Keyport, New Jersey

Keyport is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of 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 beauty of the Raritan Bayshore coastline.

Geography
Keyport is located at 40.43211°N, -74.20153°W (40.432114,-74.201529). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.469 square miles (3.807 km2), of which, 1.395 square miles (3.614 km2) of it is land and 0.074 square miles (0.193 km2) of it (5.06%) is water.

The borough borders the borough of Union Beach and the townships of Aberdeen and Hazlet to the northeast, southwest and southeast respectively.

Census 2010
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
As of 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 people 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 out 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.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% 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 income for a household in the borough was $43,869, and the median income for a family was $58,176. Males had a median income of $40,324 versus $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.

Local government
Keyport is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.

, the Mayor of Keyport is Robert McLeod. Borough Council Members are Council President Christian Bolte, Evelyn Ambrose, Ken McPeek, Joseph Sheridan, Joy-Michele Tomczak and Clemente Toglia.

On Election Day, November 7, 2007, Council President Robert Bergen was elected Mayor, taking the seat of two-term incumbent John J. Merla. Merla pled guilty to federal corruption charges on January 18, 2007, for accepting bribes to obtain municipal contracts. Bergen assumed the post of Mayor on January 1, 2007.

Federal, state and county representation
Keyport is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,442 registered voters in Keyport, of which 1,251 (28.2%) were registered as Democrats, 950 (21.4%) were registered as Republicans and 2,240 (50.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.

In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.1% of the vote here (1,759 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.6% (1,506 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (56 votes), among the 3,374 ballots cast by the borough's 4,704 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.7%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.0% of the vote here (1,649 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.4% (1,596 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (35 votes), among the 3,297 ballots cast by the borough's 4,620 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.4.

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.2% of the vote here (1,284 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 34.3% (796 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.0% (185 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (29 votes), among the 2,324 ballots cast by the borough's 4,544 registered voters, yielding a 51.1% turnout.

Education
The Keyport Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Keyport Central School (grades PreK–7; 610 students) and Keyport High School (grades 8–12; 532).

Students in public school for grades 9–12 from Union Beach attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Union Beach School System.

Community
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 also 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 was the birthplace of the "Lazy Susan", designed by William Bedle in 1845. It was also the site of the professional dance debut of film star Fred Astaire in 1903.

Keyport is home to Espresso Joe's, a coffee shop and venue for local musical and artistic acts.

Businesses
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 (replacing 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.

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

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.

Notable people
Notable current and former residents of Keyport include:
 * Piotr Czech (born 1986), NFL placekicker.
 * Juanita Hall (1901–1968), actress best known for her role as "Bloody Mary" in the movie South Pacific.
 * 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, men's basketball coach at Towson College.
 * Georg J. Lober (1892–1961), sculptor.
 * Horace M. Thorne (1918–1944), awarded the Medal of Honor for valor during World War II.