| Asbury Park, New Jersey | |
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| — City (New Jersey) — | |
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| Coordinates: 40°13′21″N 74°0′44″W / 40.2225°N 74.01222°WCoordinates: 40°13′21″N 74°0′44″W / 40.2225°N 74.01222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Monmouth |
| Government [1] | |
| - Type | 1923 Municipal Manager Law |
| - Mayor | Ed Johnson |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2) |
| - Land | 1.3 sq mi (3.3 km2) |
| - Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population (2007)[2] | |
| - Total | 17,577 |
| - Density | 14,290.0/sq mi (5,517.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07712 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-01960[3][4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0874396[5] |
| Website | http://www.cityofasburypark.com |
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 17,930. 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.[6]
The city is known for its musical history and unique nature. It was ranked the sixth best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.[7]
Contents |
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.[8] 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.[9] During these early decades in Asbury Park, a number of grand hotels were built, including the Plaza Hotel.[10]
Uriah White, an Asbury Park pioneer, installed the first artesian well water system.[11] 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.
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.
Neither the Great Depression nor World War II was kind to Asbury Park. In 1934, the wreck of the SS Morro Castle beached itself near the city. 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.[12]
In the decades that followed the war, surrounding farm communities gave way to tracts of suburban houses, encouraging the city's 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. After the Monmouth Mall opened 10 miles away in Eatontown in 1960, 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 Six Flags 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,[13] in 1988 Palace Amusements was closed, and was demolished in 2004 despite attempts to save it.[14] The complex had featured the famous face of Tillie, a symbol of the Jersey Shore.[14] 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 quadrant. In 2007 many of those city blocks have yet to be redeveloped.
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 year 2007 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 one of the last remaining Howard Johnson restaurants). 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. Asbury Park looks to regain its reputation as the cultural and amusement capital of the Jersey Shore.
The City of Asbury Park is governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a five-member City Council, with all positions elected at large in nonpartisan elections, to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. After each election, the council selects a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members.[1]
The Asbury Park City Council consists of Mayor Ed Johnson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Kevin Sanders, James Bruno, and Susan Henderson.
Asbury Park is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th Legislative District.[15]
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 2010-2011 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).[16] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[17] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[18]
Monmouth County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2010, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck), Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan), John D'Amico, Jr. (D, Oceanport), Amy A. Mallet (D, Fair Haven) and John P. Curley (R, Middletown).[19]
Asbury Park is considered a destination for musicians, particularly 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, a starting point for many performers. The Asbury Lanes, the Saint and the Wonder Bar are smaller venues that continue the tradition of offering original, live music to the jersey shore. While Asbury Park Convention Hall holds larger events.
In 1973 Bruce Springsteen released his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.. 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)". Several books chronicle the early years of Springsteen's career in Asbury Park. Daniel Wolff's 4th of July Asbury Park examines the social, political and cultural history of the city with a special emphasis on the part that music played in the city's development, culminating in Springsteen. Beyond the Palace by Gary Wien is a comprehensive look at the local music scene that Springsteen emerged from, and includes many photographs of musicians and clubs. Against the backdrop of the fading resort, Alex Austin's novel The Red Album of Asbury Park tracks a young rock musician pursuing his dream in the late 60s/early 70s, with Springsteen as a potent but as yet unknown rival.
In 2004, Asbury Park based musician Colie Brice (formerly of Phantom's Opera, Gemini, Brian Saint and the Sinners, Geena and Dragster, Luna Muse, the New Age Blues Experience, and currently with Captain James and the Pain) launched an Asbury Park-based label called AERIA Records, which was distributed by Universal Music Group. Over the past several years AERIA has released albums by local artists such as Brian Amsterdam, St. Christopher, Agency, Juggling Suns, Colie Brice, Rick Barry, Brian Saint and the Sinners, James "JPAT" Dalton, The Hesh Inc., Boston indie rock pioneer Joe Harvard, Neptune native Metamorphosis Greg Wilkens, Last Perfect Thing, and Lost In Society featuring Richie Sambora's (BON JOVI) God Son Zack Moyle on guitar and vocals. On July 4, 2009 AERIA Records released an iPhone application featuring free mp3s, videos, photos, and event information pertaining to its catalog featuring original music by local artists.
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]
Asbury Park's nightlife includes The Stone Pony, a bar frequented by Bruce Springsteen as well as Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. On Main Street is The Saint (formerly the Clover Club), a small club that showcases local acts as well as established performers. Across town, on Fourth Avenue, is Asbury Lanes, a vintage bowling alley with a bar and live performances ranging from musical acts, burlesque, hot rod, and art shows. Bowling is still allowed. Nearby is the Baronet, a vintage movie theater which dates back to Buster Keaton. A number of new restaurants, lounges and bars have opened up city wide: Tim McLoone's Supper Club, which features live entertainment, Langosta Lounge, Stella Marina and the Watermark Lounge.[citation needed]
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.
Portions of Asbury Park are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone . In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).[21]
There were at one time many hotels along the beachfront. Many were demolished after years of sitting vacant, although the Sixth Avenue House Bed & Breakfast Hotel (formerly Berea Manor) was recently restored after being abandoned in the 1970s. Hotels like the Berkeley and Oceanic Inn have operated concurrently for decades, while the Empress Hotel and Hotel Tides were recently restored and reopened.
Currently open:
Demolished:
Asbury Park's public schools are operated by Asbury Park Public Schools. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide.[23] Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[24] are Bangs Avenue Elementary School (523 students), Bradley Elementary School (401) and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School (518) for grades K-5; Asbury Park Middle School (601) and Asbury Park Alternative Middle School for grades 6-8; and Asbury Park High School (620) for grades 9-12.
In February 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.[25]
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.[26]
Since the 1990s, a large gay community has emerged in the city. Downtown is full of gay businesses, there are numerous gay bars, and gay events. The annual Jersey Pride parade is held each June, and the city is home to the Empress Hotel, a popular gay resort. There are also the well known gay club Paradise Nightclub and the local bar Georgies.
Asbury Park is located at 40°13′21″N 74°00′44″W / 40.222399°N 74.012098°W (40.222399, -74.012098).[27]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.7 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.4 km2) of it (10.62%) is water.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 4,148 |
|
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| 1910 | 11,150 | 168.8% | |
| 1920 | 13,400 | 20.2% | |
| 1930 | 15,981 | 19.3% | |
| 1940 | 16,617 | 4.0% | |
| 1950 | 18,094 | 8.9% | |
| 1960 | 18,366 | 1.5% | |
| 1970 | 17,533 | −4.5% | |
| 1980 | 18,015 | 2.7% | |
| 1990 | 17,799 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 17,930 | 0.7% | |
| Est. 2007 | 17,577 | [2] | −2.0% |
| Population 1930–1990.[28] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 17,930 people, 6,754 households, and 3,586 families residing in the city. The population density was 14,290.0/mi2 (5,629.4/km2) making it Monmouth County's most densely populated municipality. 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 15.77% White, 67.11% 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 18.58% 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.
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 40.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.5% of those under age 18 and 37.1% of those age 65 or ver.
Asbury Park has been afflicted with a high crime rate for several years. Drug and gang violence have been a persistent problem within the city, and by 2004 Asbury Park was ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey.[29] In recent years, however, Asbury Park has seen a dramatic decrease in crime due to proactive policing as well as gang task force operations at the county and state levels.[30]
Notable current and former residents of Asbury Park include:
 Wonder Bar at night. |
 Interior of Convention Hall. |
 Southeast side of Convention Hall as seen from the Atlantic Ocean. |
 Detail of vestibule stairway. |
 Entry into Convention Hall through the Grand Arcade. |
 "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." echo its most famous near-resident artist. |
 Convention Hall is used as a venue for the roller derby. |
 Memorial to Asbury Park Firemen. |
 Asbury Park zombies await the annual Zombie Parade. |
 Asbury Park Rodeo next to the boardwalk. |
 Asbury Park Fire Department fire truck. |
 Asbury Lanes bowling alley. |
 Madam Marie's Fortunes. |
 Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge. |
 Deal Lake Western edge |
 Old One Post Plaza Building Entrance (Originally Seacoast Trust Company) |
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Asbury Park is a popular resort town among gay people and original live music fans at the Jersey Shore, in the state of New Jersey in the United States. It was made famous in the 1970s by musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Southside Johnny.
Asbury Park was founded as a Christian retreat in the 1800s by a man named James A. Bradley. It remained one of the most popular family resorts in the United States until 1970, when race riots burned down much of the downtown area.
Soon radicals, beatniks, hippies, and musicians moved in, making Asbury Park a very diverse place. In 1988, the city had had about enough of its new cultures, and a plan to redevelop the entire waterfront went into affect. Most businesses were ordered to be closed, so the boardwalk, casino, hotels and amusements all closed for the redevelopment. High rise hotels and condos began construction, but were then abandoned before they could be finished, leaving the waterfront an odd mix of abandoned buildings and rotting construction.
The city declined in the 1990s, after almost all businesses failed. Crime rose, and Asbury Park had higher crime than any other town in Monmouth County.
However, in 1998, Shep Pettibone converted an abandoned Hotel into a gay nightclub, drawing thousands of gay travelers to Asbury Park. Every Friday night the city became the only place on the East Coast that could rival Fire Island! Gay couples and artists began buying cheap homes, abandoned bars and nightclubs, closed storefronts downtown, and abandoned pavilions on the boardwalk, and restoring them to they way they once were.
Today, Asbury Park is popular amongst even mainstream tourists for its shopping, beaches and restaurants. Major summertime events hosted in Asbury Park include; the Wave Gathering, the Gay Pride Parade, Garden State Film Festival, Asbury Park Jazz Festival, "Road Trip", and the Tri-City Arts Tour.
Asbury Park was recently rated #5 in the top ten beaches of NJ. [1]
By car: Parkway to exit 102. Take Rt 66 / Asbury Avenue into Asbury Park. Follow Asbury Avenue Directly to the beach.
By Train: From New York City, take the North Jersey Coast Line [2] directly to Asbury Park Train Station.
By Bus: NJ Transit [3] offers bus service to Asbury Park from Philadelphia, Freehold, Long Branch, Red Bank, and Point Pleasant. See schedule for more information.
Travel time from Philadelphia or New York is approximately one hour, fifteen minutes.
Getting around in Asbury Park is easy by foot or by bike. Bikes can be rented at the boardwalk at hourly or daily rates. A car is not necessary for visiting Asbury Park.
When visiting the beach in Asbury Park, its best to park your car in a lot or west of Kingsly St, as the city charges for on-street parking east of Kingsly St. When visiting the downtown area, parking is available on-street and in the municipal lot on Bangs Ave. between Bond and Emory.
If you are visiting Asbury Park for First Saturday[4] or a special event, trolley service is often provided at no cost. The trolley schedule and stops may vary depending on the event.
Taxi service is also available at the train station and by calling ahead.
Visiting art galleries, going to the beach, shopping, dining and more can all be done on foot and are within close proximity to each other. The downtown shopping district [5] offers antiques, beach accessories, cafes, art galleries and more. The first Saturday of the month is celebrated with local discounts, events, and other promotions.
There are a smattering of shopping and restaurants on the boardwalk as well. As of June 2009, most shops are open. There are two clubs, the Stone Pony and the club at the Empress Hotel. The renovation of the Paramount Hotel and Convention Center is complete.
Nearby Wesley Lake connects the beach to downtown. On the south side of the lake are fresh condominiums, beach houses, and bed and breakfasts. The north side is split between the commercial area of downtown, a small patch of new luxury housing, and a rougher neighborhood with several active construction sites.
The city's website lists current events, has a feed from the radio station WKTU, and accepts contributions from visitors.
Downtown
At The Boardwalk
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Category: Outline articles
ASBURY PARK, a city of Monmouth county, New Jersey, U.S.A., on the Atlantic Ocean, about 35 m. S. of New York City (50 M. by rail). Pop. (1900) 4148; (1905; state census) 4526.
It is served by the Central of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania railways, and by electric railway lines connecting it with other New Jersey coast resorts both north and south. Fresh-water lakes, one of which, Deal Lake, extends for some distance into the wooded country, form the northern and southern boundaries. It is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast, its numerous hotels and cottages accommodating a summer population that approximates 50,000, and a large transient population in the autumn and winter months. There is an excellent beach, along which extends a board-walk about i m. long; the beach is owned and controlled by the municipality. The municipality owns and operates its water-works, water being obtained from artesian wells. Asbury Park was founded in 1869, was named in honour of the Rev. Francis Asbury, was incorporated as a borough in 1874, and was chartered as a city in 1897. In 1906 territory to the west with a population estimated at 6000 was annexed.
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