Red Bank, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Borough of Red Bank is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey incorporated in 1908. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough had a population of 11,844.
Red Bank was originally formed as a Town on March 17, 1870, from portions of Shrewsbury Township. On February 14, 1879, Red Bank became Shrewsbury City, a portion of Shrewsbury Township, but this only lasted until May 15, 1879, when Red Bank regained its independence. On March 10, 1908, Red Bank was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature and was set off from Shrewsbury Township.[1]
Alongside Asbury Park and Long Branch the town is considered to be one of the three artistic communities of the Jersey Shore. The community is often compared to New York City's Soho and Greenwich Village.
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[edit] Geography
Red Bank is located at (40.347492, -74.067081)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²). 4.6 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (17.13%) is water.
Red Bank is located on the southern bank of the Navesink River, in northern Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is 46 miles (74 km), or 20 nautical miles (37 km) if traveling by waterway, nearly due south of New York City. Red Bank is bordered by Middletown Township and the Boroughs of Tinton Falls, Fair Haven, Shrewsbury, and Little Silver.
[edit] History
Originally part of "Shrewsbury Towne", Red Bank was named in 1736, "when Thomas Morford sold Joseph French 'a lot of over three acres (12,000 m²) on the west side of the highway that goes to the red bank.'" Borough of Red Bank, History, supra. Red Bank was settled in the 17th century, but was not populous until approximately 1809. By 1844, Red Bank had become a commercial center, focused on textiles, fur, tanning, and manufacturing goods for sale in Manhattan. With the dredging of the Navesink River, about 1845, Red Bank became a port from which steamboats transported commuters to Manhattan. Red Bank grew in size as a result of this and the laying of rails in the town by the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad, about 1860.
During the 20th century, Red Bank was a strong cultural, economic, and political center in Monmouth County, New Jersey, until it was hindered by the economic recession that began in 1987. During this time, Red Bank's economy, based largely on retail commerce, was in decline, leading local pundits and urban planners to refer to the town as "Dead Bank." Beginning in approximately 1991, under the New Jersey Development and Redevelopment Law, the town authorized the creation of an organization to manage redevelopment in what was designated a Special Improvement District. This organization is known as the Red Bank RiverCenter. RiverCenter retains authority over the management and redevelopment of an agreed-upon "downtown business district."
The downtown district includes Broad Street from the post office to Marine Park and from Maple Avenue to one block east of Broad Street. The district that was originally proposed was much larger. It originally included the commercial areas west of Maple Avenue, including the antique buildings, The Galleria, and Shrewsbury Avenue. However, some property owners in this area were opposed to the idea because they did not want to pay the assessment. Plans for the larger district advanced but opposition became more rigorous. Therefore the proposed district was amended to exclude those who were opposed, and the district that was adopted stops at Maple Avenue. In May of 2006 heart throb Alex Beganie moved to Red Bank, much to the delight of females throughout the area.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 11,622 |
|
|
| 1940 | 10,974 | -5.6% | |
| 1950 | 12,743 | 16.1% | |
| 1960 | 12,482 | -2.0% | |
| 1970 | 12,847 | 2.9% | |
| 1980 | 12,031 | -6.4% | |
| 1990 | 10,636 | -11.6% | |
| 2000 | 11,844 | 11.4% | |
| historical data source: [2] | |||
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,569.1/km² (6,639.1/mi²). There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 1,182.2/km² (3,055.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 68.19% White, 20.05% African American, 0.35% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.73% from other races, and 2.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.11% of the population.
There were 5,201 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.9% were non-families. 42.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% 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 2.99.
In the borough the population was spread out with 17.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $47,282, and the median income for a family was $63,333. Males had a median income of $45,922 versus $34,231 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,265. About 6.3% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Red Bank is governed by a mayor and a six-member borough council. The mayor of the Borough of Red Bank serves a four-year term. Councilmembers serve three-year terms. As of 2006, the mayor and council members are:[3]
- Mayor Edward J. McKenna, Jr., Esq. (term ends December 31, 2006)
- Council President Pasquale Menna, Esq. (2006)
- Councilman Robert Bifani (2007)
- Councilman John Curley (2008)
- Councilwoman Kay Ernst (2008)
- Councilwoman Sharon Lee (2007)
- Councilman Arthur Murphy III (2006)
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
The Borough of Red Bank is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th Legislative District.[4]
New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, covering portions of Middlesex County and Monmouth County, is represented by Frank Pallone (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 12th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Ellen Karcher (D, Marlboro) and in the Assembly by Jennifer Beck (R, Red Bank) and Michael J. Panter (D, Red Bank). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Monmouth County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William C. Barham, Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton, Lillian G. Burry, Anna C. Little and Theodore J. Narozanick.
[edit] Education
The Red Bank Borough Public Schools serve students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2004-05 enrollment data from the New Jersey Department of Education's School Report Cards) are Red Bank Primary School (with 486 students in Pre-Kindergarten through fourth grade) and Red Bank Middle School (with 307 students in fourth through eighth grades).
For grades nine through twelve, students attend Red Bank Regional High School, which serves students from the boroughs of Little Silver, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Union Beach and Interlaken.
Other schools in Red Bank include Red Bank Catholic High School. Red Bank Charter School is a charter school that accepts students and does not charge tuition, but operates independently of the public school system.
[edit] Transportation
New Jersey Transit train and bus service connects Red Bank to New York City and to other locations in New Jersey. Train service operates on the North Jersey Coast Line. Red Bank is two miles east of Exit 109 of the Garden State Parkway.
[edit] Tourism
Red Bank is a noted social and commercial destination, filled with boutiques, designer clothing and home stores, parks, and restaurants. Many events such as the Kaboom fireworks on July, 3rd occur throughout the summer.
[edit] Theatre
The Count Basie Theatre hosts nationally known performers, including David Sedaris, James Brown, Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Foreigner, Andy Williams, Brian Setzer, B.B. King, and others. The Two River Theater Company opened a large performance space on April 30, 2005, called the Two River Theater. Bruce Springsteen filmed his VH-1 Storytellers special at the Two River Theatre. The Marion Huber Theater, also operated by the Two River Theater Company, is also in Red Bank.
There have been several annual festivals held in Red Bank. See, e.g., Red Bank International Film Festival.
[edit] Events
There is an annual fireworks display (called "KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink") held on July 3 that is popular with those residing in the Metropolitan New York Area. Each summer, Red Bank hosts the Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival in partnership with the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Society. "First Night", a New Year's Eve arts and entertainment festival, is a Red Bank event designed to provide an alternative to alcohol-related events.
Boating, sculling, sailing, and fishing are popular outdoor activities in Red Bank. The Monmouth Boat Club, Marine Park, and the slips of the Molly Pitcher Inn provide access to the Navesink and, from there, the Atlantic Ocean.
[edit] Popular culture
Filmmaker Kevin Smith lived in Red Bank while working as an up-and-coming director. His films Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back partly took place in the town, primarily on Broad Street. Clerks. was also famously situated in a nearby convenience store, where Smith himself was working at the time.
Smith's production company, View Askew Productions, occupies a building on Broad Street in Red Bank. In addition, Smith opened a comic shop/novelty store, "Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash," located at 35 Broad Street, directly across the street from Jack's Music Shoppe, which was a location in Chasing Amy. A scene in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, was filmed in the store, but for the film, the sign was temporarily removed and replaced with a sign that read "Brodie's Secret Stash", due to the fact that the character Brodie owned the store in the movie. That sign now hangs inside the store on display, along with other View Askew paraphernalia, including the "Buddy Christ". Regular actors from his film series work and/or make appearances in the store, as many of his fans travel from all across the country to frequent it and buy film-related merchandise.
Smith and View Askew host the annual Vulgarthon film marathon in various theaters around Red Bank.
Most of Smith's View Askewniverse movies also make reference to nearby Leonardo as well as Asbury Park, another community which is famous for being artistic in nature.
Smith's 1999 film Dogma had scenes set in Red Bank that were filmed in other locations.[5]
Kevin Smith has been known to appear, alongside other actors, inside his comic store. On announced dates, crowds of fans have been known to line the streets of Red Bank for blocks, hoping to meet Smith. [6]
Long Branch, another nearby town, is also known for its artistic vibe, and the three cities are collectively referred to as the "New Jersey Tricity." There is a local publication aiming at the artistic scene called Tricity News, as well as several other local music publications including the popular Upstage Magazine, which is published out of Asbury Park.
The popular Adult Swim cartoon Aqua Teen Hunger Force shown on the Cartoon Network makes reference to an address at "612 Wharf Avenue" in the episode "MC P. Pants". The address is an actual one, located in Red Bank. This stands to reason since the show is set in an unnamed locale on the New Jersey shore.
The film Jersey Girl is set in the nearby Borough of Highlands.
The George Sheehan Classic began in 1981 as the Asbury Park 10K Classic and quickly became one of the major road running events on the national calendar. The race moved to Red Bank in 1994 and was renamed to honor the memory of Dr. George A. Sheehan, the prominent author, philosopher and area physician. “The Doc” has been called the “father of the running boom” in the United States. The Classic was named one of the Top 100 Road Races by Runner’s World magazine, and the Best Memorial Race in New Jersey by The New York Times. Nearly 2,500 athletes participated in the 2006 Sheehan Classic.
Red Bank is home to Riverview Hospital [1], incorporated in 1928, began in a renovated boarding house on Union Street, with 29 beds, one operating room, a delivery suite, and facilities for six newborns. Today, Riverview is a 446-bed acute care hospital serving the northern region of Monmouth County.
[edit] Nightlife
Whereas the town is not as well known for its nightlife as Asbury Park or Long Branch, Red Bank does house a variety of popular nightspots.
[edit] Notable residents
- Jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie (1904-1984)[7]
- Daniel J. O'Hern, Esq. (b. 1930), Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- During the 1990s, news media figure Geraldo Rivera was involved in developing a newspaper for the Red Bank area, The Two River Times.
- Actress Lori Rom (b. 1975)
- Actress Natalie Schafer (1900-1991), who was best known as Mrs. Thurston Howell III on the classic 1960's TV series, Gilligan's Island.[8]
- Musician Bruce Springsteen, who grew up in nearby Freehold Borough, New Jersey and was often involved in Red Bank-related events. He currently has a home in nearby Rumson.
- Literary critic Edmund Wilson (1895-1972)
- Wit, writer and critic Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943), actually born at the nearby North American Phalanx utopian community.
- Red Bank is often associated with filmmaker and actor Kevin Smith (b. 1970), who was born in Red Bank and grew up in the nearby Borough of Highlands.
- Songwriter, guitarist, singer and Monster Magnet bandleader, Dave Wyndorf (b. 1956)
[edit] References
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 184.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
- ^ Borough of Red Bank: Mayor and Council, accessed June 25, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 63, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Kevin Smith on New Jersey, fatherhood and 'Dogma', CNN, November 12, 1999
- ^ A YouTube video showing Kevin Smith fans in Red Bank
- ^ Count Basie "One More Time!", accessed November 28, 2006
- ^ Natalie Schafer from TV.com, accessed November 28, 2006
[edit] External links
- Community Website for Red Bank, New Jersey
- Official Red Bank website
- Red Bank Borough Public Schools
- Red Bank Borough Public Schools's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Red Bank Regional High School
- Red Bank Regional High School's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Red Bank, New Jersey history
- Red Bank RiverCenter
- Blog Covering Verizon's Application for a cable TV franchise in Red Bank
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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