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Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

Keyport is a borough in northern Monmouth County, in the U. S. state of New Jersey. A waterfront community located on the Raritan Bay in the Raritan Valley region, the borough is a commuter town of New York City in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,204, Keyport's nickname is the "Pearl of the Bayshore" or the "Gateway to the Bayshore". Keyport was originally formed as a Town on March 17, 1870, from portions of Raritan Township (now Hazlet). On April 2, 1908, the Borough of Keyport was formed, replacing Keyport Town. Keyport was part of the Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan, an effort by nine municipalities in northern Monmouth County to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing the traditional downtowns, dense residential neighborhoods, maritime history, and the natural Raritan Bayshore coastline. The plan has since been integrated into the 2016 Monmouth County Master Plan. According to the Monmouth County Master Plan, Keyport has been designated as an Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment (ACE) Hub, which is defined as municipalities that have a high concentration of arts and cultural activities to serve as a destination for both visitors and locals, usually including an active nightlife scene in proximity to said cultural activities. Only eight towns in Monmouth County share this designation, with two additional towns designated as upcoming ACE hubs, including nearby Matawan.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.46 square miles (3.77 km2), including 1.38 square miles (3.58 km2) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.19 km2) of water (5.07%).

The 2010 United States census counted 7,240 people, 3,067 households, and 1,693 families in the borough. The population density was 5,188.4 per square mile (2,003.3/km2). There were 3,272 housing units at an average density of 2,344.8 per square mile (905.3/km2). The racial makeup was 80.00% (5,792) White, 7.20% (521) Black or African American, 0.28% (20) Native American, 2.38% (172) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 7.62% (552) from other races, and 2.50% (181) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.26% (1,322) of the population.

Keyport is home to many diverse businesses, and has a bustling shopping district located on West Front Street, located one block in from the waterfront. The business district is now under control of the Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative (which was established in 2011 to replace the now defunct Keyport Business Alliance) which helps to organize events that benefit the businesses in Keyport as well as the city as a whole. Keyport is home to many restaurants, many with live music. Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay filmed a segment for CBS Sunday Morning at the Broad Street Diner, which has won numerous awards and accolades.

Keyport is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is composed of the Mayor and the Borough Council, with all positions elected at large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four year term of office. The Borough Council is composed of six members elected to serve three year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Keyport is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two thirds majority vote of the council. as of 2023, the mayor of Keyport is Republican Rose P. Araneo, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Borough Council members are Council President Lori Ann Davidson (R, 2023), J. Christopher Demarest (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Kathleen McNamara (D, 2023), Ron G. Peperoni Jr. (R, 2024), Cathleen Reilly (R, 2025) and Melissa Vecchio (R, 2025). J. Christopher Demarest was selected by the borough council in January 2023 from a list of three residents nominated by the Republican municipal committee to temporarily fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Rose P. Araneo took office as mayor; Demarest will serve on an interim basis until the November 2023 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office. On Election Day, November 7, 2007, Council President Robert Bergen was elected Mayor, taking the seat of two term incumbent John J. Merla who pled guilty to federal corruption charges on January 18, 2007, for accepting bribes to obtain municipal contracts. Bergen assumed the post of Mayor on January 1, 2007.

Keyport is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.

as of 2010, the borough had a total of 25.51 mile (41 km) of roadways, of which 18.70 mile (30 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.96 mile (8 km) by Monmouth County and 1.85 mile (3 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Route 35 and Route 36 both pass through in the southern section. The Garden State Parkway is just outside in both neighboring Aberdeen and Hazlet Townships at Exit 117.

NJ Transit offers local bus service on the 817 route. NJ Transit train service is available nearby at the Hazlet and Aberdeen Matawan stations. Commuter rail service is available on the North Jersey Coast Line.