Red Bank is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, incorporated in 1908 and located on the Navesink River, the area’s original transportation route to the ocean and other ports. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a population of 12,206, reflecting an increase of 362 (+3.1%) from the 11,844 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,208 (+11.4%) from the 10,636 counted in the 1990 Census.

Red Bank was originally formed as a town on March 17, 1870, from portions of Shrewsbury Township. 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 Legislature and was set off from Shrewsbury Township. The borough was named for the red soil along the Navesink River.

By 1844, Red Bank had become a commercial and manufacturingcenter, focused on textiles, tanning, furs, and other goods for sale in Manhattan. With the dredging of the Navesink River about 1845, Red Bank became a port from which steamboats transported commuters to work in Manhattan. Red Bank grew in size as a result of this, as well as the effects of construction of a railway in the town by the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad in 1860.

Beginning in approximately 1991, under the New Jersey Development and Redevelopment Law, the borough authorized the creation of the Red Bank RiverCenter to manage redevelopment in what was designated as a special improvement district. RiverCenter retains authority over the management and redevelopment of a defined central business district, which includes Broad Street from the post office to Marine Park and from Maple Avenue to one block east of Broad Street. A number of urban redevelopment projects have taken place, including improved signage, distinctive and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and lighting, a coherent design plan for Main Street and other major thoroughfares, improved condition of parking lots with landscaping, and similar projects.

Red Bank is located on the southern bank of the Navesink River, in northern Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is about 24 miles (39 km) due south of the tip of Manhattan and about 25 nautical miles (46 km) to the tip of Manhattan if traveling by water along the Navesink River and through Raritan Bay.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,206 people, 4,929 households, and 2,469 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,019.1 per square mile (2,710.1/km²). There were 5,381 housing units at an average density of 3,094.4 per square mile (1,194.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 63.20% (7,714) White, 12.42% (1,516) Black or African American, 0.97% (118) Native American, 1.85% (226) Asian, 0.11% (13) Pacific Islander, 18.56% (2,265) from other races, and 2.90% (354) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.39% (4,198) of the population.

The town is considered a center of artistic activity, and is home to the Monmouth County Arts Council, as well as several art and photography galleries.

The Count Basie Theatre has hosted performers such as Kevin Smith, David Sedaris, Tracy Morgan, Bob Newhart, Foreigner, Andy Williams, Brian Setzer, B.B. King, and others. The Count Basie Theatre is also home to Phoenix Productions, a non-profit community theatre founded in 1988 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 Theater. Bruce Springsteen filmed his 2005 VH-1 Storytellers special at the Two River Theatre. The Marion Huber Theater, also operated by the Two River Theater Company, is a small black box theater, with seating for about 100.

Source: Wikipedia