Leonardo, New Jersey

Leonardo, New Jersey
Census-designated place

Map of Leonardo CDP in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County in New Jersey.
Coordinates: 40°25′09″N 74°03′37″W / 40.419287°N 74.060197°W / 40.419287; -74.060197Coordinates: 40°25′09″N 74°03′37″W / 40.419287°N 74.060197°W / 40.419287; -74.060197
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Monmouth
Township Middletown
Named for Henry and James Leonard
Area[1]
 • Total 0.603 sq mi (1.562 km2)
 • Land 0.595 sq mi (1.540 km2)
 • Water 0.008 sq mi (0.021 km2)  1.38%
Elevation[2] 16 ft (5 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 2,757
 • Density 4,636.1/sq mi (1,790.0/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07737[4]
Area code(s) 732/848
FIPS code 3439990[1][5]
GNIS feature ID 02390059[1][6]

Leonardo is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) within Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States.[7][8][9] As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 2,757.[3] The ZIP code for Leonardo is 07737.[4]

History

Leonardo is named for Henry and James Leonard, the first ironmasters of New Jersey.[10]

Leonardo is known as the site of the only casualties of the US Nike Missile program. On May 22, 1958, an Ajax missile exploded at the Nike missile base in Leonardo, killing six soldiers and four civilians.[11][12] Since the Project Nike shutdown in 1974, the Leonardo launch base, designated NY-53, has been redeveloped into single-family home sites.

Geography

Leonardo is located on the south shore of Raritan Bay. According to the United States Census Bureau, Leonardo had a total area of 0.603 square miles (1.562 km2), including 0.595 square miles (1.540 km2) of land and 0.008 square miles (0.021 km2) of water (1.38%).[1][13]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19903,788—
20002,823−25.5%
20102,757−2.3%
Population sources:
2090-2010[7] 2000[14] 2010[3]

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 2,757 people, 1,001 households, and 741.7 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,636.1 per square mile (1,790.0/km2). The CDP contained 1,055 housing units at an average density of 1,774.1 per square mile (685.0/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.47% (2,632) White, 1.02% (28) Black or African American, 0.15% (4) Native American, 1.02% (28) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.91% (25) from other races, and 1.45% (40) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.49% (179) of the population.[3]

Out of a total of 1,001 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.21.[3]

In the CDP, 22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 94.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 95.3 males.[3]

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census[5] there were 2,823 people, 987 households, and 753 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,758.0/km2 (4,523.1/mi2). There were 1,017 housing units at an average density of 633.3/km2 (1,629.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.85% White, 0.53% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.85% of the population.[14]

There were 987 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.31.[14]

In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.[14]

The median income for a household in the CDP was $64,432, and the median income for a family was $66,750. Males had a median income of $49,716 versus $30,400 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,422. About 3.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Transportation

New Jersey Transit offers local bus service on the 834 route.[15]

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Leonardo include:

Fictional characters associated with Leonardo:

In media

The community is best known as the site of the Quick Stop convenience store and RST Video store (located at 58 Leonard Avenue, just north of Route 36) that was the main location for the 1994 film Clerks, directed by Kevin Smith, who worked at the store at the time. The same store was also used by Smith in his films Chasing Amy (1997), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) and Clerks II (2006), and was part of a deleted scene from his film Mallrats (1995). The location was also used in Kevin Smith's short-lived television show Clerks: The Animated Series (2000), which ran for six episodes on ABC before its abrupt cancellation in mid-2000. The program's character Leonardo Leonardo (voiced by actor Alec Baldwin) was named after the town, and several of the characters resided and/or worked in Leonardo. The video store is now closed and only used for storage.[20][21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Leonardo Census Designated Place, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed August 7, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Leonardo CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 7, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Look Up a ZIP Code for Leonardo, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed August 7, 2012.
  5. 1 2 American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  6. ↑ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  7. 1 2 New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 16, 2012.
  8. ↑ GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 16, 2012.
  9. ↑ Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ Chang, Kathy; and Kesten, Karen L. "Birth of a town", the hub, January 7, 2010. Accessed August 7, 2012. "The Leonardo section of Middletown was a part of Atlantic Highlands and originally called Leonardville. It was named after Henry and James Leonard, the first ironmasters in the state. Croydon Hall was the home of John J. Leonard."
  11. ↑ Spencer, Luke "The Rusted, Rotting Remains of A New Jersey Missile Base", Atlas Obscura, June 11, 2015. Accessed June 11, 2015. "No Nikes were ever launched in anger over US soil, but the program wasn't without casualties. In Leonardo, New Jersey, an Ajax missile exploded on May 22nd, 1958, killing six soldiers and four civilians."
  12. ↑ Beitler, Stu "Leonardo, NJ Nike Missile Explosion, May 1958", GenDisasters, 2011. Accessed June 11, 2015. "The dead included six soldiers and four civilians."
  13. ↑ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Leonardo CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 8, 2012.
  15. ↑ Monmouth County Bus / Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed August 7, 2012.
  16. ↑ Stattel, Erin O. " From monumental to medallions, exhibit showcases De Lue's work; Leonardo sculptor known for powerful human figures", The Hub, August 6, 2009. Accessed August 29, 2013. "De Lue, best known for his sculpture 'Rocket Thrower,' showcased at the 1964 New York World's Fair, was originally from Boston but took up residence in the Leonardo section of Middletown after seeking more space for his sculpting passion."
  17. ↑ Garafolo, Mike. "Monmouth County's Billy Devaney now making waves as GM of the St. Louis Rams", The Star-Ledger, April 21, 2009. Accessed July 20, 2011. "'He's very happy right now. And I can tell he is, too,' said Mike Corley, Devaney's best friend from before their days together at Mater Dei High School in New Monmouth.... It was a fitting career path for a self-proclaimed "draftnik" (before there were draftniks) who used to take the bus from Leonardo -- a section of Middletown -- to Port Authority in Manhattan to pick up a copy of Street & Smith's draft guide."
  18. ↑ Staff. "Kunkel undergoes tests", Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina), February 18, 1983. Accessed August 14, 2012. "LEONARDO, N.J. — Bill Kunkel, an American League umpire who has had one cancerous tumor removed, said Thursday that he will enter New York University Hospital for tests on a malignant tumor that was detected last week."
  19. ↑ Alfano, Peter. "PLAYERS; ENDURING TRIPLE A AND A PAINFUL LOSS", The New York Times, June 11, 1985. Accessed August 8, 2012. "He joked about the bonus that Jeff would sign, comparing it to his own miserly wages as a ballplayer. He enjoyed answering the telephone at the family's home in Leonardo, N.J., where scouts would call regularly."
  20. ↑ Donohue, Brian. "The pre-snowstorm rush at the Quick Stop of 'Clerks' movie fame", NJ.com, January 3, 2014. Accessed July 21, 2016.
  21. ↑ Talty, Stephan. "The Clerk, the Girl and the Corduroy Hand Job", Playboy, Vol. 45, Iss. 12, pg. 150-152+216-220, December 1998.
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