Sea Bright was formed as a borough by an act of the
New Jersey Legislature on March 21, 1889, from portions of
Ocean Township, based on the results of a
referendum held the previous day. The borough was reincorporated on March 10, 1897.[20] Additional portions of Ocean Township were annexed by the borough in March 1909.[21]
In the early 1840s, the area of present-day Sea Bright was a fishing community of simple shacks near the beach dunes; Ocean House, the area's first hotel, opened in 1842, featuring access to fishing and sea bathing.[27][28] The area was called "Nauvoo", a
Native American word, meaning "bright sea".[29] An alternative explanation, which the borough credits as the source,[22] is that the name is derived from the
Hebrew language meaning "pleasant place," which was the same name that
Mormon leader
Joseph Smith gave to
Nauvoo, the
Illinois town he founded in 1839. Smith is said to have visited Monmouth County during a missionary journey in 1840.[30][31][29]
The first bridge across the
Shrewsbury River connecting Sea Bright to
Rumson was constructed in 1870. After several iterations of the bridge, Monmouth County had announced plans for a replacement of the existing span built in 1950 that connects to Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright with a new bridge, due to the structural deficiency and function obsolete state of the existing structure. They predicted that the project would be completed in 2020 at a site south of the current crossing.[32] The current bridge, which is becoming harder to maintain over time, has been repaired twice in the 21st century, once in 2002 and again in 2013.[33] A bridge replacement project is scheduled to end in 2025.[33] The new bridge will include two wide shoulders, something the original bridge lacked. It will also include other improvements, such as modernized draw controls, a access ramp to the nearby Sea Bright Beach from the Route 36 intersection, pedestrian beacons and striped crosswalks with the Ward Avenue intersection, and upgrades to the nearby Sea Bright park.[33] Demolition of a nearby
Dunkin' Donuts was deemed necessary in order to construct the replacement bridge.[33]
The
Sea Bright Skiff was developed on the Jersey Shore in the early 19th century for fishing offshore, by being launched through the surf and returned to shore.[34]
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.29 square miles (3.33 km2), including 0.72 square miles (1.86 km2) of land and 0.57 square miles (1.47 km2) of water (43.88%).[6][35]
Sea Bright has seven members-only beach clubs, of which five are in the North Beach area: Ship Ahoy, Sands, Surfrider, Sea Bright Beach Club and Chapel Beach Club; and two are south of the center of town: Driftwood and Edgewater. These clubs charge thousands of dollars for membership and have waiting lists of several years for prospective members.[36] In addition, there is a large public, municipal beach in the center of town, protected by lifeguards, with entry limited to those who have purchased a beach badge.[37] The traditional surfing beach area, called the Anchorage, is free and public, but unguarded. In addition, there are numerous public access stairs to other unguarded beaches for fishing, recreation and suntanning.
Of the 792 households, 12.4% had children under the age of 18; 32.1% were married couples living together; 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 59.0% were non-families. Of all households, 48.7% were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.78 and the average family size was 2.54.[17]
11.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 38.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 107.3 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010
American Community Survey showed that (in 2010
inflation-adjusted dollars)
median household income was $74,236 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,921) and the median family income was $102,679 (+/− $37,943). Males had a median income of $84,412 (+/− $45,724) versus $72,898 (+/− $10,443) for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $82,535 (+/− $20,263). About 3.5% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.[49]
2000 census
As of the
2000 United States census[14] there were 1,818 people, 1,003 households, and 402 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,846.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,099.2/km2). There were 1,202 housing units at an average density of 1,882.3 per square mile (726.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.39%
White, 1.76%
African American, 2.26%
Asian, 0.88% from
other races, and 0.72% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 4.51% of the population.[47][48]
There were 1,003 households, out of which 11.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.6% were
married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 59.9% were non-families. 45.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81 and the average family size was 2.51.[47][48]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 11.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 41.5% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.5 males.[47][48]
The median income for a household in the borough was $65,563, and the median income for a family was $72,031. Males had a median income of $60,417 versus $41,100 for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $45,066. About 5.3% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.[47][48]
Parks and recreation
As of the summer of 2015, the borough added lifeguards and began charging visitors a daily admission at Anchorage Beach, an area that has been widely used by surfers, eliminating one of the limited number of free oceanfront beaches in the state.[50]
Government
Local government
Sea Bright is governed under the
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.[51] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the 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.[4] The borough form of government used by Sea Bright 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
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.[52][53]
As of 2022[update], the
mayor of Sea Bright is
Republican Brian P. Kelly, whose second term of office ends December 31, 2027.[1] Members of the Sea Bright Borough Council are Council President William J. "Jack" Keeler (R, 2024), Erwin W. Bieber (R, 2024), Marc A. Leckstein (D, 2026), Samuel A. Catalano (R, 2025), Heather Gorman (
I, 2025) and John M. Lamia Jr. (R, 2026).[54][55][56][57][58][59]
Federal, state and county representation
Sea Bright is located in the 6th Congressional District[60] and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.[61]
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 the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director.[68] As of 2024[update], Monmouth County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,095 registered voters in Sea Bright, of which 248 (22.6%) were registered as
Democrats, 305 (27.9%) were registered as
Republicans and 541 (49.4%) were registered as
Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another parties.[83]
In the
2012 presidential election, Republican
Mitt Romney received 57.7% of the vote (379 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barack Obama with 41.1% (270 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (8 votes), among the 659 ballots cast by the borough's 1,181 registered voters (2 ballots were
spoiled), for a turnout of 55.8%.[84][85] In the
2008 presidential election, Republican
John McCain received 53.6% of the vote (483 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.2% (389 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (15 votes), among the 901 ballots cast by the borough's 1,220 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9%.[86] In the
2004 presidential election, Republican
George W. Bush received 55.9% of the vote (519 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat
John Kerry with 43.0% (399 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (16 votes), among the 928 ballots cast by the borough's 1,282 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.4.[87]
In the
2013 gubernatorial election, Republican
Chris Christie received 84.1% of the vote (348 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barbara Buono with 14.7% (61 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (5 votes), among the 418 ballots cast by the borough's 1,068 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.1%.[88][89] In the
2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.2% of the vote (406 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat
Jon Corzine with 26.8% (164 votes), Independent
Chris Daggett with 5.5% (34 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (6 votes), among the 613 ballots cast by the borough's 1,148 registered voters, yielding a 53.4% turnout.[90]
Education
Public school students in
kindergarten through
eighth grade are educated as part of the
Oceanport School District after the former Sea Bright Board of Education was eliminated by the
New Jersey Department of Education in 2009 as a non-operating district.[91] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 599 students and 61.0 classroom teachers (on an
FTE basis), for a
student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1.[92] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the
National Center for Education Statistics[93]) are
Wolf Hill Elementary School[94] with 342 students in pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade and
Maple Place Middle School[95] with 253 students in grades 5–8.[96][97][98]
For
ninth through
twelfth grades, public school students attend
Shore Regional High School, a regional high school that also serves students from the constituent districts of
Monmouth Beach,
Oceanport and
West Long Branch.[99][100] The high school is located in West Long Branch and is part of the Shore Regional High School District. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 649 students and 57.2 classroom teachers (on an
FTE basis), for a
student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.[101] Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with one seat assigned to Sea Bright.[102]
Sea Bright high school students in public school also have the opportunity to attend the schools of the
Monmouth County Vocational School District, including the five career academies.[103]
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 6.37 miles (10.25 km) of roadways, of which 2.71 miles (4.36 km) were maintained by the municipality, 0.08 miles (0.13 km) by Monmouth County and 3.58 miles (5.76 km) by the
New Jersey Department of Transportation.[104]
New Jersey Route 36 is the main highway through Sea Bright. To the south, it connects the borough to Monmouth Beach. Heading north, it crosses
Shrewsbury River to
Highlands across the
Highlands–Sea Bright Bridge, a fixed span which was built between 2008 and 2011 to replace a 1,240-foot (380 m)
drawbridge built in 1932. Sea Bright can also be accessed from
Rumson to the west via Rumson Road (
County Route 520) over the Shrewsbury River Bridge. The bridge is in the process of being replaced as part of a project that is expected to be completed in 2025, with access to County Route 520 maintained at all times.[33]
According to the
Köppen climate classification system, Sea Bright 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 feature slight-to-moderate humidity and a cooling afternoon
sea breeze in Sea Bright, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with
heat index values above 104 °F (40 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 99.8 °F (37.7 °C) on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average mean
dew point was 77.9 °F (25.5 °C) on July 19, 2019. The average wettest month is July which correlates with the peak in
thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.63 inches (143 mm) on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 5.3 °F (−14.8 °C).[106] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −3.6 °F (−19.8 °C) on January 21, 1985. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with
wind chill values below −5 °F (−21 °C). The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total 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.
Climate data for Sea Bright, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1981–2019
According to the
A. W. Kuchler U.S.
potential natural vegetation types, Sea Bright would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern
Cordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form of
CoastalPrairie (20).[109] The
plant hardiness zone is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 5.3 °F (−14.8 °C).[106] The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 23[110] and fall color typically peaks in early-November.
John J. McCook (1845–1911), Civil War officer, prominent New York attorney and railroad executive[117]
Mildred Mottahedeh (1908–2000), collector of ceramics, businessperson, and philanthropist who cofounded
Mottahedeh & Company, a designer and supplier of luxury porcelain[118]
Martha Bayard Stevens (1831–1899), philanthropist influential in advancing complementary educational pursuits, who has been credited with suggesting the borough's name[22]
^
abcSea Bright 2020 Recovery Plan, Borough of Sea Bright, December 2013. Accessed May 7, 2017. "Nestled along the grass-topped sand dunes, a fishing village, originally named 'Nauvoo' was the site of present-day Sea Bright. Often mistaken for a Native American name, Nauvoo is actually a Sephardic Hebrew word meaning 'beautiful and pleasant place.' The eventual naming of the community as 'Sea Bright' was actually attributed to a Mrs. Martha Stevens of Hoboken who frequented the area in the mid-1860s."
^Borough of Sea Bright, New York/New Jersey Baykeeper. Accessed May 9, 2017. "During the early 1840s a small cluster of shacks was located on the barrier beach.... In 1842 the first hotel (Ocean House) able to accommodate 300 patrons was opened. This hotel catered to patrons in the area for fishing and sea bathing."
^History, Sea Bright, New Jersey. Accessed May 2, 2017.
^
ab"Sea Bright Municipal Records"[permanent dead link],
Monmouth County, New Jersey, copy of article "My Home Town: Sea Bright," by
Jim Bishop in the Red Bank Register, August 25, 1960. Accessed May 2, 2017. "Long ago, the Indians called it Nauvoo, which means bright sea. [The late Monmouth County historian, George H. Moss Jr., in his book Another Look at Nauvoo to the Hook (1990) stated that Nauvoo was not an Indian word but Sephardic Hebrew, meaning 'beautiful or pleasant place,' and that it might have been named by Mormon leader Joseph Smith who visited Monmouth County in 1839 and used the same name for the town he founded in Illinois.]"
^Kimball, Stanley B.
"Discovery: 'Nauvoo' Found in Seven States", Ensign, April 1973. Accessed August 1, 2012. "The name itself is derived from one or both of two Hebrew roots—nawaw and nawvaw (or a varient [sic] nawveh), both of which mean something becoming, pleasant, suitable, beautiful, a pasture, a place of rest and beauty.... The earliest non-Mormon use of Nauvoo is in reference to a small fishing village of about 50 men and boys in Monmouth County on the New Jersey shore (now a part of Sea Bright). Although direct evidence is thus far lacking, this Nauvoo was most likely the result of a missionary trip by Joseph Smith and Orson Pratt into Monmouth County from Philadelphia during January 1840."
^Martin, Antoinette.
"In the Region/New Jersey; 20 Million-Dollar Homes Planned in Sea Bright", The New York Times, March 21, 2004. Accessed May 2, 2017. "The name Nauvoo is believed to have been bestowed on the fishing village by the Mormon leader Joseph Smith, who visited Monmouth County on a preaching mission and meant for the name to reflect the Hebrew for 'a pleasant place.'"
^Sheehan, Liz.
"Public Hearing Scheduled on Replacement of Aging Sea Bright-Rumson Bridge", The Two River Times, April 28, 2016. Accessed May 10, 2017. "The existing bridge, also known as Monmouth County Bridge S-32, was built over the Shrewsbury River in 1950 and runs from Rumson Road in Rumson to Ocean Avenue in the borough.... According to the NY/NJ Baykeeper, the first bridge was constructed between the two towns in 1870 and was rebuilt several times."
^
abcdefFrequently Asked Questions, Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge S-32 Project. Accessed February 11, 2024. "Construction will take approximately 42 months, with completion in 2025. The construction phase began in Fall 2021 and construction activities are progressing.... The Contractor is required to keep Rumson Road (CR520) open at all times."
^Parker, Reuel B.
"The Sea Bright 38", ProBoat.com, July 18, 2013. Accessed May 9, 2017. "The Sea Bright skiff is an American innovation that first appeared on the beaches of New Jersey in the early 19th century."
^Mullen, Shannon.
"Wall keeps beach clubs hidden oases", Asbury Park Press, September 13, 2007.Accessed August 1, 2012. "There are eight clubs in all, strung like macaroni on a child's necklace along a mile or so of coastline -- a greater concentration than you'll find in any other town on the Jersey Shore. From north to south there's Ship Ahoy, the Sands, the Surfrider, the Sea Bright Beach Club, Chapel Beach, the Tradewinds, Water's Edge and the Driftwood Cabana Club."
^Visitors, Borough of Sea Bright. Accessed May 3, 2015.
^Spoto, MaryAnn.
"Surfers fighting to save dwindling free beaches", NJ Advance Media for
NJ.com, May 20, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2015. "A stretch of Sea Bright's shoreline that used to be among the few free beaches in New Jersey will start charging patrons for access starting this weekend when nearly all Shore towns' beach fees kick in for summer."
^Borough Council, Sea Bright, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2023. "The Council shall consist of six members elected at large by the voters of Sea Bright and shall each serve a term of three years, beginning on reorganization day in January next following his/her election."
^Biography, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Frank Pallone, Jr., was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he grew up and still resides."
^Biography of Bob Menendez,
United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Monmouth County Government, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed July 19, 2022. "Monmouth County is governed by five commissioners elected at-large for three-year terms. Each January, the freeholders select one of their members to serve as the director of the board for the year to preside over the meetings and activities of the Board."
^Shore Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative,
New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 2, 2016. "Shore Regional High School, located in West Long Branch, Monmouth County New Jersey, is a comprehensive secondary school that proudly serves the communities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, and West Long Branch. The beautiful ten-acre campus is situated on the banks of Franklin Lake in the borough of West Long Branch."
^Walter, Kenny.
"SRHS $15.7M budget calls for flat tax levy; School taxes decrease for three of four sending towns", The Hub, April 4, 2013. Accessed January 28, 2017. "Three of the four sending districts that comprise the Shore Regional High School District — Oceanport, Monmouth Beach and West Long Branch — will pay less in taxes for the 2013-14 school year. Taxes will increase, however, for property owners in Sea Bright, which will pay a higher percentage of the regional school budget."
^"Chorney and Ghegan Release Song to Benefit Sea Bright Rising", The Two River Times, January 11, 2013. Accessed Aepil 3, 2022. "Kicking off the new year, an original anthem to Sandy survival was born. Grammy nominated artist Linda Chorney was directly affected by Hurricane Sandy when her Sea Bright home was flooded."
^Watrous, Peter.
"Tal Farlow, 77, Jazz Guitarist Rooted in Bop", The New York Times, July 28, 1998. Accessed August 1, 2012. "Tal Farlow, one of jazz's best-known guitarists, died on Saturday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. He was 77 and lived in Sea Bright, N.J., and Manhattan."
^Staff.
"Talking Family and Football with NFL Network's Melissa Stark", Living In Media. Accessed May 29, 2017. "As co-host of NFL GameDay First, a Sunday morning show on NFL Network from 7 to 9 a.m., Rumson's own Melissa Stark is on the forefront of delivering that NFL news to the nation.... LIM: When did you move to Monmouth County? MS: We moved here to Rumson in the summer of 2001."
^Staff.
"Obituary Notes", The New York Times, June 21, 1894. Accessed May 29, 2017. "Assemblyman Charles L. Walters of the Second Assembly District of Monmouth County died yesterday afternoon at his home, in Seabright, N.J., aged thirty-four years."