ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY

'Atlantic Highlands' is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey in the Bayshore Region. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 4,705.
Atlantic Highlands was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1887, from portions of Middletown Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. The borough was reincorporated on September 1, 1891."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 178.
Atlantic 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

History

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Notable residents

References

External links

History

The town overlooks where the Atlantic Ocean and Raritan Bay meet at Sandy Hook, and its hills mark the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the U.S.
For thousands of years, the original inhabitants lived along its cliffs and creeks, where there is still evidence of them. Here the Lenape first encountered Europeans, and soon were trading with them. Fifty-six years after Henry Hudson's 1609 visit, English settlers bought the whole peninsula from the Lenape and called it Portland Poynt.
Colonists convened the first Assembly of New Jersey in 1667 in what is now Atlantic Highlands.^[1] During Revolutionary War years, loyalists to the English crown and patriots of the new America clashed in repeated raids and counterattacks across these lands. And here passed retreating English troops after their 1778 defeat by Washington at the Battle of Monmouth.
During the late 1800s, a handful of farms met an onrush of resort developers, church groups and town builders. They created the Victorian core of the town, attracting thousands of visitors and year-round residents.
In 1879, a surveyor was engaged to lay roads and lots for a permanent community. The Atlantic Highlands Association was formed by prominent members of the Methodist Church. This organization developed the community of Atlantic Highlands.
Individuals and groups came from New York City and the surrounding vicinity to camp along the water in tent colonies. An outdoor amphitheater was created with a large seating capacity and outstanding acoustics. An indoor auditorium was built, which was utilized for entertaining visitors at the camp meetings. In 1887, Atlantic Highlands was incorporated as a borough, containing 1.2 square miles of prime real estate bordering on the Raritan Bay.
The major construction occurred from the 1880s trough 1900. It included hotels, cottages, rooming houses, and private homes. A pier was built extending well into the bay to accommodate steamboats from New York City. The next twenty years saw rapid development within the community. A water and sewer system was constructed, cottages were erected, and the road system was completed. During this period of development a fire department was organized.
A number of churches saw their beginning in the 1880s: the Central Baptist, First Presbyterian, Saint Agnes Roman Catholic, First Methodist, and Saint Paul Baptist Church.
Steamer service was a major source of transportation during the formation of the borough, through the 1940s. The Central Railroad of New Jersey built a major pier at the end of First Avenue. Several trains at a time could continue to the end of the pier to off load steamboat passengers. From the 1910s through the 1940s, the steamers “Sandy Hook” and the “Monmouth” navigated the waters bringing businessmen and vacationers to Atlantic Highlands.
In the 1890s, rail service came to Atlantic Highlands. This opened up Highlands and points south to vacationers. The 1920s saw 26 passenger trains daily passing through the Borough.
Today, from its ridges and bayside, the Manhattan skyline can be seen. From its harbor sail pleasure, fishing and commuter boats. The creation of the municipal harbor took place from 1938 through 1940. This harbor was built with municipal, state, and federal funds. It is the largest on the East Coast, home to 715 craft including high-speed ferry service to New York City which was introduced in 1992. In 1962, the existing Central Railroad of New Jersey pier was destroyed by fire.
Names that appear in the directories of the 1890s are the same names that populate the borough and run businesses in the community today. The bungalows on the East Side of the borough, which in the 1920s were summer bungalows, are now year-round homes. Portland Pointe, a five-story senior citizen building, provides housing for the elderly.

Geography

Atlantic Highlands is located at (40.411703, -74.033873).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 11.7 km² (4.5 mi²). 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and 8.5 km² (3.3 mi²) of it (72.51%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,705 people, 1,969 households, and 1,258 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,465.0/km² (3,805.4/mi²). There were 2,056 housing units at an average density of 640.2/km² (1,662.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.37% White, 2.30% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.
There were 1,969 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $64,955, and the median income for a family was $79,044. Males had a median income of $60,857 versus $36,060 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,798. About 4.4% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Mayor of Atlantic Highlands is Peter Donoghue. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Kimberly Spatola, John C. Archibald, Jr., Roy Dellosso, Peter T. Doyle, Louis Fligor and Robert Sutton.^[2]

Federal, state and county representation

Atlantic Highlands is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th Legislative District.^[3]

Education

Students in public school for kindergarten through sixth grade attend Atlantic Highlands Elementary School.
For grades 7-12, public school 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. The district serves a total enrollment of 465 students.
Many students also attend Ranney School in nearby Tinton Falls, a K-12 preparatory school.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Atlantic Highlands include:

★ Steve Corodemus (1952-), represents the 11th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly, and was a member of the Atlantic Highlands Borough Council from 1986-1988, serving as its President in 1988.^[4]

References

1. Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sandy Hook: A brief history, ''Asbury Park Press'', May 17, 2001, accessed April 15, 2007.
2. Atlantic Highlands Government - Mayor and Council, Borough of Atlantic Highlands. Accessed April 15, 2007.
3. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed August 30, 2006.
4. Assembly Member Steven J. 'Steve' Corodemus, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 9, 2007.

External links

★ Atlantic Highlands web site

★ Atlantic Highlands Elementary School

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School

★ Henry Hudson Regional High School

★ Atlantic Highlands Historical Society