Washington is a borough in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,299, an increase of 838 (+13.0%) from the 2010 census count of 6,461, which in turn reflected a decline of 251 (−3.7%) from the 6,712 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.

Washington was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1868, from portions of Washington Township.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. 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.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 22, 2015.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." 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".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."

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%."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"

History Washington Borough separated from Washington Township as of February 20, 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 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.History of Washington Borough, NJ Accessed April 18, 2011.

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%).

The borough of Washington is completely surrounded by Washington Township,Areas touching Washington, MapIt. Accessed March 12, 2020.Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. making it part 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.

Pohatcong Mountain is a ridge, approximately long, in the Appalachian Mountains that extends from west Phillipsburg northeast approximately to Washington. Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately to the vicinity of Hackettstown. The two ridges are sometimes called "Pohatcong Mountain" collectively.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Washington had a population of 7,299. The median age was 40.9 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.0 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,002 households in Washington, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.2% were married-couple households, 20.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,219 housing units, of which 6.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 5,440 74.5% Black or African American 580 7.9% American Indian and Alaska Native 33 0.5% Asian 231 3.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 8 0.1% Some other race 327 4.5% Two or more races 680 9.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,002 13.7%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 6,461 people, 2,623 households, and 1,668 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,897 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 85.73% (5,539) White, 6.01% (388) Black or African American, 0.09% (6) Native American, 3.42% (221) Asian, 0.08% (5) Pacific Islander, 2.21% (143) from other races, and 2.46% (159) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.50% (549) of the population.

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.

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.

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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Washington borough, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 21, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,712 people, 2,724 households, and 1,686 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,876 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Washington borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 21, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Washington borough, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 21, 2012.

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. Arts and culture