Bradley Beach is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,282, The summer population can reach 30,000. In 1871, William B. Bradner, with James A. Bradley as an investor, acquired of land north of Avon-by-the-Sea, and south of Ocean Grove. At the time the area where they had purchased their land was known informally as Ocean Park and was part of Ocean Township and later became part of Neptune Township.

Citizens appealed to the New Jersey Legislature for a referendum to separate Bradley Beach from Neptune Township, and on March 13, 1893, Bradley Beach was incorporated, based on the results of a referendum held on March 6, 1893. The borough's incorporation was confirmed on March 13, 1925.

The borough was the first place in the United States to charge sea bathers for beach access when it began minting its own tin badges starting in 1929. In the mid-20th century, Bradley Beach became known as "Chinatown by the Sea", in reference to the significant number of Chinese people who migrated to the borough from Chinatown, Manhattan.

Sand dunes were constructed on the borough's beaches in 2000 at a cost of $10,000, using snow fences and discarded Christmas trees to build a base of wind-driven sand that rose , atop which dune grass was planted. These dunes did little to provide protection from the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Damage in the borough to beach areas and homes near the shore was more than $3 million, while some neighboring communities that hadn't constructed such dunes also suffered similar damage.

The borough had gone into decline after World War II, with growth returning around 2000 as seasonal visitors and new residents purchased properties, which borough regulations require that they must be renovated on the same footprint as the original home.

Geography

thumb|left|300px|The beach and boardwalk of Bradley Beach

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.63 square miles (1.64&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 0.61 square miles (1.58&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (3.33%).

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Bradley Beach had a population of 4,282. The median age was 47.7 years. 12.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.0 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,157 households in Bradley Beach, of which 15.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.0% were married-couple households, 26.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 44.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census

There were 2,297 households, out of which 18.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.7% were non-families. 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.91. Circa 1941 a woman of Chinese ancestry bought a house in Bradley Beach, and other followed her. Bradley Beach became known as a vacation community for ethnic Chinese. The borough is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is only available to municipalities with a population less than 12,000 at the time of adoption. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the four-member borough council, whose members are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections. The mayor is elected to a four-year term of office and the four council members are chosen to serve three-year terms on a concurrent basis. As of 2010, the borough's nonpartisan elections were shifted from May to the November general election as part of an effort to reduce costs and increase voter participation. The borough had previously operated under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government starting in 1915, and used a five-member commission, with one member selected to serve as mayor.

, the mayor of Bradley Beach is Alan N. Gubitosi, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2028. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Jane DeNoble, Shana Greenblatt (elected to serve an unexpired term), Paul Nowicki and John Weber, all serving concurrent terms ending December 31, 2025.

The five members of a Charter Study Commission began meetings in December 2024 to consider possible changes to the borough's form of government. The commission will report, having been allocated $50,000 for its work. A report will be produced by August and if a charter change is recommended, the voters will make the choice to accept the change as part of the November 2025 general election.

Federal, state, and county representation

Bradley Beach is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district.

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,514 registered voters in Bradley Beach, of which 763 (30.4%) were registered as Democrats, 468 (18.6%) were registered as Republicans and 1,279 (50.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

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In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.9% of the vote (1,026 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 42.7% (783 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (25 votes), among the 1,856 ballots cast by the borough's 2,681 registered voters (22 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.2% of the vote (1,152 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 39.7% (814 votes) and other candidates with 2.1% (43 votes), among the 2,050 ballots cast by the borough's 2,803 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 54.5% of the vote (1,133 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 43.9% (912 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (24 votes), among the 2,078 ballots cast by the borough's 2,964 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.1.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.9% of the vote (784 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 34.5% (423 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (20 votes), among the 1,240 ballots cast by the borough's 2,721 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.8% of the vote (667 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.0% (515 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.8% (87 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (13 votes), among the 1,287 ballots cast by the borough's 2,641 registered voters, yielding a 48.7% turnout.

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Education

The Bradley Beach School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Bradley Beach Elementary School. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 263 students and 37.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.0:1.

For public school students in ninth through twelfth grades, the school district maintains sending/receiving relationships with the Asbury Park Public Schools and Neptune Township Schools under which 93% of Bradley Beach students are sent to Asbury Park High School and the other 7% are sent to Neptune High School. As of the 2020–21 school year, Asbury Park High school had an enrollment of 682 students and 54.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1 and Neptune High School had an enrollment of 1,270 students and 115.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

An application program with Red Bank Regional High School or the schools in the Monmouth County Vocational School District are alternatives available for students from the borough attending public high school.

Public school students also have the option to attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como, which accepts students on a lottery basis from the communities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como.

Public high school students may also apply to attend one of the magnet schools in the Monmouth County Vocational School District—Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, High Technology High School, Biotechnology High School, and Communications High School.

The Bradley Beach Public Library is located at 511 Fourth Avenue, on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Hammond Avenue. In early 2017, a building expansion was added to the south elevation of the circa 1927 built library building. The structural design was performed by the Structural Engineering department of French Parrello Associates (FPA). There are many activities at the library for people of all ages including various story times, a writing group and weekly Overeaters Anonymous meetings. In the spring of 2014 the library introduced a book bike which a librarian or volunteer rides around town and on the boardwalk to give books and to tell residents about the opportunities and activities coming up at the library and around the borough.

Transportation

thumb|300px|[[New Jersey Route 71|Route 71 (Main Street), the main highway in Bradley Beach]]

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 71 (Main Street) is the main road that runs through the town. Route 18 is in neighboring Neptune Township, and both the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 195 are within a 10 to 15 minute drive.

thumb|left|300px|Bradley Beach station, which is served by NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides rail service at the Bradley Beach station. Commuter service connects the borough to Hoboken Terminal, Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station on the North Jersey Coast Line.

NJ Transit bus service is available between the borough and Philadelphia on the 317 route, with local service offered on the 830 route.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Bradley Beach has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature above , at least four months with an average temperature greater than or equal , at least one month with an average temperature greater than or equal and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid with a cooling afternoon sea breeze in Bradley Beach, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values greater than . Since 1981, the highest air temperature was on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average mean dew point was on August 13, 2016. The average wettest month is July which correlates with the peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is . Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below . The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Bradley Beach would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25). The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of . and fall color typically peaks in early-November.

Chess

In 1929, Bradley Beach hosted an international chess tournament at Hotel La Reine. Alexander Alekhine, the reigning world chess champion at the time, won the tournament with an impressive score of 8.5/9.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bradley Beach include:

  • James A. Bradley (1830–1921), New Jersey State Senator, philanthropist and real estate developer, who developed Asbury Park and was the namesake of Bradley Beach
  • TJ Lubinsky (born 1972), radio host
  • James D. Melville Jr. (born 1957), diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Estonia
  • Jeannette Mirsky (1903–1987), author who was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1947 for her biographical writings on the history of exploration
  • Pat Pacillo (born 1963), former Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1987 and 1988
  • Christine Quinn (born 1966), Speaker of the New York City Council
  • Cesar Romero (1907–1994), actor
  • Philip Roth (1933–2018), author of Goodbye, Columbus and Portnoy's Complaint
  • Isaac Schlossbach (1891–1984), polar explorer, submariner and aviation pioneer
  • Bruce Springsteen (born 1949), musician
  • Thomas Vezzetti (1928–1988), 33rd Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey
  • Tommy West (1942–2021, born as Thomas Picardo), singer-songwriter and record producer
  • Murray A. Wiener (born 1909), polar explorer

References

  • Bradley Beach website
  • Bradley Beach Elementary School
  • School Data for the Bradley Beach Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics