What is now Surf City was originally formed as Long Beach City borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 19, 1894, from portions of Stafford Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.

[24][25] Present-day Surf City was home to one of the earliest big boarding hotels on the Jersey Shore, called the Mansion of Health, one of whose owners was Hudson Buzby.

In 1894, Surf City was incorporated, changing its name to Surf City in 1899 after the United States Postal Service required a name change before the town could incorporate, preventing it from being confused with Long Branch in Monmouth County.

The plant hardiness zone at Surf City Beach is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 3.7 °F (−15.7 °C).

[35] The 2010 United States census counted 1,205 people, 622 households, and 366 families in the borough.

[43] As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 1,442 people, 706 households, and 420 families residing in the borough.

The SCBP squad were back-to-back LBIBPA Island Champions (2007 & 2008) for the first time in the last 25+ years.

[7] The borough form of government used by Surf City 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.

[47][48] As of 2022[update], the mayor of Surf City Borough is Republican Francis R. Hodgson Sr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.

Members of the Surf City Borough Council are Council President John H. Klose (R, 2024), Peter M. Hartney (R, 2022), William D. Hodgson (R, 2023), John D. McMenamin (R, 2023;appointed to serve an unexpired term), James B. Russell (R, 2024) and Jacqueline L. Siciliano (R, 2022).

[59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[68][69][70] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[71][72] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[73][74] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[78] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 85.5% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 94.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[92] From pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, public school students attend the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District, which also serves students from Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township and Ship Bottom.

[104] Students in public school for the seventh through twelfth grades attend the Southern Regional School District, which serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District, along with students from Beach Haven and Stafford Township, as well as students from Ocean Township (including its Waretown section) who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

The main road serving the borough is County Route 607 (Long Beach Boulevard).

[113][114] TransportAzumah offers weekend service during the summer season between Midtown Manhattan in New York City and Long Beach Island with a stop at Newark Liberty International Airport.

[115] Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC9 Long Beach Island route.

[116][117][118] The LBI Shuttle operates along Long Beach Boulevard, providing free service every 5 to 20 minutes from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.