Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Asbury Park is a City in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 16,930.

Contents

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Government

4.1 Local government
4.2 Federal, state and county representation

5 Culture
6 Nightlife
7 Education
8 External links

Geography

Asbury Park is located at [40°13′21″N, 74°0′44″W] (40.222399, -74.012098)^{[Geographic references#1GR1]}.

The crumbling roof of a Howard Johnson's on the boardwalk in Asbury Park

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²). 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (10.62%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^{[Geographic references#2GR2]} of 2000, there were 16,930 people, 6,754 households, and 3,586 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,571.1/km² (11,842.0/mi²). 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 24.77% White, 62.11% African American, 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 15.58% 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 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 27.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

The Asbury Park boardwalk in July 2002, showing the dilapidated casino in the background

Asbury Park, with Convention Hall in the background

A seaside resort town, Asbury Park once flourished, but businesses later moved out and large parts of the city lay abandoned, so much so that a city manager called it 'Sarajevo-by-the-sea'. In the past few years, there has been a resurgence in the real estate market as the town center has gradually become more gentrified and as developers have begun various large projects in different areas of the city.

The crumbling shell of the former Casino in Asbury Park

From 2002 onward, 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 slowly being rebuilt, and the vacated beachfront is undergoing a massive revitilization project. In 2005, the Casino's walkway re-opened, as did the boardwalk pavilions.

Government

Local government

The City of Asbury Park is governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law.

The Asbury Park City Council consists of Mayor Kevin G. Sanders, Deputy Mayor James Bruno, Ed Johnson, James Keady and John Loffredo.

Federal, state and county representation

Asbury Park is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th Legislative District.

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 Robert Menendez (D, Union City).

The 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph A. Palaia (R, Deal) and in the Assembly by Steve Corodemus (R, Atlantic Highlands) and Sean T. Kean (R, Wall Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Monmouth County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William C. Barham, Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton, Lillian G. Burry, Anna C. Little and Theodore J. Narozanick.

Culture

Asbury Park is considered to be a mecca for musicians, particularly for a subgenre of rock and roll known as the Jersey Shore sound. It is home to The Stone Pony, founded in 1974 and a starting point for many musical artists.

In particular, Asbury Park became famous after Bruce Springsteen released his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. in 1973. 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)".

In the movie Dogma by Kevin Smith, God took the form of an old man so that he/she could play skeeball in Asbury Park. This is in reference to Smith's earlier feature Chasing Amy, wherein the characters played by Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams played the same game in what could be Asbury, but is more likely to be either Keansburg, Point Pleasant, or Seaside Heights, all of which have a large number of arcades with this game and a larger tourist draw than Asbury.

Asbury Park was once home to Palace Amusements, an amusement park famous for the grinning fun face on the side of it called "Tillie".

Bud Abbott, straight-man for legendary comedy team Abbott and Costello was born in Asbury Park.

Asbury Park was once home to the famous bandleader Arthur Pryor and "Red Badge of Courage" author Stephen Crane.

Nightlife

Asbury Park's nightlife is primarily, but not all, gay oriented. The Stone Pony, the bar where Bruce Springsteen hangs out, is still serving the rockers of the Jersey Shore. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, before going on to international fame, was the house band at the Stone Pony in the mid-seventies. The Fast Lane, the club where Bon Jovi got his start, is still rocking too. Directly next door is Asbury Lanes, a bowling alley in which the shadowy lighting and vintage movies harbors the local hipster scene. On the other side is the Baronet, a vintage movie theater which dates back to Buster Keaton.

Education

Asbury Park's public schools are operated by Asbury Park Public Schools.

The school district is an Abbott District.

External links

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