Bradley Beach, New Jersey

History

Bradley Beach was named for James A. Bradley, the developer responsible for the creation of the Bradley Beach and Asbury Park. In 1871, William B. Bradner, with James A. Bradley as an investor, acquired 54 acres (22 ha) 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.

It was the first location in the United States to charge sea bathers for beach access when it began minting its own tin badges starting in 1929.

Sand dunes were constructed on the borough's beaches in the mid-1990s at a cost of $10,000, using snow fences and discarded Christmas trees to build a base of wind-driven sand that rose 15 feet (4.6 m), atop which dune grass was planted. These dunes helped provide significant protection to Bradley Beach from the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, blunting the impact of the storm surge and limiting damage in the borough to beach areas and homes near the shore to $3 million, while neighboring communities that hadn't constructed such dunes suffered much more extensive 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

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.633 square miles (1.639 km²), including 0.612 square miles (1.585 km²) of land and 0.021 square miles (0.054 km²) of water (3.32%).

The borough borders the Monmouth County municipalities of Avon-by-the-Sea, Neptune City and Neptune Township.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 4,298 people, 2,098 households, and 979.8 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,023.6 per square mile (2,711.8/km²). The borough contained 3,180 housing units at an average density of 5,196.6 per square mile (2,006.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough 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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 19.54% (840) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,098 households, 17.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.3% were non-families. 42.2% of all households 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.

In the borough, 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 census counted 98.6 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 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.

Census 2000

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 8,097.6 people per square mile (3,136.6/km²). There were 3,132 housing units at an average density of 5,291.4 per square mile (2,049.6/km²). 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.

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.

Local government

Bradley Beach has been governed within the Faulkner Act system of New Jersey municipal government under the Small Municipality plan 5, as implemented on July 1, 1992, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission. The officials that head the government are elected at large in partisan elections, including a mayor who is elected to a four-year term of office and four council members who 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.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Bradley Beach is Gary Engelstad, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2016. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Harold Cotler, Salvatore A. Galassetti, Norman Goldfarb and Thomas Volante, all serving concurrent terms ending December 31, 2016.

Federal, state and county representation

Bradley Beach is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Bradley Beach had been in the 11th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Bradley Beach had been part of the 6th 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.

New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 30th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert Singer (R, Lakewood Township) and in the General Assembly by Sean T. Kean (R, Wall Township) and Dave Rible (R, Wall Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township; term ends December 31, 2014), Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. (R, Spring Lake; 2014), Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City; 2016), John P. Curley (R, Middletown Township; 2015) and Serena DiMaso (R, Holmdel Township; 2016). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk M. Claire French (Wall Township), Sheriff Shaun Golden (Farmingdale) and Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (Middletown Township).

Politics

As of March 23, 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 to other parties.

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.

Education

The Bradley Beach School District is a single-school district serving public school students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade at Bradley Beach Elementary School. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 272 students and 28.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.44:1.

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 the overwhelming majority of Bradley Beach students are sent to Asbury Park High School and the other 7% are sent to Neptune High School. 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. 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.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 14.31 miles (23.03 km) of roadways, of which 10.90 miles (17.54 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.56 miles (4.12 km) by Monmouth County and 0.85 miles (1.37 km) 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 I-195 are too far away.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides rail service at the Bradley Beach station connecting 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.

Notable people

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