The recorded history of Bradley Beach, NJ starts in 1871 when two men, William B. Bradner and James A. Bradley, bought 54 acres of land just south Ocean Grove. When the land was purchased, it belonged to Ocean Township and then later Neptune Township. When it was part of the Neptune Township, it took on the name Ocean Park.
Monmouth County also has a borough to the north of Bradley Beach named Oceanport. At the time, with the name Ocean Park, there was the potential for mail to get misrouted because the two names were so similar. So, the post office told Mr. Bradner that he and the community residents would have to change the name to one where there was no room for confusion. Since Mr. Bradner did not want to use his name, the borough used Mr. Bradley’s name instead. Thus, the Borough of Bradley Beach became the new name for this ocean resort area.
On March 28, 1893, Bradley Beach separated from Neptune Township and became one of Monmouth County’s earliest incorporated boroughs. With the incorporation, Bradley Beach would then establish a Marshall’s office followed by a fire station for the Pioneer Fire Company.
By 1927, Bradley Beach became a popular beachfront resort destination for those from Pennsylvania, New York, and the City of Newark. This popularity resulted in the construction of hundreds of beach dressing rooms, swimming pools, hot water baths, and shopping venues. During the 50s and 60s, people who worked in noisy cities such as New York and Newark looked to Bradley Beach as a place to establish their suburban homes and the construction of the Garden State Parkway in 1950 made it possible to live here and commute to work.