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, a decrease of 16 (−0.4%) from the 2010 census count of 4,298, which in turn had reflected a decrease of 495 (−10.3%) from the 4,793 counted at the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. The summer population can reach 30,000.A Brief History on Bradley Beach, NJ, accessed May 1, 2007. "Today, the year-round population is 5,000 - but it soars to 30,000 during the summer months."

History Bradley Beach was named for James A. Bradley, the developer responsible for the creation of the Bradley Beach and Asbury Park.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 54. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 27, 2015. 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.About, Bradley Beach. Accessed January 23, 2025. "The next piece of historical information occurs almost two centuries later, in 1871, when William B. Bradner purchased fifty-four acres of land south of Ocean Grove. James A. Bradley, a wealthy New York manufacturer, was also in the investment. The land was part of Ocean Township at the time and subsequently became part of Neptune Township under the name of Ocean Park. However, the post office informed Bradner that the community would have to change its name due to its similarity to Ocean Port. William Bradner did not want to suggest his own name, so one of the post office officials said, 'You have a man down here by the name of Bradley. Why don't you call it Bradley Beach?'" 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.A Brief History on Bradley Beach, Bradley-Beach.com. Accessed August 19, 2007.

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.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.

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.Bowman, Bill. "Beach tags, N.J. novelty, turn 75; Badges Were A Bradley Beach Brainchild", Asbury Park Press, June 26, 2004. Accessed March 12, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Bradley Beach is generally acknowledged as the first town to institute a beach badge system The town began requiring the badges 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.Navarro, Mireya; and Nuwer, Rachel. "Resisted for Blocking the View, Dunes Prove They Blunt Storms", The New York Times, December 3, 2012. Accessed December 4, 2012. "Richard T. Bianchi Jr., public works supervisor in New Jersey's Bradley Beach, said the town began building its 15-foot-high dune barrier along the mile-long waterfront in the 1990s by laying 25,000 feet of snow fencing in a saw-tooth pattern down the beach and later adding 20,000 recycled Christmas trees as traps for drifting sand. After wind pushed sand over the structure, shoots of dune grass were planted to further stabilize the barrier. When Hurricane Sandy came, the force of the waves flattened the dunes but left the town's Boardwalk and the houses just 75 feet from it intact."

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.Kirby, David. "Havens; Weekender | Bradley Beach, N.J.", The New York Times, June 11, 2004. Accessed August 28, 2013. "It fell into a decline, despite the continuing presence of a loyal corps of year-rounders, and then, six or seven years ago, more weekenders began fixing up old houses.... The population swells from 5,000 to 30,000 in season as parents bring their children for old-fashioned summers by the sea. Renovations are the norm because zoning ordinances require that rebuilding be done on the original footprint."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.63 square miles (1.64 km2), including 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (3.33%).

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Avon-by-the-Sea, Neptune City and Neptune Township.Areas touching Bradley Beach, MapIt. Accessed March 20, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 20, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

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.

There were 3,221 housing units, of which 33.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,235 75.5% Black or African American 84 2.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 39 0.9% Asian 57 1.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 500 11.7% Two or more races 366 8.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 880 20.6%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 4,298 people, 2,098 households, and 980 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,180 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 85.06% (3,656) White, 4.96% (213) Black or African American, 0.42% (18) Native American, 1.81% (78) Asian, 0.02% (1) Pacific Islander, 5.21% (224) from other races, and 2.51% (108) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.54% (840) of the population.

Of the 2,098 households, 17.0% had children under the age of 18; 32.0% were married couples living together; 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 53.3% were non-families. Of all households, 42.2% were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.80.

14.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $59,792 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,658) and the median family income was $75,575 (+/− $7,930). Males had a median income of $51,250 (+/− $12,410) versus $39,902 (+/− $12,133) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,446 (+/− $4,420). About 2.5% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 28, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,793 people, 2,297 households, and 1,086 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,132 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 88.15% White, 3.86% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.01% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.83% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bradley Beach borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 28, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 28, 2012.

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.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $40,878, and the median income for a family was $49,688. Males had a median income of $37,164 versus $31,276 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,438. About 5.7% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Chinese community In the 1920s, ethnic Chinese began to vacation in Bradley Beach. Circa 1941 a woman of Chinese ancestry bought a house in Bradley Beach, and others followed her. Bradley Beach became known as a vacation community for ethnic Chinese. They preferred eating non-Chinese foods while in Bradley Beach. This community became known as "Chinatown by the Sea", and a portion of it was formally recognized as such in 2023. They did not open Chinese businesses in the community as they instead had their businesses in New York City. Government Local government