Located within the heart of the northern Jersey Shore region, the borough is a bedroom community of New York City.

[21] Shrewsbury was part of the Navesink Patent or Monmouth Tract granted soon after the creation of East Jersey in 1665.

[23][24] When it was formed in 1693, Shrewsbury covered an area of almost 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2), extending to the north to the Navesink River, south to include all of present-day Ocean County, east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the present-day border of Monmouth County.

[25] The Parker Homestead, one of the oldest structures in the state, was built by early settlers to the region.

[7] The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Eatontown, Little Silver, Oceanport, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Township and Tinton Falls.

[20][29] The 2010 United States census counted 3,809 people, 1,261 households, and 1,026 families in the borough.

[34] As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 3,590 people, 1,207 households, and 1,016 families residing in the borough.

[40] It acts as a town square for the borough, along with the nearby downtown of Red Bank.

[5] The borough form of government used by Shrewsbury 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.

[42][43] As of 2025[update], the mayor of Shrewsbury Borough is Republican Kimberly Eulner, who was appointed to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2026.

[2][44][45][46][47] In January 2024, Kimberly Eulner was sworn in as mayor for the team ending December 2026 that became vacant after mayor Erik Anderson stepped down to take office on the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners.

[48] The borough council appointed Jaclyn Woehnker in February 2022 to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Kimberly Eulner until she stepped down from office in December 2021 to take office in the New Jersey General Assembly.

In February 2016, the borough council selected Erik Anderson to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by William E. Dodge until his resignation earlier that month.

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

[56] 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).

[16] The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1978, for its significance in architecture and religion.

[88] The school features three homerooms per grade, with special classes that include physical education, art, music, computers, and for language, Spanish.

[89][90] Students from other Monmouth County municipalities are eligible to attend the high school for its performing arts program, with admission on a competitive basis.

[96][97] The Garden State Parkway is accessible in neighboring Tinton Falls or via County Route 520 in Middletown Township.

Diesel service operates from Hoboken Terminal to Bay Head Station.