Highlands, New Jersey
Highlands is a borough of 4,518 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey, founded in March 22, 1900.
Why visit Highlands
Townapedia lists 18 museums and landmarks, 14 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Highlands–Sea Bright Bridge, Rumson–Sea Bright Bridge, Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic District and Fort Hancock, U.S. Life Saving Station.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 25°F.
Weather in Highlands
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Highlands
See also New York–New Jersey Highlands for the northwestern part of New Jersey.
From the Wikipedia article Highlands, New Jersey (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
Highlands–Sea Bright Bridge
Bridge · 0.8 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Rumson–Sea Bright Bridge
Bridge · 2.7 mi
Lifting road bridge in New Jersey, US
Museums and landmarks18
Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic district and landmark in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Fort Hancock, U.S. Life Saving Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Building in New Jersey, United States
Highlands Air Force Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Former military installation in Middletown Township, New Jersey
Navesink Twin Lights
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Lighthouse in New Jersey, United States
Water Witch Club Casino
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in New Jersey, United States
Water Witch Club Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in New Jersey, United States
PS Alexander Hamilton
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
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Halyburton Memorial
Monument and historic site · 3.1 mi
Memorial to Hamilton Douglas Halyburton at Sandy Hook, New Jersey
6 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds14
Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook County Park
Park · 0.9 mi
460 Ocean Boulevard, Atlantic Highlands
Mo-Su 07:00-20:00
2 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes14
2nd Jetty
Restaurant · Seafood · 0.9 mi
140 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright Borough
We-Sa 16:00-22:00+; Su 12:00-22:00+
2 more on the map.
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."
From the History section of Highlands, New Jersey on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship4
All Saint's Memorial Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
First Presbyterian Church of Rumson
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
St. George's-by-the-River Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Shopping2
Schools, colleges and libraries23
Atlantic Highlands Elementary School
School · 2.7 mi
140 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands
Map of Highlands
81 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 25°F | 4.2 in |
| Feb | 43°F | 26°F | 3.3 in |
| Mar | 49°F | 32°F | 4.3 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 41°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 68°F | 51°F | 4.1 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 61°F | 4.3 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 67°F | 4.4 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 65°F | 6.3 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 59°F | 4.3 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 47°F | 4.7 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 37°F | 3.8 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 4.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Long Branch-Oakhurst Hcn (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Monmouth County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2021-09-05: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-02: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2020-12-11: Tropical Storm Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-03-14: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Atlantic Highlands 2 mi west, about 3 min by car
- Fair Haven 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Belford 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Red Bank 6 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- Fairview 6 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- Long Branch 8 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Eatontown 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Tinton Falls 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
- Asbury Park 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- New York 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- The Twin Lights, Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com Media, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Beautiful facade of All Saints, Navesink, Bestbudbrian, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Water Witch Club Casino, east view, Zeete, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Presbyterian Church of Rumson (5), Apc106, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Water Witch Club Historic District, West Twin Road - 1, Zeete, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort Hancock US Life Saving Station, akaBuddy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St. George's-by-the-River Episcopal Church (5), Apc106, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Navesink twin lights NJ2, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Navesink Military Reservation, Battery Lewis - casemate front, Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ft Hancock, Wikijazz at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- PS Alexander Hamilton on Hudson 1966, Operabones, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Seabright-tennis-club, Dmadeo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Halyburton Memorial, Sandy Hook, NJ, Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shrusberry River Bridge, Rumson, NJ - panoramio, febb, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Highlandsprofilebridgenj, Tinton5, CC BY-SA 3.0
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