Allenhurst is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States named for resident Abner Allen and incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1897, from portions of Ocean Township. As of the 2010 United States Census, Allenhurst had 496 inhabitants, reflecting a decline of 222 (-31%) from the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 5% from the 1990 Census. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Deal Lake to the west, it is within close proximity to New York City and is a stop on the NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line. The borough is at the center of a string of wealthy communities between Long Branch and Asbury Park with many historic homes built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 2006, Allenhurst ranked 131st in Forbes magazine’s list of the most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States.
Allenhurst “reflects the history of development from a rural area to a suburb of New York City. In 1895, the 120-acre Allen farm was bought by the Coast Land Improvement Company in order to build an exclusive resort community to attract upper class summer residents. The proximity of Allenhurst to the rail line was significant in the growth and popularity of Allenhurst, allowing residents of New York City easier access to the community.”
On April 26, 1897, Allenhurst was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of Ocean Township. The borough is situated in the center of a string of wealthy communities between Long Branch and Asbury Park. The borough was named for resident Abner Allen.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries many historic homes were built in Victorian, Queen Anne, Italian Renaissance Revival, Tudor Revival, Prairie, Mission Revival, American Craftsman, Shingle, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical and Gothic Revival architectural styles. Local ordinances overseen by an historic preservation commission have ensured the preservation of historical architecture by enforcing strict guidelines for the renovation of older homes.
In 2006, Allenhurst ranked 131st in Forbes magazine’s list of the most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States. In the magazine’s 2012 rankings, the borough was ranked 448th, with a median price of $665,043.
After Hurricane Sandy had devastated the shoreline in October 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2015 pumped sand onto the beaches, which contained unexploded ordnance in the form of hundreds of fusing components for World War I-era artillery. From December 2016 until March 2017, USACE Baltimore District specialists in munitions and explosives removed 362 chap-stick-sized potentially live pieces, mostly boosters, which had most likely been disposed of as excess after WWI, and are not uncommon at Gateway’s Sandy Hook Unit. “Not only was Fort Hancock an active military base until 1974, but also the proving ground of the U.S. Army from 1874 until 1919.”
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.283 square miles (0.733 km2), including 0.263 square miles (0.680 km2) of land and 0.020 square miles (0.053 km2) of water (7.21%).
The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Deal Lake to the west, and is within close proximity to New York City. Neighbour Monmouth County communities are Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour and Ocean Township.
The beachfront is characterized by two groins, known to locals as “Crackup” and “The L”. “The L” was featured in Scuba Diving magazine as one of New Jersey’s premier shore diving locations.
Deal Lake covers 158 acres (64 ha), overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, established in 1974. Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline, also including Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune Township and Ocean Township.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 496 people, 217 households, and 115 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,887.9 per square mile (728.9/km2). There were 365 housing units at an average density of 1,389.3 per square mile (536.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.76% (470) White, 1.01% (5) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.01% (5) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.41% (7) from other races, and 1.81% (9) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.44% (22) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
