Red Bank, New Jersey


Red Bank is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, incorporated in 1908 and located on the Navesink River, the area's original transportation route to the ocean and other ports. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a population of 12,206, reflecting an increase of 362 from the 11,844 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,208 from the 10,636 counted in the 1990 Census.
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; however, 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. The borough was named for the red soil along the Navesink River.

History

Red Bank has been occupied by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. In historic times, the area of modern-day Red Bank was the territory of the Algonquian-speaking Lenape Native Americans, also called the Delaware by the English. The Lenape lived in the area between the Navesink River and the Shrewsbury River in an area that they called Navarumsunk. The Native Americans traded freely with European settlers from England and the Dutch Republic in the mid-17th century, who purchased land in the area.
Originally part of "Shrewsbury Towne", Red Bank was named in 1736, when Thomas Morford sold Joseph French "a lot of over three acres on the west side of the highway that goes to the red bank." Red Bank was settled by English colonists beginning in the 17th century and became a center for shipbuilding. Its population grew rapidly after 1809, when regularly scheduled passenger ships were established to serve the route to Manhattan.
By 1844, Red Bank had become a commercial and manufacturing center, focused on textiles, tanning, furs, and other 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 work in Manhattan. Red Bank grew in size as a result of this, as well as the effects of construction of a railway in the town by the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad in 1860.
During the 20th century, Red Bank was a strong cultural, economic, and political center in Monmouth County, 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, due to a real estate scandal. Local pundits and urban planners referred to the town as "Dead Bank".
Beginning in approximately 1991, under the New Jersey Development and Redevelopment Law, the borough authorized the creation of the Red Bank RiverCenter to manage redevelopment in what was designated as a special improvement district. RiverCenter retains authority over the management and redevelopment of a defined central business district, which includes Broad Street from the post office to Marine Park and from Maple Avenue to one block east of Broad Street. A number of urban redevelopment projects have taken place, including improved signage, distinctive and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and lighting, a coherent design plan for Main Street and other major thoroughfares, improved condition of parking lots with landscaping, and similar projects.
The district as originally proposed was larger, to include the commercial areas west of Maple Avenue, including the antique buildings, The Galleria, and Shrewsbury Avenue. But, some property owners in this area were opposed to paying the special assessment. Plans for the larger district advanced but opposition became more rigorous. The proposed district was amended to exclude opponents, and the district that was adopted stops at Maple Avenue.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.162 square miles, including 1.739 square miles of land and 0.423 square miles of water.
Red Bank is located on the southern bank of the Navesink River, in northern Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is about due south of the tip of Manhattan and about to the tip of Manhattan if traveling by water along the Navesink River and through Raritan Bay.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Newmans Corner.
Red Bank is bordered by the Monmouth County municipalities of Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown Township, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls.

Climate

Red Bank has a humid subtropical climate, bordering a humid continental climate.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $59,118 and the median family income was $79,922. Males had a median income of $51,053 versus $47,368 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,424. About 13.1% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile. There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile. 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.

Economy

Red Bank has an eclectic mix of businesses, including companies in entertainment, retail, professional, medical and hospitality sectors. Among these businesses are major locations of national and luxury retailers. Garmany of Red Bank has been expanded from a men's store into a luxury department store with of high-end retail space. Store openings have included Tiffany & Co. in November 2007.

Arts and culture

Red Bank is a noted social and commercial destination, filled with boutiques, designer clothing and home stores, parks, and restaurants. Special events are scheduled throughout the summer, such as the KaBoomFest fireworks on July 3, which attracted as many as 150,000 spectators at its 51st annual event in 2010.
Since the 1950s, Red Bank has held the Annual Red Bank Sidewalk Sale. The 58th Annual Sidewalk Sale was held from July 27, 2012 to July 29, 2012, and was seen in "The Sidewalk Stash", the November 11, 2012 episode of the reality TV series Comic Book Men.
The town is considered a center of artistic activity, and is home to the Monmouth County Arts Council, as well as several art and photography galleries.
The Count Basie Theatre has hosted performers such as Kevin Smith, David Sedaris, Tracy Morgan, Bob Newhart, Foreigner, Andy Williams, Brian Setzer, B.B. King, and others. It is home to Phoenix Productions, a non-profit community theatre founded in 1988 puts on large scale musicals four times a year. The Two River Theater Company opened a large performance space on April 30, 2005, called the Two River Theater. Bruce Springsteen filmed his 2005 VH-1 Storytellers special at the Two River Theatre. The Marion Huber Theater, also operated by the Two River Theater Company, is a small black box theater, with seating for about 100.
s appear on the Navesink.
Boating, sculling, sailing, and fishing are popular outdoor activities in and near Red Bank; in the winter, ice boats sail on the Navesink when it freezes over, as it did in 2009. The Monmouth Boat Club, Marine Park, and the slips of the Molly Pitcher Inn provide access to the Navesink and, from there, Sandy Hook and the Gateway National Recreation Area, the Jersey Shore and the Atlantic Ocean.
Broad Street is one of the borough's central streets and is known for its lavish Christmas decorations, which appear on the street during the holiday season. The street is closed to traffic for a free concert sponsored by Holiday Express, after which the lights are all lit again. Up to 7,000 people attend the shows annually.
Red Bank hosts the Red Bank Jazz & 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.
Each year from 1960 through 2011, a fireworks display was launched from the Navesink River close to Red Bank on July 3, the eve of Independence Day. "KaBoomFest" was held in Marine Park, where local bands and vendors formed a major gathering.

Sports

In 1998, the Red Bank Armory was converted to an ice rink. It is home to the youth hockey team Red Bank Generals.
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 in honor of Dr. George A. Sheehan, the prominent author, philosopher and area physician. 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. The 2012 running, shortened to a 5K race, attracted nearly 1,300 participants.
In January 2018, FC Monmouth announced that Count Basie Park in Red Bank would be the home stadium for the team's inaugural season. This park was selected by the team's owners due to Red Bank's central location in the county both in geographic location and in terms of the local economy, along with the fact that the stadium will be easily accessible by public transit and by car.

Government

Local government

Red Bank is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 of 565 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Red Bank is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.
, the Mayor of Red Bank is Democratic Pasquale Menna, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2022. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Erik K. Yngstrom, Michael K. Ballard, Kathleen A. Horgan, Kate Triggiano, Hazim Yassin and Edward Zipprich.

Federal, state and county representation

Red Bank is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Red Bank had been in the 12th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Red Bank had been part of the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 6,217 registered voters in Red Bank, of which 2,118 were registered as Democrats, 1,185 were registered as Republicans and 2,906 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 63.2% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 35.2%, and other candidates with 1.6%, among the 4,359 ballots cast by the borough's 6,440 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 63.2% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 34.0% and other candidates with 0.9%, among the 4,948 ballots cast by the borough's 6,669 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.1% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.4% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 4,905 ballots cast by the borough's 6,856 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.5.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 41.2%, and other candidates with 2.4%, among the 2,772 ballots cast by the borough's 6,510 registered voters, for a turnout of 42.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 46.0% of the vote, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 45.9%, Independent Chris Daggett with 6.3% and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 3,176 ballots cast by the borough's 6,332 registered voters, yielding a 50.2% turnout.

Education

The Red Bank Borough Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 1,434 students and 110.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1. Schools in the district are
Red Bank Primary School with 644 students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade and
Red Bank Middle School with 648 students in fourth through eighth grades.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Red Bank Regional High School, which also serves students from Little Silver and Shrewsbury Borough, along with students in the district's academy programs from other communities who are eligible to attend on a tuition basis. Students from other Monmouth County municipalities are eligible to attend the high school for its performing arts program, with admission on a competitive basis. The borough has five elected representatives on the nine-member Board of Education. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,208 students and 119.6 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1.
Red Bank Charter School is a public school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade that operates under a charter granted by the New Jersey Department of Education and accepts students and receives its funding from a portion of property taxes, like a typical public school. It does not charge tuition and operates independently of the public school system, with a separate school board. Students are selected to enroll in the charter school based on an annual lottery, which is open to all Red Bank residents of school age.
Other schools in Red Bank include Red Bank Catholic High School and St. James Elementary School which are Catholic schools affiliated with Saint James parish and operate under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Route 35 runs north-south through the borough while CR 520 passes through briefly in the southeastern area. Red Bank is also east of Interchange 109 of the Garden State Parkway.

Public transportation

train service at Red Bank station is provided on the North Jersey Coast Line, offering express and local service. Diesel service operates from Hoboken Terminal to Bay Head, New Jersey. Electric service operates from Penn Station to Long Branch, New Jersey, where the electrified portion of the line ends. Mid-line stations include Newark Penn Station, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Secaucus Junction.
Bus service through Red Bank is provided by Academy Bus and Veolia Transport, running routes under contract to NJ Transit. Local bus service is provided on the 831, 832, 833, 834 and 835 routes.

Health care

is a 476-bed acute care community hospital that was founded in 1928 as Red Bank Hospital.

In media

Several tunes composed and/or made famous by Count Basie name-check the town in their title, including "Red Bank Boogie" and "The Kid from Red Bank." Basie was born and grew up in Red Bank, starting his musician's career there. A bronze bust of Basie was commissioned to mark what would have been his 100th birthday in 2004, and was placed in the plaza outside the Red Bank train station.
In his 1942 essay "Memoirs of a Drudge", humorist James Thurber recalls being sent to Red Bank by his newspaper's city editor on a tip that "Violets growing in the snow over in Red Bank." Putting in a telephone call to that town's Chief of Police in advance, Thurber is told by a desk sergeant, "Ain't no violence over here."
Some of the films by Kevin Smith, who lived in Red Bank while working as an up-and-coming director, are partially set there, including Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Smith's comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, which is the setting of the AMC reality television series, Comic Book Men, is also located in Red Bank, at 35 Broad Street. Smith and View Askew Productions also host the annual Vulgarthon film marathon in various theaters around Red Bank.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Red Bank include: