Tinton Falls is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 19,181, an increase of 1,289 (+7.2%) from the 2010 census count of 17,892, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,839 (+18.9%) from the 15,053 counted in the 2000 census.

The borough was formed as New Shrewsbury by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on August 15, 1950, based on the results of a referendum held on July 18, 1950, after breaking away from Shrewsbury Township. It was renamed "Tinton Falls" in 1975, to avoid postal errors. The name came from Lewis Morris's plantation, Tinton Manor, which employed free white workers and slaves. The borough is home to the highest waterfall on New Jersey's coastal plain.

History
The area that is now known as Tinton Falls was originally settled by Europeans in the late 1600s, probably beginning with the initial land purchases from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans in 1664. Water power and iron ore were likely the incentives that encouraged settlement: shortly after [the land was purchased], a man by the name of James Grover had an ironworks built along the river.  Grover was likely the founder of the community, which, in the 1600s, was named "New Shrewsbury". At this time, the waterfall was known to be about  high; erosion and the destruction of the dam near the ironworks have led to its diminishment.

The ironworks
Grover's ironworks was the central fixture of the community, and it was one of the oldest built in the country, predated only by buildings in Jamestown and Massachusetts. In 1675, a half-interest in the ironworks company was purchased by Colonel Lewis Morris, [who obtained a title granting him  along the Shrewsbury River].  Morris also obtained land owned by Bartholomew Applegate, who had built a corn mill on the other side of the river. Morris, who procured the land for iron mining, named his holdings "Tintern Manor," after his family lands in Monmouthshire, Great Britain. Tintern Abbey, located in Monmouthshire, Wales, is often accepted as the namesake of Tinton Falls.  In 1691, Colonel Morris died, leaving the ironworks and Tinton Manor (a corruption of "Tintern Manor") to his nephew of the same name.  By 1714, the ironworks had become less profitable, but mention of a Tinton Falls ironworks can be found as late as 1844. Morris brought in dozens of African slaves to mine the ore resulting in the nickname the "Iron Plantation", with the highest number of slaves being in Tinton Falls at that time in the colony of New Jersey, though in the mid-18th century it had the largest number of emancipated slaves in the 13 colonies, as residents followed the preaching of abolitionist John Woolman.

Separation from Shrewsbury Township
In 1693, Tinton Manor and the surrounding lands were defined as part of Shrewsbury Township.  At this time, Shrewsbury included all of the land in eastern Monmouth County, but lost land due to the creation of a large number of new municipalities over the years, including the borough of Shrewsbury in 1926. In July 1950, Tinton Falls and Wayside left Shrewsbury Township, renaming themselves the Borough of New Shrewsbury. To avoid postal confusion and mix-ups with the surrounding borough and township of Shrewsbury, the residents of New Shrewsbury voted to rename the community as "The Borough of Tinton Falls" in 1975.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 15.60 square miles (40.41 km2), including 15.48 square miles (40.08 km2) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.33 km2) of water (0.83%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Wayside. Green Grove, Hockhockson, Macedonia, Pine Brook, Reevytown, West Shrewsbury and Wileys Corner are other unincorporated communities located partly or completely within the borough.

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Colts Neck Township, Eatontown, Middletown Township, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township and Wall Township.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 17,892 people, 8,355 households, and 4,462 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 8,766 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 82.39% (14,741) White, 9.34% (1,672) Black or African American, 0.13% (23) Native American, 4.67% (835) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 1.31% (235) from other races, and 2.14% (382) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.25% (1,118) of the population.

Of the 8,355 households, 21.9% had children under the age of 18; 43.7% were married couples living together; 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 46.6% were non-families. Of all households, 42.3% were made up of individuals and 27.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.95.

19.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 78.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 74.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,894 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,470) and the median family income was $99,231 (+/− $8,633). Males had a median income of $72,478 (+/− $8,954) versus $53,956 (+/− $7,492) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,149 (+/− $2,077). About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 15,053 people, 5,883 households, and 3,976 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 6,211 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 78.80% White, 13.04% African American, 0.24% Native American, 4.96% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.70% of the population.

There were 5,883 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $68,697, and the median income for a family was $79,773. Males had a median income of $58,098 versus $37,857 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,520. About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Jersey Shore Premium Outlets is an outdoor shopping mall that opened in November 2008 with 120 outlet stores and a food court, offering a gross leasable area of .

The Tinton Falls Solar Farm is a 28.5-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant covering , that contains 85,000 ground-mounted solar panels that has been the state's largest and was New Jersey's largest and one of the largest solar farms in the northeast United States at the time of its construction.

Commvault Systems, founded in 1996, is a publicly traded data management and information management software company. Commvault's global headquarters are in Tinton Falls.

Parks and recreation
Overlook by the Falls, located near the town's waterfalls (the namesake for the town), is a wildlife area where trails have been added to allow visitors to view the falls and the local fauna.

Borough parks include Hockhockson Park, with three baseball fields and basketball courts, Liberty II Park, with two football fields, a softball field and basketball courts, Riverdale West Park, with two soccer fields and a basketball court and the Sycamore Recreation Complex, which offers six lighted multi-purpose fields, among the borough's other parks and recreation facilities.

Shark River Park, the first included in the Monmouth County Park System when it was established in 1961, covers  along the Shark River in portions of Tinton Falls, Neptune Township and Wall Township.

The Twin Brook Golf Center was a public 9-hole golf course, 18-hole miniature golf course, and driving range before the land was purchased by Amazon for the construction of a delivery station warehouse in 2021.

Government

Local government
The Borough of Tinton Falls operates under the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, using the Mayor-Council form of municipal government (Plan 6), implemented by direct petition as of July 1, 1985. The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council. The mayor is the chief executive officer of the borough and is directly elected for a four-year term of office. The borough council is the legislative body, comprised of five members elected at-large on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election every other year as part of the November general election, with the mayoral seat up for vote at the same time that two council seats are being chosen by voters. A business administrator reports to, and may act on behalf of the mayor, in the mayor's absence. The Borough Council voted in May 2010 to shift its elections from May to the November general election, as part of an effort to increase participation of voters and to cut costs associated with the May elections, with savings estimated at nearly $100,000 during the first decade after the change was implemented in the November 2011 vote.

, the mayor of Tinton Falls is Vito Perillo, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Perillo, a 93-year-old World War II veteran and former engineer who won the non-partisan race by a 2,600–2,300 margin in his first run for elected office, ran on a platform of lowering taxes and improving transparency. Members of the Borough Council are Council President John A. Manginelli (2025), Deputy Council President Risa Clay (2023), Tracy A. Buckley (2023), Lawrence A. Dobrin (2025) and Michael J. Nesci (2023).

On November 2, 2021, Perillo, at 97 years old, was elected for a second four-year term, giving him the nickname "America's Oldest Mayor."

Emergency services
The borough is protected by the Tinton Falls Police Department, led by Chief Mike DeLucia.

Tinton Falls is covered by four fire companies, split into two fire districts. Wayside Fire Company (36–2), founded in 1919, and Pinebrook Fire Company (36–3) are in Fire District 1. Tinton Falls Fire Company No. 1 (36–1), established in 1932, and Northside Engine Company (36–4), founded in 1955, which make up Fire District 2.

Federal, state and county representation
Tinton Falls is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 census, Tinton Falls had been in the 12th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Tinton Falls had been part of the , a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

 

Monmouth County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director. , Monmouth County's Commissioners are
Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City, term as commissioner and as director ends December 31, 2022), 
Commissioner Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley (R, Hazlet Township, term as commissioner ends December 31, 2024; term as deputy commissioner director ends 2022),
Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township, 2023),
Nick DiRocco (R, Wall Township, 2022), and 
Ross F. Licitra (R, Marlboro Township, 2023). 
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are
County clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon (R, 2025; Ocean Township), 
Sheriff Shaun Golden (R, 2022; Howell Township) and 
Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (R, 2026; Middletown Township).

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 12,196 registered voters in Tinton Falls, of which 3,425 (28.1%) were registered as Democrats, 2,731 (22.4%) were registered as Republicans and 6,033 (49.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.9% of the vote (4,788 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 46.9% (4,329 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (108 votes), among the 9,286 ballots cast by the borough's 12,714 registered voters (61 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.9% of the vote (5,065 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 45.9% (4,483 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (104 votes), among the 9,763 ballots cast by the borough's 12,498 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.7% of the vote (4,476 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.0% (4,236 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (72 votes), among the 8,825 ballots cast by the borough's 11,432 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.2.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.7% of the vote (3,811 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.3% (1,759 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (58 votes), among the 5,696 ballots cast by the borough's 12,784 registered voters (68 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.9% of the vote (3,740 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 35.1% (2,307 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.6% (437 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (51 votes), among the 6,576 ballots cast by the borough's 12,354 registered voters, yielding a 53.2% turnout.

Historic district

The Tinton Falls Historic District is a historic district located along Tinton and Sycamore Avenues. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 1977, for its significance in archaeology, industry, military history and politics.

Education
Public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the three schools in the Tinton Falls School District, together with students from the neighboring community of Shrewsbury Township and the dependent children of military families based at Naval Weapons Station Earle. All three of the district's schools are located in Tinton Falls. Shrewsbury Township is represented with one seat out of nine on the district's board of education. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,331 students and 153.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.7:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are 
Mahala F. Atchison Elementary School with 438 students in grades K–3, 
Swimming River Elementary School with 440 students in grades 4–5 and 
Tinton Falls Middle School with 446 students in grades 6–8.

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Monmouth Regional High School, located in Tinton Falls. The school also serves students from Eatontown, Tinton Falls and Naval Weapons Station Earle. As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 953 students and 90.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with five seats assigned to Tinton Falls.

Students may also apply to attend one of the magnet schools in the Monmouth County Vocational School District – Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, High Technology High School, Biotechnology High School, and Communications High School.

Ranney School is a coeducational, nonsectarian K–12 private school founded in 1960; its campus occupies  off of Hope Road. Trinity Hall is an all-girls independent high school in the Catholic tradition, founded in 2013.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of  of roadways, of which  were maintained by the municipality,  by Monmouth County,  by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and  by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Major highways passing through Tinton Falls include the Garden State Parkway, Route 18, Route 33, and Route 66. Tinton Falls houses exits 100 (including the Monmouth Service Area), 102, 105, and 109 on the parkway, including a high-speed toll gate, and the southern start/end of the express and local carriageways, although the borough is listed only on signs for exit 105.

Major county roads that pass through Tinton Falls are  CR 520 (Newman Springs Road, which crosses the northern portion of the borough), CR 537 (Tinton Avenue, which also crosses the northern portion of the borough from Colts Neck Township in the west to Eatontown in the east) and County Route 547 (Shafto Road), which enters from Wall Township at the borough's southwest corner and proceeds northeast towards Eatontown.

Other limited access road that are accessible outside the borough include Interstate 195 in neighboring Wall Township.

Public transportation
NJ Transit offers passenger train service at the Red Bank station. Commuter service is provided on the North Jersey Coast Line, offering express and local service. Diesel service operates from Hoboken Terminal to Bay Head station. Electric service operates from Penn Station to Long Branch station, where the electrified portion of the line ends. Mid-line stations include Newark Penn Station, Newark Liberty International Airport Station, and Secaucus Junction.

NJ Transit local bus service is available on the 836 and 838 routes.

Points of interest

Old Mill at Tinton Falls – constructed in 1676, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Tinton Falls Library, one of the member libraries of the Monmouth County Library System. Established in 1961 as the New Shrewsbury Public Library Association, the name was changed to its current title in 1975.

Notable people

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

 Bryan Antoine (born 2000), college basketball player for the Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team
 Kelly J. Breen (born 1969), trainer of thoroughbred racehorses
 Ernabel Demillo (born 1965), television journalist who is the host and producer of CUNY TV's Asian American Life
 Tom Gallagher (1940–2018), diplomat, who in 1976, became the first officer of the United States Foreign Service to come out as gay
 Alan Garcia (born 1985), thoroughbred horse racing jockey
 Robert Giroux (1914–2008), book editor and publisher who was a partner in what became known as Farrar, Straus and Giroux
 Sean Goldman (born 2000), boy in the center of an international custody dispute between his American father and Brazilian mother
 Milton Goode (born 1960), retired high jumper who represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
 Michelle Leonardo (born 1990), dancer, model, winner of several beauty pageants
 Joe Maneely (1926–1958), artist who co-created Marvel Comics characters the Black Knight, the Ringo Kid, the Yellow Claw, and Jimmy Woo
 Amir Meshal (), American citizen detained by Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia during the Somalia War (2006–2009)
 John Muller (born 1966), television journalist with ABC News, where his anchor duties include World News Now and ABC News Now
 Brianne Reed (born 1994), soccer player who plays as a defender for FC Nordsjælland in Denmark's Elitedivisionen league
 Ranya Senhaji (born 2002), footballer who plays as a forward for the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Morocco women's national team
 Ivy Troutman (1884–1979), Broadway actress
 Quentin Wheeler (born 1955, class of 1974), track and field athlete who came in fourth in the 400 meters hurdles at the 1976 Summer Olympics
 Bill Winters (born 1954), offensive lineman in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, American Football Association and United States Football League
 Dorothy Young (1907–2011), entertainer, stage assistant to magician Harry Houdini
 Daryn Zhunussov (born 1991), ice dancer from Kazakhstan

References

External links

 Borough of Tinton Falls official website
 Tinton Falls School District
 
 School Data for the Tinton Falls School District, National Center for Education Statistics
 Monmouth Regional High School District
 Tinton Falls Fire Company No. 1

 
1950 establishments in New Jersey
Boroughs in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Faulkner Act (mayor–council)
Populated places established in 1950
National Register of Historic Places in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey
New Jersey Register of Historic Places