1871History
Developed in 1871 as a residential resort by New York brush manufacturer James A.
1874Civil Rights
Asbury Park was originally incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1874, from portions of Ocean Township.
1880Culture
The Asbury Park Museum hosts an exhibit on the history of music on the West Side, spanning the decades from 1880 to 1980.
1885History
Laurent Hotel in 1885.
1888Architecture
In 1888, Ernest Schnitzler built the Palace Merry-Go-Round on the southwest corner of Lake Avenue and Kingsley Street, the cornerstone of what would become the Palace Amusements...
1893Government
The borough was reincorporated on February 28, 1893.
1897Civil Rights
Asbury Park was incorporated as a city, its current type of government, as of March 25, 1897.
1912History
By 1912, The New York Times estimated that the summer population could reach 200,000, some 20 times the city's year-round population.
1918History
At the present-day site of Springwood Park in 1918, Black entrepreneur Reese DuPree turned Lafayette Hall (later the Roseland Hall auditorium) into a popular nightclub.
1923Government
The city was previously governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law form of municipal government until voters approved the Council-Manager form in 2013.
1928History
During a visit to the West Side in 1928, Fats Waller wrote "Honeysuckle Rose" with Andy Razaf at 119 Atkins Avenue in a property that still stands.
1935Government
In 1935, the newly founded Securities and Exchange Commission called Asbury Park's Mayor Clarence F.
1938Government
In December 1938, the court returned control of the beach to the municipal council under the proviso that a bond repayment agreement was created; Asbury Park was the only beach ...
1943History
==== 1940s ====
In 1943, the New York Yankees held their spring training in Asbury Park instead of Florida.
1947Government
The city of Asbury Park sued to restore control of the beach to the municipal council, but the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals (until 1947, the state's highest court) uph...
1955History
In a 1955 episode of The Honeymooners ("Better Living Though TV"), Alice Kramden ridicules husband Ralph Kramden's seemingly never-ending parade of failed get-rich-quick schemes...
1956History
On June 20, 1956, Linea Aeropostal Venezolana Flight 253 crashed off Asbury Park, killing all 74 people on board in what was the deadliest accident involving a scheduled commerc...
1968History
The Upstage Club was a legendary blues, R&B and rock club that was alcohol-and-drug free and is said to have influenced the Jersey Shore sound in its short run from 1968 to 1971.
1972Government
Established in 1972, Jersey Pride, the state's largest and oldest Pride parade, is held annually on the first Sunday in June, attracting more than 20,000 attendees.
1973History
In 1973 Bruce Springsteen released his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
1974Government
Deal Lake covers 158 acres (64 ha) and is overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, which was established in 1974.
1983Military
The Coaster, an award-winning weekly newspaper which has covered local news in Asbury Park since it was founded in 1983.
1987History
The music video for Springsteen's "Tunnel of Love," directed by Irish director Meiert Avis, was filmed at the city's Palace Amusements and on the Asbury Park boardwalk at sunset...
1988History
Although it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, Palace Amusements was closed in 1988 and was demolished in 2004 despite attempts to save it.
1990History
In 1990, the carousel at the Casino Pier was sold to Family Kingdom Amusement Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where it continues to operate.
1993Military
Formerly known as the Golden T-Bird Awards, these were established in 1993 by Scott Stamper and Pete Mantas to recognize and support significant contributions and achievements o...
1994Government
The city was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program.
1995Military
The name of the awards was changed to the Asbury Music Awards in 1995.
1999Architecture
In 1999, Madonna producer Shep Pettibone opened Paradise, a gay discotheque near the ocean.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the 2000 U.S.
2001History
Demolished:
The Albion Hotel (2001)
The Metropolitan Hotel (2007)
== Media ==
Local media includes:
The Asbury Park Press
TAPinto Asbury Park began publishing local coverage...
2002Military
=== 21st century ===
From 2002 onward, the rest of Asbury Park has been in the midst of a cultural, political, and economic revival, including a burgeoning industry of local an...
2003History
This was first held in Asbury Park in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
2005Architecture
In 2005, the Casino's walkway reopened, as did many of the boardwalk pavilions.
2006History
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $33,527 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,80...
2007Architecture
In 2007, the eastern portion of the Casino building was demolished.
2008History
An additional plaque was added on August 29, 2008, honoring John Luraschi, Carl "Tinker" West, George Theiss, Vinnie Roslin, Mike Totaro, Lenny Welch, Steve Lusardi, and Johnny ...
2010Government
Parks within the city include:
Asbury Park Rain Garden - Founded in 2010 adjacent to the Asbury Park station and bordered by Main Street, it contains a rain garden and a plaza ...
2011Government
2011) (horror/paranormal/folklore with Yuletide mythology focus)
Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival (established c.
2012Culture
The festival returned to its original location for the ten-year anniversary in 2012, headlined by My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, and Bon Jovi, drawing over 90,000 people to ...
2013Disaster
After Hurricane Sandy, Asbury Park was one of the few communities on the Jersey Shore to reopen successfully for the 2013 summer season.
2014Government
The four winning council candidates in the November 2014 general election drew straws, with two being chosen to serve full four-year terms and two serving for two years.
2015Crime
On June 16, 2015, Asbury Park police officers arrested a Neptune Township off-duty police officer for the murder of his ex-wife on an Asbury Park street in broad daylight.
2016Architecture
The 2016 Wooden Walls Mural Project began in July of that year and reimagined the Sunset Pavilion building with around a dozen new murals.
2017Military
The Asbury Hotel, located on 5th Avenue a block from the boardwalk, opened in 2017 as the city's first new hotel in decades, constructed in the shell of a former Salvation Army ...
2018Culture
The Sea.Hear.Now Festival is a surfing and music festival that first appeared on the beach in Asbury Park in September 2018, as a celebration of live music, art, ocean sustainab...
2019Culture
2019)
=== Murals and public art ===
Noted muralists and other local artists have installed various murals along the Asbury Park boardwalk and the cityscape in recent years.
2020Architecture
By 2020, the Casino building still remained unrestored and had no permanent use, although it had been used to host temporary art installations.
2021History
The fifth annual event was held in 2021.
2022History
In 2022, Asbury Park's beach was named one of the best in the world by Money and one of the best in the country by Travel + Leisure.
2023Culture
As of 2023, the Asbury Park Police Department has a staff of 27.
2024Education
As of the 2024–25 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,482 students and 147.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher...
2025Government
As of 2025, the mayor of Asbury Park is John Moor, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.
2026History
Licitra (R, Marlboro Township, 2026).
2027Military
New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).
2028Government
Members of the Asbury Park City Council are Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn (2028), Angela Ahbez-Anderson (2026), Eileen Chapman (2028) and Barbara "Yvonne" Clayton (2028).