The settlement was named after resident Abner Allen and was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1897, from portions of Ocean Township.

[18] Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Deal Lake to the west, it is in close proximity to New York City and is a stop on the NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line.

The borough is at the center of a string of wealthy communities between Long Branch and Asbury Park with many historic homes built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 2006, Allenhurst ranked 131st in Forbes magazine's list of the most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States.

Allenhurst "reflects the history of development from a rural area to a suburb and resort town of New York City.

In 1895, the 120-acre (49 ha) Allen farm was bought by the Coast Land Improvement Company in order to build an exclusive resort community to attract upper class summer residents.

"[19] On April 26, 1897, Allenhurst was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of Ocean Township.

[20] The borough is situated in the center of a string of wealthy communities between Long Branch and Asbury Park.

[24] In 2006, Allenhurst ranked 131st in Forbes magazine's list of the most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States.

[26] After Hurricane Sandy had devastated the shoreline in October 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2015 pumped sand onto the beaches, which contained unexploded ordnance in the form of hundreds of fusing components for World War I-era artillery.

From December 2016 until March 2017, USACE Baltimore District specialists in munitions and explosives removed 362 chap-stick-sized potentially live pieces, mostly boosters, which had most likely been disposed of as excess after World War I, and are not uncommon at Gateway's Sandy Hook Unit.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 2010, for its significance in architecture.

[1][2] The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Deal Lake to the west, and is in close proximity to New York City.

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Deal, Interlaken, Loch Arbour and Ocean Township.

[39][40] The Allenhurst Beach Club, a 2,450-member recreational facility, has attracted residents and visitors during the summer months for generations.

[52][53][54] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch).

[57] For the 2024-2025 session, the 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vin Gopal (D, Long Branch) and in the General Assembly by Margie Donlon (D, Ocean Township) and Luanne Peterpaul (D, Long Branch).

The best result for a Democrat for president is the 45.02% of the vote received by Joe Biden in the 2020 US presidential election.

[102] In July 2017, the Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education authorized the termination of the agreement with Asbury Park, which was replaced with a new relationship with the West Long Branch district for grades K–8 and with Shore Regional for grades 9–12.

[115] Students also have the option to attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como, which accepts students on a lottery basis from the communities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como.