GOVERNMENT OF KEY PORT

Keyport was governed by the Key Port Company from 1830 until 1848. The village observed the laws of the state and the Township of Middletown of which it was part.

In 1848 an act was passed which placed Key Port in the Township of Raritan and the first Annual Town Meeting was held at the Atlantic Hotel.

On March 17, 1870, Key Port disassociated itself from Raritan Township and became a political entity in its own right. The town was governed by five elected commissioners. These commissioners selected one of their members to serve as mayor. The first man so chosen for this was Rufus Ogden. The remaining commissioners of that group were: Hon. Thomas S. R. Brown, Captain Christian D. Emson, Hon. John S. Sproul, and Captain Peter Hulse.

Keyport ceased being a town in 1908 when it became incorporated as a borough with a mayor and council form of government. This is the plan under which it still operates. The first mayor of the Borough of Keyport was Edwin E. Conklin. Serving with him as councilmen were: Sylvanus Lee, William E. Warn, Charles Lufburrow, Dr. Gifford B. Aumack, Richard S. White, and John W. Mason.

Photo Caption: Town Hall, Key Port, N.J.