Keansburg
“Keansburg, NJ, ranks as the No. 1
bargain beach town in the country.”
New York Post, July 5, 2016, report by RealtyTrac
Photo by M. Kiely
N2 A great place to live, visit and enjoy.
Keansburg’s colorful history and convenient
location have been attracting visitors since
1917, but the local history stretches back for
centuries. Long before Europeans reached
the shores of Raritan Bay, it was the stomping
grounds of the Lenni-Lenape tribe, who thrived
on hunting and the abundant seafood. Henry
Hudson’s ship, the Half Moon, landed nearby
in 1609. A member of his scouting party,
John Colman, was mortally wounded by the
Lenni-Lenape while ashore and was allegedly
buried near the foot of what is now Carr
Avenue, known as Colman’s Point—though
no marker was ever found. Over the next three
hundred years, the town was called Wakioak,
then Granville, before it was finally named
Keansburg in 1917, in honor of Senator John
Kean for his efforts to establish the town’s first
post office.
Visitors have long been attracted by the town’s
location, natural beauty, wildlife, fishing and
water recreation. In the early 19th century, city
76 www.sparkvisitmonmouth.com
slickers were attracted from New York and other
surrounding cities, arriving by ferries, trains and
wagons long before the Parkway and Turnpike.
With its humble beginnings as a fishing hamlet
and later blooming into a resort area for North
Jersey and New York City visitors, Keansburg is
uniquely positioned as the closest beach along
the Jersey Shore for folks traveling from the
north, a perfect day-trip destination with great
restaurants and shops within walking distance
of the amusement and water parks.
Conveniently located off Exit 117 of the Garden
State Parkway, the bayside community of
Keansburg offers a unique opportunity for
waterside enjoyment, with a secluded, free
beach area complemented by an astounding
skyline view of New York City. The beach is
accessible by two wooden Bay Walks, perched
above the shoreline and providing easy access
for leisurely strolls and amazing views. Take in
the Manhattan skyline on a romantic moonlit
night. Enjoy beachcombing, dog walking, or