[20][21] Beachwood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1917, from portions of Berkeley Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 12, 1917.

Buyers paid $19.60 for a plot of land measuring 20 by 100 feet (6.1 m × 30.5 m) and received a six-month subscription to The Tribune as a bonus.

Other offerings within the development included tennis courts, and facilities along the beach and on the river for canoeing, sailing and swimming.

In addition to overseeing local services within the development, the organization also advocated that the community should become an independent municipality.

[22] On May 11, the borough's first council was elected, along with Joseph H. Senior, who was chosen by the voters as Beachwood's first mayor.

A board of education was formed the following year, with school transportation provided on the back of a truck outfitted with wooden benches.

[1][2] The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township, Pine Beach and South Toms River.

[6] The borough form of government used by Beachwood 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.

[37][38] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Beachwood is Republican Ronald F. Roma Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

Members of the Beachwood Borough Council are John P. Farro Jr. (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Steven Komsa (R, 2026), Gerald "Jerry" LaCrosse (R, 2025), Thomas Prince (R, 2026), Dan Santos (R, 2024; appointed to an unexpired term) and Edward Zakar (R, 2025).

[3][39][40][41][42][43][44] In January 2024, John Farro was appointed to fill the council seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when William Cairns took office as mayor.

[45] Bill Cairns was appointed to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2015 of Thomas Miserendino, who died in office in June 2015.

[48][49][50] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[60][61][62] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[63][64] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[65][66] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[70] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 60.8% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 81.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[88][89] NJ Transit offers local bus service to and from Atlantic City on the 559 route.