Washington was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1868, from portions of Washington Township.[23] The borough was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities in the state of New Jersey that were named for the first president.[24][25] The Borough of Washington is surrounded by Washington Township, which is one of five municipalities in the state of New Jersey with the name "Washington Township".[26]
The borough had the 26th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.206% in 2020, compared to 2.967% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[27]
History
Washington Borough separated from Washington Township as of February 20, 1868.[23] The community grew during the 19th century as a result of the transportation routes that ran through or near the borough. The Morris Canal ran along the north end of town and two rail lines of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad crossed within the borough. Intersecting in the center of the borough are two major roadways, which today are Route 31 and Route 57. The borough was ultimately named for the "Washington House", a tavern built by Revolutionary War Col. William McCullough in 1811 that was later destroyed by fire in 1869.[28]
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the borough became a mecca of musical instruments manufacturers, the manufacture of organs in particular. A bustling downtown developed around these businesses. Many of the Victorian style houses in the borough, as well as Taylor Street School and Warren Hills Middle School (formerly Washington High School) were built during this period.
The advent of the automobile brought Washington closer to both the Lehigh Valley and New York City. In the years following World War II, the population increased, and there were many new houses and apartment complexes built. A portion of the Downtown area was devastated by a major fire in 1962. Education at the Middle and High School level was regionalized in 1968, and a new elementary school was also built (Memorial School).
The 1990s saw a population boom in Warren County, which continues today, as high real estate prices and property taxes in New Jersey's northeastern counties push buyers to look further west. Although the borough itself does not have much room to grow, it has benefited from the growth of the nearby townships. Efforts are underway to revitalize the downtown with new residential and retail properties.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.97 square miles (5.10 km2), including 1.97 square miles (5.09 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (0.15%).[1][2]
The borough of Washington is completely surrounded by Washington Township,[29][30][31] making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[32]
Pohatcong Mountain is a ridge, approximately 6 mi (9.7 km) long, in the Appalachian Mountains that extends from west Phillipsburg northeast approximately to Washington. Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately 6 mi (9.7 km) to the vicinity of Hackettstown. The two ridges are sometimes called "Pohatcong Mountain" collectively.
Of the 2,623 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18; 46.3% were married couples living together; 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 36.4% were non-families. Of all households, 30.2% were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.09.[20]
23.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.6 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $57,468 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,449) and the median family income was $68,510 (+/− $11,488). Males had a median income of $53,654 (+/− $13,162) versus $41,755 (+/− $12,531) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,554 (+/− $5,374). About 8.1% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.[41]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 6,712 people, 2,724 households, and 1,686 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,429.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,324.3/km2). There were 2,876 housing units at an average density of 1,469.6 per square mile (567.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.45% White, 3.89% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.17% of the population.[39][40]
There were 2,724 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.15.[39][40]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.[39][40]
The median income for a household in the borough was $47,000, and the median income for a family was $61,379. Males had a median income of $41,436 versus $31,880 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,166. About 5.0% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.[39][40]
Arts and culture
Notable annual events include Washington Celebrates America, which takes place every July 4;[42]Warren Arts and Craft Beer Festival, held every year in April;[43] and Festival in the Borough, which takes place every September.[44]
Government
Local government
Washington operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of municipal government. The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[45] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the six-member borough council, all of whom are elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general elections. The mayor and members of the borough council are elected to four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two seats (plus the mayor) or four seats coming up for election in even-numbered years. The council selects a borough manager who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the municipality.[7][46][47]
As of 2023[update], the borough's Mayor is Democrat Ethel Conry, who was elected to serve an unexpired term of office ending on December 31, 2024.[3] Members of the Borough Council are Deputy mayor Louann M. Cox (Republican, 2024), Jerry Brown (R, 2026), Edward France (R, 2026), Cassandra Gorshkov (R, 2026), Christopher Infinito (R, 2024;appointed to an unexpired term) and Sherri Musick (R, 2026).[48][49][50][51]
In January 2022, the borough council appointed Sonia Ron to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Chelsea Duchemin.[52]
Following the resignation of Mayor David Higgins in December 2021, the borough council voted the following month to leave the position vacant until the November 2022 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office through December 2024.[53] In the November 2022 general election, Ethel Conry was elected to fill the remainder of the mayoral term.[50]
In January 2017, Paul Jones was selected on an interim basis to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that became vacant when David Higgins took office as mayor.[54] Dewayne Keith Norris was elected in November 2017 to fill the vacant seat for the remainder of the term of office.[55] A month later, the borough was informed that Norris had faced a number of criminal charges in previous decades including having been sentenced in 1994 to serve 45 days in jail on a misdemeanor larceny charge. The council passed a symbolic no confidence vote by a 4-2 margin, though Norris indicated that he was unwilling to resign from office.[56]
Kristine Henry, who had served as Washington's clerk and borough manager, was sentenced in January 2018 to seven years in jail, lost her ability to work in a public job and was required to repay $97,000 she had stolen from the borough after writing a series of checks payable to herself from 2011 to 2016. Her role was filled by Matthew Hall, who was the borough's manager for several years and helped improve the town's sewers, garbage collection system, and paved the way for new businesses and residences to be built in the area.[57]
Federal, state, and county representation
Washington Borough is located in the 7th Congressional District[58] and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[59][60][61]
Warren County is governed by a three-member Board of County Commissioners, who are chosen at-large on a staggered basis in partisan elections with one seat coming 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 Commissioner Director and other as Deputy Director.[67] As of 2024[update], Warren County's Commissioners are:
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.[79] 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).[79][80]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,160 votes (48.5% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,158 votes (48.4% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 41 votes (1.7% vs. 1.7%), among the 2,391 ballots cast by the borough's 3,863 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.9% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).[81][82] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,256 votes (48.1% vs. 41.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,249 votes (47.9% vs. 55.2%) and other candidates with 43 votes (1.6% vs. 1.6%), among the 2,609 ballots cast by the borough's 3,730 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.9% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).[83] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,477 votes (58.1% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,021 votes (40.2% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.1% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,540 ballots cast by the borough's 3,518 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.2% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).[84]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.7% of the vote (880 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.2% (392 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (27 votes), among the 1,325 ballots cast by the borough's 4,012 registered voters (26 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 33.0%.[85][86] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 960 votes (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).[87]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 27.03 miles (43.50 km) of roadways, of which 23.99 miles (38.61 km) were maintained by the municipality, 0.15 miles (0.24 km) by Warren County and 2.89 miles (4.65 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[105]
The main highways serving Washington are New Jersey Route 31 and New Jersey Route 57. Route 31 travels north–south, while Route 57 is oriented east–west.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Washington include:
^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."
^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."
^"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 26. Washington Borough Equalized tax rate in Washington Borough, Warren County, was 4.206 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Warren County: 2.967"
^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.
^Cummins, Emily. "Washington Celebrates America returns to the borough on July 4", NJ.com, July 1, 2014. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Washington Borough — Washington Celebrates America, an Independence Day celebration of events, will return to the borough on Friday, July 4, featuring a soap box derby for kids, an old fashioned parade and fireworks."
^Cummins, Emily. "Washington sees large turnout for Warren Arts and Craft Beer Festival (PHOTOS)", NJ.com, April 25, 2015. Accessed October 22, 2015. "With live music, belly dancing, cloggers, original art, vendors and food, the annual Warren Arts Festival in downtown Washington ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, including for the first time ever craft beer on tap."
^Reorganization Meeting Minutes for January 4, 2022, Borough of Washington. Accessed March 2, 2022. "A motion made by Noone and seconded by Conry to fill the unexpired vacancy left by Chelsea Duchemin; all were in favor with the exception of Cox voting no.... Attorney Parikh administered the oath of office to Sonia Ron."
^Meeting Minutes of January 12, 2022, Borough of Washington. Accessed March 2, 2022. "WHEREAS, on December 28, 2021, Mayor David Higgins ('Mayor Higgins') resigned from his position of Mayor for the Borough of Washington; and WHEREAS, the term of the office held by Mayor Huggins expires, as a matter of law, on December 31, 2024; and WHEREAS, the resignation of Mayor Higgins created a vacancy in the office of Mayor for the Borough of Washington... BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the office of Mayor that has become vacant by the resignation of Mayor Higgins is to be remain temporarily vacant during the interim period from the time the vacancy occurred until the time of the 2022 general election."
^Novak, Steve. "N.J. borough council learns official has criminal record, holds no-confidence vote", The Express-Times, December 22, 2017. Accessed February 3, 2018. "A Warren County borough council has declared no confidence in its newest member after learning of his criminal record from decades ago in North Carolina. Dewayne Keith Norris, a local firefighter, has served on Washington's borough council only since November. He has also served jail time and still has a standing order for arrest on at least one charge, according to the North Carolina county courts that confirmed the veracity of some of the charges."
^Novak, Steve. "N.J. borough's ex-manager sentenced to 7 years for stealing $97K", The Express-Times, January 5, 2018. Accessed January 3, 2018. "The former clerk and manager of a Warren County borough stole almost a year's worth of pay by cutting herself checks over five years. Now, Kristine Henry, 48, will spend the next seven years behind bars, pay back the $97,182 she stole from the borough of Washington and will be barred from ever holding a public job again."
^Governmental Structure, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022. "Warren County operates under the County Commissioner form of county government. The Board of County Commissioners consists of three Commissioners each elected at large for staggered terms of three years. The Commissioner Director is chosen by the full board at the board's annual reorganization meeting in January. The Commissioners supervise, direct and administer all county services and functions through the various departments, autonomous boards, agencies, and commissions. Reporting to the Board of County Commissioners is an appointed County Administrator."
^Jason J. Sarnoski, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^Lori Ciesla, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^James R. Kern III, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^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."
^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."
^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."
^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."
^Staff. "Obituaries", The Star-Gazette (Hackettstown), "Bobby 'Lips' Levine, 74. formerly of Washington, died Sunday, Sept. 7. Born in Washington, he was a son of the late Earl and Celia Levine."
^Mary A. Marsh, The Hall of Valor Project. Accessed June 18, 2020. "Place of Birth: Washington, New Jersey"
^Staff. "Ron Mrozinski, Former Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher", Warren Reporter, November 4, 2005. Accessed October 22, 2015. "Ronald Frank Mrozinski, 75, of Washington, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005 in his home with his family by his side."
^Sharps, american-firearms.com. Accessed May 27, 2015. "Christian Sharps, born in Washington, New Jersey in 1810."