Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
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| Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Monmouth |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1887 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Frederick J. Rast, III |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4.5 sq mi (11.7 km²) |
| - Land | 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²) |
| - Water | 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 4,614 |
| - Density | 3,805.4/sq mi (1,469.3/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07716 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-02110[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885143[4] |
| Website: http://www.ahnj.com | |
Atlantic Highlands is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey in the Bayshore Region. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 4,705.
Atlantic Highlands was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1887, from portions of Middletown Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. The borough was reincorporated on September 1, 1891.[5]
Atlantic Highlands is part of the Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan, an effort by nine municipalities in northern Monmouth County to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing the traditional downtowns, dense residential neighborhoods, maritime history, and the natural beauty of the Raritan Bayshore coastline.
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[edit] History
The town overlooks where the Atlantic Ocean and Raritan Bay meet at Sandy Hook, and its hills mark one of the highest points on the eastern seaboard of the U.S.
For thousands of years, the original inhabitants lived along its cliffs and creeks, where there is still evidence of them. Here the Lenape first encountered Europeans, and soon were trading with them. Fifty-six years after Henry Hudson's 1609 visit, English settlers bought the whole peninsula from the Lenape and called it Portland Poynt.
Colonists convened the first Assembly of New Jersey in 1667 in what is now Atlantic Highlands.[6] During Revolutionary War years, loyalists to the English crown and patriots of the new America clashed in repeated raids and counterattacks across these lands. And here passed retreating English troops after their 1778 defeat by Washington at the Battle of Monmouth.
During the late 1800s, a handful of farms met an onrush of resort developers, church groups and town builders. They created the Victorian core of the town, attracting thousands of visitors and year-round residents.
In 1879, a surveyor was engaged to lay roads and lots for a permanent community. The Atlantic Highlands Association was formed by prominent members of the Methodist Church. This organization developed the community of Atlantic Highlands.
Individuals and groups came from New York City and the surrounding vicinity to camp along the water in tent colonies. An outdoor amphitheater was created with a large seating capacity and outstanding acoustics. An indoor auditorium was built, which was utilized for entertaining visitors at the camp meetings. In 1887, Atlantic Highlands was incorporated as a borough, containing 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of prime real estate bordering on the Raritan Bay.
The major construction occurred from the 1880s trough 1900. It included hotels, cottages, rooming houses, and private homes. A pier was built extending well into the bay to accommodate steamboats from New York City. The next twenty years saw rapid development within the community. A water and sewer system was constructed, cottages were erected, and the road system was completed. During this period of development a fire department was organized.
A number of churches saw their beginning in the 1880s: the Central Baptist, First Presbyterian, Saint Agnes Roman Catholic, First Methodist, and Saint Paul Baptist Church.
Steamer service was a major source of transportation during the formation of the borough, through the 1940s. The Central Railroad of New Jersey built a major pier at the end of First Avenue. Several trains at a time could continue to the end of the pier to off load steamboat passengers. From the 1910s through the 1940s, the steamers “Sandy Hook” and the “Monmouth” navigated the waters bringing businessmen and vacationers to Atlantic Highlands.
In the 1890s, rail service came to Atlantic Highlands. This opened up Highlands and points south to vacationers. The 1920s saw 26 passenger trains daily passing through the Borough.
Today, from its ridges and bayside, the Manhattan skyline can be seen. From its harbor sail pleasure, fishing and commuter boats. The creation of the municipal harbor took place from 1938 through 1940. This harbor was built with municipal, state, and federal funds. It is the largest on the East Coast, home to 715 craft including high-speed ferry service to New York City which was introduced in 1992. In 1962, the existing Central Railroad of New Jersey pier was destroyed by fire.
Names that appear in the directories of the 1890s are the same names that populate the borough and run businesses in the community today. The bungalows on the East Side of the borough, which in the 1920s were summer bungalows, are now year-round homes. Portland Pointe, a five-story senior citizen building, provides housing for the elderly.
[edit] Geography
Atlantic Highlands is located at (40.411703, -74.033873)[7].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it (72.51%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,000 |
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| 1940 | 2,335 | 16.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,083 | 32% | |
| 1960 | 4,119 | 33.6% | |
| 1970 | 5,102 | 23.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,950 | −3% | |
| 1990 | 4,629 | −6.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,705 | 1.6% | |
| Est. 2006 | 4,614 | [2] | −1.9% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[8] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,705 people, 1,969 households, and 1,258 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,805.4 people per square mile (1,465.0/km²). There were 2,056 housing units at an average density of 1,662.9/sq mi (640.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.37% White, 2.30% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.
There were 1,969 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $64,955, and the median income for a family was $79,044. Males had a median income of $60,857 versus $36,060 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,798. About 4.4% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Atlantic Highlands is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[9]
The Mayor of Atlantic Highlands is Frederick J. Rast, III. Members of the Borough Council are Council President John C. Archibald, Jr., Roy Dellosso, Peter T. Doyle, Louis Fligor, Jacob Hoffmann and Robert Sutton.[10]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Atlantic Highlands is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th Legislative District.[11]
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).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Sean T. Kean (R, Wall Township) and in the Assembly by Mary Pat Angelini (R, Ocean Township) and Dave Rible (R, Wall Township).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]
Monmouth County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2008, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Matawan), Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan), William C. "Bill" Barham (R, Monmouth Beach), John D'Amico, Jr. (D, Oceanport) and Barbara McMorrow (D, Freehold Township).[14]
[edit] Recreation
Atlantic Highlands as a large park system with eight town-owned parks and two county operate parks. One of large park is Lenape Woods. It is nestled among tall trees and steep slopes, Lenape Woods offers approximately 51 acres of natural woodlands and freshwater wetlands that are the headwaters to Many Mind Creek. Many groups and local residents volunteer their time to maintain the woods. Monmouth County operates two park in the town, Henry Hudson Trail and Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook. Henry Hudson Trail runs nine miles from the Aberdeen/Keyport border at the intersection of Lloyd Rd. and Clark St. to the Atlantic Highlands border at Avenue D. Currently there is plan to connect the trail to Highlands. Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook is located about 266 feet above sea level, at the highest natural elevation from Maine to the Yucatan providing views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline. This 12-acre site is also home to Monmouth County's 9/11 Memorial.[15]
Atlantic Highlands Recreation Committee runs many events in town throughout the year. They run a Summer Concert Series in the harbor. They also operate many youth programs like basketball in the winter and soccer in the fall.
[edit] Education
The Atlantic Highlands School District serves students in public school for kindergarten through sixth grade. Atlantic Highlands Elementary School had an enrollment of 290 students in the 2005-06 school year.[16]
For grades 7-12, public school students attend Henry Hudson Regional High School, a comprehensive six-year high school and regional public school district that serves students from both Atlantic Highlands and Highlands.[17] The district served a total enrollment of 476 students in the 2005-06 school year.[18]
Many students also attend Ranney School in nearby Tinton Falls, a K-12 preparatory school.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Atlantic Highlands include:
- Jeff Anderson (1970-), actor, best known as Randal Graves in Kevin Smith's Clerks.
- Engelbert Brenner (c. 1904-1986), soloist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He was active as a conductor with the municipal band, was a tree warden, and was active within the yacht club.[19]
- Steve Corodemus (1952-), represents the 11th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly, and was a member of the Atlantic Highlands Borough Council from 1986-1988, serving as its President in 1988.[20]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Atlantic Highlands, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Atlantic Highlands borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 9, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 178.
- ^ Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sandy Hook: A brief history, Asbury Park Press, May 17, 2001, accessed April 15, 2007.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 58.
- ^ Mayor and Council, Borough of Atlantic Highlands. Accessed April 15, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed January 29, 2008.
- ^ Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, Monmouth County park System. Accessed May 22, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 22, 2008.
- ^ About Henry Hudson, Henry Hudson Regional High School. Accessed May 21, 2008. "This school district serves the towns of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands and students in grades seven through twelve."
- ^ Henry Hudson Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 21, 2008.
- ^ " Engelbert Brenner, 82, A Philharmonic Soloist", The New York Times, September 19, 1986. Accessed October 16, 2007. "Engelbert Brenner, who played in the New York Philharmonic for 41 years, first as an oboist and later as the orchestra's English horn soloist, died Tuesday at his home in Atlantic Highlands, N.J. He was 82 years old."
- ^ Assembly Member Steven J. 'Steve' Corodemus, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 9, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Atlantic Highlands web site
- Atlantic Highlands Elementary School
- Atlantic Highlands Elementary School's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics
- Henry Hudson Regional High School
- Atlantic Highlands Historical Society
- Atlantic Highlands Herald web site
- Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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