Long Branch, New Jersey
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The City of Long Branch has a land area of 5.10 square miles (13.2 km2) and is located in the north coast area of the county. The Elberon section of Long Branch, nicknamed the Newport of the Jersey Shore at the turn of the century, is still known for its grand Victorian and Gothic architecture. Long Branch contains the most varied rage of housing types of any town in the
county, including single family homes, oceanfront high-rise condominiums, townhomes and apartments. The recent development of a first class oceanfront hotel has inspired large-scale plans for redevelopment of Long Branch s oceanfront area.
Prepared by the Monmouth County Planning Board
History
Long Branch was a beach resort town in the late 1700's. In the 1800's it was a "Hollywood" of the east, where some of the greatest theatrical and other performers of the day gathered and performed. By the first half of the 20th century, seven presidents had used Long Branch as a vacation place. Seven Presidents Park, a park near the beach, is named in honor of their visits.
President James Garfield was brought to Long Branch in the hope that the fresh air and quiet in Elberon might aid his recovery after being shot on July 2, 1881, an incident that left the assassin's bullet lodged in his spine. He died here on September 19, 1881, exactly two months before his 50th birthday.
Originally a resort town with a few hotels and large estates and many farms in the early 20th century, Long Branch grew in population. Italian, Irish and Jewish immigrants settled in during this period. By the 1950's, Long Branch like many other towns had developed new residential spots and housing to make room for the growing population. Many of the former farms of Long Branch were transformed into residential "suburbs". Many of the estates and a few old historic resorts (with the addition of many new ones) still remain.
With the ascendency of Hollywood in California as a film capital, Long Branch lost much of its activity as a theatre spot. Parts of traditional living areas with old houses were altered to support private projects by eminent domain legislation.
Long Branch still continues however to be a popular resort area. Many people from New York City travel or settle in to the area to escape the crowded city and enjoy the benefits of Long Branch's beaches.
Demographics
Year Number
1980 29,819
1990 28,658
2005 Projection 33,995
2020 Projection 35,982
2000 Age Composition
Number Percent
Pre-School 2,183 7.0
(0-4 years)
School Age 6,048 19.3
(5-19 years)
Working Age 19,073 60.9
(20-64 years)
Seniors (65+) 4,036 12.9
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
Income
1998 Census 2000 Census
Median $35,141 $42,825
Family
Median $30,693 $3,9651
Household
Per Capita $16,104 $20,532
Neighborhoods
There are several distinct neighborhoods and areas in the City of Long Branch, each with its own character, strengths and challenges. Among these are North End (once known as "Atlanticville"), Branchport, Beachfront North and South (including the tony "Pier Village," formerly the Long Branch Pier), Downtown, Uptown, West End and Elberon. As the city's now famous redevelopment initiatives continue to grow in scope and renown, the lower Broadway area (a portion of the city's Downtown) will become an Arts District. One of the first successes of the art district has been the Shore Institute for Contemporary Art on Broadway and Third Avenue.
In years past, Long Branch was a major destination for beachgoers, along with 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.
Long Branch's previous fame as the Nation's First Seaside Resort was waning in the years following World War II. 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.
Over the course of the twenty years since the fire, several municipal administrations have tackled the issues relative to the city's rebirth. Only recently has any of these efforts resulted in tangible evidence of a rebirth.
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Households
Year Total Households
1980 11,672
1990 11,544
2000 12,594
2003 12,680
HOUSING 2000
Housing Units
Number Percent
Total –2000 13,983 100.0
Owner-Occupied 5,343 38.2
Renter-Occupied 7251 51.9
Vacant 1,389 9.9
Median Value $138,800
Owner-Occupied
Median Rent (2000) $670
Types of Units - (1990)
Single Units Number Percent
Total 5,758 100.0
Detached: 4,886 84.9
Attached: 872 15.1
Multiple Units
Total 8,205 100.0
2-4 Units 2,947 35.9
5-9 Units 895 10.9
10+ Units 4,363 53.2
Mobile Homes 20 100.0
and Other
Transportation
Long Branch has a good train connection via New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line at the Bay Head station, which offers service to the Newark Liberty International Airport station, to Hoboken Terminal and to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. Long Branch marks the end of electrical traction and passengers continuing on south must change to diesel-powered trains. The train station is only three blocks away from the beach. In the past there were stops at West End and north from Broadway Street, which were closed to reduce travel time to New York City.
Government
Local government
The City of Long Branch is governed under the Mayor-Council form of municipal government under the Faulkner Act.
The Mayor of Long Branch is Adam Schneider. Members of the City Council are Council President Anthony Giordano, Council Vice-President Michael DeStefano, David G. Brown and Dr. Mary Jane Celli. Councilman John "Fazz" Zambrano resigned from office following a July 20, 2006 federal court appearance at which he pleaded guilty to accepting a $1,000 bribe from an FBI informant. His seat will remain vacant until the Council appoints someone to fill his seat on an interim basis until the General Election in November.
The Chief Administrative Officer of the city is Business Administrator and former Councilman Howard "Chubby" Woolley. The Assistant Director of Administration is Aide to the Mayor Michael Muscillo.
Education
Long Branch's public schools are operated by Long Branch Public Schools, an Abbott District. Schools in the district are Joseph Ferraina Early Childhood Learning Center, five elementary schools — Amerigo A. Anastasia School (PreK-5), Audrey W. Clark School (3-5), Gregory School (K-2), Morris Avenue School (K-2) and West End School (3-5) — Long Branch Middle School for grades 6-8 and Long Branch High School [1] for grades 9-12.
Employment
Resident Labor Force
1990 14,727
2001 16,377
2002 17,132
Resident Employment
1990 13,708
2001 15,370
2002 15,635
Resident Unemployment
Number Percent
1990 1,019 6.9
2001 1,007 6.1
2002 1,497 8.7
This information is from www.Wikipedia.org
Did you know that:
- The City of Long Branch has some 13,000 households.
- Approximately 2,000 households are federally assisted or affordable units (15.38%).
- The Poverty rate is at 12% in Long Branch.
- Within the City of Long Branch the percentage of affordable housing exceeds the poverty rate by 3.38%.
- NJ State Department of Community Affairs, Monmouth County Board of Social Services and Long Branch Housing Authority all provide housing assistance (Section 8 Vouchers). Between the three agencies there are over 1000 people who reside in Long Branch on waiting lists to receive assistance.
- Median family income is over $38,000. Average family income is over $50,000.
- Median property value is over $200,000.
- Since 1995, almost $5,000,000 of housing assistance funds has been spent on low- to moderate-income households to abate code violations.
- In the same time period almost 400 family units have received housing assistance funds.
- In the last three years close to 100 new units of affordable housing has been built in Long Branch.
- An additional 400 new affordable rental units and housing units will be built in Long Branch within the next five years.
- Low- to moderate-income homeowners can receive grants or deferred loans up to $25,000 for code violations abatement.
Information provided by the County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey and Office of Community and Economic Development, City of Long Branch. For more information visit www.longbranch.org.
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