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Keyport, New Jersey
Borough
Borough of Keyport
Keyport High School
Keyport High School
Nickname(s): 
"Pearl of the Bayshore"
Map of Keyport in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Keyport in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Keyport, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Keyport, New Jersey
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Monmouth
Incorporated April 2, 1908
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 1.46 sq mi (3.77 km2)
 • Land 1.38 sq mi (3.58 km2)
 • Water 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)  5.07%
Area rank 455th of 565 in state
37th of 53 in county
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 • Total 7,240
 • Estimate 
(2019)
6,977
 • Rank 312th of 566 in state
23rd of 53 in county
 • Density 5,188.4/sq mi (2,003.3/km2)
 • Density rank 106th of 566 in state
11th of 53 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07735
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 3402536810
GNIS feature ID 0885268
Website

Keyport is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 7,240, following a decline of 328 (-4.3%) from the 7,568 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 18 (-0.2%) from the 7,586 counted in the 1990 Census. 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.

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 Raritan Bayshore coastline.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.469 square miles (3.807 km2), including 1.395 square miles (3.614 km2) of land and 0.074 square miles (0.193 km2) of water (5.06%).

The borough borders the boroughs of Keansburg (via a maritime boundary) and Union Beach, and the townships of Aberdeen and Hazlet to the northeast, southwest and southeast respectively.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 2,366
1890 3,411
1900 3,413 0.1%
1910 3,554 4.1%
1920 4,415 24.2%
1930 4,940 11.9%
1940 5,147 4.2%
1950 5,888 14.4%
1960 6,440 9.4%
1970 7,205 11.9%
1980 7,413 2.9%
1990 7,586 2.3%
2000 7,568 −0.2%
2010 7,240 −4.3%
2019 (est.) 6,977 −3.6%
Population sources:
1870-1920 1870 1880-1890
1890-1910 1910-1930
1930-1990 2000 2010

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,240 people, 3,067 households, and 1,693 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,188.4 per square mile (2,003.3/km2). There were 3,272 housing units at an average density of 2,344.8 per square mile (905.3/km2)*. The racial makeup of the borough was 80.00% (5,792) White, 7.20% (521) Black or African American, 0.28% (20) Native American, 2.38% (172) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 7.62% (552) from other races, and 2.50% (181) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.26% (1,322) of the population.

There were 3,067 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 95.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $56,509 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,915) and the median family income was $82,714 (+/- $13,757). Males had a median income of $56,156 (+/- $6,693) versus $41,782 (+/- $4,326) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,545 (+/- $2,210). About 4.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

At the 2000 United States Census, there were 7,568 people, 3,264 households and 1,798 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,358.4 per square mile (2,072.4/km2). There were 3,400 housing units at an average density of 2,407.3 per square mile (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, 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.

21.8% of the population were 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 household income was $43,869 and the median family income was $58,176. Males had a median income of $40,324 compared with $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.

Transportation

Roads and highways

2021-09-08 14 02 57 View north along New Jersey State Route 35 from the overpass for the Henry Hudson Trail in Keyport, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Route 35 north of Route 36 in Keyport

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 25.51 miles (41.05 km) of roadways, of which 18.70 miles (30.09 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.96 miles (7.98 km) by Monmouth County and 1.85 miles (2.98 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 35 and Route 36 both pass through in the southern section. The Garden State Parkway is just outside in both neighboring Aberdeen and Hazlet Townships at Exit 117.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers local bus service on the 817 route. NJ Transit train service is available nearby at the Hazlet and Aberdeen-Matawan stations on the North Jersey Coast Line.

Economy

Keyport1
Keyport waterfront looking out into Raritan Bay

Keyport is known for its oyster industry, which had been one of the world's largest suppliers until overfishing and pollution led to a collapse of the industry in the early to mid 20th century. In August 2010, NY/NJ Baykeeper suspended an effort to recreate the oyster reefs in Keyport's Raritan Bay after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection cited concerns that the oysters could be harvested and sold to the public despite the persistent heavy pollution in the water after concerns had been raised by the United States Food and Drug Administration that patrols were insufficient to ensure that the oysters in the reef were not being harvested.

It was the home of the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company which operated from 1914 to 1930 and built seaplanes for the United States Navy during World War I. Its planes were mostly military seaplanes and flying boats, including aircraft that offered some of the first scheduled air service using seaplanes.

Keyport has been credited as the birthplace of the "Lazy Susan", designed by William Bedle in 1845. However this is highly disputed since there were earlier dated pieces found in China and England. It was the site of the professional dance debut of film star Fred Astaire in 1903 at age four, together with his sister Adele, as part of an act that earned a review that called the duo "the greatest child act in vaudeville.

Business district

Keyport is home to many diverse businesses, and has a bustling shopping district located on West Front Street, located one block in from the waterfront. The business district is now under control of the Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative (which was established in 2011 to replace the now-defunct Keyport Business Alliance) which helps to organize events that benefit the businesses in Keyport as well as the city as a whole.

Keyport is home to Espresso Joe's, a coffee shop and venue for local musical and artistic acts. Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay filmed a segment for CBS Sunday Morning at the Broad Street Diner, which has won numerous awards and accolades.

Education

The Keyport Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 1,062 students and 104.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Keyport Central School with 687 students in grades PreK-8 and Keyport High School with 364 students in grades 9–12.

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades from Union Beach attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Union Beach School System.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from Keyport, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Keyport include:

  • Henry E. Ackerson Jr. (1880–1970), Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1948 to 1952.
  • Piotr Czech (born 1986), NFL placekicker.
  • John DeServio, bass player of Black Label Society.
  • John Earle (born 1968), retired football player who played in the CFL for the Baltimore Stallions before becoming a youth minister and evangelist.
  • Juanita Hall (1901–1968), actress best known for her role as "Bloody Mary" in the movie South Pacific.
  • Kenneth Hand (1899–1988), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate and judge on New Jersey Superior Court.
  • Garret Hobart (1844–1899), Vice President of the United States from 1897 to 1899, spent his boyhood years in Keyport at a home on Broad Street, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of September 21, 1877.
  • Moe Jaffe (1901–1972), songwriter and bandleader.
  • Pat Kennedy (born 1952), men's basketball coach at Pace University.
  • Amy Lamé (born 1971 as Amy Caddle), performer, writer, TV and radio presenter, known for her one-woman shows, her performance group Duckie, and LGBT-themed media works.
  • Sayra Fischer Lebenthal (1898–1994), Wall Street banker credited with introducing the idea of selling small lots of municipal bonds to individual investors.
  • Georg J. Lober (1892–1961), sculptor.
  • Horace M. Thorne (1918–1944), awarded the Medal of Honor for valor during World War II.
  • Raymond L. Wyckoff (1887–1939), politician, who served as Mayor of Keyport, member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and as Monmouth County Clerk.

See also

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