Asbury Park, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Asbury Park, New Jersey
City
Paramount Theatre and Asbury Park Convention Hall at nightfall, June 2019 Asbury Park station, 2018 Asbury's famous Boardwalk, 2012 The Stone Pony, 2016 Tillie replica on the Wonder Bar, 2006 The Empress Hotel, 2013 Steinbach-Cookman Building at the heart of Downtown Asbury Park, 2016 Skyline of Asbury Park from the beach, 2013
Seal
Nickname(s):  Dark City
Location of Asbury Park in Monmouth County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Asbury Park, New Jersey Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey Show map of Monmouth County, New Jersey Asbury Park, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Asbury Park, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Monmouth
Incorporated	March 26, 1874 (as borough)
Reincorporated	February 28, 1893 (as city)
Named for	Francis Asbury
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act (council–manager)
• Body	City Council
Area
• Total	1.61 sq mi (4.17 km2)
• Land	1.43 sq mi (3.70 km2)
• Water	0.18 sq mi (0.47 km2)  11.18%
Area rank	439th of 565 in state 36th of 53 in county
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	15,188
• Estimate  (2023)	15,391
• Rank	173rd of 565 in state 14th of 53 in county
• Density	10,628.4/sq mi (4,103.6/km2)
• Density rank	36th of 565 in state 2nd of 53 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	07712–07713
Area codes	732
FIPS code	3402501960
GNIS feature ID	0885141

Asbury Park is a lively beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It's part of the bigger New York metropolitan area. In 2020, about 15,188 people lived here.

Asbury Park's beach was even named one of the best in the world by Money magazine in 2022. Travel + Leisure also called it one of the best in the country.

The city started as a borough on March 26, 1874. It officially became a city on March 25, 1897, which is its current type of government.

Asbury Park's Story

How Asbury Park Began

Asbury Park is a seaside town on New Jersey's central coast. It was created in 1871 by James A. Bradley, a brush maker from New York. He wanted to build a place for people to relax and enjoy the shore. The city was named after Francis Asbury, an important leader in the Methodist Church. Because a nearby town, Ocean Grove, was a Methodist camp, Asbury Park also started as a "dry town," meaning no alcohol was sold.

James A. Bradley helped build much of the city. He put in the famous Asbury Park Boardwalk, a music stage, changing rooms, and a pier. Other business people joined in. In 1888, Ernest Schnitzler built the Palace Merry-Go-Round, which became part of the Palace Amusements park. Many grand hotels, like the Plaza Hotel, were also built.

Early on, Asbury Park was a very popular vacation spot. Up to 600,000 people visited each summer. They came by train from New York City and Philadelphia to enjoy the ocean. By 1912, it was thought that the summer population could reach 200,000! The 1890s were a big time for growth, and you can still see many beautiful Victorian homes from that era.

Growing Up: The 1920s and Beyond

The Roaring Twenties

In the 1920s, many famous buildings were added to the Asbury Park Boardwalk. These included the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall, plus the Casino Arena and Carousel House. A famous architect named Warren Whitney designed these buildings. He also designed the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel. Around the same time, a modern high school was built overlooking Deal Lake.

Challenges and Changes

On September 8, 1934, a big event happened when the ocean liner SS Morro Castle caught fire and washed ashore near the city. People came to see the wreck, and it became a tourist attraction.

Later, in the 1930s, Asbury Park faced some money problems. The state government temporarily took control of the beach. But by 1938, the city got control of its beach back.

In 1943, the New York Yankees baseball team held their spring training in Asbury Park. This was during World War II, and they needed to save train travel for the war effort.

After the war, things changed. When the Garden State Parkway opened in 1947, people started driving to other beach towns further south. This meant fewer visitors came to Asbury Park by train. Also, new shopping malls and theme parks like Six Flags Great Adventure opened, giving people more choices for fun.

Tough Times and New Beginnings

In the 1970s, some difficult events happened in the city, causing damage to buildings along Springwood Avenue. Many of those areas are still being rebuilt today.

Sadly, the famous Palace Amusements park, with its well-known Tillie mural, closed in 1988 and was torn down in 2004, even though many tried to save it. The carousel from the Casino Pier was sold in 1990.

Asbury Park Today: A Comeback Story

Since 2002, Asbury Park has been going through a big comeback! It's becoming a hub for artists and new businesses. The downtown area is being fixed up, and there are big plans to rebuild the empty areas near the beach and boardwalk. Many parts of the boardwalk, like the Casino's walkway, have reopened.

Historic buildings like the Steinbach department store and Convention Hall have been restored. The Berkeley-Carteret Hotel is also being brought back to its former glory. New homes and businesses are opening up, too.

Even after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Asbury Park quickly bounced back. Most of the boardwalk wasn't badly damaged. In May 2013, Governor Chris Christie and President Barack Obama visited to celebrate the reopening of Asbury Park and other Jersey Shore towns. The message was "Stronger Than The Storm."

Where Asbury Park Is Located

Asbury Park covers about 1.61 square miles (4.17 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small part being water.

The city is next to other towns in Monmouth County, like Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune Township, and Ocean Township.

Deal Lake is a large lake on the city's northern border, covering 158 acres. Seven towns share its shoreline. Sunset Lake, a smaller lake of 16 acres, is in the southwestern part of the city and is popular for relaxing and activities.

People of Asbury Park

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	4,148		—
1910	11,150		168.8%
1920	13,400		20.2%
1930	14,981		11.8%
1940	14,617		−2.4%
1950	17,094		16.9%
1960	17,366		1.6%
1970	16,533		−4.8%
1980	17,015		2.9%
1990	16,799		−1.3%
2000	16,930		0.8%
2010	16,116		−4.8%
2020	15,188		−5.8%
2023 (est.)	15,391		−4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census Population sources: 1900–1920 1900–1910 1900–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020

As of the 2020 census, Asbury Park had 15,188 residents. The city is a mix of different backgrounds. In 2020, about 34.8% of residents were White, 33.3% were Black or African American, and 26.9% were Hispanic or Latino.

The median age in 2010 was 34 years old. About 23.8% of the population was under 18.

Asbury Park's Economy

Special Business Zone

Parts of Asbury Park are in an "Urban Enterprise Zone" (UEZ). This is a special area created by the state to help businesses grow and create jobs. In these zones, shoppers pay a lower sales tax rate of 3.3125%, which is half of the usual state tax. This encourages people to shop locally. Asbury Park's UEZ status will continue until September 2025.

Hotels in Asbury Park

Asbury Park has many hotels, both old and new. Some historic hotels, like the Berkeley and Oceanic Inn, have been open for a long time. Others, like the Empress Hotel, have been restored and reopened.

The Asbury Hotel, which opened on 5th Avenue, was the first new hotel built in Asbury Park in over 50 years! It was built inside an old Salvation Army building, keeping the original brick but completely changing the inside. From its upper floors and rooftop, you can get a great view of the ocean.

Other hotels open today include the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, The Empress Hotel, the St. Laurent Social Club, Asbury Park Inn, and Mikell's Big House Bed & Breakfast.

Local News and Media

Asbury Park has several local newspapers and online news sources that keep residents informed:

• The Asbury Park Press
• TAPinto Asbury Park
• The Coaster (a weekly newspaper)
• The Asbury Park Sun
• TriCity News (covers Asbury Park, Long Branch, and Red Bank)
• The Asbury Park Reporter
• Asbury Park Vibes magazine (focuses on local music)

Arts and Culture

Music Scene

Asbury Park is famous for its music scene, especially starting in the 1960s. Bands mixed rock and roll, rhythm and blues, soul, and doo-wop to create what became known as the "Sound of Asbury Park" (S.O.A.P.). Many famous musicians got their start or played often in Asbury Park clubs.

Some well-known artists with strong ties to Asbury Park include Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Patti Smith, Clarence Clemons, and Gary U.S. Bonds.

In 1973, Bruce Springsteen released his first album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. He also wrote a song called "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" about the city. Many books tell the story of Springsteen's early career in Asbury Park.

Black Music and Springwood Avenue

The West Side of Asbury Park has a rich history of Black music, including jazz, soul, gospel, and R&B. Famous African American artists like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Josephine Baker, and Clarence Clemons played or were inspired by the clubs on Springwood Avenue.

In 1928, the jazz musician Fats Waller wrote the song "Honeysuckle Rose" while visiting the West Side. Later, artists like Billie Holiday, Tina Turner, and Little Richard performed at clubs like Cuba's. The former Turf Club, a well-known jazz spot, now has jazz-themed murals.

Springwood Park was once the site of Lafayette Hall (later Roseland Hall), a popular nightclub. This location was also important for civil rights, with leaders like Marcus Garvey and W. E. B. Du Bois speaking there.

The Asbury Park Music Foundation helps young people learn music through programs like the Hip Hop Institute. The Asbury Park Museum also has an exhibit on the history of music on the West Side.

Music Venues and Art Spots

Asbury Park is a popular place for musicians, especially those playing the "Jersey Shore sound." You can find many live music venues here:

• The Stone Pony: A famous club founded in 1974, where many performers got their start.
• Asbury Lanes: A bowling alley and bar that hosts live music, from rock to burlesque shows.
• The Saint: Brings original live music to the Jersey Shore.
• Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre: Host larger events.
• The Wonder Bar and House of Independents.
• The Asbury Park Brewery: Hosts smaller punk music shows.
• The Turf Club: Site of "Tuesday at the Turf," a summer music series celebrating Black music history.
• The Empress Hotel: An LGBT-friendly resort with Paradise Nightclub.
• The Asbury Hotel: Has a rooftop movie theater called "The Baronet," named after an old movie theater.

Asbury Park now has many restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and live music venues, making it a vibrant place.

Festivals and Events

Asbury Park hosts many fun festivals and events throughout the year:

• Asbury Park Music Foundation: Puts on free summer concerts in Springwood Park and on the boardwalk. They also raise money for music education for kids.
• The Asbury Park Surf Music Festival: Celebrates surf music every August.
• The Asbury Music Awards: Recognizes local and regional musicians.
• The Sea.Hear.Now Festival: A big surfing and music festival held on the beach in September.
• Music Mondays: Weekly live music events at Springwood Park in the summer.
• The Wave Gathering Music Festival: A multi-day event in the summer with music, art, and food across the city.
• First Saturdays: Downtown art galleries, shops, and restaurants stay open late on the first Saturday of each month.
• The Asbury Park Tattoo Convention: Held every July.
• The Bamboozle Music Festival: A large music festival that has returned to Asbury Park several times, drawing huge crowds.
• The Asbury Park Women's Convention: Held each winter, focusing on workshops and performances by women.
• The Asbury Park Porch Fest: A free music festival with performances on porches and lawns.
• The annual North to Shore festival: Features music, comedy, film, and tech discussions in June.

Film Festivals

Asbury Park is home to several film festivals:

• APin3 Film Challenge (filmmaking challenge)
• Asbury Park Music + Film Festival
• Bread and Roses Film Festival (women's film festival)
• The Garden State Film Festival: A big event that brings over 30,000 visitors to Asbury Park each spring.
• Jersey Shore Film Festival
• Jersey Devil Film Festival (horror/paranormal)
• Krampus Film Festival (horror/folklore)
• Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival
• QFest New Jersey LGBTQ Film Festival

Murals and Public Art

Many talented artists have created colorful murals and public art pieces around Asbury Park, especially along the boardwalk. The 2016 Wooden Walls Mural Project added many new murals to the Sunset Pavilion building.

Other Fun and Entertainment

The Asbury Park Zombie Walk is a huge zombie parade held every October. Thousands of people dress up as zombies and walk along the boardwalk and through the city. It's one of the biggest zombie walks in the world! People get zombie makeovers, enter costume contests, and then join the parade. It's a spooky and fun event for everyone.

LGBTQ+ Community

Asbury Park has been a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community for many years. In the 1970s, as property values dropped, many LGBTQ+ people from New York City bought and fixed up Victorian homes, helping to bring parts of the city back to life.

Today, Garden State Equality, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ rights, has its main office in Asbury Park. The QSpot community center also moved back to the west side of Asbury Park and opened the QSpot Café. Georgies is another well-known spot.

Every summer, the Jersey Gay Pride parade, the largest in the state, brings many people to Asbury Park. Project R.E.A.L. is a group for young LGBTQ+ people to socialize.

The St. Laurent Social Club, which used to be the Hotel Tides, is a historic hotel that has been a popular spot for the LGBTQ+ community for a long time. Many restaurants in the city are also owned by LGBTQ+ individuals.

In 1999, music producer Shep Pettibone opened Paradise, a popular club near the ocean. He also opened the Empress Hotel, which is one of the few hotels in the state specifically for the gay community.

Asbury Park has a history of places for the lesbian community, too, going back to the 1930s. In 1965, Maggie Hogan opened Chez Elle, a groundbreaking club for women. The Key West Hotel was a popular lesbian resort in the 1980s.

The Asbury Park Women's Convention is held every year, focusing on workshops, music, and art by women. The first Asbury Park Dyke March was held in October 2020.

Surfing and Other Sports

Every winter, surfers gather in Asbury Park for the Cold War, an annual cold water surfing competition.

In 1943, the New York Yankees baseball team held their spring training in Asbury Park. This was because of travel rules during World War II.

Asbury Park is also home to Asbury Park FC, a fun, fictional soccer team that has a popular merchandise line.

Parks and Fun Places

Asbury Park has many parks and places for recreation. Many parks host community events like farmer's markets and music shows.

The most famous spot is the Asbury Park Boardwalk and the beach. The boardwalk has changed over the years and now has restaurants, shops, the 3,600-seat Asbury Park Convention Hall, and the 1,600-seat Paramount Theater. You can also find the Silverball Retro Arcade & Museum, the Asbury Splash Park, mini-golf, volleyball nets, a playground, and a dog park.

Here are some of the city's parks:

• Asbury Park Rain Garden: A garden and plaza near the train station.
• Atlantic Square Park, Bradley Park, Fireman's Park, and Sunset Park & Lake: These four parks are connected and form the largest park area in the city. Bradley Park has a statue of city founder James A. Bradley. These parks host big events like the Pride Festival. Sunset Lake has a small island for community events.
• Bangs Ave. Playground: A playground and open field near schools.
• Community Garden: A small garden behind City Hall that gives out fresh vegetables.
• Deal Lake: The largest lake in the county, on the northern border, with a boat launch.
• Kennedy Park: In downtown, with a memorial to JFK.
• Library Square Park: Next to the library, with a fountain.
• Springwood Park: A park with a playground and pavilion, established in 2016. It's home to Music Mondays, live music events in the summer.
• Soldiers Park: A triangular park with a memorial to Civil War soldiers.
• Wesley Lake: On the southern border, with walking paths, two footbridges, and pedal boat rentals.

Asbury Park also has many historic houses and buildings, with nearly 50 registered historic sites. Four of these are national historical landmarks, including the Stephen Crane House (home of author Stephen Crane) and the Asbury Park Convention Hall.

Historic Areas

The Asbury Park Commercial Historic District is a special area mainly along Cookman and Mattison Avenues. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 because of its importance in business and entertainment.

There are three other historic districts in Monmouth County:

• Waterfront Resort Historic District: Includes the boardwalk, beach, and buildings related to Asbury Park as a seaside resort.
• Library Square Historic District: A neighborhood with late 19th and early 20th-century homes, churches, hotels, and the public library.
• Sunset Lake Historic District: A residential neighborhood with homes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, surrounding Sunset Lake Park.

Education in Asbury Park

Public Schools

The Asbury Park Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district is one of 31 "SDA Districts" in New Jersey, meaning the state helps cover costs for school building projects.

Students from Allenhurst also attend schools in the Asbury Park district. Some nearby towns, like Interlaken and Deal, used to send their high school students here but now send them to other schools.

As of the 2020–21 school year, the district had about 1,771 students and 175 teachers. The schools are:

• Bradley Elementary School (PreK-5)
• Thurgood Marshall Elementary School (PreK-5)
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Upper Elementary School (6-8)
• Asbury Park High School (9-12)

In 2011, Barack Obama Elementary School was closed due to fewer students. The school board later planned to use it for their offices.

Asbury Park's schools have sometimes spent more money per student than other districts in the state.

Charter Schools

The Hope Academy Charter School, started in 2001, is another public school choice for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Students are chosen by a lottery, with priority for Asbury Park residents.

Older students (9th-12th grade) from Asbury Park can also attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como. This school also accepts students from other nearby towns.

Getting Around Asbury Park

Roads

As of 2010, Asbury Park had about 36 miles of roads. The main road is Route 71, which runs north and south. Other nearby roads include Routes 18, 33, 35, and 66. The Garden State Parkway is about 15 minutes away.

Public Transportation

NJ Transit offers train service from the Asbury Park station. You can take the train on the North Jersey Coast Line to places like Newark, Secaucus, New York City, and Hoboken.

NJ Transit also has bus routes, including the 317 to Philadelphia, and local routes like 830, 832, 836, and 837. There's also a limited bus service to New York City.

Biking

In 2017, Asbury Park started a bike share program. You can rent bikes from six different stations around the city. It was the first program of its kind on the Jersey Shore!

Climate

Asbury Park has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Nature and Environment

The natural plants in Asbury Park would mostly be Appalachian Oak trees and Eastern Hardwood Forests.

Famous People from Asbury Park

Many interesting people have been born in, lived in, or are connected to Asbury Park:

See Also

In Spanish: Asbury Park para niños