The first inhabitants of the barrier island were Lenape Native Americans who came in search of fish, crabs, clams, and scallops.

The Atlantic Ocean provided more than food; these people began using shells in place of wooden beads as their form of currency.

Over the next 25 years, lots were sold, houses and roads were built, and the population of Seaside Park began to grow.

In 1914, a newly appointed municipal clerk wrote the name of the borough as "Seaside Park" in the council minutes, combining the first two words.

Budget issues caused the business to not open in 1916, and the amusement ride and building was subsequently sold to Frank Freeman.

The combination of the completion of the Toms River Bridge on October 23, 1914,[26] and the DuPont Avenue carousel and boardwalk are what likely led to the 219% population growth shown between the 1910 and 1920 censuses in Sea Side Park.

[27] On June 9, 1955, a malfunctioning neon sign component caused a fire at a shop on the corner of Ocean Terrace and DuPont Avenue.

The fire was stopped at Stockton Avenue due in part to the fact that the boardwalk and pier ended there.

[31] The fire is believed to have started under the boardwalk, below the Kohr's Kustard stand at the southern end of the pier.

The wind pushed it northward, and fire crews were able to make a stand at Lincoln Avenue by tearing up the newly replaced boardwalk which was destroyed less than a year before by Hurricane Sandy.

On September 17, 2016, a suspected pipe bomb was placed in a trashcan and detonated, causing a small explosion, but no injuries or deaths.

[1][2] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Berkeley.

[50][51] As of 2022[update], the mayor of Seaside Park is Republican John A. Peterson Jr., whose term of office expires on December 31, 2023.

[3][52][53][54][55][56][57] In July 2015, the borough council selected Frank "Fritz" McHugh from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Dave Nicola until his resignation; McHugh served on an interim basis until the November 2015 general election, when he was elected to serve the remaining year of the term of office.

[61][62][63] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 4th congressional district is represented by Chris Smith (R, Manchester Township).

[66] 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).

[73][74][75] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[76][77] Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[78][79] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).

[83] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 85.4% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 97.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).

A number of students from Seaside Park had already been attending Lavallete Elementary School, including four of the five board of education members who voted in favor of the petition.

The Lavallete district actively supported the proposal and the Toms River Schools had posed no objection when Seaside Park had originally submitted the petition.

[99] In 2017, the Appellate Division affirmed a decision by the commissioner of education to allow Seaside Park to establish the dual send / receive relationship with the Lavallette district, rejecting the claims made by the Toms River Schools and noting the fact that the district had posed no objection when Seaside Park had submitted a petition to advance the proposal in 2015.

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

[115] People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Seaside Park include the following: Popular Attractions - Island Beach State Park - The Dock Outfitters -B&B Department Stores -Yakitty Yaks Kayaks -Shore and More General Store -O Street Playground -The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Parlour -Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Waterpark - Seaside Heights Boardwalk -Old Time Photos -Lucky Leos Coin Castle