Highlands, New Jersey

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Highlands, New Jersey
Map of Highlands in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey.
Map of Highlands in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Highlands, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Highlands, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°24′16″N 73°59′25″W / 40.40444, -73.99028
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Monmouth
Incorporated March 22, 1900
Government
 - Type Faulkner Act (Small Municipality)
 - Mayor Anna Little
Area
 - Total 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²)
 - Land 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²)
 - Water 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
Elevation [1] 13 ft (4 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 4,987
 - Density 6,689.2/sq mi (2,582.7/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07732
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 34-31500[3]
GNIS feature ID 0885253[4]
Website: http://www.highlandsnj.com

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 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.[5]

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.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Highlands is located at 40°24′8″N, 73°59′17″W (40.402308, -73.987982)[6].

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.

[edit] 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. 2006 4,987 [2] -2.2%
Population 1930 - 1990.[7]

As of the census[3] 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.

[edit] Government

[edit] 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.[8] The current form of government was adopted in 1956.[9]

As of 2008, members of the Highlands Borough Council are Mayor Anna Little, Council President Frank L. Nolan, Nancy Burton, William Caizza and John Urbanski.[10]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Highlands is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th 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 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).[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 2008, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Matawan), Freeholder Deputy Director Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan), William C. "Bill" Barham (R, Monmouth Beach), John D'Amico, Jr. (D, Oceanport) and Barbara McMorrow (D, Freehold Township).[14]

[edit] 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.[15]

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.[16] The district served a total enrollment of 476 students in the 2005-06 school year.[17]

[edit] Pop culture

The Kevin Smith film Jersey Girl is set in Highlands.[18] 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Highlands, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Highlands borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  3. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 180.
  6. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 58.
  9. ^ 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."
  10. ^ Mayor and Council Page 2008, Borough of Highlands. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  11. ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 58, accessed August 30, 2006
  12. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  13. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  14. ^ Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed January 29, 2008.
  15. ^ Data for Highlands School District, [National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  16. ^ 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."
  17. ^ Henry Hudson Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  18. ^ Miramax Films: Jersey Girl, accessed November 23, 2006

[edit] External links