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Asbury Park, New Jersey

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"Asbury Park" redirects here. For other uses, see Asbury Park (disambiguation).
Asbury Park, New Jersey
City
Map of Asbury Park in Monmouth County, NJ, along the Atlantic Ocean (also see: full-state map).
Map of Asbury Park in Monmouth County, NJ, along the Atlantic Ocean (also see: full-state map).
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
CountyMonmouth
Area
 • Total1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2)
 • Land1.4 sq mi (3.7 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total16,930
 • Density11,842.0/sq mi (4,572.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
07712
Area code732
FIPS code34-01960Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0874396Template:GR
File:SWC.jpg
Former Howard Johnson's renovated and reopened as Salt Water Beach Cafe (summer 2007) on the boardwalk in Asbury Park

Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, on the Jersey Shore. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 16,930.

Asbury Park was originally incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1874, from portions of Ocean Township. The borough was reincorporated on February 28, 1893. Asbury Park was incorporated as a city, its current type of government, as of March 25, 1897.[1]

Geography

Asbury Park is located at 40°13′21″N 74°0′44″W / 40.22250°N 74.01222°W / 40.22250; -74.01222Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.222399, -74.012098)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²). 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (10.62%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 16,930 people, 6,754 households, and 3,586 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,571.1/km² (11,842.0/mi²). There were 7,744 housing units at an average density of 2,090.9/km² (5,416.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 24.77% White, 62.11% Black, 0.32% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 6.49% from other races, and 5.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.58% of the population.

There were 6,754 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 20.2% were married couples living together, 26.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.9% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.36.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
193014,981—
194014,617−2.4%
195017,09416.9%
196017,3661.6%
197016,533−4.8%
198017,0152.9%
199016,799−1.3%
200016,9300.8%
2006 (est.)16,546[2]
Population 1930 - 1990.[3]

In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,081, and the median income for a family was $26,370. Males had a median income of $27,081 versus $24,666 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,516. About 29.3% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 27.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

Asbury Park beach, c. 1905

Early years

A seaside community, Asbury Park is located on New Jersey's central coast. Developed in 1871 as a residential resort by New York brush manufacturer James A. Bradley, the city was named for Francis Asbury, the first American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States.

Bradley was active in the development of much of the city's infrastructure, and despite his preference for gas light, he allowed the Atlantic Coast Electric Company (precursor to today's Jersey Central Power & Light Co.) to offer electric service.[4] Along the waterfront Bradley installed a boardwalk, an orchestra pavilion, public changing rooms and a pier at the south end of the boardwalk. Such success attracted other businessmen. In 1888 Ernest Schnitzler built the Palace Merry-Go-Round on the southwest corner of Lake Avenue and Kingsley Street, the cornerstone of what would become the Palace Amusements complex; other attractions followed. [5] During these early decades in Asbury Park, a number of grand hotels were built, including the Plaza Hotel.[6]

Uriah White, an Asbury Park pioneer, installed the first artesian well water system.[7] More than 600,000 people a year vacationed in Asbury during the summer season in the early years, riding the New York and Long Branch Railroad from New York City and from Philadelphia to enjoy the mile-and-a-quarter stretch of oceanfront Asbury.

The country by the sea destination experienced several key periods of popularity. The first notable era was the 1890s, marked by a housing growth, examples of which can still be found today in a full range of Victorian architecture. Coinciding with the nationwide trend in retail shopping, Asbury Park's downtown flourished during this period and well into the next century.

1920s

The 1920s saw a dramatic change in the boardwalk with the construction of the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall complex, the Casino Arena and Carousel House, and two handsome red-brick pavilions. Noted Beaux Arts architect Warren Whitney of New York was the designer. He had also been hired to design the imposing Berkeley-Carteret Hotel positioned diagonally across from the theater and hall. At the same time, Asbury Park launched a first-class education and athletic program with the construction of a state-of-the-art high school overlooking Deal Lake.

Later years

Neither the Great Depression nor World War II were kind to Asbury Park, although in 1943, the New York Yankees held their Spring Training in Asbury Park. This was because rail transport had to be conserved during the war, and Major League Baseball's Spring Training was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. [8]

In the decades that followed the war, surrounding farm communities gave way to tracts of suburban houses, allowing the city's descendants of middle-class blacks as well as whites to move into newer houses with spacious yards. With the opening of the Garden State Parkway, Asbury Park saw the travel market change as fewer vacationers took trains to the seashore. When ground was broken in 1958 to build Monmouth Shopping Center 10 miles away in Eatontown, New Jersey, Asbury Park's downtown became less of an attraction to shoppers. Office parks built outside the city resulted in the relocation of lawyers, accountants, doctors, dentists, and other professionals. The opening of Great Adventure, a combination theme park and drive-through safari located on a lake in Jackson Township ~ and close to a New Jersey Turnpike exit ~ proved to be stiff competition for a mile-long stretch of aging boardwalk amusements. Although it was placed on the National Registers of Historic Places[9], in 1988 Palace Amusements was closed, and was demolished in 2004 despite attempts to save it.[10]

The city's changing fortunes, together with municipal mismanagement, led to civic unrest. On July 4, 1970 riots resulted in the destruction of aging buildings along Springwood Avenue, one of three main east-west corridors into Asbury Park and the central shopping and entertainment district for those living in the city's southwest quandrant. In 2007 many of those city blocks have yet to be redeveloped.

21st Century

The Asbury Park boardwalk showing the Fifth Avenue Pavilion in July 2007
The Casino's boarded walkway that links Asbury Park to Ocean Grove.
Convention Hall

From 2002 onward, the rest of Asbury Park has been in the midst of a cultural, political, and economic revival, led by a burgeoning industry of local and national artists. Its dilapidated downtown district is undergoing revitalization while most of the nearly empty blocks that overlook the beach and boardwalk are slated for massive reconstruction. In 2005, the Casino's walkway reopened, as did many of the boardwalk pavilions.

The redevelopment plans have come with controversy to many residents and supporters of Asbury Park because they call for the destruction of some historic sites, such as the Palace Amusements complex which featured the famous face of Tillie, a symbol of the Jersey Shore.[10]

The year 2007 has proved to be an important one, full of milestones for the redevelopment of Asbury Park. The eastern portion of the Casino building was demolished. There are plans to rebuild this portion to look much like the original; however, the interior will be dramatically different and may include a public market (as opposed to previously being an arena and skating rink). There has also been more of a resurgence of the downtown as well as the boardwalk, with the grand reopening of the historic Steinbach department store building, as well as the rehabilitation of Convention Hall and the Fifth Avenue Pavilion (previously home to the last remaining Howard Johnson restaurant). The year 2007 has also seen the purchase of the historic Berkeley-Carteret Hotel, which is to be restored to four-star resort status; the first residents moving into the newly constructed condominiums known as North Beach; and the rehabilitation of Ocean Avenue.

Government

Local government

The City of Asbury Park is governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law.

The Asbury Park City Council consists of Mayor Kevin G. Sanders, Deputy Mayor James Bruno, Ed Johnson, James Keady, and John Loffredo.[11]

Mayor Sanders is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition[12], a bipartisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Federal, state, and county representation

Asbury Park is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th Legislative District.[13]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch).[14][15] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[16] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024).[17][18]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vin Gopal (D, Long Branch) and in the General Assembly by Margie Donlon (D, Ocean Township) and Luanne Peterpaul (D, Long Branch).[19] Template:NJ Governor

Template:NJ Monmouth County Freeholders

Culture

Asbury Park is considered a mecca for musicians, particularly for a subgenre of rock and roll known as the Jersey Shore sound, which is infused with R&B. It is home to The Stone Pony, founded in 1974, and a starting point for many performers. In 2004 Colie Brice launched an Asbury Park-based label called AERIA Records, which was distributed by Universal Music Group. Over the past several years AERIA has steadfastly released albums by local artists such as Brian Amsterdam, St. Christopher, Agency, Juggling Suns, Colie Brice, Rick Barry, James "JPAT" Dalton, and The Hesh Inc. The next slated release is "Country Eastern" by Boston indie rock pioneer Joe Harvard, who relocated to Asbury Park several years ago.

Asbury Park, with Convention Hall in the background

Asbury Park gained newfound fame after Bruce Springsteen released his debut album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." in 1973. On his follow-up album, "The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle," one of the songs is entitled "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)."

In the movie "Dogma" by New Jersey native Kevin Smith, God took the form of an old man in order to play skeeball in Asbury Park. This is in reference to Smith's earlier feature "Chasing Amy," wherein the characters played by Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams played the same game in what appears to be Asbury, but is actually an arcade called Fun City USA in Keansburg.

The 2002 movie "City by the Sea," featuring Robert De Niro, was shot in various locations around Asbury Park, serving as the actual setting of Long Beach, New York, where the narrative took place in the original novel. Conversely, the 2006 movie "Dark Ride," featuring Jamie-Lynn DiScala, was set in Asbury Park, although the movie was actually filmed in Los Angeles, California.

Professional wrestler Bam Bam Bigelow, who was born in Asbury Park, named his finishing maneuver, an over the shoulder reverse piledriver, after Bruce Springsteen's first album, "Greetings from Asbury Park," in tribute to his hometown.

In 2005, the New Jersey Music Hall of Fame was founded in Asbury Park. There are plans to build a museum somewhere in the city as part of the redevelopment.[20]

Nightlife

Asbury Park's nightlife is primarily, but not all, rock oriented. The Stone Pony, the bar frequented by Bruce Springsteen, is still serving the rockers of the Jersey Shore. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, before going on to international fame, was the house band at the Stone Pony in the mid-seventies. On Main Street is the Saint (formerly the Clover Club), a small club that showcases local acts as well as established performers such as Ben Folds, Jewel, and Cake. Across town, on Fourth Avenue, is Asbury Lanes, a vintage bowling alley that was revamped by local artists and musicians to create one of the latest performance spaces on the east coast. It has been the setting of anything from national music acts, burlesque shows, hotrod shows, art shows and performance art, and there is still bowling. Nearby is the Baronet, a vintage movie theater which dates back to Buster Keaton.

File:100 3178.jpg
The vacant streets of Asbury Park.

There are also many gay clubs located in Asbury Park, most notably Paradise Nightclub and Georgie's and Cruisin'-The Circuit, which is both a men's bar and dance club.

Popular with numerous Asbury Park residents and visitors is the monthly First Saturday event. On the first Saturday of every month, Asbury Park's downtown art galleries, home design studios, restaurants, antique shops, and clothing boutiques remain open throughout the evening, serving hors d’œuvres and offering entertainment, to showcase the city's residential and commercial resurgence.

Hotels

There were at one time many hotels along the beachfront. Many were demolished after years of sitting vacant, but some still exist.

Currently open:

Demolished/Vacant:

  • The Metropolitan Hotel
  • The Flamingo Motel
  • The Ambassador Hotel
  • The Albion Hotel
  • The Monterey Hotel
  • The Plaza Hotel
  • The Bradley Hotel
  • The Atlantic Hotel
  • The Belmont Hotel
Berkeley Hotel, south face 2007.

Education

Asbury Park's public schools are operated by Asbury Park Public Schools. The school district is an Abbott District.

In February of 2007, the offices of the Asbury Park Board of Education were raided by investigators from the State Attorney General's office, prompted by allegations of corruption and misuse of funds.[21]

Students may also attend Academy Charter High School, located in Lake Como, which serves residents of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como, and accepts students on a lottery basis.[22]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Asbury Park include:

References

  1. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 177.
  2. ^ Census data for Asbury Park city, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  3. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  4. ^ Pike, Helen-Chantal (2005). Asbury Park's Glory Days: The Story of an American Resort. Rutgers University Press, pp 8 ISBN 0-8135-3547-6
  5. ^ 1888 Palace Amusements Online Museum. Retrieved 2007-08-17
  6. ^ Asbury Park, NJ Side O'Lamb: Urban Exploration of the Jersey Shore. Retrieved 2007-08-17
  7. ^ Pike, Helen-Chantal (1997,2003). Images of America: Asbury Park. Arcadia Publishing, pp 13 ISBN 0-7524-0538-1
  8. ^ Suehsdorf, A. D. (1978). The Great American Baseball Scrapbook, p. 103. Random House. ISBN 0-394-50253-1.
  9. ^ "National Register of Historical Places - New Jersey (NJ), Monmouth County". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-02-14.
  10. ^ a b Aftermath Palace Amusements Online Museum. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
  11. ^ Mayor and Council, City of Asbury Park. Accessed May 2, 2007.
  12. ^ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members".
  13. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  14. ^ Directory of Representatives: New Jersey, United States House of Representatives. Accessed January 3, 2019.
  15. ^ Biography, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Frank Pallone, Jr., was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he grew up and still resides."
  16. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  17. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
  18. ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  19. ^ Legislative Roster for District 11, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
  20. ^ Wise, Brian. "From Croon To Doom Metal", The New York Times, June 5, 2005. Accessed November 2, 2007. "Even so, plans for a New Jersey Music Hall of Fame center on Asbury Park, where Mr. Springsteen got his start by playing in the scrubby clubs there."
  21. ^ "Investigators probe Asbury Park Board of Ed", WABC-TV, February 22, 2007. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  22. ^ Academy Charter High School 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 12, 2008.
  23. ^ a b Pike, Helen-Chantal. "Asbury Park's Glory Days - The Story Of An American Resort", Gameroom magazine reviewed by Tim Ferrante. Accessed June 18, 2007. "I didn’t know Bud Abbott was born there. It was also the home town of then hair stylist Danny DeVito (yes, there is a photo of the famed actor in his family’s shop!) and the childhood stomping ground of Jack Nicholson."
  24. ^ Stewart Hoffman Appleby, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 30, 2007.
  25. ^ Theodore Frank Appleby, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 30, 2007.
  26. ^ Lustig, Jay. "Greetings From Neptune City, NJ", "The Star-Ledger" October 27, 2007 Accessed January 18, 2008 "Atkins, who now lives in Asbury Park, says she considers herself a Jersey artist..."
  27. ^ Bernstein, Adam (2007-10-23). "Frederick Bayer, 85; biologist studied corals in deep sea". Washington Post. Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  28. ^ SmackDown Countdown 2006: Bam Bam Bigelow - The Beast from the East comes out of retirement, November 6, 2006.
  29. ^ Blackwell, Jon. "She kept America in Vogue", Asbury Park Press, May 14, 2001. Accessed July 31, 2007. "Born in Asbury Park on March 14, 1877, Edna barely knew her father, who split up with her mom while she was still an infant."
  30. ^ Stephen Crane at the "The Literary Encyclopedia," accessed December 10, 2006.
  31. ^ Shaw, David. "DeVito! Although He Has a Penchant for Dark Comedies, Actor-Director Danny DeVito Is Serious About His Craft, His Family and His Cigars", Cigar Aficionado profile, accessed May 2, 2007. "Danny DeVito was born in 1944 in the shore town of Neptune, New Jersey--hence the name of his production company--and raised in neighboring Asbury Park, the youngest of five children (two of whom died before he was born)."
  32. ^ Anderson, Dave. " Sports of The Times; Hess Mulled The Return Of the Jets", The New York Times, May 9, 1999. Accessed September 23, 2007. "'I was born and brought up in Asbury Park, N.J.,' Hess said that day in a rare appearance at a news conference."
  33. ^ Genocchio, Benjamin. "ART; Making Art Amid The Ruins", The New York Times, May 22, 2005. Accessed December 30, 2007. "Mr. Melee took his money and bought a house in Asbury Park, after falling in love with the decaying grandeur of the Jersey Shore."
  34. ^ "Greetings From Asbury Park", NJN. Accesed June 18, 2007. "Rick Benjamin, founder of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, and a specialist in the music of Arthur Pryor – an Asbury Park musical superstar long before Bruce Springsteen – who transformed the forbidden music of Ragtime into wholesome popular entertainment."
  35. ^ Lustig, Jay. "Revisiting E Street: Ex-Springsteen sideman looks forward to Shore gig", "The Star-Ledger," July 15, 2005. Accessed July 30, 2007. "Sancious grew up in Asbury Park and Belmar. The E Street Band was named after the address of his mother's Belmar home, where they sometimes practiced. Sancious lived in Red Bank in the late '70s, before relocating to his current hometown, Woodstock, N.Y."
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