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".
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.
Geography
Keyport is located at .
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²) 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 5,358.4 people per square mile (2,072.4/km²). There were 3,400 housing units at an average density of 2,407.3/sq mi (931.0/km²). 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 $102,958 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
Keyport is governed under the
Borough 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.
[2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 67.]The
Mayor of Keyport is Robert J. "Robbie Boy" Bergen, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2010. , Borough Council Members are Council President Joe Sheridan, Christian Bolte, Ezra Hill, John Kovaks, Susie Sefcik and George Walling.
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 pled guilty to federal corruption charges on January 18, 2007, for accepting bribes to obtain municipal contracts. 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.
Education
The
Keyport Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005–06 enrollment data from the
National Center for Education Statistics) are
(grades PreK–7; 611 students) and
Keyport High School (grades 8–12; 570).
Students in public school for 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
Keyport 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.
Keyport was the birthplace of the "
Lazy Susan" by William Bedle in 1845.
[Jeandron, Jack. , Arcadia Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0738524395, via Google Books, p. 138. Accessed October 7, 2008.] It was also the site of the professional dance debut of film star
Fred Astaire in 1903.
People born in Keyport and Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Keyport include:
- Moe Jaffe (1901–1972), songwriter and bandleader.
- Steve Antonucci Head Varsity Coach at Middletown High School South in Middletown N.J. He lead the Eagles to State Championships, and coached Denver Bronco Knowshon Moreno.
