LONG BRANCH, N. J., city, in Mon mouth County, on the Atlantic Ocean, and on the Pennsylvania, the New Jersey Southern and the Central of • New Jersey railroads, about 35 miles by water, 45 miles by rail and 30 miles in direct line south of New York City. Long Branch extends four miles on the Atlantic Ocean, with about 5,000 acres of area. During the summer season steamers run regu larly several times a day between New York and Long Branch and there are numerous elec tric and railway lines. The city is governed by the commission plan, composed of five com missioners who choose the mayor from their number. They are elected at large and serve for four years. Assessed property values ex ceed $16,000,000. There are five banks with a combined capital of $400,000, with deposits of upward of $2,500,000. Long Branch is one of the oldest summer resorts in the United States, taking its name from a brook, a branch of the South Shrewsbury River, which runs in a direct line northward. The Indians had a fish ing village here in 1734 and called the place Land's End. Before the Revolution Long Branch was owned by Colonel White, a British officer of New York who had a summer home here. After the war the property was con
fiscated by the government and in 1788 was taken by Elliston Perot of Philadelphia. Perot was a pioneer landlord on the New Jersey coast and his boarding-house was the fore runner of the multitude of modern hotels. From the beginning Long Branch attracted fam ilies from both New York and Philadelphia soon becoming noted as a resort of wealth and .fashion. During the administration of President Grant, Long Branch was the summer capital of the United States and became not only the gathering place of the leaders of so ciety but the home as well of the President of the United States, members of the Cabinet and foreign ambassadors. President Garfield .sought rest and recreation here and when felled by the assassin's bullet was brought here think ing the benefits of the wonderful atmosphere would restore his health. Its proximity to New York, Philadelphia and other large Eastern cities give it a large transient summer popu lation.