| Laurence Harbor, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — CDP — | |
| Map of Laurence Harbor CDP in Middlesex County | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Middlesex |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.9 sq mi (7.5 km2) |
| • Land | 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 6,227 |
| • Density | 2,210.3/sq mi (853.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 08878-08879 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-39360[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0877695[2] |
Laurence Harbor is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located on the Raritan Bay within Old Bridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the CDP population was 6,227.
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Laurence Harbor [3] is located off Exit 120 of the Garden State Parkway. The main routes through it include Laurence Parkway and Route 35. The railroad, which has no station in Laurence Harbor, divides the town into eastern and western sections, the former being locally referred to as 'The Front'. Cliffwood Beach also borders Laurence Harbor when traveling south.
The shore looks directly upon Staten Island's southern shore; the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Lower Manhattan including the Empire State Building (on a clear night) and Brooklyn can also be seen.[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.5 km2 (2.9 mi2). 7.3 km2 (2.8 mi2) of it is land and 0.2 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it (2.08%) is water.
One mile northwest, across the Cheesequake Creek and the Morgan Bridge is Morgan. Named after the 1703 family and the cousins of the infamous Pirate Captain Henry Morgan. This family had 645 acres (2.61 km2) here.
The lands known today as Laurence Harbor were part of the southernmost region inhabited by the Lenni Lenape tribe (also known as the Delaware) in the 17th century. In 1664, they became part of greater East Jersey, and in 1684 became part of a South Amboy that was much larger than it is today. In 1869, Madison Township split off from South Amboy, becoming Old Bridge Township in 1975.
European settlement of the area was linked to commerce passing through the nearby Amboys along the Raritan River. From a military perspective, the area was useful for it high bayside cliffs, which allowed for strategic observation of ships traveling between New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.
Laurence Harbor is named after land developer Laurence Lamb, who bought property in then-Madison Township at the turn of the 20th century and subdivided it into bungalow-sized lots.[4] Lamb established a 400-acre (1.6 km2) shorefront golf and country club on the site. Among those who frequented Mr. Lamb's establishment were Clark Gable, Guy Lombardo, the Prince of Wales and the Vanderbilts, who came to party and eat chingarora oysters, for which Raritan Bay was then famous. In 1928, the golf club was sold to developers for the above mentioned construction of bungalows. A boardwalk, complete with a dance hall, casino, band shell, concession stands and a merry-go-round that played only one song, Let's Remember Pearl Harbor, provided entertainment, hot dogs and ice cream during the 1940s.
For those traveling south from North Jersey or New York, it was the first stretch of Jersey Shore beachfront before the then more popular Keansburg or Asbury Park.
According to a local historian who grew up in Old Bridge Township, the area was also used during Prohibition by rum runners who would lower their cargo of bootleg liquor overboard into the bay to be hauled ashore by local fishermen.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 6,361 |
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| 2000 | 6,227 | −2.1% | |
| source:[5] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,227 people, 2,286 households, and 1,634 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 852.6/km2 (2,210.3/mi2). There were 2,362 housing units at an average density of 323.4/km2 (838.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.65% White, 3.57% African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.86% of the population.
There were 2,286 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $57,997, and the median income for a family was $61,470. Males had a median income of $46,439 versus $30,918 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,619. About 4.3% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
Real estate in Laurence Harbor is inexpensive when compared to anywhere else around it in all three directions.[4] It is still often considered a bit underclass because of its high working class and retiree population. In the 1990s, when "Bridgepointe," a community of 400 townhouses was constructed at the western end of Laurence Harbor near Exit 120 of the Garden State Parkway, the former "underclass" appearance changed attracting many higher income residents.
Many houses along the waterfront and off Route 35 are bungalow style. As this area was considered a beach resort back in the 1920s-1950s, a majority of these houses were only intended for summer use only. Some still maintain their original look from the day they were built. Some even have no insulation in the walls as this was a "summer community".
Laurence Harbor is home to Laurence Harbor Waterfront Park which consists of a new boardwalk (the old boardwalk was destroyed in the 1940-1950's) which was completed in 2002. It extends approximately one mile from the Old Bridge Police substation south, to the border of Cliffwood Beach, the Aberdeen portion and runs parallel with New Jersey Route 35. This area is very popular for fishing as three jetties extend into the Raritan and are in excellent condition, also recently redone in the past ten years. The Waterfront Park is very close to Cheesequake State Park.
Pollution began in the area early. Water quality on the nearby marshes were already being damaged before the 1940s war era. The water table and health concerns only first became an issue in the early 1970s, a little late, but a beginning nonetheless. Water during the 1950s coming out of the tap was tinted orange and had a very heavy iron taste possibly copper. The petrochemical and paint industry were just miles away. The United States Government had an armory nearby and is responsible for tons of munitions waste nearby. World War I and World War II residue was dumped at the mouth of the Raritan River in Perth/South Amboy.
In June 2010, heavy equipment moved in and construction began on the beachfront next to the Old Bridge Township Police Sub-Station. The earthmoving was being done to address the serious beach erosion. Summer storms in 2004 eroded a protective sand dune. Behind that sand dune are approximately thirty homes which are below low tide sea level. Middlesex County has the primary responsibility for maintaining the Old Bridge Water Front Park.[6] In early 2005 planning began to shore up the remaining part of the dunes. Prior efforts have had limited temporary affect. Storms during the spring of 2010 had a devastating effect on the previous work. Middlesex County procured a grant to pursue a different method whereby a casement would be created to stop the beach erosion and dunes would be created from heavier, courser material.
Under the sand, for the entire length of the Old Bridge Waterfront Park, sewer lines and water lines have served thousands of homes for decades. Continued erosion would jeopardize the integrity of the pipes.
Pollution issues are being addressed south of this area at the Laurence Harbor Beach at the end of Laurence Parkway. The Environmental Protection Agency has closed off the beach to the public. There is information on the site at their web site under the National Priorities List for Raritan Bay Slag Site.[7] It is alleged that slag from the National Lead Refinery in Edison, NJ was dumped along the shore in the 1960s and the 1970s.
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