[24][25] In 1871, William B. Bradner, with James A. Bradley as an investor, acquired 54 acres (22 ha) of land north of Avon-by-the-Sea, and south of Ocean Grove.

[27] Citizens appealed to the New Jersey Legislature for a referendum to separate Bradley Beach from Neptune Township, and on March 13, 1893, Bradley Beach was incorporated, based on the results of a referendum held on March 6, 1893.

[28] The borough was the first place in the United States to charge sea bathers for beach access when it began minting its own tin badges starting in 1929.

[30] Sand dunes were constructed on the borough's beaches in 2000 at a cost of $10,000, using snow fences and discarded Christmas trees to build a base of wind-driven sand that rose 15 feet (4.6 m), atop which dune grass was planted.

[32][33][34] The 2010 United States census counted 4,298 people, 2,098 households, and 980 families in the borough.

[41] As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 4,793 people, 2,297 households, and 1,086 families residing in the borough.

[46][47] The borough had previously operated under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government starting in 1915, and used a five-member commission, with one member selected to serve as mayor.

[48][49] As of 2025[update], the mayor of Bradley Beach is Alan N. Gubitosi, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2028.

Members of the Borough Council are Council President Jane DeNoble, Shana Greenblatt (elected to serve an unexpired term), Paul Nowicki and John Weber, all serving concurrent terms ending December 31, 2025.

[4][50][51][52] The five members of a Charter Study Commission began meetings in December 2024 to consider possible changes to the borough's form of government.

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

[58] 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).

[90] Public school 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.

There are many activities at the library for people of all ages including various story times, a writing group and weekly Overeaters Anonymous meetings.

Route 18 is in neighboring Neptune Township, and both the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 195 are within a 10 to 15 minute drive.

NJ Transit provides rail service at the Bradley Beach station.

[103] The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 3.8 °F (−15.7 °C).

[100] The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 24[104] and fall color typically peaks in early-November.

In 1929, Bradley Beach hosted an international chess tournament at Hotel La Reine.

Alexander Alekhine, the reigning world chess champion at the time, won the tournament with an impressive score of 8.5/9.

[105] People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bradley Beach include: