Highlands

History

Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the area known today as Highlands in 1525. During the next two centuries, the Highlands area would welcome English and Dutch settlers. Even by the 20th Century, many immigrants saw the hills of the Highlands of Navesink which were almost 300 feet (91 m) above sea level.

The oldest route to the eastern coast of the United States is the Minisink Trail which started on the upper Delaware River, came through northern New Jersey and ended at the Navesink River. Navesink means "good fishing spot" in the native tongue at the time. The trail was used by Native Americans, such as the Algonquin and Lenni Lenape tribes. They came from all over New Jersey to spend the summer fishing and finding clams. The Newasunks, Raritans, and Sachem Papomorga (or Lenni Lenape) were the most prevalent tribes and stayed the longest. These were the tribes which mostly traded with early settlers.

One year after Verrazzano explored the area, Portuguese explorer Estêvão Gomes (also spelled as Estevan Gomez) visited the Highlands of Navesink and created the first maps of the area. These were the maps in which Sandy Hook was first drawn and called "Cabo de Arenas" or "Cape of Sands."

In 1609, Henry Hudson sailed into the Sandy Hook Bay and wrote: "This is very good land to fall in with and a pleasant land to see. Our men went on land, so they went up into the woods and saw great stores of very goodly oaks and some currants". One of Hudson's crew became the first man killed by Native Americans who were frightened by his scouting party.

Many years after Hudson's trip to the area, the Highlands of Navesink saw a number of Dutch who traded with the Navesink Indians and prepared nautical charts. William Reape, one of the Dutch, made a bargain with the local natives to trade land in exchange for rum, blankets and gunpowder.

Eventually, the Dutch settlers named the land "Rensselaer's Hoeck," but British settlers took over and renamed the settlement "Portland" in 1664. The group purchasing the land included James Hubbard, John Bawne, John Tilton Jr., Richard Stout, William Goulding and Samuel Spear.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.39 square miles (3.59 km2), including 0.74 square miles (1.92 km2) of land and 0.65 square miles (1.67 km2) of water (46.47%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Parkertown and Waterwitch (also spelled as "Water Witch").

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Atlantic Highlands, Middletown Township and Sea Bright.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Highlands has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Highlands had a population of 4,621. The median age was 49.3 years. 11.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.6 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,425 households in Highlands, of which 14.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.8% were married-couple households, 27.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 44.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,931 housing units, of which 17.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,005 people, 2,623 households, and 1,159 families in the borough. The population density was 6,522.8 per square mile (2,518.5/km2). There were 3,146 housing units at an average density of 4,100.1 per square mile (1,583.1/km2). The racial makeup was 92.97% (4,653) White, 1.62% (81) Black or African American, 0.28% (14) Native American, 1.30% (65) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.94% (97) from other races, and 1.90% (95) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.47% (324) of the population.

Of the 2,623 households, 15.5% had children under the age of 18; 31.3% were married couples living together; 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 55.8% were non-families. Of all households, 45.3% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.70.

14.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 37.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,291 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,503) and the median family income was $80,430 (+/− $7,353). Males had a median income of $63,686 (+/− $6,479) versus $46,641 (+/− $9,013) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,737 (+/− $4,647). About 11.5% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,097 people, 2,450 households, and 1,193 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,689.2 inhabitants per square mile (2,582.7/km2). There were 2,820 housing units at an average density of 3,700.9 per square mile (1,428.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.10% White, 1.59% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.59% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.

There were 2,450 households, out of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.3% were non-families. 41.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,692, and the median income for a family was $50,985. Males had a median income of $50,296 versus $31,265 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,369. About 11.5% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Highlands is governed by a Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Small Municipality (Plan C) form of New Jersey municipal government, enacted by direct petition as of January 1, 1978. The borough is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is only available to municipalities with a population below 12,000 at the time of adoption. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the four-member borough council, who are elected on an at-large basis in non-partisan voting to three-year terms on a staggered basis as part of the November general election, in a three-year cycle in which two council seats come up for election in each of two consecutive years followed by the mayoral seat up for vote in the third year. This form of government was adopted in 1956. In a 2014 referendum, voters changed the format and timing of elections from partisan in November to nonpartisan in May. In the November 2014 general election, voters approved a referendum shifting the borough's nonpartisan elections from May to November, with the first November nonpartisan municipal election taking place in 2015.

As of 2025, the mayor of the Borough of Highlands is Carolyn Broullon, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Members of the Highlands Borough Council are Council President JoAnne Provenzano Olszewski (2026), Leo Cervantes (2027), Karen Chelak (2027) and Donald Melnyk (2026).

Federal, state and county representation

Highlands is in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.

For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 6th congressional district 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 Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).

For the 2026–2027 session, the 13th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Declan O'Scanlon (R, Little Silver) and in the General Assembly by Vicky Flynn (R, Holmdel Township) and Gerard Scharfenberger (R, Middletown Township).

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.

As of 2025, Monmouth County's Commissioners are Director Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City, 2025), Susan M. Kiley (R, Hazlet Township, 2027),

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 a countywide basis are

Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon (R, 2025; Ocean Township),

Sheriff Shaun Golden (R, 2025; Howell Township) and

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were 3,118 registered voters in Highlands, of whom 880 (28.2%) were registered Democrats, 728 (23.3%) registered Republicans and 1,509 (48.4%) unaffiliated. One voter was registered to another party.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.6% of the vote (1,044), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 43.8% (837), and other candidates with 1.6% (31), with 1,930 ballots cast by the borough's 3,294 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 58.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Obama received 51.3% of the vote (1,266), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.9% (1,108) and other candidates with 1.7% (42), with 2,467 ballots cast by the borough's 3,451 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.6% of the vote (1,230), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.9% (1,164) and other candidates with 0.7% (25 votes), with 2,429 ballots cast by the borough's 3,431 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.8%.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.9% of the vote (960), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.7% (419), and other candidates with 2.4% (34), with 1,442 ballots cast by the borough's 3,166 registered voters (29 were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Christie received 55.1% of the vote (887), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 34.3% (553), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.1% (115) and other candidates with 2.4% (39), with 1,611 ballots cast by the borough's 3,216 registered voters, a 50.1% turnout.

Education

Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from both Atlantic Highlands and Highlands are served by the Henry Hudson Regional School District. The district came into existence as of July 1, 2024, through the consolidation of the formerly independent Atlantic Highlands School District and Highlands School District with Henry Hudson Regional High School into a single school district. As of the 2024–25 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 725 students and 86.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2024–25 enrollment from the National Center for Educational Statistics) are

Atlantic Highlands Elementary School with 282 students in grades PreK–6,

Highlands Elementary School with 153 students in grades PreK–6 and

Henry Hudson Regional High School with 278 students in grades 7–12.

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 15.19 miles (24.45 km) of roadways, of which 12.50 miles (20.12 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.52 miles (2.45 km) by Monmouth County and 1.17 miles (1.88 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 36 is the main highway through Highlands. At the east end of the borough, Route 36 connects to Sea Bright by way of the Highlands–Sea Bright Bridge.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides local bus transportation on the 834 route between the borough and Red Bank. Academy Bus offers bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and to Wall Street.

SeaStreak offers ferry service to Manhattan at Conner's Ferry Landing. There are three morning trips, which stop at Pier 11/Wall Street and then at East 34th Street Ferry Landing. Six ferry trips return each weekday evening.

Popular culture

The Kevin Smith film Jersey Girl is set in Highlands, but was filmed in Paulsboro, New Jersey.

In addition, Highlands' ZIP code (07732) is featured in the opening titles of Mallrats, and is Dante's ZIP code in Clerks: The Animated Series, although it is misattributed in the show to nearby Leonardo.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Highlands include:

Gertrude Ederle (1905–2003), swimmer who was the first woman to swim across the English Channel, she learned to swim in Highlands during summers spent living in the borough

John J. Flemm (1896–1974), industrialist, politician and Navy veteran who founded the Flemm Lead Company

Walt Flanagan (born 1967), comic book store manager, reality television personality, podcaster and comic book artist

Bryan Johnson (born 1967), co-host of the Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! and star of Comic Book Men

Jason Mewes (born 1974), actor who is best known for his role as Jay, the vocal half of the duo Jay and Silent Bob

Frankie Montecalvo (born 1990), racing driver who was the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge GTA Driver's Champion and competes in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Kevin Smith (born 1970), filmmaker and actor