Point Pleasant was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 21, 1920, from portions of Brick Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 19, 1920.

[26] Around 1500, the area that included the future Point Pleasant was the ceremonial meeting place of the Lenape Native Americans, who called it the "Land of Tall Timber".

In approximately 1665, the first European settlers arrived in the area, mainly fishermen, farmers and boat builders.

[25] On February 15, 1850, Governor Daniel Haines and the New Jersey Legislature separated Ocean County from Monmouth County, and created Brick Township, including the Point Pleasant area, which became independent of Brick Township in 1920, though the post office carried the designation "West Point Pleasant" until 1956.

The canal, which divides Point Pleasant in half, provides a passage for boats, and is the northernmost leg of the Intracoastal Waterway which traverses the East Coast of the United States along the Atlantic Ocean between New Jersey and Florida.

[28] Though often regarded as a summer resort, the borough's website emphasizes that it is a "year round community of approximately 19,000 residents".

[1][2] The borough is bounded on the north by the Manasquan River, on the east by Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head, on the south by Beaver Dam Creek and on the west by Brick Township; the borough also borders Mantoloking in Ocean County and Brielle in Monmouth County.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[40][41] The mayor is the head of municipal government; sees that state laws and borough ordinances are faithfully executed; presides over the council.

The council gains appointment power upon failure to confirm mayor's appointee or after office vacant for thirty days.

As of 2022[update], the mayor of Point Pleasant is Republican Robert A. Sabosik, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022.

Republican incumbents Joseph Furmato Jr. and Charlene Archer will each serve another three-year term after running unopposed for borough council.

[49][50] In February 2015, the borough council selected Michael Thulen Jr., from a list of three candidates recommended by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Robert A. Sabosik vacant until he was sworn in as mayor the previous month.

[54] Prior to the 2010 Census, all of Point Pleasant had been part of the 4th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

[56][57] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[60] For the 2024-2025 session, the 10th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James W. Holzapfel (R, Toms River) and in the General Assembly by Paul Kanitra (R, Point Pleasant Beach) and Gregory P. McGuckin (R, Toms River).

[67][68][69] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[70][71] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[72][73] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[77] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.9% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 88.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

[97][98][99][100] Saint Peter School, founded in 1923, serves students in grades K–8 and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.

[105] State highways include Route 13, which extends a total of .56 miles (0.90 km), most of which is in the borough with a small portion in Bay Head.

[107] Also, Route 70 skirts through the northwest part of the borough between Brick and Brielle on the September 11th Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Manasquan River.