Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.88 square miles (4.87 km2), including 1.78 square miles (4.61 km2) of land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) of water (5.32%). Union Beach has undergone extensive restoration of its beach front, which offers a view of the New York City skyline and the Verazanno-Narrows Bridge. A monument to the victims of the September 11 attacks, constructed of black stone and dedicated in June 2002, is positioned to allow visitors to see past the memorial towards the location where the World Trade Center (1973–2001), World Trade Center towers were visible from the borough. Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities, Unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include Lorrillard Beach, Natco, New Jersey, Natco, Union Gardens and Van Marters Corner, New Jersey, Van Marters Corner. The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Hazlet, New Jersey, Hazlet, Keansburg, New Jersey, Keansburg (maritime border) and Keyport, New Jersey, Keyport.History
Hurricane Sandy
On October 28, 2012, at 4:00pm, the mayor issued a mandatory evacuation for the borough in preparation for Hurricane Sandy—the second-costliest hurricane in United States history. When the hurricane arrived, approximately one third of the borough's 6,200 residents had left. By the morning of October 29, of the estimated 2,143 households in the borough, approximately 200 homes and businesses were damaged, 400 took on more than of water, and 62 were "completely missing". An additional 100 that had shifted off foundations and were no longer habitable. The borough's police department borrowed several police cruisers from other municipalities such as Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington, NC and Clay County, Florida. Most cars were destroyed when flooding reached police headquarters. Former residents from around the country mobilized and organized relief efforts: sending relief supplies; including advising and assisting public servants in acquiring replacements of lost emergency vehicles. In total, the borough lost 14 police cars, three ambulances and four fire trucks. Madison Township and Wanaque each gave repurposed police cruisers fully decaled with Union Beach logos, as well as other relief. Some local agencies sold old police cruisers for one dollar each or donated police cars, and donations of two cars each came from North Carolina and Florida. EMS and fire trucks were also donated from near and far. Jakeabob's Bay, a restaurant and waterfront tiki bar and one of the major employers in town, which survived Hurricane Irene in 2011, was destroyed in the hurricane. The storm surge completely washed through the building, pushing out tables, chairs, menus and displays. The restaurant owner, Gigi Liaguno-Dorr, organized the relief and rebuilding efforts for Union Beach. The building was razed when the insurance companies that covered the restaurant would not pay out. A new temporary restaurant was built but did not manage to renew its lease due to insurance disputes with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Union Beach Memorial School, the borough's only school, was inundated with floodwaters and debris when the storm surge and extreme high tide swept through the borough. The school had been used as an evacuation center but began taking on water as the storm raged. Hundreds of library books and teaching materials were destroyed along with thousands of dollars worth of instruments. After several months of emergency repairs by volunteers, including students and teachers, the renovations including new floors, walls, desks and murals were finished prior to the end of the school year.Demographics
2000 census
The 2010 United States census counted 6,245 people, 2,143 households, and 1,624 families in the borough. The population density was 3,461.5 per square mile (1,336.5/km2). There were 2,269 housing units at an average density of 1,257.7 per square mile (485.6/km2). The racial makeup was 91.05% (5,686) White (U.S. census), White, 1.54% (96) Black (U.S. census), Black or African American, 0.16% (10) Native American (U.S. census), Native American, 1.81% (113) Asian (U.S. census), Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander (U.S. census), Pacific Islander, 3.09% (193) from Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race, other races, and 2.35% (147) from two or more races. Hispanic (U.S. census), Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.98% (686) of the population. Of the 2,143 households, 34.5% had children under the age of 18; 56.0% were married couples living together; 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.2% were non-families. Of all households, 18.7% were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.32. 24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.3 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation adjustment, inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,347 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,084) and the median family income was $76,744 (+/− $15,912). Males had a median income of $55,000 (+/− $5,759) versus $36,002 (+/− $3,887) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,982 (+/− $1,875). About 3.1% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,649 people, 2,143 households, and 1,722 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,229 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 94.45% White (U.S. Census), White, 0.87% African American (U.S. Census), 0.20% Native American (U.S. Census), Native American, 1.23% Asian (U.S. Census), Asian, 1.35% from Race (United States Census), other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic (U.S. Census), Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census), Latino of any race were 8.09% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Union Beach borough, New JerseyGovernment
Local government
Union Beach is governed under the Borough (New Jersey), 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. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 67. The borough form of government used by Union Beach 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 veto override, 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. , the mayor of Union Beach is Republican Party (United States), Republican Charles W. Cocuzza, who was elected to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Albin J. Wicki (R, 2024), Louis S. Andreuzzi (R, 2023), Anthony Cavallo (R, 2025), Albert E. Lewandowski (R, 2025), Cherlanne Roche (R, 2023) and Eileen Woodruff (R, 2024).Mayor and Borough CouncilFederal, state and county representation
Union Beach is located in the 6th Congressional DistrictPlan Components ReportPolitics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,782 registered voters in Union Beach, of which 887 (23.5%) were registered as Democratic Party (United States), Democrats, 667 (17.6%) were registered as Republican Party (United States), Republicans and 2,228 (58.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated (New Jersey), Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012, 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.6% of the vote (1,109 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 46.3% (976 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (22 votes), among the 2,119 ballots cast by the borough's 3,857 registered voters (12 ballots were Spoilt vote, spoiled), for a turnout of 54.9%. In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008, 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 53.2% of the vote (1,490 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.9% (1,229 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (41 votes), among the 2,802 ballots cast by the borough's 4,103 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.3%. In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004, 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 56.2% of the vote (1,569 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 42.0% (1,172 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (37 votes), among the 2,793 ballots cast by the borough's 4,114 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 67.9. In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013, 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.6% of the vote (1,099 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.2% (362 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (32 votes), among the 1,520 ballots cast by the borough's 3,642 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.7%. In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009, 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.5% of the vote (1,152 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 24.6% (432 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.7% (136 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (30 votes), among the 1,759 ballots cast by the borough's 3,917 registered voters, yielding a 44.9% turnout.Education
The Union Beach School System serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Union Beach Memorial School. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 640 students and 61.7 classroom teachers (on an full-time equivalent, FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.District information for Union Beach Public School DistrictTransportation
Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. New Jersey Route 36, Route 36 runs along the borough's southern border with Hazlet, New Jersey, Hazlet Township.Public transportation
NJ Transit local bus service is available on the 817 (New Jersey bus), 817 route.Controversy
Union Beach made national news for its opposition to a wind turbine proposed by the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority that would be constructed in close proximity to residential houses, sensitive bird habitats, and protected wetlands. The agency received approval in October 2009 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the turbine, which would stand high. The case was brought to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, which in September 2014 upheld a state law disallowing local ordinances from preventing Wind power in New Jersey, the development of certain wind power projects in New Jersey.Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Union Beach include: * Paul Bacon (designer), Paul Bacon (born 1923), designer of book and album covers * Skip O'Brien (1950–2011), actor who had a recurring role on ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''In popular culture
Union Beach was used as the eighth checkpoint of the titular race in the seventh part of the popular manga series, Steel Ball Run, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.References
External links