Highlands is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,097. It is the home town of film maker, director, and comic book writer Kevin Smith. The eastern part of the town is built on a high bluff that overlooks Sandy Hook and the Atlantic Ocean. Atop this bluff are the Navesink Twin Lights.
Highlands was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1900, from portions of Middletown Township. Additional portions of Middletown Township were annexed in 1914.[7]
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.
Geography
Highlands is located at 40°24′08″N 73°59′17″W / 40.402308°N 73.987982°W / 40.402308; -73.987982 (40.402308, -73.987982).[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.0 km2) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.5 km2) of it (42.42%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1930 |
1,877 |
|
—
|
| 1940 |
2,076 |
|
10.6% |
| 1950 |
2,959 |
|
42.5% |
| 1960 |
3,536 |
|
19.5% |
| 1970 |
3,916 |
|
10.7% |
| 1980 |
5,187 |
|
32.5% |
| 1990 |
4,849 |
|
−6.5% |
| 2000 |
5,097 |
|
5.1% |
| Est. 2007 |
5,310 |
[3] |
4.2% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[9] |
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 5,097 people, 2,450 households, and 1,193 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,689.2 people per square mile (2,589.4/km2). There were 2,820 housing units at an average density of 3,700.9/sq mi (1,432.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.10% White, 1.59% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.59% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.
There were 2,450 households out of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.3% were non-families. 41.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,692, and the median income for a family was $50,985. Males had a median income of $50,296 versus $31,265 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,369. About 11.5% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Highlands is governed by a Faulkner Act form of New Jersey municipal government under the Small Municipality (Plan B). The officials that head the government are a mayor and four council members, who are elected at large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[1] The current form of government was adopted in 1956.[10]
As of 2008[update], members of the Highlands Borough Council are Mayor Anna C. Little, Council President Frank L. Nolan, Nancy Burton, William Caizza and John Urbanski. Bruce Hilling acts as the Borough Administrator.[11] In the November 4th, 2008 Election Republican incumbents Frank L. Nolan and Nancy Burton were defeated by Democratic Challengers Rebecca Kane and Chris Francy.[12]
Federal, state and county representation
Highlands is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th Legislative District.[13]
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).[14] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[15]
Monmouth County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2009[update], Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow (D, Freehold Township), Freeholder Deputy Director John D'Amico, Jr. (D, Oceanport), Lillian G. Burry (R, Matawan), Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan) and Amy A. Mallet (D, Fair Haven).[16]
Education
The Highlands School District serves public school students in Kindergarten through sixth grade. Highlands Elementary School had an enrollment of 210 students in the 2005-06 school year.[17]
For grades 7-12, 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.[18] The district served a total enrollment of 476 students in the 2005-06 school year.[19]
Transportation
The Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, a 1,240-foot drawbridge built in 1932, connects Highlands in the west to Sea Bright, New Jersey in the east, across the Shrewsbury River. The eastern terminus is at the entrance to Sandy Hook. The span is part of Route 36. Between 2008-2011 it wlll be replaced with a fixed span instead of a drawbridge. It will rise 65 feet instead of the original span's 35 feet.[20][21]
SeaStreak offers ferry service to New York City at Conner's Ferry Landing. There are three morning trips, which stop at Pier 11 near Wall Street and then East 35th Street. Six ferry trips return each weekday evening.[22]
Academy Bus offers bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and to Wall Street.[22]
Pop culture
The Kevin Smith film Jersey Girl is set in Highlands.[23] In addition, Highlands' ZIP code (07732) is featured in the opening titles of Mallrats, and is Dante's ZIP code in Clerks: The Animated Series, although it is misattributed in the show to nearby Leonardo.
References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 58.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Highlands, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Highlands borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 10, 2008.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 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. 180.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Bryson, James W. The History of Highlands, Borough of Highlands. Accessed May 21, 2008. "The present form of government, councilmanic form under the Faulkner Act, Small Municipality Plan B, came into effect in 1956."
- ^ Mayor and Council Page 2008, Borough of Highlands. Accessed May 21, 2008.
- ^ November 4th 2008 Highlands Borough Council Election Results http://www.visitmonmouth.com/ElectionResults/Election%20Result_dtl.htm#cont20
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 58, Accessed September 30, 2009
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed July 21, 2009.
- ^ Data for Highlands School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 21, 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.
- ^ "Highlands Bridge work under way". Star-Ledger. July 11, 2008. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1215750956298080.xml&coll=1. Retrieved 2008-07-28. "The 76-year-old drawbridge carries Route 36 over the Shrewsbury River between Highlands and Sea Bright. Drivers have only two choices when they pull out of Sandy Hook -- they can turn south on Route 36 and drive along the Shore through Sea Bright or head north and cross the bridge."
- ^ "Demolition starts on Highlands-Sea Bright bridge". Asbury Park Press. July 15, 2008. http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080715/NEWS01/807150382/0/NEWS. Retrieved 2008-07-28. "About 12:35 p.m. Monday, as planned, J.H. Reid Construction Co. of South Plainfield began demolishing portions of the 75-year-old drawbridge to make way for its replacement — a 65-foot-high, fixed-span bridge."
- ^ a b Caldwelll, Dave (2008-08-24). "A Clam Town, Coming Out of Its Shell - Living In Highlands, N.J.". The New York Times: p. RE7 of the New York edition. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/realestate/24livi.html. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ Miramax Films: Jersey Girl, accessed November 23, 2006
External links
