New Jersey Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Fair Haven, New Jersey

Population: 5,270

Located in Monmouth County

This quiet town on the banks of the Navesink River is steeped in history and Fair Haven calls itself "a small town with a big heart" and prides itself on its spirit of volunteerism. The 1.5 square mile borough is situated between Red Bank and Rumson, and its 5,400 residents enjoy Fair Haven's quiet, small-town flavor and its proximity to area beaches and New York City.

While it is primarily residential, specialty shops and eateries along River Road make up its thriving business district.

Some of Fair Haven's earliest known settlers were oystermen who made their living in the rich oyster beds of the Navesink River. The river was the economic hub of the village, and the historic district at the north end of Fair Haven Road still reflects the borough's maritime past.

The special character of present day Fair Haven is rooted in its heritage as a small community closely linked to the Navesink River.

Fair Haven is believed to have been seasonally inhabited by native Indians prior to the coming of European settlers in the 1660's, but little is known of those early days. It's recorded history begins in the early 19th century when the Borough was part of then extensive Shrewsbury Township.

The town's first permanent dwelling was built by Jeremiah Chandler in 1816 on the riverbank near the foot of what is now Fair Haven Road. The river provided an economic base for a growing community. By 1850, "Chandler's Dock" had been erected on a site adjacent to the present town dock. Steamboats on the New York-Red Bank run made regular stops. They transported oysters and other river harvest to the city. During the latter years of the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries, boats such as the "Seabird" and "Albertina" (depicted on the Borough seal) continued that trade and brought numerous summer visitors, many of whom were famous vaudevillians. Nearby boarding houses and the old VanTine and Atlantic Hotels catered to this clientele. The vaudevillians organized the Player's Club, whose site now serves as home to the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club.

Courtesy of "About Fairview" & "New Jersey Resources"