Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright

Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright are the first two municipalities below the United States Government's Sandy Hook--the northernmost stem of New Jersey's barrier beach on the Atlantic coast--and an analysis of their development provides a study in contrasts. The two share a beginning as parts of the same seventeenth-century land grant, but developed very different characters following the 1865 sale of Wardells Beach. Monmouth Beach, to the south, cultivated exclusivity. Life there centered around a membership in an association, and residents cherished the peace and privacy provided by this community. Sea Bright, on the other hand, took a public profile, inviting many visitors to come and experience the Jersey Shore in the glory of summer. The town grew up around and was known for its several hotels.