Navesink River
Encyclopedia
The Navesink River is an estuary
, approximately 8 mi (12 km) long in Monmouth County
, New Jersey
, United States
. It is surrounded by the communities of Middletown, Red Bank, Fair Haven and Rumson.
Known officially as the North Shrewsbury River and upstream of Red Bank
as the Swimming River
, it is formed southwest of Red Bank by the confluence of the Swimming River with several smaller streams. It extends ENE along the north side of Red Bank, connecting to the Shrewsbury River
estuary at Rumson
, approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) south of the entrance of the Shrewsbury River
into Sandy Hook Bay near Highlands
.
Indians. In 1665, John Hance was one of the settlers who negotiated with the Navesink Indians of the Lenni Lenape Tribe to purchase the lands of this peninsula and the immediate surroundings through the Monmouth Patent. Following the founding of Red Bank in 1736 (named after its situation on the "red banks" of the Navesink river), the river was important for transportation from the Navesink river communities to New York City and was served by side-wheeler steam boats until the 1930s.
rests situated on its banks, with hotels and apartment buildings that are offer scenic views of the river. Furthermore, select homes in Red Bank, Fair Haven, and Rumson share similar views.
As a tidal estuary flowing to the Shrewbury River at Sea Bright, continuing into Sandy Hook Bay and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean, the Navesink provides excellent fishing for species such as bluefish
(snappers), striped bass
and fluke
. Crabbing is particularly popular in the upstream Swimming river section.
"Kaboomfest" is held in Marine Park, where local bands and vendors gather to view the fireworks. In addition, many homes along the river celebrates with parties.
In late September 2008, one of the dolphins had been found washed up on the shore, and it was determined that its cause of death was pneumonia. Several days later, another was found floating down the river. There have been no other sightings of the same pod since late 2008.
punk band The Gaslight Anthem
have a song titled "The Navesink Banks" from their debut album, Sink or Swim.
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, approximately 8 mi (12 km) long in Monmouth County
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is surrounded by the communities of Middletown, Red Bank, Fair Haven and Rumson.
Known officially as the North Shrewsbury River and upstream of Red Bank
Red Bank, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile . There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile...
as the Swimming River
Swimming River
The Swimming River is an estuary and the name of the Navesink River upstream of Red Bank in Colts Neck Township and Middletown Township, located in Monmouth County, New Jersey in the United States....
, it is formed southwest of Red Bank by the confluence of the Swimming River with several smaller streams. It extends ENE along the north side of Red Bank, connecting to the Shrewsbury River
Shrewsbury River
The Shrewsbury River is a short stream and navigable estuary, approximately 8 mi long, in central New Jersey in the United States....
estuary at Rumson
Rumson, New Jersey
Rumson is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,122.Rumson was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1907, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on the results of a...
, approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) south of the entrance of the Shrewsbury River
Shrewsbury River
The Shrewsbury River is a short stream and navigable estuary, approximately 8 mi long, in central New Jersey in the United States....
into Sandy Hook Bay near Highlands
Highlands, New Jersey
Highlands is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,005. 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...
.
History
The area was originally populated by the Lenni LenapeLenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
Indians. In 1665, John Hance was one of the settlers who negotiated with the Navesink Indians of the Lenni Lenape Tribe to purchase the lands of this peninsula and the immediate surroundings through the Monmouth Patent. Following the founding of Red Bank in 1736 (named after its situation on the "red banks" of the Navesink river), the river was important for transportation from the Navesink river communities to New York City and was served by side-wheeler steam boats until the 1930s.
The Navesink today
Today the river is a major recreational resource for powerboating, crabbing, fishing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, swimming and rowing. During particularly cold winters, the Navesink can freeze, adding ice skating and ice boating to the list of recreations available to people. The area along the Navesink banks is one of the most affluent in New Jersey. Today, the town of Red BankRed Bank, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile . There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile...
rests situated on its banks, with hotels and apartment buildings that are offer scenic views of the river. Furthermore, select homes in Red Bank, Fair Haven, and Rumson share similar views.
As a tidal estuary flowing to the Shrewbury River at Sea Bright, continuing into Sandy Hook Bay and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean, the Navesink provides excellent fishing for species such as bluefish
Bluefish
The bluefish , called tailor in Australia, is a species of popular marine gamefish found in all climates. It is the sole species of the Pomatomidae family....
(snappers), striped bass
Striped bass
The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
and fluke
Flounder
The flounder is an ocean-dwelling flatfish species that is found in coastal lagoons and estuaries of the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.-Taxonomy:There are a number of geographical and taxonomical species to which flounder belong.*Western Atlantic...
. Crabbing is particularly popular in the upstream Swimming river section.
Independence Day fireworks
Each year, a fireworks display is launched from the river close to Red Bank on July 3rd. This annual display is held on the eve of Independence DayIndependence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
"Kaboomfest" is held in Marine Park, where local bands and vendors gather to view the fireworks. In addition, many homes along the river celebrates with parties.
Dolphins
The Navesink River was the home to a pod of up to 16 Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins from June 2008 into the winter of that year. They are thought to have followed a school of baitfish from the Sandy Hook Bay. The dolphins attracted nearby residents to view them, as well as media attention. Local authorities enforced a requirement on marine traffic so maintain a safe distance from the pod, and even issued tickets to boats that were deemed hazardous to the dolphins' safety.In late September 2008, one of the dolphins had been found washed up on the shore, and it was determined that its cause of death was pneumonia. Several days later, another was found floating down the river. There have been no other sightings of the same pod since late 2008.
In popular media
New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
punk band The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem is an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, consisting of Brian Fallon , Alex Rosamilia , Alex Levine and Benny Horowitz...
have a song titled "The Navesink Banks" from their debut album, Sink or Swim.