Red Bank is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Incorporated in 1908, the community is on the Navesink River, the area's original transportation route to the Atlantic Ocean and to other ports. Red Bank is in the New York metropolitan area and is a commuter town of New York City.Capuzzo, Jill P. "Living In Red Bank: The Jersey Shore With an Urban Vibe’", The New York Times, July 13, 2016, Accessed June 14, 2022. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 12,936, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 730 (+6.0%) from the 2010 census count of 12,206, which in turn had reflected an increase of 362 (+3.1%) from the 11,844 counted at the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. In the 2020 census, Red Bank was the fourth-most densely populated municipality in Monmouth County.
Red Bank was formed as a town on March 17, 1870, from parts of Shrewsbury Township. On February 14, 1879, Red Bank became Shrewsbury City, part of Shrewsbury Township; this lasted until May 15, 1879, when Red Bank regained its independence. On March 10, 1908, Red Bank was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature and was set off from Shrewsbury Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 184. Accessed May 30, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 230. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 22, 2015. The borough was named for the red soil along the Navesink River.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 21, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 259. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 21, 2015.
Downtown Red Bank is notable for its many local and well-known businesses including Garmany, Urban Outfitters, and Tiffany & Co. on and around Broad Street. Many annual events happen throughout the year, including the International Beer, Wine & Food Festival, a long-running sidewalk sale, a farmers' market, an indie film festival, the Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival, a Halloween parade, and a holiday town lighting.
History Red Bank has been occupied by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The area of modern-day Red Bank was the territory of the Algonquian-speaking Lenape Native Americans, also called the Delaware by the English. The Lenape lived in the area between the Navesink River and the Shrewsbury River in an area they called Navarumsunk. The Native Americans traded freely with European settlers from England and the Dutch Republic in the mid-17th century, who purchased land in the area.Sullivan, Joseph F. "Metropolitan Baedeker: Around Red Bank and the Navesink". The New York Times. October 15, 1976. Accessed July 10, 2012.
Originally part of "Shrewsbury Towne", Red Bank was named in 1736, when Thomas Morford sold Joseph French "a lot of over three acres on the west side of the highway that goes to the red bank"."History". Borough of Red Bank. Accessed July 11, 2012. English colonists settled Red Bank beginning in the 17th century and it became a center for shipbuilding. Its population grew rapidly after 1809, when regularly scheduled passenger ships were established to serve the route to Manhattan.
By 1844, Red Bank had become a commercial and manufacturing center, focused on textiles, tanning, furs, and other goods for sale in Manhattan. With the dredging of the Navesink River about 1845, Red Bank became a port from which steamboats transported commuters to work in Manhattan. Red Bank grew in size as a result, and because the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad constructed a railway in the town in 1860.Staff. "Anniversary of the City Guard.; Excursion To Long Branch Opening Of The Raritan And Delaware Bay Railroad Dinner, Speeches, Etc.", The New York Times, June 20, 1860. Accessed May 9, 2012. "It being the occasion of the opening of the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad, to Long Branch, the City Guard accepted the invitation of the Railroad Company to pass over their road and join in the opening celebration at the same time that they celebrated their own anniversary.... The Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad, it may be proper to state here, was projected to run to Cabe May, and to form part of an air-line from New-York to Norfolk, a distance of 300 miles, 250 of which is to be by rail and the remainder by water."
In the 20th century, Red Bank was a strong cultural, economic, and political center in Monmouth County until it was hindered by the economic recession that began in 1987. During this time, its economy, based largely on retail commerce, was in decline, due to a real estate scandal. Local pundits and urban planners referred to the town as "Dead Bank".James, George. "Communities; From Dead Bank To Red Bank", The New York Times, June 17, 2001. Accessed May 9, 2012. "It was the mid 1980s, and downtown stores were being forced out of business by the invasion of sprawling new malls, the population was slipping and the commercial and residential tax base was eroding. Red Bank was known as Dead Bank."
Beginning in approximately 1991, under the New Jersey Development and Redevelopment Law, the borough authorized the creation of the Red Bank RiverCenter to manage redevelopment in what was designated as a special improvement district. RiverCenter retains authority over the management and redevelopment of a defined central business district, which includes Broad Street from the post office to Marine Park and from Maple Avenue to one block east of Broad Street. A number of urban redevelopment projects have taken place, including improved signage, distinctive and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and lighting, a coherent design plan for Main Street and other major thoroughfares, and improving the condition of parking lots with landscaping.Red Bank, New Jersey Travel and Vacation Information. Accessed July 10, 2012.Higgs, Larry. , Asbury Park Press, December 11, 2005. Accessed July 10, 2012.
The district as originally proposed was larger, to include the commercial areas west of Maple Avenue, including the antique buildings, The Galleria, and Shrewsbury Avenue. But some property owners in this area opposed paying the special assessment. Plans for the larger district advanced but opposition became more rigorous. The proposed district was amended to exclude opponents, and the district that was adopted stops on Maple Avenue.Burton, John. "Special Improvement District Seeks Expansion To West Side", The Two River Times, November 17, 2006. Accessed July 15, 2012. "A plan to include the borough's west side in the original special improvement district was abandoned because of a threat of legal action brought by a Shrewsbury Avenue commercial property owner, who opposed the special assessment as inequitable.... As proposed, the lines of the district would include Monmouth Street west of Maple Avenue to Bridge Avenue, including Bridge and extending to Rector Place, to Chestnut Street on the south, and going to the Navesink River to the north."
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had an area of 2.16 square miles (5.58 km2), including 1.75 square miles (4.52 km2) of land and 0.41 square miles (1.06 km2) of water (18.98%).
Red Bank is on the southern bank of the Navesink River in northern Monmouth County. It is about due south of the tip of Manhattan and about to the tip of Manhattan if traveling by water along the Navesink River and through the Raritan Bay.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names partially or completely within the borough include Newmans Corner.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
Red Bank is bordered by the Monmouth County municipalities of Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls.Areas touching Red Bank, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 3, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Climate Red Bank has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Red Bank had a population of 12,936, with 5,423 households and 2,321 families. The population density was . There were 5,863 housing units at an average density of .
The median age was 38.1 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The population was 49.4% male and 50.6% female. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.1 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
Of the 5,423 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 33.9% were married-couple households, 23.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 7.5% of housing units were vacant; the homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 6,883 53.2% Black or African American 1,012 7.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 267 2.1% Asian 236 1.8% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.0% Some other race 2,978 23.0% Two or more races 1,558 12.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 4,890 37.8%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 12,206 people, 4,929 households, and 2,469 families in the borough. The population density was 7,019.1 per square mile (2,710.1/km2). There were 5,381 housing units at an average density of 3,094.4 per square mile (1,194.8/km2). The racial makeup was 63.20% (7,714) White, 12.42% (1,516) Black or African American, 0.97% (118) Native American, 1.85% (226) Asian, 0.11% (13) Pacific Islander, 18.56% (2,265) from other races, and 2.90% (354) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.39% (4,198) of the population.
Of the 4,929 households, 23.1% had children under the age of 18; 32.8% were married couples living together; 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 49.9% were non-families. Of all households, 40.1% 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 2.43 and the average family size was 3.29.
20.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 103.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 103.5 males.