Washington Township, Warren County, New Jersey

Washington Township is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 6,492,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 159 (−2.4%) from the 2010 census count of 6,651,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 403 (+6.5%) from the 6,248 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>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.</ref>

The township is one of six municipalities in New Jersey under the name Washington (one of which is a borough, five of which are townships). Washington Township, Warren County completely surrounds the borough of Washington. Mansfield Township, also in Warren County, borders both this municipality and another Washington Township in Morris County.

Washington Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1849, from portions of Mansfield Township. Portions of the township were taken on February 20, 1868, to create Washington Borough.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 248. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The township was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities statewide named for the first president.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 22, 2015.</ref><ref>Rondinaro, Gene. "Washington Slept Here And There And. . .", The New York Times, February 17, 1985. Accessed October 22, 2015. "First in war, first in peace and, come tomorrow, first in the hearts of his countrymen, George Washington may be nowhere more fondly remembered than in New Jersey, where 12 communities are named for him. The profusion of such names - six Washington Townships, one each in Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Mercer, Morris and Warren Counties; Washington in Warren, Washington Crossing in Mercer, Washington Heights and Washington Park in Middlesex, Washingtonville in Sussex and Washington Valley in Morris - causes problems."</ref> It is one of five municipalities in the state of New Jersey with the name "Washington Township".<ref>Wilk, Tom. "Awash in Washingtons: New Jersey has six towns named for the father of our country.", New Jersey Monthly, January 17, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2015. "In New Jersey, Washington can lay claim to another first. He's number one in names selected for the state's 566 municipalities. Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Morris and Warren counties all have a Washington Township. Warren also has a Washington Borough surrounded—naturally—by Washington Township. The largest is Gloucester County's Washington, with 52,096 people; the smallest is the Washington in Burlington, with a population of 649. New Jersey had a sixth Washington Township in Mercer County until 2008, when voters there approved a name change to Robbinsville."</ref> Another municipality, Washington Borough, is completely surrounded by Washington Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.05 square miles (46.75 km²), including 17.96 square miles (46.52 km²) of land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km²) of water (0.49%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Brass Castle (with a 2010 Census population of 1,555<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Brass Castle CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref>) and Port Colden (2010 population of 122<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Port Colden CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref>) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.<ref>GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref><ref name=CPH232>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, p. III-5, August 2012. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bowerstown, Butlers Park, Changewater, Fort Golden, Imlaydale, and Pleasant Valley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 8, 2014.</ref>

Washington Township borders the municipalities of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Oxford Township and White Township in Warren County; and Bethlehem Township, Hampton and Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County.<ref>Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> The borough of Washington is completely surrounded by Washington Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.<ref>DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.</ref>

Demographics

The township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Lehigh Valley / Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.<ref>Karp, Gregory. "Lehigh Valley, Warren County reunited as a metro area ** Economies, social patterns similar, federal office says.", The Morning Call, June 22, 2003. Accessed February 15, 2022. "This time, new rules for defining MSAs determined that because the Phillipsburg area was the biggest cluster of people in Warren County, the whole county should be lumped with the nearby Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area."</ref><ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 6,651 people, 2,380 households, and 1,899 families in the township. The population density was 376.6 per square mile (145.4/km²). There were 2,493 housing units at an average density of 141.1 per square mile (54.5/km²). The racial makeup was 93.46% (6,216) White, 2.50% (166) Black or African American, 0.24% (16) Native American, 1.91% (127) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.65% (43) from other races, and 1.25% (83) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.39% (292) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,380 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18; 69.0% were married couples living together; 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.2% were non-families. Of all households, 16.5% were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.14.<ref name=Census2010/>

24.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 32.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/> The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $91,893 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,743) and the median family income was $99,332 (+/− $12,641). Males had a median income of $78,417 (+/− $14,664) versus $51,186 (+/− $17,904) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,873 (+/− $3,286). About 2.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Washington township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref>

2020 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 6,248 people, 2,099 households, and 1,740 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,174 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 95.98% White, 1.71% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.16% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Washington township, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Washington township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2013.</ref>

There were 2,099 households, out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.7% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.1% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.26.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $77,458, and the median income for a family was $84,348. Males had a median income of $54,321 versus $35,056 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,141. About 3.0% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Washington Township is governed under the township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 8.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.

Template:As of, members of the Washington Township Committee are Mayor Robert J. Klingel (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy mayor Mark Rossi (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022), Ralph P. Fiore Jr. (R, 2024), Michael A. Kovacs (R, 2023) and George J. Willan (R, 2024).<ref name=Committee>Township Committee, Washington Township. Accessed March 4, 2022.</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Washington Township. Accessed June 21, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2021>Summary Results Report 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2020>Warren County 2020 General Election November 20, 2020 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Warren2019>General Election November 5, 2019, Warren County Official Tally, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In February 2016, the Township Committee unanimously selected George Willian from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that had been vacated by Nancy Andreson when she resigned for personal reasons shortly after taking office; Willan served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when he was elected to serve the two years remaining on the term of office.<ref>Township Committee Meeting Minutes February 16, 2016, Township of Washington. Accessed August 8, 2016. "Mayor Klingel stated newly appointed Committeewoman Nancy Anderson resigned from the Township Committee.... Mayor Klingel explained the County Committee provided the Township Committee with three names as possible replacements for Mrs. Anderson. Those names are George Willan, Theresa Iacobucci and Bill Connolly. A motion was made by Kovacs, seconded by Rossi, to appoint George Willan to fill the vacant seat on the Township Committee. ROLL CALL: Kovacs, yes; Rossi, yes; Fiore, yes; Klingel, yes The Clerk administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Willan and he joined the Committee at the dais."</ref>

In December 2013, the Township Council chose Theresa Iacobucci from among three candidates offered by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of John A. Horensky following his resignation. Iacobucci served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term through December 2015<ref>Budget Meeting Minutes December 7, 2013, Township of Washington, Warren County. Accessed February 9, 2015. "Mayor Klingel stated that due to Mr. Horensky's resignation, the County Committee has selected three candidates to fill the vacant position on the Township Committee.... The Committee voted on Theresa Iacobucci filling the vacancy on the Township Committee left by Mr. Horensky's resignation.... Mayor Klingel congratulated Theresa Iacobucci and thanked all three qualified candidates. Ms. Iacobucci will be sworn in at the Reorganization Meeting in January."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Washington Township is located in the 7th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,790 registered voters in Washington, of which 736 (19.4% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,136 (30.0% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,917 (50.6% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Warren, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 9, 2015.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 58.7% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 77.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 9, 2015.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 76.2% of the vote (1,432 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.2% (398 votes), and other candidates with 2.7% (50 votes), among the 1,924 ballots cast by the township's 4,652 registered voters (44 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 960 votes here (57.6% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 482 votes (28.9% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 167 votes (10.0% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.3% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,666 ballots cast by the borough's 3,646 registered voters, yielding a 45.7% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed February 9, 2015.</ref>

Education

Students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade attend public school in the Washington Township School District.<ref>Washington Township School District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Washington Township School District. Accessed June 18, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through six in the Washington Township School District. Composition: The Washington Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Washington Township."</ref><ref name=WarrenDistricts>Warren County 2022-2023 Public School Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed December 27, 2022.</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 422 students and 46.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.2:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Washington Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Washington Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Port Colden School<ref>Port Colden School, Washington Township School District. Accessed June 18, 2020.</ref> with 163 students in grades 1–3 and Brass Castle School<ref>Brass Castle School, Washington Township School District. Accessed June 18, 2020.</ref> with 258 students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grades 4–6.<ref>Our Schools, Washington Township School District. Accessed June 18, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Washington Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Warren Hills Regional School District, which also serves students from the municipalities of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township and Washington Borough, along with those from Oxford Township who attend for grades 9–12 only.<ref>Warren Hills Regional School District 2014 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 18, 2020. "At Warren Hills Regional, we provide our students with a strong academic foundation. From the receiving districts of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Oxford (high school tuition students), Washington Borough and Washington Township, students progress along the academic continuum led by a faculty committed to planning and implementing a variety of instructional strategies and activities that facilitate the preparation of our students for the challenge of mastering the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the Common Core State Standards."</ref><ref>Our History, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 18, 2020. "The Warren Hills Regional School District services students from Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Washington Borough and Washington Township. Oxford Township currently sends its high school students to the Warren Hills Regional High School on a tuition basis."</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>Warren Hills Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Warren Hills Regional Middle School<ref>Warren Hills Regional Middle School, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 18, 2020.</ref> located in Washington Borough with 542 students in grades 7–8 and Warren Hills Regional High School<ref>Warren Hills Regional High School, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 18, 2020.</ref> located in Washington Township with 1,205 students in grades 9–12.<ref name=WarrenDistricts/><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Warren Hills Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population, with three seats allocated to Washington Township.<ref>Warren Hills Regional Board of Education District Policy 0141 - Board Member Number and Term, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed March 31, 2020. "The Board of Education shall consist of nine [9] members as follows: Franklin Township - 1 member; Mansfield Township - 3 members; Washington Borough - 2 members; Washington Township - 3 members. The term of a Board member shall be three [3] years."</ref>

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8)<ref>F.A.Q., Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Enrollment is open, on a space available basis, to all K-8 students residing in N.J. with priority given to students residing in the districts of Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Frelinghuysen, and North Warren Regional School."</ref> or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12),<ref>About Us Template:Webarchive, Warren County Technical School. Accessed September 12, 2013.</ref> with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for PreK–12).<ref name=WarrenDistricts/><ref>About Template:Webarchive, Warren County Special Services School District. Accessed September 12, 2013.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-06-29 08 25 06 View north along New Jersey State Route 31 just north of Warren County Route 632 (Asbury-Anderson Road) in Washington Township, Warren County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 31 northbound in Washington Township

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Warren County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Warren County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Public transportation is available along Route 31 and Route 57, which are the main highways serving the township. The Route 57 shuttle runs between Washington and Philipsburg Monday-Saturday, and between Washington and Hackettstown Monday-Friday.<ref>Warren County Transportation (WCT) Shuttles And Demand Response Template:Webarchive, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed December 30, 2017. "The Route 57 Shuttle Service consists of two routes: Phillipsburg/Washington and Hackettstown/Washington shuttle routes. The designated transfer point is in Washington Township."</ref> The Route 31 shuttle operates between the Clinton Park & Ride on the southern end and Oxford Township on the northern end Monday-Friday.<ref>31 Ride, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed December 30, 2017.</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Washington Township include:

• Michael J. Doherty (born 1963), Surrogate of Warren County, New Jersey who served in the New Jersey Senate from 2009 to 2022<ref>Senator Michael J. Doherty, New Jersey Senate Republicans. Accessed December 8, 2014. "Mike Doherty and his wife, Linda, reside in Washington Township, Warren County."</ref>
• Jared Isaacman (born 1983), businessman and Commercial astronaut<ref>Schillaci, Sarah. "Warren County man attempts flight around globe in record time", The Star-Ledger, April 10, 2009, updated April 2, 2019. Accessed February 23, 2021. "Blowing past notebook-clutching reporters and cameramen angling for shots of Jared Isaacman, the 26-year-old Warren County entrepreneur who on Sunday will try for the second time to circumnavigate the globe in world-record time to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Patrick dashed from the teddy bears lined up on the wing of a jet to his mother, and back again.... It's for children like Patrick that the Washington Township resident planned to pair with the Make-a-Wish Foundation of New Jersey again as he tried to fly around the world in a light jet in under 82 hours."</ref>
• Jean Shepherd (1921–1999), writer and narrator of the popular holiday film A Christmas Story<ref>Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story, The Musical. Accessed June 7, 2015. "Shep actually lived in Washington Township, New Jersey during this time, and his commute up and down Route 22 yielded a unique perspective on modern American culture, which inspired a series of teleplays for PBS/WGBH's American Playhouse."</ref>
• Sung J. Woo (born 1971), Korean American writer who wrote the novel Everything Asian<ref>Lechiski, Kevin. "Warren County Community College first in New Jersey to offer creative writing degree", Warren Reporter, May 30, 2009. Accessed December 8, 2014. "Warren County Community College student Alison Stewart of Phillipsburg meets Washington Township author Sung J. Woo, whose new novel, Everything Asian, is generating a buzz nationwide."</ref>

Wineries

• Vacchiano Farm

Surrounding communities

Template:Geographic Location (8-way) Also, the township completely surrounds the borough of Washington.

External links

• Washington Township website