Red Bank is a
BoroughA Borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in
Monmouth CountyMonmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 615,301, which had grown to 642,030 as of the Bureau's 2007 estimate. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is...
,
New JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by New York, and to the east by the Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and...
incorporated in 1908. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough had a population of 11,844.
Red Bank was originally formed as a
TownA Town in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government...
on March 17, 1870, from portions of
Shrewsbury TownshipShrewsbury Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,098....
. On February 14, 1879, Red Bank became Shrewsbury City, a portion of Shrewsbury Township, but this only 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 LegislatureThe New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
and was set off from Shrewsbury Township.
History
Originally part of "Shrewsbury Towne", Red Bank was named in 1736, "when Thomas Morford sold Joseph French 'a lot of over three acres (12,000 m
2) on the west side of the highway that goes to the red bank.' Borough of Red Bank,
History,
supra. Red Bank was settled in the 17th century, but was not populous until approximately 1809. By 1844, Red Bank had become a commercial center, focused on textiles,
furFur is a synonym for hair, used more commonly in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensive body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to...
,
tanningTanning is the process of making leather, which does not easily decompose, from the skins of animals, which do. Often this uses tannin, an acidic chemical compound. Coloring may occur during tanning....
, and
manufacturingManufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to make things for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
goods for sale in
ManhattanManhattan is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located primarily on Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River.New York County, which has the same boundaries as the Borough of Manhattan , is the most densely populated county in the United States, with a 2008 population of 1,634,795...
. With the dredging of the
Navesink RiverThe Navesink River is an estuary, approximately 8 mi long in Monmouth County, New Jersey in the United States.-History:Known officially as the North Shrewsbury River and upstream of Red Bank as the Swimming River, it is formed southwest of Red Bank by the confluence of the Swimming River with...
, about 1845, Red Bank became a port from which steamboats transported commuters to Manhattan. Red Bank grew in size as a result of this and the laying of rails in the town by the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad, about 1860.
During the 20th century, Red Bank was a strong cultural, economic, and political center in Monmouth County, New Jersey, until it was hindered by the
economic recession that began in 1987The recession of the early nineteen-nineties was an economic recession that hit much of the world in 1990-91.On Black Monday of October 1987 a stock collapse of unprecedented size lopped 22.6 percent off the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The collapse, larger than that of 1929, was handled well by...
. During this time, Red Bank's economy, based largely on retail commerce, was in decline, due to a real estate scandal, leading local pundits and urban planners to refer to the town as "Dead Bank." Beginning in approximately 1991, under the New Jersey Development and Redevelopment Law, the town authorized the creation of an organization to manage redevelopment in what was designated a Special Improvement District. This organization is known as the
Red Bank RiverCenter. RiverCenter retains authority over the management and redevelopment of an agreed-upon "downtown business district."
The downtown district includes Broad Street from the post office to Marine Park and from Maple Avenue to one block east of Broad Street. The district that was originally proposed was much larger. It originally included the commercial areas west of Maple Avenue, including the antique buildings, The Galleria, and Shrewsbury Avenue. However, some property owners in this area were opposed to the idea because they did not want to pay the assessment. Plans for the larger district advanced but opposition became more rigorous. Therefore the proposed district was amended to exclude those who were opposed, and the district that was adopted stops at Maple Avenue.
Geography
Red Bank is located at (40.347492, -74.067081).
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the borough has a total area of 2.2
square mileThe square mile is an imperial and US unit of measure for an area equal to the area of a square of one statute mile.
s (5.6 km
2), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.6 km
2) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km
2) of it (17.13%) is water.
Red Bank is located on the southern bank of the
Navesink RiverThe Navesink River is an estuary, approximately 8 mi long in Monmouth County, New Jersey in the United States.-History:Known officially as the North Shrewsbury River and upstream of Red Bank as the Swimming River, it is formed southwest of Red Bank by the confluence of the Swimming River with...
, in northern Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is about due south of the tip of Manhattan and about 25 nautical miles (29 miles) to the tip of
ManhattanManhattan is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located primarily on Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River.New York County, which has the same boundaries as the Borough of Manhattan , is the most densely populated county in the United States, with a 2008 population of 1,634,795...
if traveling by water along the Navesink River and through the Raritan Bay. Red Bank is bordered by
Middletown TownshipMiddletown Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census had a total population of 66,327. Middletown is one of the oldest sites of European settlement in New Jersey....
and the Boroughs of
Tinton FallsTinton Falls is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 15,053....
,
Fair HavenFair Haven is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey along the Navesink River. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,937....
,
ShrewsburyShrewsbury is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 3,590....
, and
Little SilverLittle Silver is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 6,170. Boy Scout Troop 126 is affiliated with the town of Little Silver....
.
Climate
Red Bank experiences a
humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and cool winters. This climate type covers a broad category of climates, and the term "subtropical" may be a misnomer for the winter climate....
(
Köppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by the Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa).
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 6,639.1 people per square mile (2,569.1/km
2). There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0/sq mi (1,182.2/km
2). The racial makeup of the borough was 68.19% White, 20.05% African American, 0.35% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.73% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.11% of the population.
There were 5,201 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.9% were non-families. 42.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the borough the population was spread out with 17.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $47,282, and the median income for a family was $63,333. Males had a median income of $45,922 versus $34,231 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the borough was $26,265. About 6.3% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Red Bank is governed under the
BoroughA Borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
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.
As of 2009, the mayor and council members are:
- Mayor Pasquale Menna, Esq. (term ends December 31, 2010)
- Council President Arthur V. Murphy (2009)
- Sharon Lee (2010)
- Kathleen Horgan (2010)
- Juanita Lewis (2011)
- Edward Zipprich (2011)
- Michael DuPont (2009)
Federal, state and county representation
The Borough of Red Bank is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th Legislative District.
Education
The
Red Bank Borough Public SchoolsThe Red Bank Borough Public Schools are part of a community public school district that serves students in Kindergarten through eighth grade from Red Bank, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States....
serve students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the
National Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are Red Bank Primary School (with 450 students in Pre-Kindergarten through fourth grade) and Red Bank Middle School (with 310 students in fourth through eighth grades).
For grades nine through twelve, public school students attend
Red Bank Regional High SchoolRed Bank Regional High School is a comprehensive regional four-year public high school that serves students in grades nine through twelve from four communities in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The high school serves students from the boroughs of Little Silver, Red Bank and Shrewsbury...
, which also serves students from the boroughs of
Little SilverLittle Silver is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 6,170. Boy Scout Troop 126 is affiliated with the town of Little Silver....
, Red Bank,
ShrewsburyShrewsbury is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 3,590....
,
Union BeachUnion Beach is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 6,649....
and
InterlakenInterlaken is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 900.Interlaken was formed as a Borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1922, from portions of Ocean Township, based on the results of a...
.
Red Bank Charter School is a
public schoolIn most of the world, excluding England and Wales and some Commonwealth countries, a public school is an educational institution that is funded with tax revenue and most commonly administered by a local government or government agency...
that accepts students and receives its funding from property taxes of the town, like a typical public school. It does not charge tuition and operates independently of the public school system, with a separate school board. Students are selected to enroll in the charter school based on an annual lottery, which is open to all Red Bank residents of school age.
Other schools in Red Bank include
Red Bank Catholic High SchoolRed Bank Catholic High School is a four-year private coeducational Roman Catholic high school, located in Red Bank, New Jersey, under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Catholic...
, and
St. James Elementary School which are
Catholic schoolCatholic schools are education ministries of the Catholic Church. Currently, the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
s affiliated with Saint James parish. Some students from Red Bank attend private and county sponsored schools in the area.
Transportation
New Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the state of New Jersey, United States, and Orange and Rockland counties in New York...
train service on the
North Jersey Coast LineThe North Jersey Coast Line is a New Jersey Transit commuter rail line which provides service between New York Penn Station/Hoboken Terminal and Long Branch/Bay Head...
connects the
Red BankRed Bank is a commuter train station located in Red Bank, New Jersey, United States. it is one of 20 New Jersey Transit commuter rail stations on the North Jersey Coast Line...
train stationA railway station, train station, railroad station, or station yard is a facility at which passengers may board and alight from trains, and/or where rail-transported freight may be loaded or unloaded. Historically, the term depot has also been employed in North America...
to
Penn StationPennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity rail station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. The station is located in the underground levels of Pennsylvania Plaza, an urban complex located between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue and between...
in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
and to other locations in New Jersey.
Red Bank is two miles (3 km) east of Interchange 109 of the
Garden State ParkwayThe Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York state line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at the southern tip of the state. Its name refers to the state nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents...
.
Major streets
- Monmouth Street is a noted commercial and residential street in Red Bank. It is the home to numerous trendy stores, the Count Basie Theatre
The Count Basie Theatre is an historic landmark that operates as a theatre for performing arts in Red Bank, New Jersey. It opened as the Carlton Theater in 1926 and was renamed in 1984 to honor jazz great and Red Bank native William “Count” Basie...
, and in the 1980s, it was home to Big Man's WestBig Man's West was a nightclub located at 129 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, New Jersey. It was owned by Clarence "Big Man" Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and managed by Terry MacGovern. Although the club was short-lived, together with The Fast Lane and The Stone Pony, it played a key...
, Clarence ClemonsClarence Clemons , affectionately known as The Big Man, is an American musician and actor. Since 1972 he has been a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the saxophone. He has also released several solo albums and in 1985 had a hit single with "You're a Friend of Mine", a...
' nightclub.
- Broad Street is one of the central streets in the bohemian
A Bohemian is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region or Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic...
community. The street can be seen in the film Chasing AmyChasing Amy is a 1997 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the third film in the View Askewniverse series. The film focuses on two comic book artists: Holden McNeil , a heterosexual male, and Alyssa Jones , a lesbian-identified woman.The movie contains frank sexual...
. Broad Street has also become famous for its lavish Christmas decorations, which appear on the street during the Holiday Season. They are lit on Black FridayBlack Friday is a term used to refer to certain events which occur on a Friday. It has been used in the following cases:*Black Friday , the Fisk-Gould Scandal , a financial crisis in the United States....
, during which the street is closed to traffic for a free concert by Holiday Express-Mission:The Holiday Express mission is to deliver music, food, gifts, financial support and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the holiday season and throughout the year.-Discography:...
, after which the lights are all lit. The event is always well-attended, with 2006's performance featuring the largest turnout, with people lining the streets all the way from in front of Red Bank Catholic High SchoolRed Bank Catholic High School is a four-year private coeducational Roman Catholic high school, located in Red Bank, New Jersey, under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Catholic...
to the beginning of Monmouth Street. Up to 7,000 people attend the shows annually.
Tourism
Red Bank is a noted social and commercial destination, filled with boutiques, designer clothing and home stores, parks, and restaurants. Many events such as the Kaboom fireworks on July, 3rd occur throughout the summer.
Theatres
The
Count Basie TheatreThe Count Basie Theatre is an historic landmark that operates as a theatre for performing arts in Red Bank, New Jersey. It opened as the Carlton Theater in 1926 and was renamed in 1984 to honor jazz great and Red Bank native William “Count” Basie...
hosts nationally-known performers, including
Kevin SmithKevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter and director, as well as a comic book writer, author, and actor. He is also the co-founder, with Scott Mosier, of View Askew Productions and owner of Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash comic and novelty store in Red Bank, New Jersey. He also hosts a...
,
David SedarisDavid Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated Greek-American humorist, writer, comedian, bestselling author, and radio contributor....
, James Brown,
Bill CosbyWilliam Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, The Bill Cosby Show,...
,
Bob NewhartGeorge Robert "Bob" Newhart is an American stand-up comedian and actor who is best known for playing psychologist Dr. Robert "Bob" Hartley on the 1970s sitcom The Bob Newhart Show and as innkeeper Dick Loudon on the 1980s sitcom Newhart.Newhart also appeared in film roles such as Major Major in...
,
ForeignerForeigner is an English rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones, ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, and American vocalist Lou Gramm...
,
Andy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" or "Paul" Williams is an American pop singer. Andy Williams has recorded 18 gold and three platinum certified albums. When Ronald Reagan was president, he declared Andy's voice to be "a national treasure". He had his own popular TV variety show from 1962–71...
,
Brian SetzerBrian Setzer is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Career:Setzer was born in Massapequa, New York. Beginning in January 1980, he fronted the popular rockabilly band, Stray Cats...
, B.B. King, and others. The Count Basie Theatre is also home to Phoenix Productions, a non-profit community theatre who puts on large scale musicals four times a year. The Two River Theater Company opened a large performance space on April 30, 2005, called the
Two River TheaterThe Two River Theater professional theater located on the Navesink River in Red Bank, New Jersey. It is the home of the Two River Theater Company . It opened in April 2005 with a live taping of VH-1's Storytellers featuring Bruce Springsteen...
.
Bruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss", is an American singer-songwriter. He records and tours with the E Street Band...
filmed his
VH-1 Storytellers special at the Two River Theatre. The
Marion Huber TheaterThe Marion Huber Theater is located in Red Bank, New Jersey.Managed by the Two River Theater Company, the Marion Huber seats 99 people.It is a modern theater, but very intimate: its focus is more on poetry and artistic readings than on the production of plays.It was the home to Todd Robbin's...
, also operated by the Two River Theater Company, is also in Red Bank.
There have been several annual festivals held in Red Bank.
See, e.g.,
Red Bank International Film Festival.
Events
There is an annual fireworks display (called "
KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink") held on July 3 that is popular with those residing in the Metropolitan New York Area. Each summer, Red Bank hosts the Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival in partnership with the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Society. "
First NightFirst Night is an outdoor artistic and cultural celebration on New Year's Eve, taking place from afternoon until midnight. Since it happens on New Year's Eve, First Night celebrations are actually held on the last night of the old year. The real first night occurs on New Year's Day...
", a
New Year's EveNew Year's Eve or Old Year's Night is on , the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day.New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day...
arts and entertainment festival, is a Red Bank event designed to provide an alternative to alcohol-related events.
BoatingBoating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether power boats, sail boats, or yachts , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or waterskiing...
,
scullingSculling refers to the use of oars to propel a boat or other watercraft, but the word is used in a number of ways:-Two-oar sculling:Sculling is a form of rowing in which a boat is propelled by one or more rowers, each of whom operates two oars, one held in each hand...
,
sailingSailing is the art of controlling a boat with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat...
, and
fishingFishing is the activity of catching fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
are popular outdoor activities in Red Bank; in the winter,
ice boatAn ice boat is a boat or purpose-built framework similar in functional design to a sail boat but fitted with skis or runners and designed to run over ice instead of through water. Ice yachting is the sport of sailing and racing iceboats. Sailable ice is known in the sport as "hard water" versus...
s sail on the frozen Navesink. The Monmouth Boat Club, Marine Park, and the slips of the
Molly PitcherMolly Pitcher was a nickname given to a woman said to have fought in the American Revolutionary War. Since various Molly Pitcher tales grew in the telling, many historians regard Molly Pitcher as folklore, rather than history, or suggest that Molly Pitcher may be a composite image inspired by the...
Inn provide access to the Navesink and, from there, the
Atlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres , it covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface and about one-quarter of its water surface area. The first part of its name refers to the Atlas of Greek...
.
Popular culture
Filmmaker
Kevin SmithKevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter and director, as well as a comic book writer, author, and actor. He is also the co-founder, with Scott Mosier, of View Askew Productions and owner of Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash comic and novelty store in Red Bank, New Jersey. He also hosts a...
lived in Red Bank while working as an up-and-coming director. His films
Chasing AmyChasing Amy is a 1997 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the third film in the View Askewniverse series. The film focuses on two comic book artists: Holden McNeil , a heterosexual male, and Alyssa Jones , a lesbian-identified woman.The movie contains frank sexual...
,
DogmaDogma is a American adventure-comedy-fantasy film, written and directed by Kevin Smith; he also co-stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, George Carlin, Janeane...
, and
Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 film written by, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
partly took place in the town, primarily on Broad Street.
Smith's production company,
View Askew ProductionsView Askew Productions is an American film/television production company founded by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier in 1994. Actors Ben Affleck, Jeff Anderson, Matt Damon, Walter Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Brian O'Halloran and Smith himself are just some of the stars that...
, occupies a building on Broad Street in Red Bank. In addition, Smith opened a comic shop/novelty store, "
Jay and Silent Bob's Secret StashJay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash is a comic and novelty store owned and operated by filmmaker Kevin Smith. Merchandise includes comic books, comic-related merchandise, and View Askew film-related items . Currently, the store can be found at 35 Broad Street in Red Bank, New Jersey...
," located at 35 Broad Street, directly across the street from Jack's Music Shoppe, which was a location in
Chasing AmyChasing Amy is a 1997 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the third film in the View Askewniverse series. The film focuses on two comic book artists: Holden McNeil , a heterosexual male, and Alyssa Jones , a lesbian-identified woman.The movie contains frank sexual...
. A scene in
Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 film written by, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
, was filmed in the store, but for the film, the sign was temporarily removed and replaced with a sign that read "Brodie's Secret Stash", due to the fact that the character Brodie owned the store in the movie. That sign now hangs inside the store on display, along with other View Askew paraphernalia, including the "
Buddy ChristBuddy Christ is a parody religious icon in the film Dogma. In the film, he is part of a campaign to revitalize the Catholic Church...
". Regular actors from his film series work and/or make appearances in the store, as many of his fans travel from all across the country to frequent it and buy film-related merchandise.
Smith and View Askew host the annual Vulgarthon film marathon in various theaters around Red Bank.
Most of Smith's
View AskewniverseThe View Askewniverse is a fictional universe created by writer/director Kevin Smith, featured in several films, comics and a television series; it is named for Smith's production company, View Askew Productions. The characters Jay and Silent Bob appear in almost all the View Askewniverse media,...
movies also make reference to nearby
LeonardoLeonardo is a census-designated place located within Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 2,823...
as well as
Asbury ParkAsbury Park or sometimes called just "Asbury" is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 17,930....
, another community which is famous for being artistic in nature.
Smith's 1999 film
DogmaDogma is a American adventure-comedy-fantasy film, written and directed by Kevin Smith; he also co-stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, George Carlin, Janeane...
had scenes set in Red Bank that were filmed in other locations.
Kevin Smith has been known to appear, alongside other actors, inside his comic store. On announced dates, crowds of fans have been known to line the streets of Red Bank for blocks, hoping to meet Smith.
Long BranchLong Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 31,340.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
, another nearby town, is also known for its artistic vibe, and the three cities are collectively referred to as the "New Jersey Tricity." There is a local publication aiming at the artistic scene called
Tricity News, as well as several other local music publications including the popular
Upstage magazineUpstage is a free monthly publication covering arts and entertainment in New Jersey, USA. Each issue covers music, art, film, theatre, dance, poetry, literature and comedy. The magazine first appeared at the end of 2003 and was distributed in New Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, Red Bank, Long...
, which is published out of Asbury Park.
The popular
Adult SwimAdult Swim, often stylized as [adult swim] and abbreviated as [as], is an adult-oriented cable television network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM ET/PT in the United States and broadcasting in countries such as Australia and Japan...
cartoon
Aqua Teen Hunger ForceAqua Teen Hunger Force is an American animated television series shown on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim late-night programming block, as well as Teletoon in Canada...
shown on the Cartoon Network makes reference to an address at "612 Wharf Avenue" in the episode "MC P. Pants". The address is an actual one, located in Red Bank. This stands to reason since the show is set in an unnamed locale on the New Jersey shore.
An early skit on the classic PBS children's series
The Electric CompanyThe Electric Company is an educational American children's television series that was produced by the Children's Television Workshop for PBS in the United States. PBS broadcast 780 episodes over the course of its six seasons from October 25, 1971 to April 15, 1977. After it ceased production that...
featured a
game showA game show is a type of television program in which members of the public or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving problems usually for money and/or prizes. On some shows contestants compete against other players or another team while...
whose winner would be "whisked to beautiful Red Bank, New Jersey" as a prize (illustrated with a still photograph).
The George Sheehan Classic began in 1981 as the
Asbury ParkAsbury Park or sometimes called just "Asbury" is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 17,930....
10K Classic and quickly became one of the major road running events on the national calendar. The race moved to Red Bank in 1994 and was renamed to honor the memory of Dr.
George A. SheehanDr. George A. Sheehan was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his books and writings about the sport of running. His book, "Running & Being: The Total Experience," became a New York Times best seller. He was a track star in college, and later became a cardiologist like his father...
, the prominent author, philosopher and area physician. “The Doc” has been called the “father of the running boom” in the United States. The Classic was named one of the Top 100 Road Races by
Runner's WorldRunner's World is a globally circulated monthly magazine for recreational runners, published by Rodale Press in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the United States....
magazine, and the Best Memorial Race in New Jersey by
The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...
. Nearly 2,500 athletes participated in the 2006 Sheehan Classic.
Red Bank is home to Riverview Hospital, incorporated in 1928, began in a renovated boarding house on Union Street, with 29 beds, one operating room, a delivery suite, and facilities for six newborns. Today, Riverview is a 446-bed acute care hospital serving the northern region of Monmouth County.
Several tunes composed and/or made famous by Red Bank resident
Count BasieWilliam "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Widely regarded as one of the most important jazz bandleaders of his time, Basie led his popular Count Basie Orchestra for almost 50 years...
name-check the town in their title, including Red Bank Boogie and The Kid from Red Bank.
In the essay
Memoirs of a Drudge (
The New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry published by Condé Nast Publications...
, October 3, 1942), Humorist
James ThurberJames Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit.Thurber was best known for his contributions to The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
recalls being sent to Red Bank by his newspaper's city editor on a tip that "Violets (are) growing in the snow over in Red Bank". Putting in a telephone call to that town's
Chief of PoliceA Chief of Police, also known as Police Chief or sometimes shortened to just Chief is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Police Commissioner, Police Superintendent,...
in advance, Thurber is told by a desk sergeant, "Ain't no violence over here", and nothing more.
Business
Red Bank is increasingly becoming a very high end shopping mecca, to the dismay of many local residents. Broad Street is lined with luxury boutiques and department stores including the infamous "Garmany" of Red Bank Department Store. Designers are coming to Red Bank, including
Tiffany & Co.Tiffany & Co. is a U.S. jewelry and silverware company founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young in New York City in 1837 as a "stationery and fancy goods emporium."...
, who opened a boutique on Broad Street next to Garmany in November 2007.
Nightlife
Whereas the town is not as well known for its nightlife as
Asbury ParkAsbury Park or sometimes called just "Asbury" is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 17,930....
or
Long BranchLong Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 31,340.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
, Red Bank does house a variety of popular nightspots.
Community
Riverview Medical CenterRiverview Medical Center is a 476-bed acute care community hospital located in Red Bank, New Jersey, United States. It was incorporated in 1928 and began in a renovated boarding house on Union Street, with 29 beds, one operating room, a delivery suite, and facilities for six newborns...
is a 476-bed acute care community hospital serving Red Bank since 1928.
During the 1990s, news media figure
Geraldo RiveraGerald Rivera is an American attorney, journalist, writer, reporter and former talk show host. He is known to have an affinity for melodramatic, high-profile stories...
was involved in developing a newspaper for the Red Bank area,
The Two River Times. This newspaper was once a revered publication, but has lost the zest it once had under Rivera. It has been surpassed by local newspapers the
Tri-City News (trinews.com) a cutting-edge publication which focuses on arts and entertainment in the area, and
The Monmouth Journal (themonmouthjournal.com) a true community newspaper.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Red bank include:
- Kelly Booth (1988-) Former Misericordia men's legendary lacrosse player.
- Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer, best known as ex-frontman of Skid Row....
(1968-) Former lead singer of eighties/nineties heavy metalHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in England and the United States...
band Skid RowA skid row or skid road is a run-down or dilapidated urban area with a large, impoverished population. The term originally referred literally to a path along which workingmen skidded logs. Its current sense appears to have originated in the Pacific Northwest...
.
- Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Widely regarded as one of the most important jazz bandleaders of his time, Basie led his popular Count Basie Orchestra for almost 50 years...
(1904-1984), JazzJazz is a musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
pianist and bandleader.
- This is alluded to in the Neal Hefti
Neal Hefti was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, tune writer, and arranger. He was perhaps best known for composing the theme music for the Batman television series of the 1960s, and for scoring the 1968 film The Odd Couple and the subsequent TV series of the same name.He began arranging...
tune, "The Kid from Red Bank".
- Jennifer Beck
Jennifer Beck is an Republican Party politician who has served in the New Jersey State Senate since January 8, 2008, where she represents the 12th legislative district serving portions of Monmouth and Mercer Counties...
(1967-), represents the 12th legislative district in the New Jersey SenateThe New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the State Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
, and served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006-2008 and also on the Red Bank Borough Council from 1999-2005.
- Alisyn Camerota
Alisyn Elaine Camerota is an American television news anchor for Fox News Channel.Based in New York, Camerota co-hosts Fox & Friends Weekend along with Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs . She previously was a co-host on "Fox & Friends First" weekdays from 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m...
, Fox & FriendsFox & Friends is an American morning television show on the Fox News Channel.-History:The program starts at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time with the latest Fox News Live headlines and analyzes the news of the morning...
.
- Timothy Thomas Fortune
Timothy Thomas Fortune was an orator, civil rights leader, journalist, writer, editor and publisher. He was born during slavery in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida to Emanuel and Sarah Jane Fortune.-Early life:...
(1856-1928) orator, civil rights leader, journalist, writer, editor and publisher, whose Red Bank home, Maple Hill, is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
- Kittie
Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band from London, Ontario, formed in 1996. The band rose to success in 1999 when the track "Brackish" from their debut album Spit became a hit single...
(July-August 2006), Canadian Metal Band had an apartment on Broad Street while recording their fourth full-length record, Funeral for YesterdayFuneral for Yesterday is the fourth album released by the female alternative metal music group Kittie. The album was released on February 20, 2007 via the band's own label, X of Infamy Records, with distribution through EMI...
.
- Jack Ponti, the world acclaimed music industry veteran, has an office in town.
- Eric McCoo
Eric Franklin McCoo, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles...
(1980-), former NFL running back.
- Daniel J. O'Hern (1930-2009), former Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
.
- Michael J. Panter
Michael J. "Mike" Panter is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly for two terms from 2004 until 2008, where he represented the 12th legislative district...
(1969-), former Assembylman for the 12th legislative district in the New Jersey General AssemblyThe New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
.
- Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years. From about 1959 until 1969, Pohl edited Galaxy magazine and its sister magazine if, winning the Hugo for if three years in a row. His writing also won him three Hugos and...
(1919-), noted science fiction author, lived in Red Bank for a number of years.
- Elise Primavera
Elise Primavera is an American author and illustrator of children's novels. She arrived on the literary scene in 1981 as an illustrator for Atheneum, Putnam, and other publishing houses...
(1955-), children's author and illustrator.
- Lori Rom
Lori Rom is an American actress. She was originally selected to play the role of Phoebe Halliwell in the television series Charmed. However, Rom left the series after filming the pilot and Alyssa Milano took over the role of Phoebe...
(1975-), actress,
- David Sancious
David Sancious is an American musician. He was an early member of Bruce Springsteen's backing group, The E Street Band, and contributed to the first three Springsteen albums, and again on the 1992 album Human Touch. Sancious is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known as a keyboard player and...
(1953-), early member of the E Street BandThe E Street Band is a musical group that has periodically toured and recorded with rock musician Bruce Springsteen since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Sting,...
.
- Natalie Schafer
Natalie Schafer was an American actress.-Early life and career:Born to a Jewish family in Red Bank, New Jersey, Schafer began her career as an actress on Broadway before moving to Los Angeles in 1941 to work in films...
(1900-1991), actress who was best known as Mrs. Thurston Howell IIIEunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell was a fictional character in the 1960s television show Gilligan's Island. Played by Natalie Schafer, the character was a rich, spoiled socialite, married to Thurston Howell, III....
on the classic 1960s TV series, Gilligan's IslandGilligan's Island is an American TV sitcom originally produced by United Artists Television. It aired for three seasons on the CBS network, from September 26, 1964 to September 4, 1967. It was originally sponsored by Philip Morris & Company and Procter & Gamble...
.
- Eddie August Schneider
Eddie August Henry Schneider set three transcontinental airspeed records for pilots under the age of twenty-one in 1930. His plane was a Cessna Model AW with a Warner-Scarab engine, one of only 48 built, that he called "The Kangaroo". He set the east-to-west, then the west-to-east, and the...
(1911-1940), pilot who set airspeed records.
- Jay Smith (musician), member of the band Sinch
Sinch is an American alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.-History:The alternative rock quartet Sinch formed in 1994 while its members were attending different high schools in Doylestown and Willow Grove in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
and inventor of the Viditar (video guitar) and well noted video artist.
- Kevin Smith (1970-), film director, had an apartment there.
- Edmund Wilson
Edmund Wilson was an American writer and literary critic. Wilson was considered one of the preeminent American literary critics.-Early life:...
(1895-1972), Literary critic.
- Alexander Woollcott
Alexander Humphreys Woollcott was an American critic and commentator for The New Yorker magazine, and a member of the Algonquin Round Table....
(1887–1943), wit, writer and critic actually born at the nearby North American PhalanxThe North American Phalanx was a secular Utopian community located in Colts Neck Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The NAP was based on the ideas of Charles Fourier, and lasted from 1841 to 1856.- Fourier and founding the community :...
utopian community.
- Dave Wyndorf
David "Dave" Albert Wyndorf is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the American stoner rock group Monster Magnet...
(1956-), Songwriter, guitarist, singer and Monster MagnetMonster Magnet is an American hard rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain , Tom Diello , and Tim Cronin...
bandleader.
External links