Red Bank, New Jersey

Red Bank is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Incorporated in 1908, the community is on the Navesink River, the area's original transportation route to the Atlantic Ocean and to other ports. Red Bank is in the New York metropolitan area and is a commuter town of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 12,936, In the 2020 census, Red Bank was the fourth-most densely populated municipality in Monmouth County. The borough was named for the red soil along the Navesink River.

Downtown Red Bank is notable for its many local and well-known businesses including Garmany, Urban Outfitters, and Tiffany & Co. on and around Broad Street. Many annual events happen throughout the year, including the International Beer, Wine & Food Festival, a long-running sidewalk sale, a farmers' market, an indie film festival, the Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival, a Halloween parade, and a holiday town lighting.

History

Red Bank has been occupied by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The area of modern-day Red Bank was the territory of the Algonquian-speaking Lenape Native Americans, also called the Delaware by the English. The Lenape lived in the area between the Navesink River and the Shrewsbury River in an area they called Navarumsunk. The Native Americans traded freely with European settlers from England and the Dutch Republic in the mid-17th century, who purchased land in the area.

Originally part of "Shrewsbury Towne", Red Bank was named in 1736, when Thomas Morford sold Joseph French "a lot of over three acres on the west side of the highway that goes to the red bank". English colonists settled Red Bank beginning in the 17th century and it became a center for shipbuilding. Its population grew rapidly after 1809, when regularly scheduled passenger ships were established to serve the route to Manhattan.

In the 20th century, Red Bank was a strong cultural, economic, and political center in Monmouth County until it was hindered by the economic recession that began in 1987. During this time, its economy, based largely on retail commerce, was in decline, due to a real estate scandal. Local pundits and urban planners referred to the town as "Dead Bank".

Beginning in approximately 1991, under the New Jersey Development and Redevelopment Law, the borough authorized the creation of the Red Bank RiverCenter to manage redevelopment in what was designated as a special improvement district. RiverCenter retains authority over the management and redevelopment of a defined central business district, which includes Broad Street from the post office to Marine Park and from Maple Avenue to one block east of Broad Street. A number of urban redevelopment projects have taken place, including improved signage, distinctive and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and lighting, a coherent design plan for Main Street and other major thoroughfares, and improving the condition of parking lots with landscaping.

The district as originally proposed was larger, to include the commercial areas west of Maple Avenue, including the antique buildings, The Galleria, and Shrewsbury Avenue. But some property owners in this area opposed paying the special assessment. Plans for the larger district advanced but opposition became more rigorous. The proposed district was amended to exclude opponents, and the district that was adopted stops on Maple Avenue.

Geography

thumb|left|Aerial view in 2023

thumb|left|[[New Jersey Route 35|Downtown Red Bank]]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had an area of 2.16 square miles (5.58 km2), including 1.75 square miles (4.52 km2) of land and 0.41 square miles (1.06 km2) of water (18.98%).

Red Bank is bordered by the Monmouth County municipalities of Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls.

Climate

Red Bank has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Red Bank had a population of 12,936, with 5,423 households and 2,321 families. The population density was . There were 5,863 housing units at an average density of .

The median age was 38.1 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The population was 49.4% male and 50.6% female. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.1 males age 18 and over.

Of the 5,423 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 33.9% were married-couple households, 23.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 7.5% of housing units were vacant; the homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census

There were 5,201 households, of which 18.0% had children under age 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.9% were non-families. 42.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.99.

Business districts

Red Bank has four main business districts throughout the town. The largest is the historic commercial center of Downtown Red Bank, which mainly runs along Broad Street. Other major connected commercial streets include Monmouth Street, Front Street, and White Street, all of which make up the Broad Street Historic District. Downtown includes a mixed variety of businesses, restaurants, and entertainment, ranging from high end retailers and fine dining to cheap eats and food. A section of Broad Street is closed off every year to allow for outdoor dining.

Jobs

As of 2019, Red Bank has 11,325 jobs in a variety of sectors, such as retail, healthcare, construction, food services, arts and entertainment, hospitality, etc. As of 2022, the largest employer is Riverview Medical Center with 1,450 employees. The largest employers following the hospital include Super Foodtown, Colliers Engineering & Design, Arrow Limousine Worldwide, Oceanfirst Financial Corp., Torcon, Seals Eastern Inc., Molly Pitcher Inn, Giordano, Halleran, & Ciesla; and Red Bank Catholic High School. Most jobs tend to be located along the four commercial corridors, particularly around downtown and the train station. and was seen in "The Sidewalk Stash", the November 11, 2012 episode of the reality TV series Comic Book Men.

The town is considered a center of artistic activity, and is home to the Monmouth County Arts Council, as well as several art and photography galleries.

Many venues in Red Bank have live performances, plays, and movie showings, including Count Basie Center for the Arts, named for Count Basie, who was born in Red Bank, Basie Center Cinemas, and the Two River Theater.

The Count Basie Theatre Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, The Beach Boys, David Sedaris, Tracy Morgan, Bob Newhart, Foreigner, Andy Williams, Brian Setzer, and B.B. King. On April 30, 2005, the Two River Theater Company opened a large performance space, the Two River Theater, which has hosted performers like Hasan Minhaj. Bruce Springsteen filmed his 2005 VH-1 Storytellers special at the theater. Basie Center Cinemas (formerly known as The Marion Huber Theater), also operated by the Two River Theater Company, is a small black box theater that seats about 100.

Broad Street is one of the borough's central streets and is known for its lavish Christmas decorations during the holiday season. The street is closed to traffic for a free concert sponsored by Holiday Express, after which the lights are all lit again. Up to 7,000 people attend the shows annually.

Red Bank hosts the Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival in partnership with the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Society. "First Night", a New Year's Eve arts and entertainment festival, is a Red Bank event designed to provide an alternative to alcohol-related events.

Each year from 1960 through 2011, a fireworks display was launched from the Navesink River close to Red Bank on July 3, the eve of Independence Day. "KaBoomFest" was held in Marine Park, where local bands and vendors formed a major gathering. In 2010, it attracted as many as 150,000 spectators at its 51st annual event.

Musical groups from Red Bank include alternative rock band Young Rising Sons, and straight-edge hardcore punk band Floorpunch.

Sports

In 1998, the Red Bank Armory was converted to an ice rink. It is home to the youth hockey team Red Bank Generals.

The George Sheehan Classic began in 1981 as the Asbury Park 10K Classic and quickly became one of the nation's major road running events. The race moved to Red Bank in 1994 and was renamed in honor of George A. Sheehan, the prominent author, philosopher and area physician. Runner's World magazine named the Classic one of the Top 100 Road Races, and The New York Times named it the Best Memorial Race in New Jersey. The 2012 running, shortened to a 5K race, attracted nearly 1,300 participants.

In January 2018, FC Monmouth announced that Red Bank's Count Basie Park would be the home stadium for the team's inaugural season. The team's owners selected the park based on Red Bank's central location in the county both geographically and in terms of the local economy, along with the fact that the stadium will be easily accessible by car and by public transportation via NJ Transit rail and bus.

Parks and recreation

Red Bank has eight parks, with one new park being planned as of 2023. The largest is Count Basie Park, which includes baseball fields, basketball courts, playground, track, a small trail along Mohawk Pond, and restrooms. Eastside Park, the only park located east of Broad Street, consists of a playground, soccer field, softball field, basketball court, tennis courts, benches, picnic tables, walking paths, lawn, and restrooms. Along the Navesink River, there are three parks: Marine Park, which consists of a playground, benches, boat basin, picnic tables, lawn, and restrooms; Riverside Gardens Park, which has picnic tables, benches, boardwalk, lawn, and restrooms; and Maple Cove Park, which includes a lawn and kayak launch. Bellhaven Nature Area sits along the Swimming River, which includes a turtle access point, playground, picnic table, benches, and lawn. Two small streetside parks exist in the town, including Johnny Jazz Park, which has a trail, benches, and lawn; and Veterans Park, which includes a World War II cannon, flagpole, and lawn.

While Red Bank has of waterfront, only a small portion of it is publicly accessible. The only waterfront walkways that currently exist are those found in Marine Park, Riverside Gardens Park, Maple Cove, as well as the privately owned walkways at the Molly Pitcher Inn and Oyster Point Hotel, and at condominiums. Red Bank has the long term plan of connecting the entire waterfront via one large publicly accessible waterfront walkway. The two main priorities are connecting the waterfronts between Marine Park and Riverside Gardens Park; as well as connecting Bellhaven Nature Area with the future Sunset Avenue Park. The borough also is in the works of making the waterfront property owned by Riverfront Medical Center into a publicly accessible waterfront. The Monmouth Boat Club, Marine Park, and the slips of the Molly Pitcher Inn provide access to the Navesink and, from there, Sandy Hook and the Gateway National Recreation Area, the Jersey Shore and the Atlantic Ocean.

Government

Local government

Since July 1, 2023, Red Bank has been governed under the Faulkner Act (council–manager) form of government; the borough form has been used since the borough's incorporation in 1908, and all members then serving in office under the old form had their terms end in June 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and a six-member borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a non-partisan basis to serve four-year terms of office (after the initial election). In the May 2023 municipal election, a mayor and council were elected under the new form, with council members randomly assigned so that four serve two-year teams and two serve four-year terms. The Council voted in July 2023 to move elections to November, so four council seats will be up for election in November 2025, with the mayor and the other two council seats up for vote in November 2027, with that cycle continuing in odd-numbered years; the change to November elections meant that the council members elected in 2023 had their term-end month shifted from June to December.

, the mayor of Red Bank is William J. Portman, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Deputy Mayor Kate Triggiano (2027), Kristina Bonatakis (term ending 2025), David Cassidy (2025), Nancy Facey-Blackwood (2027), Ben Forest (2025) and Laura Jannone (2025), all of whom were elected together on the "Red Bank's Ready" slate at the May 2023 election.

Federal, state, and county representation

Red Bank is in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were 6,217 registered voters in Red Bank, of whom 2,118 (34.1%) were registered Democrats, 1,185 (19.1%) were registered Republicans and 2,906 (46.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. Eight voters were registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 63.2% of the vote (2,730), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 35.2% (1,523), and other candidates with 1.6% (70), among the 4,359 ballots cast by the borough's 6,440 registered voters (36 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Obama received 63.2% of the vote (3,129), ahead of Republican John McCain with 34.0% (1,682) and other candidates with 0.9% (47), among the 4,948 ballots cast by the borough's 6,669 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.1% of the vote (2,849), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.4% (1,984) and other candidates with 0.6% (42), among the 4,905 ballots cast by the borough's 6,856 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.5.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.4% of the vote (1,527), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 41.2% (1,116), and other candidates with 2.4% (65), among the 2,772 ballots cast by the borough's 6,510 registered voters (64 were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 46.0% of the vote (1,460), ahead of Christie with 45.9% (1,457), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.3% (200) and other candidates with 0.8% (24), among the 3,176 ballots cast by the borough's 6,332 registered voters, a 50.2% turnout.

Education

The Red Bank Borough Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 1,273 students and 133.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.5:1. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are

Red Bank Primary School with 591 students in pre-kindergarten through third grade and

Red Bank Middle School with 601 students in fourth through eighth grades.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Red Bank Regional High School, which also serves students from Little Silver and Shrewsbury, along with students in the district's academy programs from other communities who are eligible to attend on a tuition basis. Students from other Monmouth County municipalities are eligible to attend the high school for its five academy programs, with admission on a competitive basis. The borough has five elected representatives on the nine-member board of education. As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,195 students and 122.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1.

Red Bank Charter School is a public school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade that operates under a New Jersey Department of Education charter and accepts students and receives its funding from a portion of property taxes, like a typical public school. It does not charge tuition and operates independently of the public school system, with a separate school board. Students are selected to enroll in the charter school based on an annual lottery, which is open to all Red Bank residents of school age.

Other schools in Red Bank include Red Bank Catholic High School and St. James Elementary School, Catholic schools affiliated with Saint James parish and under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

thumb|right|[[New Jersey Route 35|Route 35 in Red Bank]]

, the borough had of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 35 runs north-south through the borough while County Route 520 passes through briefly in the southeastern area. Red Bank is also east of Exit 109 of the Garden State Parkway.

Public transportation

thumb|left| Red Bank is connected by rail to other urban centers

NJ Transit passenger trains are available at the Red Bank station. Commuter service is provided on the North Jersey Coast Line, offering express and local service. Diesel service operates from Hoboken Terminal to Bay Head station. Electric service operates from New York Penn Station to Long Branch station, where the electrified portion of the line ends. Mid-line stops include Newark Penn Station, Newark Liberty International Airport Station and Secaucus Junction.

Bus service through Red Bank is provided by Academy Bus (express to New York City) and Veolia Transport, running routes under contract to NJ Transit. Local bus service is provided on the 831, 832, 834 and 838 routes.

Health care

Riverview Medical Center is a 476-bed acute care community hospital founded in 1928 as Red Bank Hospital.

In media

thumb|Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash on Broad Street. Tinted panels have been placed over the windows and door to block sunlight during filming of the reality TV series [[Comic Book Men.]]

Several tunes composed and/or made famous by Count Basie name-check the town in their title, including "Red Bank Boogie" and "The Kid from Red Bank". Basie was born and grew up in Red Bank, starting his musician's career there. A bronze bust of him was commissioned to mark what would have been his 100th birthday in 2004, and placed in the plaza outside the Red Bank train station.

In his 1942 essay "Memoirs of a Drudge", humorist James Thurber recalls being sent to Red Bank by his newspaper's city editor on a tip that "Violets [are] growing in the snow over in Red Bank". Putting in a telephone call to that town's Chief of Police in advance, Thurber is told by a desk sergeant, "Ain't no violence over here."

Some of the films of Kevin Smith, who lived in Red Bank while working as an up-and-coming director, are partially set there, including Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Smith's comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, the setting of the AMC reality television series Comic Book Men, is also in Red Bank, at 65 Broad Street. Smith and View Askew Productions also host the annual Vulgarthon film marathon in various theaters around Red Bank.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Red Bank include: ((B) denotes that the person was born there.)

Mimi Alford (born 1943), woman who served as an intern in the White House press office from 1962 to 1963, during which time she had an affair with President John F. Kennedy described in her 2012 book Once Upon a Secret
Chester Apy (1932–2021), politician who represented District 5B in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1968 to 1970 and again from 1972 to 1974(B)
Michael Arnone (1932–2024), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1989 to 2004, representing New Jersey's 12th legislative district, after serving as Red Bank's mayor in 1979 and 1980
Daniel V. Asay (1847–1930), iceboat racer
James Avati (1912–2005), illustrator and paperback cover artist
Frances Blaisdell (1912–2009), award-winning, pioneering flutist and educator first female soloist with the New York Philharmonic
Sebastian Bach (born 1968), former lead singer of hard rock band Skid Row
Count Basie (1904–1984), jazz pianist and bandleader The Neal Hefti tune featured in The Atomic Mr. Basie album, "The Kid from Red Bank," refers to him.
Virginia Bauer (born 1956), advocate for families of the victims of the September 11 terror attacks who is a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Jennifer Beck (born 1967), politician who represents New Jersey's 12th legislative district in the New Jersey Senate, and served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006 to 2008
Clint Black (born 1962), country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor
Dave Bry (1970–2017), writer, music journalist and editor at Vibe, Spin and XXL
Michael Callahan (born 1987), soccer player
Pete Capella (born 1977), actor and voice actor best known for his voice role as Silver the Hedgehog in the Sonic the Hedgehog games
William J. Chiego (born 1943), museum curator who has been director of the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio since 1991
Edmund S. Crelin Jr. (1923–2004), professor emeritus of anatomy at Yale University
Sean Dawkins (born 1971), wide receiver who played for the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars
David DeFazio (born 1983), American ice dancer who represents Switzerland in international competition
Peter Dobson (born 1964), actor who had a cameo as Elvis Presley in Forrest Gump
Sigmund Eisner (1859–1925), clothing manufacturer and president of the Sigmund Eisner Company
Sigmund Eisner (1920–2012), scholar of medieval literature who was an expert on Geoffrey Chaucer
Abram Isaac Elkus (1867–1947), lawyer who served as U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
Brian Fallon (born 1980), guitarist, songwriter, singer and bandleader of The Gaslight Anthem
John Farinacci (born 2001), ice hockey forward for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League
Harry Flaherty (born 1961), linebacker who played for the Dallas Cowboys(B)
Timothy Thomas Fortune (1856–1928), orator, civil rights leader, journalist and founder of The New York Age, editor and publisher; his Red Bank home, Maple Hill, is on the National Register of Historic Places
Josh Heald (born 1977), screenwriter, director, and producer best known for his work on Cobra Kai and Hot Tub Time Machine(B)
Eddie Jones (1929-1997), longtime bass player for Count Basie
Jake Kalish (born 1991), professional baseball pitcher(B)
Blair Kamin, Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic(B)
Mike Largey (born 1960), professional basketball player who played power forward for Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. of the Israeli Basketball Premier League from 1984 to 1987
Joseph A. Laroski (born 1971), lawyer, who is a nominee to serve as a United States judge of the United States Court of International Trade(B)
Marilyn Levy (1922–2014), photographic chemist and inventor based at Fort Monmouth
Chris Lieto (born 1972), international triathlete who finished second at the Ironman Hawaii 2009
Phil Longo (born 1968), football coach who is offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team(B)
Pamela Malhotra (born 1952), won India's highest award for women after starting an animal sanctuary
Tom Malloy (born 1974), film actor, writer and producer(B)
Danielle Marcano (born 1997), professional soccer forward, who plays in the Turkish Women's Football Super League for Fomget Gençlik ve Spor and represents Puerto Rico internationally(B)
Leo Massa (1929–2009), cross-country skier who competed in the men's 30 kilometre event at the 1960 Winter Olympics
John Joseph McDermott (born 1963), priest of the Catholic Church who was appointed as bishop for the Diocese of Burlington in 2024(B)
Eric McCoo (born 1980), former NFL running back(B)
Sarah Mergenthaler (born 1979), member of the 2008 US Olympic Sailing Team who competed in the women's 470(B)
Christian Miele (born 1981), politician who has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates since 2015
Daniel J. O'Hern (1930–2009), former associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court who served as councilman and mayor of Red Bank
Michael J. Panter (born 1969), politician who represented New Jersey's 12th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2008
Haley Peters (born 1992), professional women's basketball forward with the Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association
Frederik Pohl (1919–2013), science fiction author
Elise Primavera (born 1955), children's author and illustrator
Donny Pritzlaff (born 1979), freestyle wrestler who represented the United States in international competition, winning bronze medals at the 2006 World Wrestling Championships and the 2007 FILA Wrestling World Cup
Bob Rommel (born 1962), politician who has served in the Florida House of Representatives from the 106th district since 2016
Phoebe Ryan (born 1990), singer and songwriter
David Sancious (born 1953), early member of the E Street Band
Natalie Schafer (1900–1991), actress who played Mrs. Thurston Howell III on the TV series Gilligan's Island
Eddie August Schneider (1911–1940), pilot who set airspeed records
Michael A. Sheehan (1955–2018), author, government official and military officer(B)
Sheridan Shook (died 1899), businessman and tax collector(B)
Garrett Sickels (born 1994), outside linebacker who played for the Los Angeles Rams(B)
Harley Quinn Smith (born 1999), actress and musician(B)
Kevin Smith (born 1970), film director who has shot films in Red Bank(B)
Abigail Spanberger (born 1979), federal law enforcement agent, former CIA operations officer and U.S. representative from Virginia's 7th congressional district, 75th Governor of Virginia
Snuffy Stirnweiss (1918–1958), second baseman who played for the New York Yankees
Frankie Tagliaferri (born 1999), professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League(B)
Edmund Wilson (1895–1972), literary critic(B)
David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992), painter, photographer, writer, filmmaker, performance artist and AIDS activist
Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943), writer and critic born at the nearby North American Phalanx utopian community
Dave Wyndorf (born 1956), songwriter, guitarist, singer and Monster Magnet bandleader
Christopher Young (born 1958), composer and orchestrator of film and television scores(B)

References

External links

Borough of Red Bank official website
Red Bank Borough Public Schools
Red Bank Green, Hyperlocal news and features
Red Bank, New Jersey history
Red Bank RiverCenter
Community website for Red Bank, New Jersey