Fair Haven, New Jersey Article Index for
Fair Haven
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Information About

Fair Haven, New Jersey




Fair Haven is a Borough located in Monmouth County , New Jersey along the Navesink River . As of the United States 2000 Census , the borough had a total population of 5,937.


GEOGRAPHY

Fair Haven is located at 40°21'38" North, 74°2'15" West (40.360581, -74.037387).

According to the United States Census Bureau , the borough has a total area of 4.4 Km&2 (1.7 Mi&2 ). 4.3 km&2 (1.7 mi&2) of it is land and 0.60% is water.


DEMOGRAPHICS

As of the Census of 2000, there were 5,937 people, 1,998 households, and 1,658 families residing in the borough. The Population Density was 1,372.6/km&2 (3,559.3/mi&2). There were 2,037 housing units at an average density of 471.0/km&2 (1,221.2/mi&2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.87% White , 4.09% African American , 0.03% Native American , 0.98% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , 0.22% from Other Races , and 0.81% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,998 households out of which 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.1% were Married Couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 15.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the borough the population was spread out with 33.0% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $97,220, and the median income for a family was $109,760. Males had a median income of $83,657 versus $51,389 for females. The Per Capita Income for the borough was $44,018. 2.3% of the population and 1.6% of families were below the Poverty Line . 2.1% of those under the age of 18 and 4.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.


GOVERNMENT


Federal, state and county representation

Fair Haven is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th Legislative District.






EDUCATION

The Fair Haven Public Schools is comprised of two schools: The Viola L. Sickles School (PreK-3, 421 students) and the Knollwood School (grades 4-8, 570 students).

Students in grades 9-12 attend Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School , together with students from Rumson . The high school is located in Rumson and has an enrollment of over 800 students.


HISTORY

Fair Haven is believed to have been seasonally inhabited by Native Americans prior to the coming of European settlers in the 1660s, but little is known of those early days. It's recorded history begins in the early 19th century when the Borough was part of the then extensive Shrewsbury Township .

The town's first permanent dwelling was built by Jeremiah Chandler in 1816 on the banks of the Navesink River near the foot of what is now Fair Haven Road. The river provided an economic base for a growing community. By 1850, "Chandler's Dock" had been erected on a site adjacent to the present town dock. Steamboats on the New York City - Red Bank run made regular stops. They transported oysters and other river harvest to the city. During the latter years of the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries, boats such as the "Seabird" and "Albertina" (depicted on the Borough seal) continued that trade and brought numerous summer visitors, many of whom were famous vaudevillians. Nearby boarding houses and the old VanTine and Atlantic Hotels catered to this clientele. The vaudevillians organized the Player's Club, whose site now serves as home to the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club.

In the 1850s, Charles Williams, a free black person, built his home at the foot of DeNormandie Avenue. The structure is occupied today by his descendants, and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in the Borough.

A free black community had become established in town prior to the American Civil War . Fisk Chapel, constructed in 1888, successor to several prior structures, served as the community's church and social center. The building is listed on the National Register Of Historic Places , and now is used as a Borough meeting hall.

The mid-19th century witnessed construction of many houses along the road leading to Chandler's Dock. Now called Fair Haven Road, the street was then the heart of town. In recognition of the many 19th century structures still found there, this part of town has become popularly known as the "Old Village".

By the late 1800s, development of the Old Village had been largely completed. Later years would witness at least two other periods of major building in town, but throughout the past century, the original Old Village has remained remarkably unchanged, and it retains today a great deal of its 19th century appearance and atmosphere. the Old Village is now contained in an Historic District.

Fair Haven remained a part of Shrewsbury Township until March 28 , 1912 , when it was incorporated as a borough by Act of the New Jersey Legislature .


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