West Long Branch, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
West Long Branch is a borough
in Monmouth County
, New Jersey
, United States
. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,097. It is the home of Monmouth University
.
In 1908, the people of the West Long Branch section of Eatontown
became unhappy with paying taxes to Eatontown and not getting what they thought was a fair return. A request was made that the West Long Branch section be separated from Eatontown. The Township of Eatontown strongly resisted as there were several large estates in the West Long Branch section that were a source of considerable taxes. An act of the New Jersey Legislature
was passed on April 7, 1908, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
authorized an election. On May 5, 1908, the referendum was held in West Long Branch, with voters approving the separation. On Tuesday, June 16, 1908, the West Long Branch section of Eatontown Township became the independent Borough of West Long Branch. Prior to being called West Long Branch, the town was called Mechanicsville from the 18th century through the Civil War
, and then Branchburg in the 1870s. The name West Long Branch appears in the 1889 Wolverton Atlas of Monmouth County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.69%, is water.
of 2000, there were 8,258 people, 2,448 households, and 1,860 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,859.9 people per square mile (1,103.3/km2). There were 2,535 housing units at an average density of 877.9 per square mile (338.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.22% White, 2.23% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races
, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.
There were 2,448 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 22.1% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,852, and the median income for a family was $80,127. Males had a median income of $59,638 versus $34,000 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $27,651. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor
of the Borough of West Long Branch is Janet W. Tucci. Members of the West Long Branch Borough Council are Barbara Ruane,
John M. Aria, Jr.,
Steven Cioffi,
J. Thomas DeBruin,
Christopher Neyhart and
Jose E. Villa.
West Long Branch is in the
. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are
Betty McElmon Elementary School, with 266 students in grades K-3 and
Frank Antonides School, with 365 students in grades 4-8.
For grades 9 - 12, public school students attend Shore Regional High School
, a regional high school that serves students from the constituent districts of Monmouth Beach
, Sea Bright
, Oceanport
and West Long Branch. The high school is part of the Shore Regional High School District.
Monmouth University
is a four-year private university
on a 155 acre (0.6272633 km²) campus established in 1933. It currently has 5,600 students and 232 full-time faculty. The campus is notable for Wilson Hall, a National Historic Landmark
that was used in the 1982 film Annie
.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
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...
. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,097. It is the home of Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
.
In 1908, the people of the West Long Branch section of Eatontown
Eatontown, New Jersey
Eatontown is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 12,709.What is now Eatontown was originally incorporated as Eatontown Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 4, 1873, from portions of Ocean Township and...
became unhappy with paying taxes to Eatontown and not getting what they thought was a fair return. A request was made that the West Long Branch section be separated from Eatontown. The Township of Eatontown strongly resisted as there were several large estates in the West Long Branch section that were a source of considerable taxes. An act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
was passed on April 7, 1908, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
authorized an election. On May 5, 1908, the referendum was held in West Long Branch, with voters approving the separation. On Tuesday, June 16, 1908, the West Long Branch section of Eatontown Township became the independent Borough of West Long Branch. Prior to being called West Long Branch, the town was called Mechanicsville from the 18th century through the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and then Branchburg in the 1870s. The name West Long Branch appears in the 1889 Wolverton Atlas of Monmouth County.
Geography
West Long Branch is located at 40.289985°N 74.016717°W (40.289985, -74.016717).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.69%, is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,258 people, 2,448 households, and 1,860 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,859.9 people per square mile (1,103.3/km2). There were 2,535 housing units at an average density of 877.9 per square mile (338.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.22% White, 2.23% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.
There were 2,448 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 22.1% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,852, and the median income for a family was $80,127. Males had a median income of $59,638 versus $34,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $27,651. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
West Long Branch is governed under the BoroughBorough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Borough of West Long Branch is Janet W. Tucci. Members of the West Long Branch Borough Council are Barbara Ruane,
John M. Aria, Jr.,
Steven Cioffi,
J. Thomas DeBruin,
Christopher Neyhart and
Jose E. Villa.
Federal, state and county representation
West Long Branch is in the 6th Congressional district.West Long Branch is in the
Education
Students in Kindergarten through eighth grade are educated by the West Long Branch Public SchoolsWest Long Branch Public Schools
The West Long Branch Public Schools is a community public school district that serves students in Kindergarten through eighth grade from West Long Branch, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States...
. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are
Betty McElmon Elementary School, with 266 students in grades K-3 and
Frank Antonides School, with 365 students in grades 4-8.
For grades 9 - 12, public school students attend Shore Regional High School
Shore Regional High School
Shore Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students from four communities in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The high school serves students from the constituent municipalities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch, where the school...
, a regional high school that serves students from the constituent districts of Monmouth Beach
Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Monmouth Beach is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 3,279....
, Sea Bright
Sea Bright, New Jersey
Sea Bright is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,412.Sea Bright was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 21, 1889, from portions of Ocean Township, based on the results of a...
, Oceanport
Oceanport, New Jersey
Oceanport is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,832.Oceanport was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1920, from portions of Eatontown Township , based on the results of a...
and West Long Branch. The high school is part of the Shore Regional High School District.
Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
is a four-year private university
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
on a 155 acre (0.6272633 km²) campus established in 1933. It currently has 5,600 students and 232 full-time faculty. The campus is notable for Wilson Hall, a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
that was used in the 1982 film Annie
Annie (film)
Annie is a 1982 American musical film directed by John Huston and choreographed by Arlene Phillips. The film is an adaption of the 1977 stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the 1924 Little Orphan Annie comic strip by Harold Gray. The movie features music by Charles Strouse,...
.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of West Long Branch include:- Holly BlackHolly BlackHolly Black née Riggenbach is an American writer and editor, best known for writing The Spiderwick Chronicles, a series of children's fantasy books she created with illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi.-Early life and education:...
(born 1971), author of the SpiderwickSpiderwickThe Spiderwick Chronicles is a series of children's books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. They chronicle the adventures of the Grace children, twins Simon and Jared and their older sister Mallory, after they move into Spiderwick Estate and discover a world of fairies that they never knew...
series of books. - Mike GleasonMike GleasonMike Gleason is an ESPN anchor, who appears primarily on ESPNU and ESPN Classic. Before joining ESPN, Gleason worked for WBNS-AM in Columbus, Ohio, from 1994-96 as a show host and doing play-by-play. He also worked at WBNS-TV in Columbus from 1987-98 as an anchor and handling a variety of...
, professional surfer. - Jon HeringtonJon HeringtonJon Herington is an American guitarist, singer-songwriter and record producer, most known for being a session musician. Currently, he is known for being Steely Dan's lead guitarist...
(born 1954), jazz guitarist. - T. M. StevensT. M. StevensTM Stevens is an American bass guitarist born in the 1950s. He lives in the USA.-Life:Stevens records with his band Shocka Zooloo, a power trio that features Michael Barnes "Master Blaster" on guitar and Garry "G-Man" Sullivan on drums...
, bassist. - Jordan WoolleyJordan WoolleyJordan Woolley is an American actor. attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York. Prior to acting, Jordan spent two years as a business major at Castleton State College in Vermont.-Life:...
(born 1981), actor. - Jimmy ZoppiJimmy ZoppiJimmy Zoppi , sometimes credited as Billy Beach and James Carter Cathcart, is an American bassist, vocalist, and voice-over artist. He has been playing with bands since high school and has been a bassist and vocalist of the Carter Cathcart Band since 1981. Zoppi's first voiceover part was O.G...
(born 1954), musician and voice actor.
External links
- Borough of West Long Branch official website
- West Long Branch Public Schools
- West Long Branch Public Schools, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Shore Regional High School