Beachwood is a borough situated in the Jersey Shore region, within Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 10,859, a decrease of 186 (−1.7%) from the 2010 census count of 11,045, which in turn reflected an increase of 670 (+6.5%) from the 10,375 counted in 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.

Beachwood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1917, from portions of Berkeley Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 12, 1917.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 201. Accessed May 1, 2026.

History What is now the borough of Beachwood dates its settlement to a 1914 plan backed by the publishers of the New-York Tribune, under which of Berkeley Township were purchased and sectioned off as a summer colony called "Beachwood". Buyers paid $19.60 for a plot of land measuring and received a six-month subscription to The Tribune as a bonus. The first residents of the community moved in during April 1915, and work on a Club House, the Pier, the Bath House, the Lodge, a dining hall and a railroad station were planned to be completed by the end of May. Other offerings within the development included tennis courts, and facilities along the beach and on the river for canoeing, sailing and swimming. The first "cottages" in the community were constructed during that first summer season.Perry, Ruth. Fifty Years of Beachwood, 1917 - 1967 , Borough of Beachwood, 1967. Accessed at the website of the Beachwood Historical Alliance, August 20, 2013.

A Property-Owner's Association was established in 1916. In addition to overseeing local services within the development, the organization also advocated that the community should become an independent municipality. Legislation was passed by the Legislature on March 22, 1917, and a referendum approving the establishment of the borough passed on April 12. On May 11, the borough's first council was elected, along with Joseph H. Senior, who was chosen by the voters as Beachwood's first mayor. A board of education was formed the following year, with school transportation provided on the back of a truck outfitted with wooden benches.

In December 2008, the Beachwood Historical Alliance was established, with the goal of the creation of an official town-run Preservation Commission for the purpose of recognizing, restoring and preserving aspects of Beachwood's formation, history, and heritage.Home Page, Beachwood Historical Alliance. Accessed October 29, 2016.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.76 square miles (7.16 km2), including 2.76 square miles (7.16 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (<0.01 km2) of water (0.04%).

The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township, Pine Beach and South Toms River.Areas touching Beachwood, MapIt. Accessed March 6, 2020.Ocean County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 6, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.Toms River Watershed , Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 3, 2022.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Beachwood had a population of 10,859. The median age was 38.2 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over.

99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,719 households in Beachwood, of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.1% were married-couple households, 14.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,860 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.5%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 9,100 83.8% Black or African American 272 2.5% American Indian and Alaska Native 28 0.3% Asian 150 1.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.0% Some other race 462 4.3% Two or more races 845 7.8% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,290 11.9%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 11,045 people, 3,682 households, and 2,953 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,826 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 92.81% (10,251) White, 1.79% (198) Black or African American, 0.07% (8) Native American, 1.50% (166) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.44% (269) from other races, and 1.38% (152) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.13% (898) of the population.

Of the 3,682 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18; 60.7% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.8% were non-families. Of all households, 15.6% were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.31.

25.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,611 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,668) and the median family income was $83,083 (+/− $4,210). Males had a median income of $58,981 (+/− $3,686) versus $46,632 (+/− $5,031) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,366 (+/− $1,915). About 5.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,375 people, 3,475 households, and 2,818 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,623 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 95.66% White, 0.97% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Beachwood borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.

There were 3,475 households, out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,022, and the median income for a family was $64,190. Males had a median income of $41,204 versus $30,189 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,247. About 2.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over. Government

Local government

Beachwood was originally governed under the Walsh Act commission form of government, which was maintained until the mid-1970s.The History of Beachwood, NJ, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2011. Beachwood is now governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49. The borough form of government used by Beachwood 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. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

, the mayor of Beachwood is Republican Ronald F. Roma Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Beachwood Borough Council are John P. Farro Jr. (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Steven Komsa (R, 2026), Gerald "Jerry" LaCrosse (R, 2025), Thomas Prince (R, 2026), Dan Santos (R, 2024; appointed to an unexpired term) and Edward Zakar (R, 2025).Our Elected Officials, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2024.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2024.Borough of Beachwood, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 3, 2024.2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 2, 2024. Accessed April 17, 2024.General Election Results November 7, 2023 Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.2022 General Election Official Results November 8, 2022, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.

In January 2024, John Farro was appointed to fill the council seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when William Cairns took office as mayor.Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for January 17, 2024, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2024.