105-535: Long Branch is a beachside city in Monmouth County , in the U.S. state of New Jersey . As of the 2020 United States census , the city's population was 31,667, an increase of 948 (+3.1%) from the 2010 census count of 30,719, which in turn reflected a decline of 621 (−2.0%) from the 31,340 counted in the 2000 census . As of the 2020 census, it was the 6th-most-populous municipality in Monmouth County and had
210-642: A berm overflowed and flooded several communities. Jeanne Baratta, Chief of Staff for Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan , said there were up to 5 feet (1.5 m) of water in the streets of Moonachie and Little Ferry . The state Office of Emergency Management said rescues also were underway in Carlstadt . Baratta said the three towns had been "devastated" by the flood of water. Damaged tanks spilled around 7,700 US gallons (29,000 L) of fuel spilled from Phillips 66 's Bayway Refinery in Linden , and its smell
315-601: A 60-mile (97 km) chase which ended in his suicide. Long Branch's public schools are operated by the Long Branch Public Schools , serving children in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade . The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. Burke which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on
420-594: A branch of the South Shrewsbury River. In the 19th century, theatrical performers of the day often gathered and performed there. It was visited by many Presidents during the Gilded Age , including Chester A. Arthur , James A. Garfield , Ulysses S. Grant , Benjamin Harrison , Rutherford B. Hayes , William McKinley , and Woodrow Wilson , along with President Donald Trump in the modern era. Seven Presidents Park ,
525-432: A confused history as a form of government and vary in size from large, densely populated areas to much smaller hamlets . The 1897 and 1899 city charter laws applied only to areas with a population under 12,000, and provided for a directly elected mayor, who served a two-year term and had strong executive powers. Both featured a council elected from wards to staggered three-year terms, plus one councilman elected at-large for
630-462: A cooling afternoon sea breeze in Long Branch, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values above 104 °F (40 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 100.6 °F (38.1 °C) on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average mean dew point was 77.7 °F (25.4 °C) on August 13, 2016, and July 19, 2019. July is the peak in thunderstorm activity and
735-508: A countywide basis are Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon (R, 2025; Ocean Township ), Sheriff Shaun Golden (R, 2025; Howell Township ) and Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (R, 2026; Middletown Township ). As of March 2011, there were a total of 13,442 registered voters in Long Branch, of which 4,293 (31.9%) were registered as Democrats , 1,783 (13.3%) were registered as Republicans and 7,358 (54.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated . There were 8 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens . In
840-587: A debris-cleaning vehicle. Because of the storm, New Jersey allowed electronic voting on Election Day on November 6. Election officials were overwhelmed with requests and many votes were not counted. Voter turnout in the election was 67 percent, which was the lowest turnout for a presidential election in the state's history. Monmouth County suffered the largest decline in turnout, at 9.2 percent. Starting November 1, New Jersey Transit restored bus service on 68 bus routes in northern and central New Jersey and 18 bus routes in southern New Jersey, providing service over
945-631: A few intersections spared. Those included the rectangle of intersections from Greene/Montgomery through Warren/Morris with the exception of Warren/Montgomery, which only flooded about a foot. Power was lost several hours after Paulus Hook became an island, at around 9:30 pm EST on October 29. Half the city of Hoboken was flooded and the city government evacuated two of its fire stations. Hoboken's mayor asked for National Guard help. By late night October 30, an estimated 20,000 people were stranded in Hoboken, surrounded by water. The New Jersey National Guard
1050-594: A fuel shortage and ease the problem of extended wait times and lines at gas stations by signing Executive Order 108, declaring a limited state of energy emergency with regard to the supply of motor fuel and implementing odd-even rationing for gasoline purchases in 12 New Jersey counties. Odd-even fuel sales took effect in the following counties at noon on November 3: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Monmouth, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties. This ended at 6 a.m. EST November 13. Governor Christie signed an executive order to suspend
1155-669: A fuel tank at the Sewaren terminal, spilling 378,000 US gallons (1,430,000 litres) of low-sulfur diesel into the waterway; it was the largest oil spill in New Jersey in more than a decade. About 255,180 US gallons (966,000 litres) – the equivalent of 30 tanker trucks – spilled into the Arthur Kill and its tributaries, the tidal waterway separating New Jersey from Staten Island, New York . Within 24 hours, hundreds of workers used skimmers, trucks, barges, and other means to contain
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#17328693407291260-459: A half hours from its New Jersey landfall, Sandy transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it encountered cooler waters and a cold air mass. At about 23:30 Coordinated Universal Time (6:30 p.m. EDT ), the center of former hurricane Sandy made landfall near Brigantine in Atlantic County, with maximum sustained winds of about 80 mph (130 km/h). The highest wind gust in
1365-430: A half hours later, the former hurricane moved ashore New Jersey near Brigantine in Atlantic County, just north of Atlantic City , producing wind gusts as strong as 91 mph (146 km/h). Over two million households in the state lost power in the storm, 346,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 38 people were killed. Storm surge and flooding affected a large swath of the state. Governor Chris Christie said
1470-470: A health hazard due to cool indoor temperatures. The power outages led to at least 13 fatalities in the state – four from hypothermia, three from carbon monoxide poisoning, two in a house fire caused by a generator, two in a house fire caused by candles, and two senior citizens from lack of oxygen. Electric companies worked immediately to restore the power grid, cutting down at least 93,000 trees and replacing more than 2,400 power poles. By
1575-701: A lesser extent than counties farther north. Coastal towns experienced some beach erosion. In Wildwood , floodwaters and storm debris caused minor damage to Morey's Piers . In Salem County , the Salem Nuclear Power Plant was shut down by workers after high floodwaters and storm debris blocked four of the six water-circulating pumps. High tides also damaged the pier to the Fort Mott ferry crossing , causing it to be rerouted to Barber's Basin in Salem . The ferry returned to Fort Mott in 2015. Communities along
1680-407: A local amusement park. Damage surpassed $ 1 million, with 40 of the 44 rides damaged. In the same city, a portion of Casino Pier collapsed into the ocean due to intense waves, with all of its roller coasters damaged, and a haunted house washed ashore nine miles (15 km) away. The Star Jet roller coaster fell off the damaged pier into the ocean but remained largely intact. Most of
1785-472: A major hurricane and emerged into the western Atlantic Ocean. Later that day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first forecast a landfall in New Jersey, due to the anticipated interaction between Sandy and an approaching trough, as well as the presence of a ridge over New England . The forecast reflected the majority of computer models, which had previously suggested a northeast track across
1890-578: A mandatory evacuation was put in effect for residents in some parts of Logan Township . On November 1, Governor Christie lifted mandatory evacuation orders in Atlantic and Cape May counties. Ahead of the storm, officials warned residents of the potential for power outages lasting over a week. Jersey Central Power & Light told employees to be prepared for extended shifts. Most schools, colleges, and universities were closed October 29 and at least 509 out of 580 school districts were closed October 30. In
1995-506: A park near the beach, is named in honor of the visits of the first seven of these presidents. The Church of the Presidents , where these same seven presidents worshiped, is the only structure left in Long Branch associated with them. President Grant and his family summered at their beachfront cottage in Long Branch the first year of his presidency in 1869 and for most of the rest of Grant's life. During this time, Long Branch came to be called
2100-570: A popular resort area. Many people from New York City travel or settle into the area to escape the crowded city and enjoy Long Branch's beaches. On October 29, 2012, Long Branch was one of many shore communities that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy . Although Sandy's winds were powerful, Long Branch's position between Long Beach Island and Sea Bright gave Long Branch a much larger wall of security because it could not be engulfed by surrounding waters. Despite this mainland advantage, there were still several instances of flooding in Long Branch during
2205-574: A reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6 + 5 ⁄ 8 % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants. Established in November 1994, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in November 2025. Broadway Center is a planned entertainment and commercial hub of Long Branch, as envisioned by the City Government and Thompson Design Group, who created the Master Plan for the city. This complex
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#17328693407292310-421: A single, segregated beach. By the 1950s, Long Branch like many other towns had developed new residential spots and housing to make room for the growing population. Many of the former farms of Long Branch were transformed into residential suburbs. Many of the estates and a few old historic resorts (with the addition of many new ones) still remain. In the early 20th century, Long Branch lost much of its activity as
2415-530: A temporary inlet and swept away several homes, with such severe damage that residents were not allowed to move back until February 2013, or about three months after the storm. Also in Mantoloking, ruptured natural gas lines ignited fires, destroying 14 homes. In Seaside Heights , toward the southern end of the Barnegat Peninsula, the storm washed away a 50 ft (15 m) portion of Funtown Pier,
2520-489: A term of two years. The mayor had a veto power, which could be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the council. The two acts differed in a number of ways, including the process for selection of a board of education (1897: elected; 1899: appointed by the council). By 1987, there were only eleven cities under these City Acts (including East Orange , which effectively operated under a special City charter). As in other forms, many amendments, revisions and changes had been made over
2625-563: A theater spot. In addition, the opening of the Garden State Parkway in the mid-1950s allowed shore visitors to access points further south, which added to Long Branch's decline. The civil unrest of the 1960s caused riots in neighboring Asbury Park , and many fled the shore cities for the suburban towns west of the beach. Decades later, the older, more dilapidated parts of the resort town were condemned and redeveloped, in part by using eminent domain legislation. Long Branch continues to be
2730-436: A turnout of 33.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election , Democrat Jon Corzine received 48.1% of the vote (2,714 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 44.7% (2,523 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.7% (320 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (48 votes), among the 5,645 ballots cast by the city's 13,812 registered voters, yielding a 40.9% turnout. The Long Branch Department of Public Safety consists of
2835-404: A week after the storm, about 775,000 people in the state were still without power, Power restoration was disrupted by a nor'easter that swept the region 10 days after Sandy; the subsequent nor'easter produced heavy snowfall and 60 mph (97 km/h) gusts, causing additional power outages and tree damage, and forcing some coastal residents to evacuate again. Within 11 days of
2940-533: Is 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity. According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Long Branch would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian oak ( 104 ) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest ( 25 ). The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 3.9 °F (−15.6 °C). The average date of first spring leaf-out
3045-470: Is John Pallone. Members of the City Council are Glen Rassas, Bill Dangler, Mario Vieria, Anita Voogt and Rose Widdis. The mayor and city council members serve concurrent terms of office ending on June 30, 2026. Long Branch is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district. For the 118th United States Congress , New Jersey's 6th congressional district
3150-467: Is March 23 and fall color typically peaks in early-November. Portions of the city are part of a joint Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) with Asbury Park , one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The city was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of
3255-617: Is a private K–8 school, with class size limited to 16 students. Declining attendance led the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton to close the K–8 Holy Trinity School in June 2006. WRLB "Radio Long Branch" signed-on June 1, 1960, at 107.1 FM. Since December 1996 the call letters have been WWZY . As of 2010, the city had a total of 89.49 miles (144.02 km) of roadways, of which 80.10 miles (128.91 km) were maintained by
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3360-474: Is planned to offer retail shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and two performing arts theaters as well as 500 new residences sitting atop a 1,500 car parking garage. It will be designed by the architectural firms of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK). In June 2013, the city approved designation of the area around its train station as a transit village , which can bring incentives for revitalization and denser development. There are several mid-rise buildings lining
3465-687: Is represented by Frank Pallone ( D , Long Branch ). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker ( Newark , term ends 2027) and George Helmy ( Mountain Lakes , term ends 2024). For the 2024-2025 session , the 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vin Gopal ( D , Long Branch ) and in
3570-519: Is the chief executive and votes only to break a tie. The Mayor has veto power over all or portions of any ordinance, subject to override by a two-thirds vote of the Council. The Act also provides for the delegation of executive responsibilities to a municipal administrator. Those cities operating under pre-1987 charters could retain the characteristics of their structure of government regarding terms of office, number of positions and other powers. Provisions of
3675-540: The 2000 United States census there were 31,340 people, 12,594 households, and 7,248 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,008.6 inhabitants per square mile (2,319.9/km). There were 13,983 housing units at an average density of 2,680.9 per square mile (1,035.1/km). The racial makeup of the city was 68.03% White , 18.66% African American , 0.36% Native American , 1.64% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 7.08% from other races, and 4.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.67% of
3780-399: The 2012 presidential election , Democrat Barack Obama received 64.5% of the vote (5,421 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 34.5% (2,897 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (81 votes), among the 8,470 ballots cast by the city's 14,289 registered voters (71 ballots were spoiled ), for a turnout of 59.3%. In the 2008 presidential election , Democrat Barack Obama received 61.2% of
3885-657: The American Old West , located in Dodge City, Kansas , was given its name by its first owner, William Harris, who had moved west from Long Branch, New Jersey, his hometown. Originally a resort town with a few hotels and large estates and many farms in the early 20th century, Long Branch grew in population. Italian, Irish and Jewish immigrants settled in during this period. During the 1930s, the city used government policies to enforce racial segregation against Blacks at local beaches, assigning all black applicants for beach passes to
3990-465: The Caribbean Sea on October 22. For days ahead of its eventual landfall , the hurricane was expected to turn toward New Jersey, as anticipated by tropical cyclone forecast models and the National Hurricane Center (NHC). On October 29, Sandy lost its characteristics of a tropical cyclone and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while approaching the New Jersey coast. About two and
4095-612: The Faulkner Act , enacted by direct petition as of July 1, 1966. The city is one of 71 of New Jersey's 564 municipalities that use this form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member City Council, whose members are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis in the May municipal elections to serve concurrent four-year terms of office. As of 2024, the Mayor of Long Branch
4200-486: The General Assembly by Margie Donlon (D, Ocean Township ) and Luanne Peterpaul (D, Long Branch ). Monmouth County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in
4305-768: The Hudson Waterfront were flooded by the storm surge through New York Bay and into the Hudson River . There were massive power outages in Bayonne , Jersey City , Hoboken , Weehawken , North Bergen , and Edgewater , forcing the evacuation of patients from Palisades Medical Center . Half of Jersey City lost power, while large sections of the Downtown , including City Hall and the Jersey City Medical Center , flooded and had to be evacuated. As high tide approached,
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4410-520: The Jersey Shore , which were upgraded to a mandatory evacuation a day later. About 115,000 people were under evacuation orders, of whom about 15,000 people used emergency shelters. A woman in Atlantic City died of a heart attack while evacuating on a bus. On October 27, Christie declared a state of emergency , activating 2,000 National Guard troops . The passage of Sandy prompted
4515-785: The Northeast Corridor Line , North Jersey Coast Line , and Raritan Valley Line all ran some trains to Manhattan . By November 4, NJ Transit was running limited service on the Main Line and the Metro-North Port Jervis Line , making all local stops and terminating at Secaucus Junction . The Port Jervis trains ran on the Main Line only; the Bergen County Line remained closed until further notice. The Raritan Valley Line operated only between Raritan and Newark. Although
4620-707: The Ocean City-Longport Bridge was closed when high seas washed boulders onto it. A travel ban was put into effect after sunset due to the storm. In Ocean County, located north of Atlantic County, damage was severest in the eastern portion of the county, including Long Beach Island , the Barnegat Peninsula , and along the Barnegat Bay . Damage in the county was worst along the Barnegat Peninsula, with parts of Seaside Park inundated by 4.4 ft (1.3 m) of floodwaters. High tides in Mantoloking created
4725-495: The "summer capital". President James A. Garfield was brought to Long Branch in the hope that the fresh air and quiet might aid his recovery after being shot on July 2, 1881, an incident that left the assassin's bullet lodged in his spine. He died here on September 19, 1881, at age 49. The Garfield Tea House , constructed from railroad ties that had been laid to carry Garfield's train, is in Elberon. The famous Long Branch Saloon of
4830-568: The 1987 Act can then be adopted through a petition and referendum process by the electorate. There are 52 cities in New Jersey: Effects of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey Effects Other wikis Hurricane Sandy was the costliest natural disaster in the history of New Jersey , with economic losses to businesses of up to $ 30 billion. The most intense storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season , Sandy formed in
4935-578: The 74th-highest population of any municipality in New Jersey. Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission , from portions of Ocean Township . Long Branch was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1903, based on the results of a referendum, replacing the Long Branch Commission. Long Branch emerged as a beach resort town in the late 18th century, named for its location along
5040-408: The 9,870 ballots cast by the city's 14,563 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 67.8. In the 2013 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 57.4% of the vote (2,621 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 41.1% (1,876 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (71 votes), among the 4,677 ballots cast by the city's 14,129 registered voters (109 ballots were spoiled), for
5145-579: The Atlantic Ocean. The NHC expected that Sandy would become extratropical at some point before hitting the coast, but there was uncertainty in the timing. To avoid potential confusion, the agency did not issue hurricane and tropical cyclone warnings ; instead, the National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Mount Holly and New York City issued high wind warnings for the state, reflecting
5250-556: The Bergen County Sunday blue laws on November 4, allowing stores and malls to be open for the benefit of those severely affected by the hurricane. A week later, the blue laws were put back into effect. Governor Christie's approval rating increased from 48 percent in October to 67 percent on November 21. The governor estimated the cost to repair storm damage at $ 36.8 billion at the end of November 2012, requesting that amount from
5355-610: The Hudson River overflowed the wall at Exchange Place . Around the same time, Liberty Harbor spilled into the southern part of Marin Boulevard. Both breaches caused water to rush down Columbus Drive and Marin Boulevard where they met near the Historic Downtown. From there, the flood spread throughout the low-lying areas of Jersey City. At approximately 10:30 pm EST, the water reached maximum height. In Paulus Hook, there were only
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#17328693407295460-658: The Long Branch Police Department (LBPD), the Long Branch Fire Department, and the Office of Emergency Management. The LBPD did not have a police chief between 1970 and 2017, with the Director of Public Safety being directly responsible for the department. On November 20, 1997, LBPD Detective Sergeant Patrick A. King was killed by gunshot while ordering at a Chinese restaurant. The killer led law enforcement on
5565-665: The Monmouth County communities of Deal , Monmouth Beach , Ocean Township , Oceanport and West Long Branch . There are several distinct neighborhoods and areas in the City of Long Branch, each with its own character. Unincorporated communities , localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Branchport , East Long Branch , Elberon (served as ZIP Code 07740), Hollywood, Kensington Park, North Long Branch , Pleasure Bay and West End . Other areas include North End (once known as "Atlanticville"), Beachfront North and South (including Pier Village , adjacent to
5670-507: The United States presidents who visited the fashionable resort town, including Ulysses S. Grant , Chester A. Arthur , Rutherford Hayes , Benjamin Harrison , William McKinley , Woodrow Wilson and James Garfield . Long Branch's fame as the Nation's First Seaside Resort waned in the years following World War II . The defining moment marking the end of this era occurred on June 8, 1987, when
5775-482: The afternoon of October 31. Teterboro Airport remained closed until November 1. New Jersey Transit was shut down in its entirety. Rail service was partly restored on Nov 1. PATH services were also shut down. Hurricane Sandy created the largest power outage in American history, with 8.5 million residents across 21 states affected, including 2.7 million households and businesses in New Jersey. This became
5880-403: The average family size was 3.19. In the city the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males. The median income for a household in the city
5985-480: The average wettest month is August. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.82 inches (148 mm) on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 3.9 °F (−15.6 °C). Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −5.9 °F (−21.1 °C) on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below −6 °F (−21 °C). The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total
6090-452: The beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director. As of 2024, Monmouth County's Commissioners are Director Thomas A. Arnone ( R , Neptune City , 2025), Susan M. Kiley (R, Hazlet Township , 2024), Erik Anderson (R, Shrewsbury , 2026), Nick DiRocco (R, Wall Township , 2025), and Deputy Director Ross F. Licitra (R, Marlboro Township , 2026). Constitutional officers elected on
6195-632: The city and the mainland. High waves destroyed the northern end of the Atlantic City boardwalk, which was already scheduled to be removed. In the city, more than 5,000 housing units were damaged during Sandy, which represented 11% of the statewide number of damaged units. Significant tidal damage also occurred elsewhere on Absecon Island , which includes the municipalities of Ventnor, Margate, and Longport. An elderly man in Ventnor struck his head and died while moving his car away from floodwaters. Part of
6300-406: The closure of all state parks and historic sites , state offices, courts, and all 580 school districts. All Atlantic City casinos closed on the day before landfall and remained closed for six days until November 3. This led to a 28% drop in revenue during the month of November. It was the biggest monthly drop in 34 years. Tolls were suspended on the northbound Garden State Parkway and
6405-574: The costliest natural disaster in the history of New Jersey , with damage estimated at $ 29.4 billion. This far surpassed the $ 1 billion damage total Hurricane Irene from the 2011, the state's previous costliest natural disaster. Damage was heaviest in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Statewide, Sandy damaged 346,000 homes, with about 30,000 homes and businesses destroyed or significantly damaged. The storm's high winds and heavy rainfall knocked down or damaged more than 113,000 trees across
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#17328693407296510-419: The disaster declaration on October 30, a day after Sandy's landfall. On October 31, Governor Christie welcomed President Obama to see the damaged areas along the Jersey Shore . Ultimately, about 130,000 applied for assistance through FEMA. Governor Christie signed an executive order postponing Halloween until November 5. On the night of November 2, Governor Christie took action to prevent
6615-540: The early morning hours of October 29, PATH and New Jersey Transit services were suspended in preparation for the hurricane. Also, the Garden State Parkway was completely shut down south of the Atlantic City Expressway due to flooding. President Obama signed an emergency declaration for New Jersey. The declaration allows the state to request federal funding and other assistance for actions taken prior to Sandy's landfall. On October 29, about two and
6720-481: The eastern portion of the county suffered from the effects of high winds and tides. Atlantic City recorded a storm surge of 5.82 ft (1.77 m), as well as 8.15 in (207 mm) of rainfall. The highest tide – 8.9 ft (2.7 m) above mean low water – was the second-highest ever recorded at the station, only behind the December 1992 nor'easter . High floodwaters temporarily cut off travel between
6825-496: The entire routes with no detours or truncations. Partial service was scheduled to be restored on 58 bus routes in northern and central New Jersey and 17 routes in southern New Jersey, to operate with detours or truncations due to the impact from Hurricane Sandy. On November 1, it was announced the state would receive $ 10 million in emergency transportation funding to help repair roads and bridges. On November 2, NJ Transit began to run very limited service to Penn Station . Trains on
6930-455: The expectation of wind gusts over 58 mph (93 km/h). The NWS issued a flood watch and a coastal flood watch on October 27 for much of the state. These were upgraded to warnings as Sandy approached the state. The NHC anticipated a storm surge of 4 to 8 ft (1.2 to 2.4 m). On October 26, or three days before landfall, then-Governor Chris Christie issued a voluntary evacuation order for all barrier islands along
7035-401: The federal government. The New Jersey government investigated many reports of price gouging . As of December 19, the state had filed lawsuits against 24 businesses: 13 hotels and 11 gas stations. After a week, angry residents on the island communities, like Seaside Heights and Lavallette , wanted to know when they could go back to their property. Two people died after they were struck by
7140-724: The largest fire in the history of the city destroyed the landmark amusement pier and adjoining Haunted Mansion, "Kid's World" Amusement Park and other businesses. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Long Branch has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ). Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature above 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average temperature at or above 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average temperature at or above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid with
7245-569: The losses caused by Sandy were "going to be almost incalculable...The devastation on the Jersey Shore is probably going to be the worst we've ever seen." Hurricane Sandy originated in the Caribbean Sea on October 22. By a day later, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts computer model anticipated that the hurricane would eventually strike New Jersey. Early on October 25, Hurricane Sandy moved across eastern Cuba as
7350-789: The modified Northeast Corridor service continued operating, the Princeton Branch shuttle remained out of service. Further south, the Atlantic City Line resumed operating normal service. The North Jersey Coast Line also resumed operating on November 4 only as far as Woodbridge (and skipping Avenel ); however, after one day, this service was discontinued due to severe overcrowding, and NJCL passengers were directed instead to Metropark station . SEPTA loaned 31 buses to NJ Transit to support shuttle service for New Jersey commuters going to New York City. DART First State loaned 20 buses from its Resort Transit service that had already ended for
7455-472: The municipality, 6.26 miles (10.07 km) by Monmouth County and 3.13 miles (5.04 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation . City (New Jersey) A city in the context of local government in New Jersey refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. Despite the widely held perception of a city as a large, urban area , cities in New Jersey have
7560-513: The normally expected high tide . Record-high water levels occurred in the state due to the storm's fast motion toward the coast and its passage during the regular high tide. The highest water levels occurred north of the landfall point in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, especially along the Raritan Bay , where the surge reached an estimated 4 to 9 ft (1.2 to 2.7 m). Along Sandy Hook at
7665-416: The northern end of Monmouth County, a tide gauge on a pier recorded a water level of 13.31 ft (4.06 m) above the average low tide , at which point the pier collapsed and the gauge stopped reporting. This indicated a storm surge of 8.57 ft (2.61 m), which broke the previous record high tide there by 2.87 ft (0.87 m), set by Hurricane Donna in 1960. The highest High water mark in
7770-660: The oceanfront. In December 2013 another 12-story residential project was approved. The 2010 United States census counted 30,719 people, 11,753 households, and 6,876 families in the city. The population density was 5,824.4 per square mile (2,248.8/km). There were 14,170 housing units at an average density of 2,686.7 per square mile (1,037.3/km). The racial makeup was 65.30% (20,060) White , 14.21% (4,364) Black or African American , 0.55% (170) Native American , 2.13% (655) Asian , 0.08% (24) Pacific Islander , 13.24% (4,067) from other races , and 4.49% (1,379) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.07% (8,624) of
7875-433: The population were under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.3 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income
7980-417: The population. Of the 11,753 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18; 36.2% were married couples living together; 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.5% were non-families. Of all households, 31.0% were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.23. 21.7% of
8085-410: The population. There were 12,594 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and
8190-568: The requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority . All Long Branch Public Schools are free, including the district's preschool programs which are full-day and accommodate children ages 3–5 years old. Long Branch schools offer free breakfast each morning for the students. In addition, Long Branch Public Schools provide free summer programs for most of
8295-483: The rides in these amusement parks were destroyed, including roller coasters. The seaside communities on Long Beach Island were among the hardest-hit. Scores of homes and business were destroyed and the storm surge deposited up to four feet of sand on island streets, making them impassable. Governor Christie issued a mandatory evacuation on October 28, and residents and business owners were prohibited from returning until November 10. The island's estimated monetary damage
8400-497: The same day as Sandy's landfall, Governor Christie requested an expedited federal disaster declaration, which would allocate funds for individual public assistance and debris removal. The request included the four counties bordering the Atlantic Ocean – Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, and Monmouth – as well as four counties in North Jersey – Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union. United States President Barack Obama approved
8505-399: The second-lowest on a four-level warning system, when storm waters rose 6 ft (1.8 m) above normal and entered the plant's intake system. The plant was not generating electricity at the time due to maintenance, and due to storm-related power outages, workers used generators to keep the reactor cool. High waters occurred on the ocean and the bay coastlines of Monmouth County. There
8610-453: The site of the former Long Branch Pier at the foot of Laird Street), Downtown and Uptown. As the city's redevelopment initiatives continue to expand, the lower Broadway area (a portion of the city's Downtown) will become an Arts District. In years past, Long Branch was a major destination for beachgoers, along with Asbury Park , and enjoyed an upscale connotation with tourists. Long Branch is home to Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, named for
8715-511: The spill, ultimately recovering 457,519 US gal (1,731,900 L) of oily water; much of the remaining spilt oil evaporated or dissipated. The spill killed at least seven birds and covered another seven birds. There was also a small oil spill at the Kinder Morgan terminal in Carteret . At the southern tip of the state, Cape May County experienced high tides and flooding, although to
8820-459: The state as it approached and later moved across the state. The statewide peak precipitation total was 11.91 in (303 mm), recorded in Wildwood Crest . This made it the 6th wettest tropical cyclone in the state. The most damaging aspects of Sandy were from its high waves, estimated from 12 to 24 ft (3.7 to 7.3 m), as well as its storm surge , which is the rise in water above
8925-743: The state was 8.9 ft (2.7 m), measured at the Coast Guard station in Sandy Hook. The most significant flooding in the state occurred in the areas around Lower New York Bay , Raritan Bay , and the Raritan River . Along the Jersey Shore, the high water levels inundated several barrier islands , with a new temporary inlet created in Mantoloking . Most coastal towns in New Jersey suffered beach erosion due to Sandy's waves, and on average, beaches were 30 to 40 ft (9.1 to 12.2 m) narrower after
9030-513: The state was 91 mph (146 km/h) in Atlantic City. At the Atlantic City Marina, a barometer recorded a minimum barometric pressure of 945.5 mbar (27.92 inHg), which set a record for the city, and was the lowest pressure ever recorded in the United States north of North Carolina. The state capital Trenton also recorded its lowest ever pressure – 958.7 mbar (28.31 inHg). Sandy dropped heavy rainfall across
9135-522: The state, especially in Morris and Sussex Counties in the northern half. In downtown Morristown, the Morris County Courthouse had a portion of its roof blown off in high gusts. In Edison, New Jersey, wind gusts near 86 mph knocked two large trees into each other, downing power lines that triggered explosions. The two trees slammed onto a resident's car, completely blowing out windows and smashing
9240-491: The state, many of which fell onto power lines, leaving about 2.7 million New Jerseyans without power. The power outages affected 70 water systems and 80 sewage systems. High waters sank 1,400 boats. An analysis of aerial imagery conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicated that approximately 72,000 homes and business in New Jersey were damaged or destroyed by
9345-494: The storm, 95% of the state had their power restored; this was a faster rate of restoration than other widespread outages from natural disasters. Some places remained without power for two weeks, such as Hopatcong in the state's northernmost county, Sussex . Jersey Central Power & Light spent about $ 670 million in response to the storm. About 60% of the state's gas stations were closed after Sandy, forcing people to wait in line for hours to get fuel. On October 29,
9450-518: The storm, with over 40,000 of the buildings affected being in Ocean County . Based on this analysis, 507 buildings were destroyed, 5051 suffered major structural damage, and 66,212 incurred limited damage. U.S. Congressman Chris Smith stated on January 2, 2013, that 346,000 homes in New Jersey were damaged by Sandy, of which 22,000 were rendered uninhabitable. Former Hurricane Sandy made landfall in Atlantic County, just north of Atlantic City. Most of
9555-478: The storm. However, some beaches in the extreme southern end of the state grew in size. As Sandy entered Pennsylvania, a strong southeasterly flow produced record flooding along the Delaware Bay and Delaware River . Across New Jersey, 38 people died due in part to Sandy, including 12 fatalities directly related to the hurricane's impacts. The large swath of strong winds and widespread flooding produced
9660-668: The storm. Many residents went without electricity for as long as two weeks. The boardwalk was destroyed; the city began rebuilding it in 2015, and it reopened in April 2016, making it the last boardwalk damaged by Sandy to be rebuilt. Long Branch takes its name from the "long branch" or south branch of the Shrewsbury River . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city had a total area of 6.29 square miles (16.28 km), including 5.12 square miles (13.27 km) of land and 1.16 square miles (3.01 km) of water (18.49%). The city borders
9765-892: The summer. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 5,494 students and 495.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Lenna W. Conrow School (with 298 students; in grades PreK–K), Joseph M. Ferraina Early Childhood Learning Center (291; PreK–K), Morris Avenue School (310; PreK–K), Amerigo A. Anastasia School (587; 1–5), George L. Catrambone Elementary School (712; 1–5), Gregory School (600; 1–5), Long Branch Middle School (1,108; 6–8), Long Branch High School (1,548; 9–12) and Audrey W. Clark School / The Academy of Alternative Programs, an alternative education program George L. Catrambone Elementary School
9870-601: The trunk. The rail operations center of New Jersey Transit was flooded by 8 feet (2.4 m) of water and an emergency generator was submerged. Floodwater damaged at least 65 locomotive engines and 257 rail cars. It was expected to be weeks before the resumption of service. Basking Ridge New Jersey and the Somerset Hills area suffered numerous downed trees, downed power lines and road closures lasting for up to 2 weeks. As of early morning October 31, nearly 3,000 flights had been cancelled. Newark Liberty Airport reopened in
9975-439: The vote (6,171 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 35.7% (3,600 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (98 votes), among the 10,090 ballots cast by the city's 14,433 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.9%. In the 2004 presidential election , Democrat John Kerry received 58.0% of the vote (5,724 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.5% (4,001 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (99 votes), among
10080-800: The westbound Atlantic City Expressway starting at 6:00 a.m. on October 28. In Cape May County, New Jersey , officials advised residents on barrier islands to evacuate on October 26, becoming a mandatory evacuation on October 28. There was also a voluntary evacuation for Mantoloking , Bay Head , Barnegat Light , Beach Haven , Harvey Cedars , Long Beach , Ship Bottom , and Stafford in Ocean County . On October 28, Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer ordered an evacuation of all basement and street level residential units, due to possible flooding. Similarly, Jersey City mayor Jerramiah Healy ordered an evacuation of all basement and 1st-floor units east of Greene Street, south of Columbus Drive, and east of Washington Boulevard north of Columbus Drive. On October 29,
10185-426: The years, leading to confusing and often conflicting legislation. The City Act of 1987 provides for a directly elected mayor who serves a four-year term and for a council that consists of seven members; six elected from two wards for staggered three-year terms and one elected at large for a four-year term. There are three councilmen in each ward with one councilmember from each ward up for election every year. The mayor
10290-481: Was $ 38,651, and the median income for a family was $ 42,825. Males had a median income of $ 37,383 versus $ 27,026 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,532. About 13.9% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over. Long Branch is governed under the Mayor-Council (Plan A) form of municipal government under
10395-425: Was $ 52,792 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 2,549) and the median family income was $ 56,778 (+/− $ 4,202). Males had a median income of $ 36,404 (+/− $ 3,363) versus $ 33,397 (+/− $ 4,036) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $ 30,381 (+/− $ 2,212). About 11.5% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over. As of
10500-691: Was a high water mark of 7.9 ft (2.4 m) in Keyport . In Keansburg , the storm washed 3 ft (0.91 m) of sand in Keansburg Amusement Park. Hurricane Sandy forced the Sandy Hook section of Gateway National Recreation Area to close for six months. The Belmar boardwalk was also destroyed. Significant tidal flooding occurred along the Raritan River in Perth Amboy and Sayreville , destroying Perth Amboy's marina and waterfront and forcing people to leave their homes. High waters damaged
10605-437: Was constructed at a total cost over $ 40 million for a facility that was designed to house 800 students in a facility covering 109,000 square feet (10,100 m) for which construction began in 2012. With the start of the 2014–2015 school year, a realignment of the district closed West End School, converted Morris Avenue School for early childhood use and repurposed Audrey W. Clark School for alternative education. Seashore School
10710-764: Was declared "Ground Zero" because of the unbelievable amount of devastation. Two people drowned on the Ocean County mainland – a 72-year-old in Mystic Island , and a 61-year-old in his house in Brick Township . Also in Brick, a 61-year-old died while attempting to remove a tree stump. Wind gusts reached 88 mph (142 km/h) in Tuckerton . The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township issued an alert,
10815-614: Was deployed and began assisting in rescues on October 31. In Weehawken , the downtown neighborhood known as the Shades incurred terrible damage, with nearly every resident forced to temporarily relocate. The storm was ranked #5 on The Hudson Reporter ' s 2013 list of the 50 most influential people and entities in Hudson County . In the early morning of October 30, authorities in Bergen County, New Jersey , were evacuating residents after
10920-871: Was noticeable in nearby homes. Workers repaired the tank and used vehicles to collect some of the fuel from the waterway. In Morristown , sustained winds peaked at 40 mph (64 km/h) with gusts to 68 mph (109 km/h). Other peaks gusts include 80 mph (130 km/h) in Clifton, 78 mph (126 km/h) in Newark, 74 mph (119 km/h) in Point Pleasant, and 61 mph (98 km/h) in Basking Ridge. Gusts along Long Beach Island peaked between 75 and 90 mph (121 and 145 km/h). Many buildings and homes were damaged especially to siding and roof surfaces. Hundreds of thousands of trees were downed across
11025-461: Was over $ 750 million. Mantoloking was especially hard hit, suffering severe "wash over" including the creation of two new, temporary inlets. Approximately two dozen oceanfront houses in Mantoloking were completely removed from their foundations and destroyed. As of May 18, homeowners of Ortley Beach still had not been allowed onto the Barrier Island to check on their properties. Ortley Beach
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