Keansburg, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Keansburg is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,732.
Keansburg 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 Bay coastline.
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[edit] Geography
Keansburg is located at (40.447324, -74.131226)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 43.6 km² (16.8 mi²). 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and 40.8 km² (15.8 mi²) of it (93.58%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 10,732 people, 3,872 households, and 2,563 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,836.7/km² (9,954.4/mi²). There were 4,269 housing units at an average density of 1,526.2/km² (3,959.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.31% White, 2.13% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.74% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.95% of the population.
There were 3,872 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,383, and the median income for a family was $45,438. Males had a median income of $37,229 versus $28,398 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,417. About 15.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
The land that is now Keansburg was originally home to the Lenni Lenape Native Americans.
On September 3, 1609, the Half Moon, captained by Henry Hudson is said to have landed on the shores of the future Keansburg (though some historians argue that the landing and forth-coming explained events took place at the tip of Sandy Hook). Crewmen of the ship were attacked by the Native Americans when they departed the ship. One man, John Coleman, was killed. It is said that he was buried on the land, in the area that is today the intersection of Carr Avenue and Beachway. It is referred to as "Coleman's Point"
In the time between 1609 and the early 1700's, the land was gradually purchased from the Lenni-Lenape with other surrounding areas. The area was inhabited by Dutch, English, and Scottish settlers. In the 1700's, farming proved to be successful on Keansburg's land, with specialties being pears, apples and corn (maize).
In this time, the town took on the name of Waackaack, pronounced "Way-kay-ack." This is a Native American term, originally "Wakioak" meaning "Land of Plenty"
Though the source of this information does not state exactly when, the land took on its second official name of Granville. The name originated from the importance of the Phillips Mill, and the grain producing farms in the region. The name held until 1880's.
During the century, Granville became home to its own church, 2 lighthouses and small businesses. Roadways were beginning to form from repeated use of horse and buggies. The beach was already a favorite to visitors. Population was about 300 people, who mostly farmed and clammed for a living.
On Sunday, March 22, 1877, at "half past 9 o'clock," Granville welcomed the newly assigned pastor of the Granville Methodist Episcopal Church, William W. Ramsay. At 19 years of age, Ramsay was slated to serve in the church for one year. His success at the helm of church lead to another year in Granville, after which he decided to make the village his permanent home.
Ramsay and his wife, Eliza S Wood, purchased the land that is 69 Church Street and opened a general store in 1881. In the coming years, Ramsay took greater and greater interest in Granville and eventually arranged a petition to establish a post office. The list of 132 names was passed on to John Kean of Elizabeth, a candidate for Congress. His efforts lead to the opening of the post office in 1884, with Mrs. Ramsay serving as its first postmaster. That year, the name Keansburg was adopted.
Further development continued with the creation of postcards depicting the village and land purchases, including some key buys by William A Gehlhaus and the Keansburg Beach Company. A school was built at the cost of $30,000 in 1890 and sat on what is today the corner of Ramsay Avenue and Church Street (now Fallon Manor).
More history to come, see This Site
The infamous Irish Mobster Jimmy Coonan owned a house on Forest Avenue.
After the town's decline, small beach houses were cheaply sold and converted into lower income year-round housing. Efforts to lower crime seem to be working, slowly but surely, in many areas. Further evidence of a possible comeback include the Keansburg beautification project, building of new condominiums across the street from the boardwalk, plans to construct a skate board park, the hiring of a part-time recreation program director and the opening of the first free-standing public library in borough. The Keansburg Waterfront Public Library is the result of a concerted effort on the part of townspeople and borough governments to provide a high quality library with resources that address the needs and interests of the community. Currently, the library is open on a limited basis and is staffed by a part-time library director, library assistant and two additional part-time pages. In spite of this, the library has seen an overwhelmingly positive response from patrons in the community.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Keansburg is governed by a five-member Borough Council. Members of the Keansburg Borough Council are Mayor Lisa Strydio, Deputy Mayor Drew Murray, Art Boden, Jimmy Cocuzza and George Hoff.[1].
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Keansburg is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th Legislative District.[2]
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, Hoboken).
The 13th legislative 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). 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.
[edit] Education
Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade are served by the Keansburg School District, an Abbott District. Schools in the district are Port Monmouth Road School (PreK-2), Joseph C. Caruso School (3-4), Joseph R. Bolger Middle School (5-8) and Keansburg High School (9-12).
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Keansburg include:
- Lou Taylor Pucci, actor
[edit] References
- ^ Keansburg Borough Council, accessed December 12, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 59, accessed August 30, 2006
[edit] External links
- Keansburg Borough web site
- Keansburg School District
- Keansburg School District's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Keansburg School District
- Reference to Keansburg in The Westies
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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