[24] Keansburg 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 its traditional downtowns, dense residential neighborhoods, maritime history, and the natural beauty of the Raritan Bay coastline.

In the time between 1609 and the early 18th century, the land was gradually purchased from the Lenni Lenape, together with other surrounding areas.

In the 18th century, farming proved to be successful on Keansburg's land, with specialties being pears, apples and corn (maize).

In this time, the settlement took on the name of Waackaack (pronounced "Way-kay-ack"), which came from the term "Wakioak" in the Lenape language meaning "Land of Plenty".

[28][29] The area adopted its second official name of Granville, which derived from the importance of the Phillips Mill, and the grain-producing farms in the region.

He later stated: "I arrived at the Granville Methodist Episcopal Church in Keansburg as pastor for the ensuing year.

I soon learned that the hamlet consisted of about 300 inhabitants, whose occupations were mainly devoted to clamming & farming.

His success at the helm of church led to another year in Granville, after which he decided to make the village his permanent home.

Ramsay and his wife, Eliza S. Wood, purchased the land that is 69 Church Street and opened a general store in 1881.

[20][31] A school was built at the cost of $30,000 in 1890 and sat on what is today the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Church Street (now Fallon Manor).

Further development continued with the creation of postcards depicting the village and land purchases, including acquisitions by William A. Gehlhaus and the Keansburg Beach Company.

He was president of the New Point Comfort Beach Company which he formed with Jesse Sculthorp and Howard Roberts.

The company owned a large real estate development in Keansburg and in 1906 laid out the Beachway.

On June 18, 1909, the New Point Comfort Beach Company bought the steamboat Accomack in Norfolk, Virginia, and started a scheduled run from New York to Keansburg on July 1 that was intended as a way to bring prospective property buyers to Keansburg.

[32] As the town became more populated, the Keansburg Beach Company sold off most of the surrounding land on Beachway Ave., keeping "just the boardwalk and amusement area.

The Dance Hall Auditorium, Keansburg Bowling Alley and the Casino Theater were destroyed by fire during this time.

The return of the Gelhaus family as proprietors of the amusement park sparked a resurgence of interest in the town.

[38] In 2012, the town added a $3 million desalination plant with Federal Stimulus Funds and a low interest loan from the N.J. Environmental Infrastructure Trust, which greatly improved the quality of the water supply.

The town had previously stopped providing well water, as saltwater intrusion into the aquifer had exceeded environmental protection standards.

[2][3] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Beacon Beach, Point Comfort and Tiltons Corner.

[41][42][43] A small piece of Middletown Township measuring 13 acres (5.3 ha) is an exclave completely surrounded by Keansburg.

[63][64][65] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch).

[68] For the 2024-2025 session, the 13th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Declan O'Scanlon (R, Little Silver) and in the General Assembly by Vicky Flynn (R, Holmdel Township) and Gerard Scharfenberger (R, Middletown Township).

[92] The current Keansburg Police Department was created under an ordinance adopted in November 1926 which consisted of five members.

The borough's first Police Marshal was James Gilligan, who was appointed in 1917 who served until his retirement in August 1943.

Having its first building on Oak Street, it later moved to a larger property at 192 Carr Avenue in 1959, where it is currently located.

[96] In November 1998, the fire company established the Keansburg EMS and housed it on their property, where it is now a separate organization, responding to over 1,600 calls each year in only a one-square-mile area.