Asbury Park named 'coolest small town' in America

Austin Bogues | Asbury Park (N.J.) Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Changing Face of Asbury Park Asbury Park has made great strides in rebuilding itself in the last decade. Now the effort is underway to replicate the effort in the predominantly African American west side.

ASBURY PARK, N.J. — Budget Travel magazine recently named Asbury Park the "coolest small town" in America.

"We love Asbury Park’s cultural diversity, welcoming vibe, and year-round calendar of events: Fourth of July fireworks, Oysterfest, Zombie Walk, and so much more," the magazine said, in an article posted on its website.

"It's one heck of a recognition," said Asbury Park Mayor John Moor, who said his great-grandfather first moved to the shore community in 1888.

"It's a community-wide-recognition and really a great choice," Moor said. "It's really the residents, the businesses, everyone that made this happen."

More than a million visitors came to Asbury Park last year, according to the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. The city has a population of just under 16,000.

It is about 1.6 square miles.

"I'm not surprised Asbury Park is getting noticed as a progressive, diverse and cultural city. Locals already know we are the coolest town in America," said Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn.

Asbury Park ranked above destinations like Bisbee, Ariz., and Nevada City, Calif.