KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY

'Keyport' is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 7,568. Keyport's nickname is the "Pearl of the Bayshore" or the "Gateway to the Bayshore".^[1]
Keyport was originally formed as a Town on March 17, 1870, from portions of Raritan Township (now Hazlet). On April 2, 1908, the Borough of Keyport was formed, replacing Keyport Town."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 181.
Keyport 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

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Community

References

External links

Geography

Keyport is located at (40.433311, -74.200369).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.70% is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,568 people, 3,264 households, and 1,798 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,072.4/km² (5,358.4/mi²). There were 3,400 housing units at an average density of 931.0/km² (2,407.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 85.2% White, 7.0% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.96% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.09% of the population.
There were 3,264 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,869, and the median income for a family was $58,176. Males had a median income of $42,958 versus $34,036 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,288. About 4.9% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Mayor of Keyport is Robert Bergen, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2010. Borough Council Members are Council President Richard Hassmiller, Christian Bolte, Ezra Hill, Bill Ortman, Joe Sheridan and George Walling.^[2][3]
On Election Day, November 7, 2007, Council President Robert Bergen was elected Mayor, taking the seat of two-term incumbent John J. Merla who chose not to run for re-election. Merla pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges on January 18, 2007, for accepting bribes to obtain municipal contracts.^[4] Bergen assumed the post of Mayor on January 1, 2007.

Federal, state and county representation

Keyport is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th Legislative District.^[5]

Education

The Keyport Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are Keyport Central School (grades PreK-7) and Keyport High School [1] (grades 8-12).
Students in grades 9-12 from Union Beach attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Union Beach School System.

Community

The town is best known for its flourishing oyster industry c.1880 to 1920 and the home of the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company which built Navy seaplanes during World War I. This company also produced the first air mail flight. U.S. Vice President Garret Hobart spent his boyhood years in Keyport at a home on Broad Street, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of Sept 21, 1877. Other notable events are the birthplace of the "Lazy Susan" by William Bedle in 1845, the professional dance debut of film star Fred Astaire