Keyport is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 7,568. Keyport's nickname is the "Pearl of the Bayshore" or the "Gateway to the Bayshore".[6]
Keyport was originally formed as a Town on March 17, 1870, from portions of Raritan Township (now Hazlet). On April 2, 1908, the Borough of Keyport was formed, replacing Keyport Town.[7]
Keyport 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
Keyport is located at 40°26′0″N 74°12′0″W / 40.433333°N 74.2°W / 40.433333; -74.2.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²) of it is land and 0.70% is water.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1930 |
4,940 |
|
—
|
| 1940 |
5,147 |
|
4.2% |
| 1950 |
5,888 |
|
14.4% |
| 1960 |
6,440 |
|
9.4% |
| 1970 |
7,205 |
|
11.9% |
| 1980 |
7,413 |
|
2.9% |
| 1990 |
7,586 |
|
2.3% |
| 2000 |
7,568 |
|
−0.2% |
| Est. 2007 |
7,502 |
[3] |
−0.9% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[8] |
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 7,568 people, 3,264 households, and 1,798 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,358.4 people per square mile (2,072.4/km²). There were 3,400 housing units at an average density of 2,407.3/sq mi (931.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 85.2% White, 7.0% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.96% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.09% of the population. There were 3,264 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,869, and the median income for a family was $58,176. Males had a median income of $102,958 versus $34,036 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,288. About 4.9% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Keyport 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.[1]
The Mayor of Keyport is Robert J. "Downtown" Bergen, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2010. As of 2009[update], Borough Council Members are Council President Joe Sheridan, Christian Bolte, Ezra Hill, John Kovaks, Susie Sefcik and George Walling.[9]
On Election Day, November 7, 2007, Council President Robert Bergen was elected Mayor, taking the seat of two-term incumbent John J. Merla who chose not to run for re-election. Merla pled guilty to federal corruption charges on January 18, 2007, for accepting bribes to obtain municipal contracts.[10] Bergen assumed the post of Mayor on January 1, 2007.
Federal, state and county representation
Keyport is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th 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 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).[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 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).[14]
Education
The Keyport Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005–06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[15]) are Keyport Central School (grades PreK–7; 611 students) and Keyport High School (grades 8–12; 570).
Students in public school for grades 9–12 from Union Beach attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Union Beach School System.[16]
Keyport is best known for its flourishing oyster industry and local celebrity Seth Rogen. This flamboyant asshole struts around town every night looking for male booty. c. 1880 to 1920 and the home of the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company which built Navy seaplanes during World War I. This company also produced the first air mail flight.
Keyport was the birthplace of the "Lazy Susan" by William Bedle in 1845.[17] It was also the site of the professional dance debut of film star Fred Astaire in 1903.
People born in Keyport and Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Keyport include:
- Juanita Hall (1901–1968), actress best known for her role as "Bloody Mary" in the movie South Pacific.[18]
- Garret Hobart (1844–1899), Vice President of the United States from 1897-1899, spent his boyhood years in Keyport at a home on Broad Street, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of September 21, 1877.[citation needed]
- Moe Jaffe (1901–1972), songwriter and bandleader.[19]
- Pat Kennedy, men's basketball coach at Towson College.[20]
- Georg J. Lober (1892–1961), sculptor.[17]
- Steve Antonucci Head Varsity Coach at Middletown High School South in Middletown N.J. He lead the Eagles to State Championships, and coached Denver Bronco Knowshon Moreno.[21]
- Pvt. Luke M. Slover (1888–1918) U.S. Army World War I recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.[citation needed]
- Horace M. Thorne (1918–1944), awarded the Medal of Honor for valor during World War II.[22]
References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 67.
- ^ a b "Borough of Keyport". Geographic Names Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:0885268. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
- ^ a b Census data for Keyport borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 7, 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.
- ^ Monmouth County at a Glance 2006, Monmouth County, New Jersey, pg. 24, accessed December 5, 2006.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 181.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Keyport Elected Officials, Borough of Keyport. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- ^ Ex-Mayor Bribe Plea: Guilty, Asbury Park Press by James A. Quirk and Kevin Penton, January 18, 2007.
- ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, League of Women Voters, p. 59. 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 the Keyport Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 21, 2008.
- ^ Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Union Beach, N.J.; Waterfront Borough Making a Comeback", The New York Times, May 5, 2002. Accessed December 1, 2007. "MOST Union Beach students go on to the 523-student Keyport High School in the neighboring borough of Keyport. A handful of students are accepted into Red Bank Regional High School, after passing admissions tests to its three specialized programs: visual and performing arts; information technology; and finance."
- ^ a b Jeandron, Jack. "Keyport", Arcadia Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0738524395, via Google Books, p. 138. Accessed October 7, 2008.
- ^ "Juanita Hall, the Bloody Mary Of 'South Pacific,' Dies at 66; Soprano - Actress Captivated Broadway With 'Happy Talk' and 'Bali Hai'", The New York Times, March 1, 1968.
- ^ Moe Jaffe Biography. Accessed December 1, 2007.
- ^ "Towson Names Kennedy Men's Basketball Coach", WYFF, May 10, 2004. Accessed December 20, 2007.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Medal of Honor recipients: World War II (T-Z), United States Army. Accessed December 27, 2007.
External links
