Lebanon (pronounced "LEB-uh-nin")Franco, Judi. "20 town names in NJ with crazy pronunciations that make no sense Read More: 20 NJ town names with crazy pronunciations that make no sense", WKXW, June 29, 2023. Accessed February 5, 2025. "Case in point: Another Hunterdon County favorite is Lebanon Township. Yes, if you’re referring to the Middle Eastern country, 'Lebanon,' you’ll pronounce the last syllable 'On,' as in the opposite of 'Off.' Don’t make that mistake here, though! Our Jersey Lebanon is 'LEB-uh-nin.'" is a borough in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,665, the highest ever in any decennial census and an increase of 307 (+22.6%) from the 2010 census count of 1,358, which in turn reflected an increase of 293 (+27.5%) from the 1,065 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.

Lebanon was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1926, from portions of Clinton Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 20, 1926. Additional portions of Clinton Township were annexed in 1962.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 156. Accessed May 29, 2024.

The borough is located north of the Round Valley Reservoir. In the early part of the 19th century, before the separation of Clinton Township from Lebanon Township on April 12, 1841, the community was known as Jacksonville and later as Lebanonville, Lebanonville Depot and finally Lebanon, a station on the Central Railroad of New Jersey.

The center of Lebanon has changed little in the past century. The Dutch Reformed Church is one of the oldest congregations in the County. Records of the church begin in 1769, however, the church is cited as early as 1747.About Us, Borough of Lebanon. Accessed November 20, 2019. The Lebanon Historic District was listed on the state and national registers of historic places in 2009.

On April 5, 2024, Lebanon, Oldwick, and Tewksbury Township became epicenters of the 2024 New Jersey earthquake, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook much of the Northeast United States, rare in that area.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.90 square miles (2.34 km2), almost all of which was land.

The borough is an independent municipality surrounded by Clinton Township, making it part of one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.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.Map of County Municipalities, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,358 people, 602 households, and 366 families in the borough. The population density was 1,532.0 per square mile (591.5/km2). There were 664 housing units at an average density of 749.1 per square mile (289.2/km2). The racial makeup was 90.13% (1,224) White, 1.77% (24) Black or African American, 0.15% (2) Native American, 5.23% (71) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.88% (12) from other races, and 1.84% (25) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.01% (68) of the population.

Of the 602 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18; 46.5% were married couples living together; 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.2% were non-families. Of all households, 34.2% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

21.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 84.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 82.6 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $71,629 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,410) and the median family income was $96,500 (+/− $10,275). Males had a median income of $70,977 (+/− $9,418) versus $53,750 (+/− $18,758) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,035 (+/− $2,975). About 1.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Lebanon borough, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 15, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,065 people, 458 households, and 287 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 477 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 95.40% White, 0.66% African American, 0.19% Native American, 3.10% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Lebanon borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 15, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Lebanon borough, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 15, 2012.

There were 458 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $68,542, and the median income for a family was $83,436. Males had a median income of $52,316 versus $37,396 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,066. About 0.7% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Lebanon Borough is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, 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. 103. The borough form of government used by Lebanon 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.Intro to the Borough Form of Government in the State of NJ, Lebanon Borough. Accessed May 18, 2007.

, the mayor of Lebanon Borough is Republican James J. Pittinger, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. The Lebanon Borough Council is comprised of Council President Richard J. Burton (R, 2024), Samuel Berger (R, 2024), Gregory F. Crawford (R, 2025), Robert J. Kirchofer (R, 2025), James Lance (R, 2023) and Mary Basile Logan (R, 2023).Directory, Borough of Lebanon. Accessed May 4, 2023.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Lebanon. Accessed May 4, 2023.Borough of Lebanon, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 4, 2023.2022 County and Municipal Directory, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2023.Hunterdon County District Canvass November 8, 2022, General Election, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.November 2, 2021 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.November 3, 2020 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.

In August 2019, the borough council selected Melissa Saharic to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the resignation of Michael Piagentini, who left office the previous month after announcing that he was moving out of the borough."The Lebanon Borough Council welcomes Councilwoman Melissa Saharic.", The Lebanon Lantern, Autumn 2019. Accessed November 20, 2019. "I want to thank Mike Piagentini for his service to Lebanon Boro on the town council. Mike resigned in July as his family relocated to Clinton Township. Congratulations and welcome to Melissa Saharic, who was voted onto the council to fill Mike’s vacancy in August." In November 2019, Saharic was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.Hunterdon County District Canvass November 5, 2019, General Election , Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 14, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.

After Republican incumbent Barbara "Bonnie" Schmidt and Democratic challenger Marlene Baldinger ended up tied with 431 votes for the second of two council seats in the November 2016 general election, the two faced off in a January runoff, which Baldinger won by a 183-135 margin.O'Brien, Walter. "Lebanon Borough reorganizes after run-off election", Hunterdon Review, January 4, 2017. Accessed May 15, 2017. "Attorney Judith Novack swore in Republican Jeffrey Schneider and Democrat Marlene Baldinger for three-year terms, and Republican Michael Piagentini for one-year unexpired term. Baldinger replaced former Councilwoman Barbara 'Bonnie' Schmidt after a Tuesday, Jan. 3, run-off election in the borough in when Baldiner garnered 183 votes and Schmidt 135. The two had tied for the second of three three-year terms after Schneider had taken in the most votes of the three in November."

Federal, state and county representation