Long Branch. Other notable locations include Red Bank, and the numerous beaches all along the shore towns to the north and south such as Asbury Park.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,279 people, 1,494 households, and 855 families in the borough. The population density was 3,049.5 per square mile (1,177.4/km²). There were 1,981 housing units at an average density of 1,842.4 per square mile (711.4/km²). The racial makeup 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.89% (62) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,494 households, 21.7% had children under the age of 18; 48.9% were married couples living together; 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.8% were non-families. Of all households, 37.5% 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.<ref name=Census2010/>

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 population had 89.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.9 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

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.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Monmouth Beach borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> 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 Template:Convert. 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.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Monmouth Beach borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Monmouth Beach borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref>

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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

The Borough of Monmouth Beach has been governed under the Walsh Act, by a three-member commission, since 1929.<ref>"The Commission Form of Municipal Government" Template:Webarchive, p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 8. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> The borough is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the commission form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a three-member commission, whose members are elected at-large in non-partisan 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 58.</ref>

Template:As of, members of the Borough Commission are Mayor David F. Stickle (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), Lawrence M. Bolsch (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and Timothy Somers (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property), whose terms of office end concurrently as of May 13, 2025.<ref name=Commissioners>Mayor and Commissioners, Borough of Monmouth Beach. Accessed January 30, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Monmouth Beach. Accessed January 30, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2021Municipal>May 11, 2021 Municipal Election - Monmouth Beach Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, update June 9, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref>Reorganization Meeting Minutes for May 25, 2021, Borough of Monmouth Beach. Accessed April 3, 2022. "Commissioner Bolsch moved, seconded by Commissioner Somers, that Commissioner Stickle be appointed as Mayor and Director of the Departments of Public Affairs and Public Safety. Upon the call of the roll the foregoing motion was carried by the following vote: Ayes S, Nays a Commissioner Somers moved, seconded by Commissioner Stickle, that Commissioner Bolsch be appointed as Director of the Department of Revenue and Finance. Upon the call of the roll the foregoing motion was carried by the following vote: Ayes 3, Nays 0. Mayor Stickle moved, seconded by Commissioner Bolsch that Commissioner Somers be appointed as Director of the Departments of Public Works, Parks, and Public Property."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Monmouth Beach is located in the 6th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRowTemplate:PresRowTemplate:PresRow |} As of March 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 as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Monmouth, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref>

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%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> 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%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref> 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.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref>

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%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>2009 Governor: Monmouth County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 5, 2012.</ref>

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Monmouth Beach School District at Monmouth Beach School.<ref>Monmouth Beach Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Monmouth Beach School District. Accessed June 7, 2020. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Monmouth Beach School District. Composition The Monmouth Beach School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Monmouth Beach."</ref><ref>County School List L-M, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed June 7, 2020.</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 236 students and 26.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.9:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Monmouth Beach School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Karen Ginty, a kindergarten teacher at Monmouth Beach Elementary School for 33 years, was named the 2006–2007 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year.<ref>DOE Announces 2006-2007 State Teacher of the Year, New Jersey Department of Education press release dated October 4, 2006, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 14, 2006. Accessed July 30, 2012.</ref>

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Shore Regional High School, a regional high school that also serves students from the constituent districts of Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch.<ref>Shore Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 2, 2016. "Shore Regional High School, located in West Long Branch, Monmouth County New Jersey, is a comprehensive secondary school that proudly serves the communities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, and West Long Branch. The beautiful ten-acre campus is situated on the banks of Franklin Lake in the borough of West Long Branch."</ref><ref>Walter, Kenny. "SRHS $15.7M budget calls for flat tax levy; School taxes decrease for three of four sending towns", The Hub, April 4, 2013. Accessed June 7, 2020. "Three of the four sending districts that comprise the Shore Regional High School District — Oceanport, Monmouth Beach and West Long Branch — will pay less in taxes for the 2013-14 school year. Taxes will increase, however, for property owners in Sea Bright, which will pay a higher percentage of the regional school budget."</ref><ref>Falcone, Nick. "Deal, Shore Regional best fit for Allenhurst schoolchildren", Asbury Park Press, February 25, 2010. Accessed July 30, 2012. "The constituent districts that make up Shore Regional are Monmouth Beach, West Long Branch, Oceanport and Sea Bright. Each of these is a standalone K-8 district that feeds into Shore Regional."</ref> The high school is located in West Long Branch and is part of the Shore Regional High School District. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 649 students and 57.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.<ref>School data for Shore Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with one seat assigned to Monmouth Beach.<ref>Board of Education, Shore Regional High School. Accessed June 7, 2020.</ref>

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.<ref>About Template:Webarchive, Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed January 28, 2017.</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2018-05-25 14 07 53 View north along New Jersey State Route 36 (Ocean Avenue) just south of Vista Court in Monmouth Beach, Monmouth County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 36 (Ocean Avenue) in Monmouth Beach

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Monmouth County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Route 36 (Ocean Avenue) is the main highway serving Monmouth Beach. Route 36 connects the borough to Long Branch on the south and Sea Bright to the north.

Public transportation

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.<ref>New Jersey / New York Schedule, SeaStreak. Accessed October 5, 2014.</ref>

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Monmouth Beach has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature above Template:Convert, at least four months with an average temperature at or above Template:Convert, at least one month with an average temperature at or above Template:Convert and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid with a cooling afternoon sea breeze in Monmouth Beach, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values above Template:Convert. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was Template:Convert on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average mean dew point was Template:Convert on July 19, 2019. The average wettest month is July which correlates with the peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was Template:Convert on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was Template:Convert on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below Template:Convert. The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is Template:Convert, and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Monmouth Beach 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">Template:Cite web</ref> The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 24<ref name="National Phenology Network">Template:Cite web</ref> and fall color typically peaks in early-November.

Notable people

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

• William Warren Barbour (1888–1943), represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 1931 to 1937<ref>Barbour, William Warren, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed July 21, 2009.</ref>
• Warren A. Croll Jr. (1920-2008), retired Hall of Fame Thoroughbred race horse trainer<ref>Handleman, Bill. "Track's history a story of a Shore playground", Asbury Park Press, September 27, 2007. Accessed December 14, 2007. "Holy Bull, Horse of the Year as a 3-year-old in 1994, was owned and trained by Jimmy Croll, who still lives in Monmouth Beach."</ref>
• William Fargo (1818–1881), founder of Wells Fargo<ref name=Thinking2002/>
• John Farrell (born 1962), former MLB baseball player and pitching coach; former manager of the Boston Red Sox<ref>John Farrell Template:Webarchive, Sports Illustrated, September 15, 2006. Accessed April 18, 2008.</ref>
• Jim Garrett (1930–2018), NFL football player and coach<ref>Wallace, William N. "A Tale of Lions, Tigers and Garretts", The New York Times, October 9, 1987. Accessed July 30, 2012. "Home is a big house in Monmouth Beach, N.J., that Jim Garrett bought in 1970 when he joined the Giants as an assistant on Alex Webster's staff."</ref>
• Kim Guadagno (born 1959), former Monmouth Beach commissioner, elected sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey and first Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey<ref>Stile, Charles. "Christie announces lieutenant governor pick", The Record, July 20, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2009.</ref>
• Jay Gould (1836–1892), railroad magnate and financial speculator, often described as a robber baron<ref name=Thinking2002/>
• I. Kathleen Hagen (born 1945), physician who gained notoriety for being accused of murder by asphyxia of her parents<ref>Wright, Peggy. "Now sane, woman who killed parents to live at Shore", Asbury Park Press, March 28, 2008. Accessed September 7, 2015. "A Harvard-educated urologist who was insane when she suffocated her parents in their Chatham Township home in 2000 has been cleared by a judge to leave a mental institution for good and live in a home she bought in Monmouth Beach."</ref>
• Garret Hobart (1844–1899), United States vice president<ref name=Thinking2002/>
• Philip B. Hofmann (1909–1986), businessman who was the first non-family-member to serve as chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson & Johnson<ref>Staff. "Philip Hofmann Dies; Former Drug Executive", The New York Times, January 2, 1987. Accessed September 7, 2015. "Philip B. Hofmann, a former chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson & Johnson, died of a heart attack Tuesday at the Miami Heart Institute in Florida. He was 77 years old and lived in Monmouth Beach, N.J., and Surfside, Fla."</ref>
• Frederick K. Humphreys (1816–1900), physician and the founder of Humphreys Homeopathic Medicine Company<ref>Staff. "Monmouth Theatricals.; Playists Presented with Much Success -- Dinners and Arrivals.", The New York Times, August 2, 1908. Accessed July 13, 2022.</ref>
• Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937), wireless radio pioneer<ref name=Thinking2002/>
• Malcolm McKesson (1909–1999), outsider artist known for his ballpoint pen drawings and his erotic fiction<ref>Malcolm McKesson Template:Webarchive, outsiderart.co.uk. Accessed July 21, 2009.</ref>
• Priscilla Ransohoff (1912–1992), military education specialist and advocate for women in science and federal employment.<ref>"Dr. Priscilla Ransohoff, educator, humanitarian", Asbury Park Press, February 2, 1992. Accessed March 18, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Priscilla B. Ransohoff, 79, Of Monmouth Beach, a founder of the Monmouth Center for Vocational Rehabilitation, Tinton Falls, died yesterday at home.... Born in Pittsburgh, Dr. Ransohoff had lived in Long Branch before moving to Monmouth Beach in 1960."</ref>
• Brian Wenning (born 1981), professional skateboarder<ref>Brian Wenning, GrindTV. Accessed September 7, 2015. "Lives In: Monmouth Beach, NJ"</ref>

External links

• Borough of Monmouth Beach official website
• Monmouth Beach School
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Monmouth Beach School, National Center for Education Statistics
• Shore Regional High School