View source for Raritan Bayshore

{{short description|Region of New Jersey}}
The '''Raritan Bayshore''' is a region in [[Central Jersey|central sections]] in the state of [[New Jersey]]. It is the area around [[Raritan Bay]] from [[The Amboys]] to [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]], in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]] and [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth]] counties, including the towns of [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy]], [[Sayreville, New Jersey|Sayreville]], [[Old Bridge Township, New Jersey|Old Bridge]], [[Matawan, New Jersey|Matawan]], [[Aberdeen Township, New Jersey|Aberdeen]], [[Keyport, New Jersey|Keyport]], [[Union Beach, New Jersey|Union Beach]], [[Hazlet, New Jersey|Hazlet]], [[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg]], [[Middletown Township, New Jersey|Middletown]], [[Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey|Atlantic Highlands]], and [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]]. It is the northernmost part of the [[Jersey Shore]], located just south of [[New York City]]. At [[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg]] is a traditional amusement park while at [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]] are found ocean beaches. The Sadowski Parkway beach area in [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], which lies at the mouth of the [[Raritan River]], was deemed the "[[wikt:riviera|Riviera]] of New Jersey" by local government. In recent years many of the beaches on the Bayshore area have been rediscovered and upgraded.
[[Image:Cliffwood beach.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey|Cliffwood Beach]] at sunset, looking towards [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy]]]]
[[File:Wpdms usgs photo raritan bay.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Raritan Bay]]]]

==Henry Hudson and the ''Half Moon''==
In September 1609, the ''[[Halve Maen (ship)|Halve Maen]]'' (Dutch for Half Moon), anchored along the shores of the Raritan Bay, and remained for five days to explore the [[Geography of New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary|estuary]] and establish contact with local [[Lenape]] people (who later become known as the [[Navesink tribe|Navesink]] and [[Raritan tribe|Raritan]]). Four his crew were sent up the [[Arthur Kill]] and to  [[Newark Bay]]. Upon their return they were attacked and one of them, [[John Colman]] was fatally shot by arrow. Taken ashore to be buried, the spot was christened Coleman's Point.<ref>{{Citation   | last = Sandler   | first = Corey   | title = Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession   | publisher = Citadel Press   | year = 2007   | url = https://archive.org/details/henryhudsondream00sand   | isbn = 978-0-8065-2739-0   | url-access = registration   }}</ref>  The location ''Keansburg'' still bears the name.<ref>[http://www.keansburg-historical.org/ Keansburg Historical Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726215836/http://www.keansburg-historical.org/ |date=2011-07-26 }}, accessed April 10, 2007.</ref><ref name="Roberts">{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Roberts |title=New York’s Coldest Case: A Murder 400 Years Old |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/nyregion/05murder.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1252080165-+D9yYyiF6xMjibXoyas7fA |work=[[New York Times]] |date=September 4, 2009 |access-date=2009-09-04 |archive-date=2017-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825020308/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/nyregion/05murder.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1252080165-+D9yYyiF6xMjibXoyas7fA |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Popular attractions==
Popular attractions in the Bayshore area include Keansburg Amusement Park and Runaway Rapids Waterpark in [[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg]], [[Mount Mitchill]] in [[Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey|Atlantic Highlands]], and [[Longstreet Farm]] in [[Holmdel Township, New Jersey|Holmdel]]. There are also beaches and waterfronts in both of [[The Amboys]], the [[Laurence Harbor, New Jersey|Laurence Harbor]] section of [[Old Bridge Township, New Jersey|Old Bridge]], the [[Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey|Cliffwood Beach]] section of [[Aberdeen Township, New Jersey|Aberdeen]], [[Keyport, New Jersey|Keyport]], [[Union Beach, New Jersey|Union Beach]], [[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg]], and the [[East Keansburg, New Jersey|East Keansburg]], [[Port Monmouth, New Jersey|Port Monmouth]], [[Belford, New Jersey|Belford]], and [[Leonardo, New Jersey|Leonardo]] sections of [[Middletown Township, New Jersey|Middletown]]. There are also non-commercial boardwalks in [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]] and [[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg]].

Because many of the towns date back to the 17th and 18th century, as well as the important naval history in the area, there are numerous historical locations throughout the Bayshore area. Historical attractions include [[Fort Hancock, New Jersey|Fort Hancock]] in Sandy Hook, the [[Navesink Twin Lights|Twin Lights State Historic Site]] in Highlands, the Strauss Mansion in Atlantic Highlands, Portland Place and the Taylor-Butler House in Middletown, [[Longstreet Farm]] in Holmdel, the [[Maj. John Burrowes Mansion|Burrowes Mansion]] in Matawan, the [[Cedar Grove School (Old Bridge Township, New Jersey)|Thomas Warne Museum]] in Old Bridge, and the Kearny Cottage Museum, the [[Perth Amboy Ferry Slip]], and [[Proprietary House]] in Perth Amboy. Additionally, there are various historical markers and sites from these early time periods, especially several from the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] and the British retreat to Sandy Hook from the [[Battle of Monmouth]].

==Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan==
The [https://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/24/Bayshore%20Region%20Plan.pdf Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan] was an effort by nine municipalities in northern [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]], [[New Jersey]] to reinvigorate the area's economy, especially along the [[New Jersey Route 36|Route 36]] corridor along the [[Sandy Hook Bay]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Monmouth County Planning Board |date=September 18, 2006 |title=BAYSHORE REGION STRATEGIC PLAN |url=https://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/24/Bayshore%20Region%20Plan.pdf |access-date=September 17, 2023 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117033207/https://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/24/Bayshore%20Region%20Plan.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Municipalities participating in the effort were [[Aberdeen Township, New Jersey|Aberdeen]], [[Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey|Atlantic Highlands]], [[Hazlet, New Jersey|Hazlet]], [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]], [[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg]], [[Keyport, New Jersey|Keyport]], [[Matawan, New Jersey|Matawan]], [[Middletown Township, New Jersey|Middletown]] and [[Union Beach, New Jersey|Union Beach]].<ref name=":1" />

In August 2006 a report was released, and Monmouth County was asked to vote to have the county planning board approve the plan the Bayshore organization has created.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blueprint complete for improved Rt. 36: County to vote on Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan |first=Karen E. |last=Bowes |url=http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2006/0830/Front_Page/003.html |newspaper=Holmdel Independent |date=August 30, 2006 |access-date=2011-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125034059/http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2006/0830/Front_Page/003.html |archive-date=January 25, 2013 }}</ref>

This plan has since been replaced by the [https://www.visitmonmouth.com/Documents/24/FINAL%20Master%20Plan%20Volume%20I.pdf 2016 Monmouth County Master Plan], an effort to beautify, maintain, and revitalize Monmouth County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitmonmouth.com/page.aspx?ID=2970|title=Visit Monmouth|website=Strategic and Long Range Planning|access-date=2019-09-04|archive-date=2019-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401090806/https://www.visitmonmouth.com/page.aspx?ID=2970|url-status=live}}</ref> The new master plan combined four separate regional plans within the county to create one large master plan, fully taking into consideration what each plan had to offer.<ref name=":1" />

[[Image:Wpdms usgs photo sandy hook bay.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Sandy Hook Bay]]
[[Image:Sandy_Hook_Bay.tif|right|250px|thumb|Looking towards the [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]] from [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]]]]
[[Image:sandyhookbay-jul2007.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Oblique air photo facing east]]
[[File:Leonardo piers zoom.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The US Navy piers at [[Naval Weapons Station Earle]] in [[Leonardo, New Jersey|Leonardo]] as seen from the air]]

==Sandy Hook Bay==
'''Sandy Hook Bay''' is a triangular arm of the [[Raritan Bay]], along the coast of northern [[New Jersey]] in the [[United States]]. It is formed along the south side of the [[Lower New York Bay]] by [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]], a spit of land that protects the bay from the open [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The bay provides a sheltered [[marina]] for pleasure craft, as well as a harbor for the [[United States Coast Guard]]. It is fed by the [[Shrewsbury River]] [[estuary]]. It is bounded on the west side by the [[Naval Weapons Station Earle]] pier.

==Nature, tourism, and recreation==
The [[Henry Hudson Trail]] is a bicycling and hiking [[rail trail]] which runs parallel to the southern
shore of [[Raritan Bay]] and connects the Bayshore communities to inland sections of Monmouth County. The trail starts in [[Freehold Borough, New Jersey|Freehold Borough]] and ends at [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]], with missing links in Atlantic Highlands, Aberdeen/Matawan, and [[Marlboro Township, New Jersey|Marlboro]].

The Bayshore area is mostly flat areas of beach, with the exception of the hills between the [[Navesink River]] and the [[Sandy Hook Bay]]. [[Mount Mitchill]], a {{convert|266|ft|m|adj=on}} hill in [[Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey|Atlantic Highlands]], is the highest.<ref name="others">[[Great Blue Hill]] at {{convert|635|ft|m}} and [[Todt Hill]] on nearby [[Staten Island]] at {{convert|410|ft|m}} are higher than Mitchill</ref> To the east of [[Mount Mitchill]] are the [[Navesink Twin Lights|Twin Lights Lighthouse]] of [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]], with unobstructed views of [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]] and the [[New York City]] skyline. [[Hartshorne Woods Park]] is also located in the [[Monmouth Hills, New Jersey|Monmouth Hills]] to the south on the banks of the [[Navesink River]].

The [[Gateway National Recreation Area]] Sandy Hook Unit on the [[Barrier island|barrier peninsula]]  includes two park sites:
:*[[Fort Hancock, New Jersey|Fort Hancock]] served as part of the harbor's coastal defense system from 1895 until 1974 and contains 100 historic buildings and fortifications.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nyharborparks.org/visit/foha.html |title=Fort Hancock (National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy) |access-date=2010-05-10 |archive-date=2008-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227131407/http://nyharborparks.org/visit/foha.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
:*[[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]] contains seven beaches, including [[Gunnison Beach]], a "[[nude beach]]" by custom, as well as salt marshes and a maritime holly forest. [[Fishing]] and using hand-launched vessels are popular here.

The [[New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route]]<ref>[http://usparks.about.com/gi/o.htm?site=http://www.nps.gov/neje/ New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120719075157/http://usparks.about.com/gi/o.htm?site=http://www.nps.gov/neje/ |date=2012-07-19 }}</ref> and [[Cheesequake State Park]] are also here.

==Lighthouses==
*[[Chapel Hill Rear Range Light]], Sandy Hook Bay (deactivated 1957)
*[[Conover Beacon]], (located in the [[Leonardo, New Jersey|Leonardo]] section of [[Middletown Township, New Jersey|Middletown]])
*[[Great Beds Light]], [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy]]
*[[Navesink Twin Lights]], [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]]
*[[Sandy Hook Lighthouse]], [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]].

==Transportation==

===Ferry service===
[[Ferry|Ferries]] to [[New York City]] and [[Exchange Place (Jersey City)|Exchange Place]] travel across the [[Lower New York Bay]] and enter the harbor at [[The Narrows]], a trip that take approximately 40 minutes.

[[SeaStreak]] routes connect the towns of [[Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey|Atlantic Highlands]] and [[Highlands, New Jersey|Highlands]] to the [[East River]] at [[Pier 11/Wall Street|Pier 11 at Wall Street]] and [[East 34th Street Ferry Landing]] in [[New York City]]. The [[Belford, New Jersey|Belford]] [[ferry slip]]  Raritan Bayshore terminal with service to [[Exchange Place (Jersey City)#Transportation|Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal]] in [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] and [[Wall Street]]-Pier 11 and [[West Midtown Ferry Terminal]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitmonmouth.com/page.aspx?ID=2776 |title=Monmouth County's Belford Ferry Terminal |access-date=2010-05-14 |archive-date=2009-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219024218/http://www.visitmonmouth.com/page.aspx?ID=2776 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From [[Memorial Day]] weekend through [[Labor Day]] weekend, service is also provided to the public beaches in [[Sandy Hook, New Jersey|Sandy Hook]] a few times each day by [[SeaStreak]].

===North Jersey Coast Line===
[[NJ Transit Rail Operations|NJ Transit]]'s [[North Jersey Coast Line]] crosses the [[Raritan River]] on [[Raritan Bay Drawbridge|River Draw]] between [[Perth Amboy station|Perth Amboy]] and [[South Amboy station|South Amboy]] continuing south to [[Aberdeen-Matawan station|Aberdeen-Matawan]], [[Hazlet station|Hazlet]], and [[Middletown station (NJ Transit)|Middletown]].

===Bus===
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (1–99)|NJ Transit bus 48]] travels to [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]] from [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], with stops in [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge]], [[Carteret, New Jersey|Carteret]], and [[Rahway, New Jersey|Rahway]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=NJTRANSIT My Bus Now Map |url=https://mybusnow.njtransit.com/bustime/map/displaymap.jsp |website=NJTRANSIT |access-date=2023-09-15 |archive-date=2023-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031070948/https://mybusnow.njtransit.com/bustime/map/displaymap.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (100–199)|NJ Transit bus 116]] travels to New York City from Perth Amboy with stops in Woodbridge and Carteret.<ref name=":0" />
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (100–199)|NJ Transit bus 131]] travels to New York City with stops in Sayreville.<ref name=":0" />
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (100–199)|NJ Transit bus 133]] travels to New York City with stops in Old Bridge, Matawan, and Aberdeen.<ref name=":0" />
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (100–199)|NJ Transit bus 135]] travels to New York City from [[Freehold Borough, New Jersey|Freehold]] with stops in Matawan and Old Bridge.<ref name=":0" />
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (800–880)|NJ Transit bus 815]] travels between [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]] and [[Woodbridge Center|Woodbridge Center Mall]] with stops in various towns including Perth Amboy and South Amboy.<ref name=":0" />
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (800–880)|NJ Transit bus 817]] travels between Middletown and Perth Amboy, with stops in Keansburg, Hazlet, Union Beach, Keyport, Aberdeen, Old Bridge, and South Amboy.
*[[List of NJ Transit bus routes (800-880)#Monmouth County local service|NJ Transit bus 834]] travels to the [[Red Bank, New Jersey|Red Bank]] bus terminal with stops in Middletown, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands.<ref name=":0" />
*[[Academy Bus]] runs regular service in to points in [[New Jersey]] and [[New York City]].

==See also==

* [[Regions of the United States#New Jersey|Regions of New Jersey]]
* [[Jersey Shore]]
* [[Raritan Bay]]
* [[Raritan River]]
* [[Navesink River]]
* [[Shrewsbury River]]
* [[Manasquan River]]
* [[Barnegat Bay]]

==Footnotes==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060927060556/http://www.bayshoreplan.com/ Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927050009/http://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/03230planboard/BayshorePlanFinal/BAYSHORE%20REGION%20STRATEGIC%20PLAN.htm Final Copy of the Bayshore Region Strategic Plan]
* [http://www.jerseyshorevacation.com/bayshore.htm The Bayshore]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516052111/http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/parks/henry_hudson.asp Henry Hudson Trail]
* [http://www.hhrsalumni.com/ Henry Hudson Regional Alumni Association]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516052012/http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/parks/hartshorne.asp Hartshorne Woods Park]
* [http://www.fleet250.org Sandy Hook Bay Catamaran Club]

{{New Jersey}}
{{Raritan Valley navigation}}
{{Raritan Bayshore}}
{{Jersey Shore region}}
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[[Category:Raritan Bayshore| ]]
[[Category:Bays of New Jersey]]
[[Category:Estuaries of New Jersey]]
[[Category:Landforms of Monmouth County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Port of New York and New Jersey]]