Shrewsbury is a borough in eastern Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located within the heart of the northern Jersey Shore region, the borough is a bedroom community of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,184, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 375 (+9.8%) from the 2010 census count of 3,809, which in turn reflected an increase of 219 (+6.1%) from the 3,590 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Shrewsbury was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1926, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 11, 1926.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 185. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough's name comes from Shrewsbury, England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 3, 2015.

History

Shrewsbury was part of the Navesink Patent or Monmouth Tract granted soon after the creation of East Jersey in 1665.Middletown and Shrewsbury - Using the Records of East and West Jersey Proprietors, State of New Jersey. Accessed August 26, 2022. "Middletown & Shrewsbury, 1665 (a.k.a. Navesink or Monmouth Patent) – In April 1665, twelve men, principally from Long Island, obtained a triangular tract from Governor Nicolls extending from Sandy Hook to the mouth of the Raritan River, up the river approximately twenty-five miles, then southwest to Barnegat Bay. The area was first known as Navesink, then Middletown and Shrewsbury County, and finally in 1683 as Monmouth County. Founders were mostly Baptists and Quakers. Purchasers at Middletown and Shrewsbury subscribed £3 or £4, which entitled them to 120 acres with additional increments for wives and children, and 60 acres for each servant. As many as eighty families arrived from Long Island, Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the first years. Quaker meetings were established by 1670. Settlers understood their patent to have endowed them with a right of government." The tract included Shrewsbury, along with the other historic communities of Freehold Township in western Monmouth County and Middletown Township in northern Monmouth County.Salter, Edwin. A History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties: Embracing a Genealogical Record of Earliest Settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Their Descendants. (Bayonne, New Jersey: E Gardner & Son, 1890), 24.Steen, James. New Aberdeen: Or the Scotch Settlement of Monmouth County, New Jersey. (Matawan, NJ: Journal Steam Print, 1899), 5.

When it was formed in 1693, Shrewsbury covered an area of almost , extending to the north to the Navesink River, south to include all of present-day Ocean County, east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the present-day border of Monmouth County. It retained its size and scope until 1750, when various different municipalities began to break off from it. The first of those being Stafford Township, which was formed in 1750 and taking away much of modern-day Ocean County.Karcher, Alan J. "New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness", via Google Books, p. 34 ff. Rutgers University Press, 1998. . Accessed August 26, 2022. The Parker Homestead, one of the oldest structures in the state, was built by early settlers to the region. Many of the early settlers of the region originated from Long Island, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

What is now Shrewsbury Township was originally formed on October 31, 1693, and was created as a township by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Shrewsbury Borough broke off from Shrewsbury Township, and was officially established on May 11, 1926.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.19 square miles (5.67 km2), including 2.16 square miles (5.60 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2) of water (1.32%).

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Eatontown, Little Silver, Oceanport, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Township and Tinton Falls.Areas touching Shrewsbury, MapIt. Accessed March 5, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 5, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Shrewsbury Borough prior to 1926 was a part of Shrewsbury Township, which had originally encompassed most of Monmouth and Ocean counties, including several of the other municipalities nearby, until finally shrinking down to under one square mile.Prince, Ed. "Township shrinks from area giant over 3 centuries", copy of article from Asbury Park Press, January 12, 2004. Accessed August 24, 2018. "Once a geographic giant encompassing most of present-day Monmouth and Ocean counties, Shrewsbury Township has been whittled away over the centuries to one of the state's smallest towns, a village of three streets and a single store. One of the three original towns of Monmouth County, Shrewsbury Township was created in 1693 along with Middletown and Freehold townships.... Extending from the Navesink River to Little Egg Harbor, Shrewsbury Township soon began to splinter as settlers arrived and sought their own local governments."

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Shrewsbury had a population of 4,184. The median age was 47.0 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

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

There were 1,456 households, of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 68.2% were married-couple households, 8.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,509 housing units, of which 3.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,736 89.3% Black or African American 64 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native 4 0.1% Asian 97 2.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 54 1.3% Two or more races 228 5.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 165 3.9%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,809 people, 1,261 households, and 1,026 families in the borough. The population density was 1,757.2 per square mile (678.5/km2). There were 1,310 housing units at an average density of 604.4 per square mile (233.4/km2). The racial makeup was 95.62% (3,642) White, 0.66% (25) Black or African American, 0.11% (4) Native American, 2.13% (81) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.58% (22) from other races, and 0.89% (34) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% (95) of the population.

Of the 1,261 households, 40.7% had children under the age of 18; 71.5% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 18.6% were non-families. Of all households, 16.5% were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.24.

27.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 84.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $111,648 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,595) and the median family income was $124,091 (+/− $10,340). Males had a median income of $111,645 (+/− $13,085) versus $54,313 (+/− $9,453) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,698 (+/− $5,936). About none of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Shrewsbury borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 1, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,590 people, 1,207 households, and 1,016 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,223 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 96.60% White, 0.53% African American, 1.67% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Shrewsbury borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 1, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Shrewsbury borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 1, 2012.

There were 1,207 households, out of which 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.6% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $86,911, and the median income for a family was $92,719. Males had a median income of $85,875 versus $37,554 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,218. None of the families and 1.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under 18 and 3.0% of those over 64. Economy The Grove at Shrewsbury is an upscale lifestyle center located on Route 35. The center opened in 1988 and has a gross leasable area of .. It has been anchored by Brooks Brothers, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Williams Sonoma and Banana Republic, along with other retailers and amenities.Loan 7: The Grove at Shrewsbury, Securities and Exchange Commission. Accessed December 10, 2023. "As of July 1, 2017, The Grove at Shrewsbury Property was 98.6% occupied by 34 tenants, none of which occupy more than 8.8% of the net rentable area. The largest tenants are Brooks Brothers, occupying 13,000 SF, Anthropologie, occupying 12,000 SF, Pottery Barn, occupying 11,235 SF, The Gap, Inc., occupying 10,859 SF and Banana Republic, occupying 8,000 SF." It acts as a town square for the borough, along with the nearby downtown of Red Bank.

Government

Local government