Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey


Washington Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 18,533, reflecting an increase of 941 from the 17,592 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,000 from the 15,592 counted in the 1990 Census.
It is one of six municipalities in the state of New Jersey with the name "Washington Township". Washington Borough, in fact is only away. Additionally, Washington Borough is surrounded by another municipality that is also called Washington Township in Warren County.
The township has been ranked as one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2014–2018, Washington Township residents had a median household income of $150,682, nearly 90% above the statewide median of $79,363. In the 2013-2017 ACS, Washington Township had a median household income of $140,445 and included 28% of households earning more than $200,000 annually.

History

Washington Township was incorporated as a township by the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1798, from portions of Roxbury Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chester Township as of April 1, 1799. The township was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities statewide named for the first president.
On September 12, 1985, 14-year-old Rachel Domas was murdered on Fairmount Avenue by Michael Manfredonia while on her way home from school.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 44.771 square miles, including 44.387 square miles of land and 0.384 square miles of water.
Long Valley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Washington Township. The Long Valley section — the heart of the township — was called German Valley when it was first settled in the 18th century by people from Saxony, in Germany, until its name was changed around 1917 in the wake of anti-German sentiment following World War I.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bartley, Beattystown, Crestmoore, Drakestown, Fairmount, Four Bridges, German Valley, Lake George, Middle Valley, Naughright, Parker, Pleasant Grove, Pottersville, Scrappy Corner, Springtown and Stephensburg.
Schooley's Mountain is an unincorporated community in Washington Township named for the Schooley family, who owned a considerable amount of land there during the 1790s. The natural springs in the area helped attract visitors to the Schooley's Mountain section in the 1800s.
Neighboring municipalities include Morris County communities Chester Township to the east, Mount Olive to the north, Hunterdon County communities Tewksbury Township to the south and Lebanon Township to the southwest as well as Warren County communities Mansfield Township to the west and Hackettstown to the northwest. Also in Somerset County in the extreme southeast corner of the town there is a border with Bedminster Township.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $112,651 and the median family income was $124,818. Males had a median income of $92,019 versus $66,302 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $49,154. About 0.1% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.2% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 17,592 people, 5,755 households, and 4,874 families residing in the township. The population density was 392.1 people per square mile. There were 5,890 housing units at an average density of 131.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 96.16% White, 0.83% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.21% of the population.
There were 5,755 households, out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the township the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $97,763, and the median income for a family was $104,926. Males had a median income of $76,791 versus $41,759 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,489. About 1.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Washington Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Vice Mayor.
, the members of the Washington Township Committee are Mayor Matthew Murrello, Vice Mayor Kenneth W. "Bill" Roehrich, Gregg F. Forsbrey, John Tyler Oborn and Kenneth W. Short.
The 2013 property tax rate for Washington Township was $2.328 per $100 of assessed value, with an equalization ratio of 97.57%.

Federal, state and county representation

Washington Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 25th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 12,709 registered voters in Washington Township, of which 1,999 were registered as Democrats, 5,295 were registered as Republicans and 5,401 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 14 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 64.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 34.9%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 9,451 ballots cast by the township's 13,373 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 61.1% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.6% and other candidates with 0.9%, among the 10,342 ballots cast by the township's 13,315 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 64.7% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 34.1% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 9,894 ballots cast by the township's 13,048 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.8.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.5% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 22.5%, and other candidates with 2.0%, among the 5,981 ballots cast by the township's 13,294 registered voters, for a turnout of 45.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.1% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 21.5%, Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% and other candidates with 0.5%, among the 7,348 ballots cast by the township's 13,037 registered voters, yielding a 56.4% turnout.

Education

The Washington Township Schools is a public school district that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising four schools, had an enrollment of 2,082 students and 202.7 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.3:1. Schools in the district are
Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School with 497 students in grades K-5,
Flocktown-Kossmann School with 460 students in grades K-5,
Old Farmers Road School with 328 students in grades K-5 and
Long Valley Middle School with 776 students in grades 6–8.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend West Morris Central High School, which is located in the township, but has a Chester mailing address. The school is part of the West Morris Regional High School District, which also serves students from the surrounding Morris County school districts of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, who attend West Morris Mendham High School. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,237 students and 178.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1. The district's board of education has nine members who are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. The nine seats on the board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with four seats assigned to Washington Township.

Transportation

Roads and highways

The township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Morris County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
U.S. Route 46, County Route 513, and County Route 517 pass through the township. The nearest limited-access roads are Interstate 80 in neighboring Mount Olive and Interstate 78 in neighboring Tewksbury Township. U.S. Route 206 is also accessible in nearby Bedminster and Chester townships.

Public transportation

offered local bus service on the MCM5 route, which was terminated in 2010 as part of budget cuts.

Local media

Radio station WRNJ has studios, offices and its transmitter in Washington Township, broadcasting at 1510 AM and several FM stations in neighboring towns. The station is licensed to nearby Hackettstown. The official newspaper of Washington Township is The Observer-Tribune.

Notable people

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