Washington, New Jersey

:"See also: Washington Township, New Jersey"

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Washington, New Jersey
settlement_type = Borough
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Washington in Warren County


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Warren
government_footnotes =
government_type = Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Marianne Van Deursen (2008)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.1
area_land_km2 = 5.1
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.0
area_land_sq_mi = 2.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6712
population_density_km2 = 1324.3
population_density_sq_mi = 3429.9

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 139
elevation_ft = 456
latd = 40 |latm = 45 |lats = 38 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 58 |longs = 45 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07882
area_code = 908
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-77270GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0881552GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Washington is a borough in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 6,712. The borough is located in the eastern most region of the Lehigh Valley.

Washington was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1868, from portions of Washington Township."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 248.]

Geography

Washington is located at coor dms|40|45|38|N|74|58|45|W|city (40.760532, -74.979231)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), all of it land.

Pohatcong Mountain is a ridge, approximately 6 mi (10 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 (10 km) to the vicinity of Hackettstown. The two ridges are sometimes called "Pohatcong Mountain" collectively.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=4410
1940=4643
1950=4802
1960=5723
1970=5943
1980=6429
1990=6474
2000=6712
estimate= 6841
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US3477270&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=washington&_cityTown=washington&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Washington borough] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 12, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,712 people, 2,724 households, and 1,686 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,429.9 people per square mile (1,322.2/km²). There were 2,876 housing units at an average density of 1,469.6/sq mi (566.5/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.

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.

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.

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.

Government

Local government

Washington operates under the Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) form of municipal government. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 103.]

Members of the Washington Borough Council are Mayor Marianne Van Deursen (R, term ends December 31, 2008), Deputy Mayor David Higgins (R, 2008), Andrew Turner (R, 2008), Charles T. Housel (R, 2010), Victor Cioni (R, 2010), Heather Oakley (R, 2008) and Christina Woykowski (R, 2010). [ [http://www.washingtonboro-nj.org/council_main.html Borough of Washington Governing Body] , Borough of Washington. Accessed June 16, 2007.] [ [http://76.162.120.189/mun/washingtonboro.html Borough of Washington] , Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed August 21, 2007.]

Federal, state and county representation

Washington Township is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

History

Washington Borough separated from Washington Township, which completely surrounds it, in 1868. 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, the Morris & Essex Railroad along the southern end. Intersecting in the center of the borough are two major roadways, which today are Route 31 and Route 57. The borough also served as a center for the farmers of the surrounding townships.

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 nearby Lehigh Valley and the not so nearby New York City area. In the years following World War II, an increasing number of Washington residents would commute to work in those two areas. In addition, people from those areas began to settle in Washington, and there were many new houses and apartment complexes built during the late 20th century. As was the case in many similar towns, the downtown area struggled to remain vibrant during this time, and a major fire did not help matters. 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.

Education

Students in grades K - 6 attend the schools of the Washington Borough Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417010 Data for the Washington Borough Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 21, 2008.] ) are [http://www.warrennet.org/washingtonboro/taylor.html Taylor Street School] with 226 students in grades K - 2 and [http://www.warrennet.org/washingtonboro/memorial.htm Memorial School] , with 280 students in grades 3 - 6.

Students in public school for grades 7 and up attend the schools of the Warren Hills Regional School District. Warren Hills is a Grade 7-12 district that serves approximately 2,100 students from the municipalities of Washington Borough, Washington Township, Mansfield Township, Franklin Township and Oxford Township (for 9-12 only). [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/41/5465/41-5465-050.html Warren Hills Regional High School 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 21, 2008. "Warren Hills Regional High School offers a comprehensive education for students in grades 9 through 12. Our school population comprises students from Washington Township, Washington Borough, Mansfield Township, Oxford Township, and Franklin Township."] Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3416970 Warren Hills Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 24, 2008.] are [http://www.warrenhills.org/mshome.html Warren Hills Regional Middle School] (grades 7 and 8; 711 students) located in Washington Borough and
Warren Hills Regional High School (grades 9 - 12; 1,403 students) located in Washington Township.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Washington include:
*Johnston Cornish (1858-1920), represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1893-1895, and was elected as the Mayor of Washington in 1884, 1885 and 1886. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000786 Johnston Cornish biography] , United States Congress. Accessed August 12, 2007.]
*Riley Martin, current member of Howard Stern's wackpack. Claims to have been abducted by aliens. Has a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 101.Fact|date=February 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.washingtonboro-nj.org Washington Borough website]
* [http://www.co.warren.nj.us/mun/washingtonboro.html Warren County page for Washington Borough]
* [http://www.warrennet.org/washingtonboro/ Washington Borough Public Schools]
*NJReportCard|41|5480|0|Washington Borough Public Schools
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417010 Data for the Washington Borough Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.warrenhills.org/ Warren Hills Regional School District]
* [http://www.warrennet.org/warrentech/ Warren County Technical School]
* [http://www.warren.edu Warren County Community College]