Matawan, New Jersey
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| Matawan, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Monmouth |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2.4 sq mi (6.2 km²) |
| - Land | 2.3 sq mi (5.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 8,910 |
| - Density | 3,909.1/sq mi (1,509.3/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07747 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-44520[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0878181[2] |
Matawan is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,910.
Matawan 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.
Matawan was formed as a borough on June 28, 1895, from portions of Matawan Township (now Aberdeen Township), based on the results of a referendum held that day. Matawan expanded with portions of Matawan Township in 1931 and 1933, and from Madison Township (now Old Bridge Township) in 1939.[3]
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[edit] Geography
Matawan is located at (40.411290, -74.234906)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (5.00%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,264 |
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| 1940 | 2,758 | 21.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,739 | 35.6% | |
| 1960 | 5,097 | 36.3% | |
| 1970 | 9,136 | 79.2% | |
| 1980 | 8,837 | -3.3% | |
| 1990 | 9,270 | 4.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,910 | -3.9% | |
| Est. 2006 | 8,781 | [5] | -1.4% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[6] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 8,910 people, 3,531 households, and 2,376 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,909.1 people per square mile (1,508.8/km²). There were 3,640 housing units at an average density of 1,597.0/sq mi (616.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.35% White, 6.53% African American, 0.02% Native American, 7.99% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.45% of the population.
There were 3,531 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $63,594, and the median income for a family was $72,183. Males had a median income of $51,924 versus $37,113 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,320. About 3.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Mayor of Matawan is Paul Buccellato. Members of the Matawan Borough Council are Council President Mike Cannon, Robert Bunyon, Linda Clifton, William Malley, Kevin Mendes and Bud Mullaney.[7]
On January 15, 2008, Republican Councilman Paul Buccellato defeated Democratic Mayor Mary Aufseeser in a special election in Matawan on Tuesday. Running again after their initial showdown last November resulted in a tie, Buccellato won with 51.15% of the vote to Aufseeser's 48.70%, according to unofficial results filed with the Monmouth County Clerk's Office Tuesday night. 2,039 residents, a turnout of 38%, participated in Tuesday's special election, according to the clerk's office.
The Borough Administrator and Chief Administrative Officer is Fred Carr.
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Matawan is in New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th Legislative District.[8]
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 13th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph M. Kyrillos (R, Middletown Township) and in the Assembly by Amy Handlin (R, Middletown Township) and Samuel D. Thompson (R, Old Bridge Township).[9] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[10]
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).[11]
[edit] Education
Matawan is part of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District (MARSD), together with the neighboring community of Aberdeen Township. The district is comprised of seven schools which are as follows (with 2004-05 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics):
Preschool
- Cambridge Park Developmental Learning Center (Preschool; 66 students)
Elementary Schools
- Ravine Drive Elementary School (Grades K-3; 431 students)
- Strathmore Elementary School (Grades K-3; 522 students)
- Cliffwood Elementary School (Grades K-3; 431 students)
- Lloyd Road Elementary School (Grades 4-5; 495 students)
Middle School
- Matawan Aberdeen Middle School (Grades 6 - 8; 1,016 students)
High School
- Matawan Regional High School (Grades 9 - 12; 1,121 students)
The MARSD Central Offices are located at 1 Crest Way, in Aberdeen, New Jersey.
[edit] History
[edit] 1916 Shark Attacks
Despite being 11 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, Matawan was the site of three shark attacks on July 12, 1916. They closely followed an attack in Beach Haven on July 1 and one in Spring Lake on July 6.
An unknown species, most likely a great white shark or bull shark, entered Matawan Creek where it killed a boy, Lester Stillwell; a man, Stanley Fisher; and injured another boy, Joseph Dunn. Over a two-week span in July, up to 100 sharks were killed during the hunt for this shark known as the "Matawan Man-Eater". A great white shark of 9 feet in length was captured and later dissected. In it they found 15 pounds of human flesh, confirming it as a possible killer in Matawan, though it has yet to be proven whether the Great White was responsible for the attacks off the shore of New Jersey or for the Matawan attacks. Popular belief is that the Great White was responsible for the Shoreline attacks and a Bull Shark was responsible for the Matawan Creek attacks.
The attacks were the inspiration for the 1975 movie Jaws and is considered to be one of the first attacks known worldwide.
[edit] Transportation locus
In the late 20th century, Matawan became known for its heavily-used train station at Aberdeen-Matawan on New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, which attracts riders from all over Western Monmouth County, and carries them to New York City directly to New York Pennsylvania Station, and via Hoboken, New Jersey.
NJ Transit is provided to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 133 bus line, with local service available on the 817.[12]
Matawan is traversed by Route 34, Route 79 and County Route 516, and is accessible via Exit 35 on Interstate 195, as well as exits 117 and 120 off the Garden State Parkway.
[edit] Recreation
Matawan is the northern terminus of the middle segment of the Henry Hudson Trail, and the western terminus of the eastern section.
[edit] Notable residents
- Joseph D. Bedle (1821-1894), 23rd Governor of New Jersey, in office from 1875-1878.[13]
- Terry Deitz (1959-), third-place finisher on Survivor: Panama.[14]
- Edward P. Felt (1959-2001), passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on his way who is believed to have made one of the last calls to 911 immediately prior to the fatal crash of the jetliner.[15]
- Philip Morin Freneau (1752-1832), American poet during the American Revolutionary War.[16]
- Elmer H. Geran (1875-1964), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1925-1927.[17]
- Delores Holmes (1946-), soul singer.[18]
- Jim Jeffcoat (1961-) Professional Football player for the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills from 1983 to 1997.[19]
- Richard Reines, recording industry executive who is co-owner of Drive-Thru Records, a record label specializing largely in pop punk music.[20]
- William H. Sutphin (1887-1972) represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1931-1943, and was mayor of Matawan from 1915–1916 and 1921–1926.[21]
[edit] Community
Matawan was ranked by BusinessWeek magazine at #12 in the nation on their list of "The 50 Best Places to Raise Your Kids" in November, 2007.[22]
[edit] References
- ^ 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. 182.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Census data for Matawan borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. AccessedMarch 1, 2007.
- ^ Matawan Borough Mayor's Office and Council Members, Borough of Matawan. Accessed January 4, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 60. 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.
- ^ Monmouth County Bus, New Jersey Transit. Accessed September 5, 2007.
- ^ New Jersey Governor Joseph Dorsett Bedle, National Governors Association. Accessed July 29, 2007. "Joseph D. Bedle, the twenty-ninth governor of New Jersey, was born in Matawan, New Jersey on January 5, 1831."
- ^ Terry Deitz actor profile, The South African TV Authority. Accessed July 29, 2007. "He then attended St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, New Jersey, where he earned 11 Varsity letters in football (quarterback), baseball (catcher) and wrestling."
- ^ Longman, Jere. " A NATION CHALLENGED: THE PENNSYLVANIA CRASH; Cockpit Tape Offers Few Answers but Points to Heroic Efforts", The New York Times, March 27, 2002. Accessed December 10, 2007. "Earlier reports have said that a previously unidentified passenger, Edward Felt of Matawan, N.J., said in a 911 call from a restroom that he saw a puff of smoke and heard an explosion, leading some to cite this as evidence that the plane was shot down by the military to prevent it from crashing into sensitive targets."
- ^ [1]. Accessed August 23, 2007.
- ^ Elmer Hendrickson Geran, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed July 11, 2007.
- ^ Biography - Delores Holmes, West End Arts. Accessed July 28, 2007. "From Matawan, NJ, Delores Holmes (Contralto) was raised in a gospel family."
- ^ Jim Jeffcoat, database Football. Accessed November 27, 2007.
- ^ La Gorce, Tammy. "Finding Emo", The New York Times, August 14, 2005. Accessed October 22, 2007. "We came back, because as label owners we couldn't be away from it, said Mr. Reines, who is from Fort Lee. He recently bought a house in Matawan and, for business reasons, now splits his time between the two states."
- ^ William Halstead Sutphin, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 30, 2007.
- ^ No. 12: Matawan, N.J., BusinessWeek, November 2007. Accessed November 27, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Matawan Borough website
- Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District
- Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District
- Matawan First Aid & Rescue Squad website
- Matawan, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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