Location of West Long Branch in Monmouth County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Prior to being called West Long Branch, the area had been called Mechanicsville from the 18th century through the Civil War, and then Branchburg in the 1870s. The name West Long Branch appears in the 1889 Wolverton Atlas of Monmouth County, and seems to have derived its name from its proximity to a section of the Shrewsbury River.[23]
In 1908, the residents of what was the West Long Branch section of Eatontown thought that they were not getting a fair return on their taxes. A request was made that the West Long Branch section be separated from Eatontown. The Township of Eatontown strongly resisted as there were several large estates in the West Long Branch section that were a source of considerable tax revenues. An act of the New Jersey Legislature was passed on April 7, 1908, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders authorized an election. On May 5, 1908, a referendum was held in West Long Branch, with voters approving the separation.[24][25] The borough takes its name from Long Branch, which in turn takes its name from the "long branch" or south branch of the Shrewsbury River.[26][27][28][29]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.89 square miles (7.49 km2), including 2.86 square miles (7.40 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.09 km2) of water (1.25%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Norwood Park.[30]
Of the 2,384 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18; 60.0% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households, 21.7% were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.23.[20]
19.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 25.4% from 18 to 24, 16.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.1 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $96,369 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,449) and the median family income was $114,250 (+/− $13,662). Males had a median income of $75,634 (+/− $8,441) versus $49,483 (+/− $5,714) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,822 (+/− $3,260). About 5.0% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.[40]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 8,258 people, 2,448 households, and 1,860 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,859.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,104.2/km2). There were 2,535 housing units at an average density of 877.9 per square mile (339.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.22% White, 2.23% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.[38][39]
There were 2,448 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.25.[38][39]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 22.1% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.[38][39]
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,852, and the median income for a family was $80,127. Males had a median income of $59,638 versus $34,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,651. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.[38][39]
Government
Local government
West Long Branch Borough Hall and Police Department
West Long Branch is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[41] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The borough form of government used by West Long Branch is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[42][43]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of the Borough of West Long Branch is Republican Janet W. Tucci, who was first elected as mayor in 2005, and whose current term of office ends December 31, 2026.[3] Members of the West Long Branch Borough Council are Stephen A. Bray (R, 2025), Steven Cioffi (R, 2024), James P. Gomez (R, 2025), Christopher M. Neyhart (R, 2026), John M. Penta Jr. (R, 2024) and Matthew B. Sniffen (R, 2026).[44][45][46][47][48]
Police department
The West Long Branch Police Department is responsible for law and traffic enforcement in the Borough of West Long Branch. Its current Chief is Marlowe Botti.[49]
The department has two divisions, Operations and Investigations. The Operations Division consists of Patrol, Traffic, Dispatch, Firearms, Records and Special Services. The Investigations Division is responsible for all criminal investigations.
Federal, state and county representation
West Long Branch is located in the 6th Congressional District[50] and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.[51]
Monmouth County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director.[58] As of 2024[update], Monmouth County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,862 registered voters in West Long Branch, of which 1,189 (24.5%) were registered as Democrats, 1,049 (21.6%) were registered as Republicans and 2,622 (53.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.[73]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.6% of the vote (2,029 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.5% (1,461 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (31 votes), among the 3,548 ballots cast by the borough's 5,079 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.9%.[74][75] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.4% of the vote (2,208 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.6% (1,524 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (47 votes), among the 3,844 ballots cast by the borough's 5,065 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.9%.[76] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.4% of the vote (2,202 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 41.1% (1,574 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (38 votes), among the 3,833 ballots cast by the borough's 4,926 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.8.[77]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.7% of the vote (1,612 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.8% (573 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (32 votes), among the 2,246 ballots cast by the borough's 5,068 registered voters (29 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.3%.[78][79] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.1% of the vote (1,732 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 28.9% (794 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.4% (176 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (18 votes), among the 2,743 ballots cast by the borough's 4,872 registered voters, yielding a 56.3% turnout.[80]
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Shore Regional High School, a regional high school located in West Long Branch that also serves students from the constituent districts of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport and Sea Bright.[91][92] As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 613 students and 55.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.[93] Seats on the board of education for the high school district are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with four of the nine seats assigned to West Long Branch.[94]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 36.65 miles (58.98 km) of roadways, of which 27.84 miles (44.80 km) were maintained by the municipality, 5.19 miles (8.35 km) by Monmouth County and 3.62 miles (5.83 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[97]
Arthur Pryor (1870–1942), trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band who was a prolific composer of band music, best known for "The Whistler and His Dog"[115]
^History, West Long Branch. Accessed December 13, 2012. "In the past, our community has been known by various names; Hoppersville, from the Hopper family; Mechanicsville, 1851 map; Branchburg, 1873 map, likely due to its proximity to the long branch of the Shrewsbury River."
^Biography, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Frank Pallone, Jr., was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he grew up and still resides."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Monmouth County Government, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed July 19, 2022. "Monmouth County is governed by five commissioners elected at-large for three-year terms. Each January, the freeholders select one of their members to serve as the director of the board for the year to preside over the meetings and activities of the Board."
^West Long Branch Board of Eeucation District Policy 0110 - Identification, West Long Branch Public Schools. Accessed July 25, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the West Long Branch School District. Composition: The West Long Branch School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of West Long Branch."
^Board of Education of the Borough of Interlaken Meeting Minutes, Borough of Interlaken, September 28, 2015. Accessed January 28, 2017. "The Interlaken School District is part of a sending-receiving relationship with the West Long Branch School District for grades Kindergarten through 8 and the Shore Regional High School District for grades 9 through 12."
^Stine, Don. "Allenhurst Ends Sending-Receiving Relationship with Asbury Park School District", The Coaster, August 7, 2017. "Allenhurst is following in the footsteps of its two neighboring towns and will begin to send its students to West Long Branch Elementary School and to Shore Regional High School on a per-pupil tuition basis. Board of Education President Larry O’Rourke said that Allenhurst school board officials saw Interlaken and Loch Arbour recently make the same move with permission of state Acting-Commissioner of Education Kimberly Harrington.... O’Rourke said Allenhurst has about 38 school-age children and that some may be able to start attending their new schools this September but he added that no contracts with the two schools have yet been signed."
^Shore Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 11, 2020. "Shore Regional High School, located in West Long Branch, Monmouth County New Jersey, is a comprehensive secondary school that proudly serves the communities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, and West Long Branch. The beautiful ten-acre campus is situated on the banks of Franklin Lake in the borough of West Long Branch."
^Walter, Kenny. "SRHS $15.7M budget calls for flat tax levy; School taxes decrease for three of four sending towns", The Hub, April 4, 2013. Accessed January 28, 2017. "Three of the four sending districts that comprise the Shore Regional High School District — Oceanport, Monmouth Beach and West Long Branch — will pay less in taxes for the 2013-14 school year. Taxes will increase, however, for property owners in Sea Bright, which will pay a higher percentage of the regional school budget."
^History of Wilson Hall, Monmouth University. Accessed August 4, 2012. "Wilson Hall has been described in newspapers throughout the world, is featured in many books on architecture and art, and has been used as backdrop for innumerable print ads and television commercials. It also served as the setting for the 1982 film version of Annie."
^Helm, Richard. "Author's fairy tale comes true", Edmonton Journal, February 14, 2008. Accessed February 20, 2008. "Today, Holly lives in West Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband of 10 years, working as a full-time writer and an avid collector of rare folklore volumes, spooky dolls and outrageous hats."
^"Early History of West Long Branch"Archived May 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Borough of West Long Branch. Accessed October 25, 2015. "Chet Bowman — Olympic Star; West Long Branch proclaimed Sunday, November 21, 1976, as "Chet Bowman Day" to honor one of its most famous sons. Mr. Bowman attended the old Chattle High School, later renamed Long Branch High School."
^Staff. "Miss Bessie Clayton, Retired Ballerina", The New York Times, July 17, 1948, p. 15. Accessed October 25, 2015. "Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Andrew Allison, former wife of Roger Pryor, movie actor and band leader, and a granddaughter, Priscilla Mitchell Pryor, with whom she lived at West Long Branch."
^Dynes, Wayne R. before Stonewall, p. 268. Accessed October 28, 2013. "In April 1962, at the age of 15, Donny sailed back to the United States to live with his grandparents in West Long Branch, New Jersey."
^Clarkson Sherman Fisher, The Historical Society for the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. Accessed October 28, 2013. "He was a Councilman in West Long Branch, New Jersey from 1959 to 1964, serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1964."
^Profile, Jon Herington. Accessed October 10, 2007. "MS: Where did you grow up? JH: Well, I was born near Paterson, New Jersey, but I grew up in a town near the northern part of the Jersey shore called West Long Branch."
^"Q & A With Ryan McCormick", The Torch, April 17, 2014. Accessed January 17, 2014. "Ryan McCormick is the senior leader of the St. John’s men’s golf team. McCormick, a native of West Long Branch, N.J., has had golf running through his veins since he was a toddler."
^Hinds, Michael Decourcy. "A Mansion for Daddy Warbucks", The New York Times, June 25, 1981. Accessed September 11, 2019. "The three-story, $10.5 million mansion was designed in the 1920s by Horace Trumbauer, an architect, for the late Hubert T. Parson, who was president of the F.W. Woolworth Company until 1932. It took three years to design, three years to build and two years to decorate, but within 10 years Mr. Parson lost it to the town for nonpayment of $132,000 in taxes."
^Elise Primavera, Hyperion Books for Children, backed up by the Internet Archive as of November 7, 2007. Accessed October 28, 2013. "Elise Primavera was born in West Long Beach, New Jersey."
^Mikle, Jean. "Arthur Pryor, Asbury Park's first musical superstar", Asbury Park Press, August 3, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2015. "The next year, Pryor moved to Asbury Park. That summer marked the beginning of the nearly two decades that Pryor's band made the city its summer home. Pryor eventually bought a farm in West Long Branch, then a sparsely populated, rural community.... Pryor was working on a conducting comeback in 1942, when he suffered a stroke and died at his West Long Branch home."
^Pike, Helen-Chantal. West Long Branch Revisited, p. 40. Arcadia Publishing, 2007. ISBN9780738549033. Accessed October 25, 2015. "Its new owners are Taka and T. M. Stevens. The latter is a heavy metal funk bassist, well known as a sessions musician who has also produced his own solo albums."
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