Rumson is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,343, an increase of 221 (+3.1%) from the 2010 census count of 7,122, which in turn reflected a decline of 15 (−0.2%) from 7,137 in 2000.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.
Rumson was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1907, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on results of a referendum held on June 18, 1907.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 184. Accessed May 30, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896–1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 245. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 27, 2015.
The borough has been one of the state's highest-income communities.Rumson, New Jersey, NeighborhoodScout. Accessed May 10, 2023. In the 2013–2017 American Community Survey, Rumson had a median household income of $158,229 (ranked 24th in the state) and included 43.9% of households earning more than $200,000 annually.Cervenka, Susanne. "Rich in New Jersey: Here are the 50 wealthiest towns in the state. Is yours one of them?", Asbury Park Press, July 1, 2019. Accessed May 10, 2023. "24. Rumson County: Monmouth County - Median household income: $158,229 Percent making more than $200,000: 43.9%"
Rumson ranked among the highest annual property tax bills in New Jersey, and was the highest in Monmouth County, at $20,602 in 2018, compared to a statewide average of $8,767.
In 2010, Forbes.com listed Rumson as 192nd in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $1,104,271.Staff. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes: In these neighborhoods $4 million homes are the norm.", Forbes, September 27, 2010. Accessed July 29, 2011.
History Legend has it that the borough's name is derived from early European settlers who bought the land from the local Lenape Native Americans in exchange for some rum. But as far back as 1663, long before the area was officially named Rumson, Native Americans called it "Navarumsunk". Over the years it has been shortened to "Rumson",History of Rumson 1665–1965, p. 26. The Rumson Improvement Association, 1965. Accessed September 27, 2015. "Long before the white man set foot upon the soil of the beautiful 'neck of land' now called Rumson. it was called Navarumsunk by the Indians.... The "rum-some" tale may therefore be relegated as a bit of colorful, but wholly unfounded fiction. Navarumsunk has, by the simplifying process of time and usage, become Rumson." though sources also talk of a Chief Alumson as a source of the name.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 27, 2015. Other names Rumson has been known by include Black Point, Port Washington and Oceanic.History of Rumson, Borough of Rumson. Accessed December 13, 2024.
Rumson was purchased by English settlers in pieces. The first purchase was dated January 25, 1665, and it included parts of Middletown. The rest of the area was purchased later that year.
Rumson is known for its many sprawling 19th-century estates located alongside the shores of the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers and also dotted along the historic Rumson Road (serving as one of Rumson's main thoroughfares). Now an upscale commuter suburb, Rumson was once a prominent summer colony for wealthy New York bankers and industrialists during the turn of the century, . The oldest of Rumson's homes was the Tredwell House, named after a family that summered there for almost 100 years. The oldest part of the house was from 1670, and the estate once occupied . It was the second-oldest building in Monmouth County when it was destroyed by fire in June 2006.Burning questions, Asbury Park Press, June 16, 2006. Accessed April 7, 2017.
The Lauriston Mansion, built in 1870 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, is a home constructed in the Colonial Revival style. Originally, the home sat on of land, which over the years were parceled out, leaving of land. Plans have been submitted to demolish the building, which the developer stated could not be renovated, and to replace it with townhomes that would include affordable housing, leading Preservation New Jersey to declare the home "endangered" as of 2020.Lauriston Estate, Preservation New Jersey. Accessed March 22, 2022. "The Lauriston Estate in Rumson Borough is an 1870 Colonial Revival mansion, designed by New York and Red Bank architect Leon Cubberly as the summer home for banker Henry A. Caesar and his wife, Laura Unger Caesar. It is the only residential building in Rumson listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places, and it is also registered with the Rumson Borough Historic Preservation Commission."New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office, updated December 22, 2021. Accessed March 22, 2022.
In the 19th century, Rumson's summer residents enjoyed many activities, such as swimming and boating in the adjacent Navesink River and the Atlantic Ocean, or taking wagon rides. In winter, residents used the river for ice boating.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of , including of land and of water (28.76%). It has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from in January to in July.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include East Oceanic, Elsemere, Oceanic, Rumson Bluffs, Rumson Hills and Waterloo.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, and Sea Bright directly; and it borders Oceanport and Monmouth Beach only by water.Areas touching Rumson, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Rumson had a population of 7,343. The median age was 42.4 years. 29.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,398 households in Rumson, of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 70.9% were married-couple households, 8.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,624 housing units, of which 8.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.0%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 6,718 91.5% Black or African American 24 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 9 0.1% Asian 106 1.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 49 0.7% Two or more races 437 6.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 308 4.2%
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 7,122 people, 2,344 households, and 1,957 families in the borough. The population density was 1,408.0 per square mile (543.6/km2). There were 2,585 housing units at an average density of 511.0 per square mile (197.3/km2). The racial makeup was 97.22% (6,924) White, 0.25% (18) Black or African American, 0.07% (5) Native American, 1.26% (90) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.15% (11) from other races, and 1.01% (72) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.43% (173) of the population.
Of the 2,344 households, 46.8% had children under the age of 18; 72.4% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 16.5% were non-families. Of all households, 14.3% were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.38.
32.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $134,281 (with a margin of error of +/− $18,300) and the median family income was $157,188 (+/− $28,308). Males had a median income of $140,885 (+/− $25,278) versus $56,071 (+/− $16,014) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $79,388 (+/− $10,219). About 3.8% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Rumson borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 19, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,137 people, 2,452 households, and 1,988 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,610 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 97.77% White, 0.24% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Rumson borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 19, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Rumson borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 19, 2012.
There were 2,452 households, out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 31.9% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median resident age was 39.2 years old. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $120,865, and the median income for a family was $140,668. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $47,260 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $73,692. About 3.4% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 0.7% of those age 65 or over. Sports