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Watchung, New Jersey

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Watchung, New Jersey
Borough
Map of Watchung in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Watchung in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Watchung, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Watchung, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
CountySomerset
IncorporatedApril 20, 1826
Government
[2]
 • TypeBorough (New Jersey)
 • MayorAlbert S. Ellis
 • AdministratorLaureen B. Fellin[1]
Area
 • Total6.0 sq mi (15.6 km2)
 • Land6.0 sq mi (15.6 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
[3]
272 ft (83 m)
Population
 (2010 Census)[4]
 • Total5,801
 • Density966.8/sq mi (371.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
07069
Area code908
FIPS code34-77600Template:GR[5]
GNIS feature ID0885433Template:GR
Websitewww.watchungnj.com

Watchung is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,801.[4]

Watchung was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 23, 1926, from portions of North Plainfield Township (now Green Brook Township) based on the results of a referendum held on April 20, 1926.[6]

Geography

Watchung is located at 40°38′21″N 74°26′37″W / 40.639202°N 74.443715°W / 40.639202; -74.443715 (40.639202, -74.443715).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 6.0 square miles (16 km2), of which, 6.0 square miles (16 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.33%) is water.

The name 'Watchung' comes from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans, meaning 'high hills'. It is from the first ridge of the Watchung Mountains that George Washington surveyed the British troops in Perth Amboy many miles SSE. The eastern reach of these ridges is to the Oranges in the direction of Newark.

The Stony Brook flows through Watchung borough. Making its way from Warren Township to the Watchung Lake, then through the gorge in the first Watchung mountain and over the Wetumpka Falls, on its way to the Green Brook.

It is roughly a 40 minute drive from New York City, and a 30 minute drive from Newark.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930906—
19401,15827.8%
19501,81857.0%
19603,31282.2%
19704,75043.4%
19805,29011.4%
19905,110−3.4%
20005,6139.8%
20105,8013.3%
Population 1930 - 1990.[7]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,613 people, 2,098 households, and 1,617 families residing in the borough. The population density was 933.0 people per square mile (360.0/km2). There were 2,155 housing units at an average density of 358.2 per square mile (138.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 84.30% White, 3.37% African American, 0.09% Native American, 9.85% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population.

There were 2,098 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $101,944, and the median income for a family was $120,764. Males had a median income of $80,658 versus $54,167 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $58,653. About 0.5% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

Watchung, from the 1900s was a semi-rural small community of about 3,200 people in comparison with the relatively much larger cities of Plainfield and Somerville. The first mayor of the town was Henry Baldwin Macdonald (1926–28). Even as late as the 1960s, it was common for residents to know one another by name, with few moving in or out of the town. The 1967 Plainfield riots, however, caused an exodus of the large upper-middle class population from the nearby cities to move to the Watchung Hills area to towns such as Watchung, Warren Township and Bridgewater Township. It was at this time that Watchung became a bedroom community and the average income and median house prices soared.

Fishing is allowed at Watchung Lake on a catch-and-release basis only.

In public fear which ensued after the 1938 radio broadcast of H.G. Wells' The War Of The Worlds, National Guard Troops were stationed around the hills in Watchung, as told on the vinyl record recording of news reports of the day.[citation needed]

Sports in the town of Watchung lays out a wide history of high talented athletes. Watchung has produced extremely high set of athletes in the past years. Between Bobby Thomson, Billy Ard, Tom Glassic, Brendan Ard, Keith Sims, and Carl Banks.

Government

Cascading dam holds in Watchung Lake.
Park below the dam.
Sign post.
View of Watchung Lake.

Local government

Watchung is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office and only votes to break a tie. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[2]

The Mayor of Watchung Borough is Gerald M. 'Gerry' Mobus. Members of the Watchung Borough Council are Council President Thomas Franklin, Stephen L. Black, Debra Joren, Karen Cassidy, William Nehls and Stephen Pote.[8]

Federal, state and county representation

Watchung is in the 7th Congressional district. For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).[9] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[10] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024).[11][12]

Watchung is in the For the 2024-2025 session, the 21st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jon Bramnick (R, Westfield) and in the General Assembly by Michele Matsikoudis (R, New Providence) and Nancy Munoz (R, Summit).[13]

Template:NJ Somerset County Freeholders

Politics

Watchung leans toward the Republican Party on the national and state levels.[14] In the 2008 Presidential Election, Republican John McCain received 55% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received around 43%.[15] In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 61% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 31%.[14]

Education

Students in Kindergarten through eighth grade are educated by the Watchung Borough Schools. Schools in the district (with 2004-05 school enrollment data from the New Jersey Department of Education School Report Cards[16]) are Bayberry Elementary School with 365 students in grades K - 4, and Valley View School with 322 students in grades 5 - 8.

Watchung's students in public school for grades 9-12 attend Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren Township together with students from the neighboring communities of Green Brook Township and Warren Township (in Somerset County) and Long Hill Township (in Morris County).[17] As of the 2005-2006 school year, there were over 1,900 students attending.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Watchung include:

References

  1. ^ Administration, Borough of Watchung. Accessed April 27, 2008.
  2. ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 94.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Watchung, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  4. ^ a b 2010 Census Data, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 11, 2011.
  5. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 225.
  7. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ Watchung Borough Mayor & Council, Borough of Watchung. Accessed April 27, 2008.
  9. ^ "Congressman Malinowski Fights For The Corporate Transparency Act", Tom Malinowski, press release dated October 23, 2019. Accessed January 19, 2022. "My name, Tom Malinowski. My address, 86 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553."
  10. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  11. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
  12. ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Legislative Roster for District 21, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 18, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Governor Morris County" (PDF). State of New Jersey. 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  15. ^ "Presidential Election Results Morris County" (PDF). State of New Jersey. 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  16. ^ 2006 New Jersey School Report Cards, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 11, 2007.
  17. ^ Somerset County School Districts-Sending/Receiving/Regional, Somerset County Superintendent of Schools. Accessed April 27, 2008.
  18. ^ Kinkhabwala, Aditi. Super bowl champion. "Top RU recruit is talking tough", The Record (Bergen County), January 29, 2007. Accessed July 11, 2007. "Ard went on to Green Bay for three years before coming home in 1991 to Watchung."
  19. ^ Sturken, Barbara. "Off the Field, Giants Call New Jersey Home", The New York Times, March 31, 1991. Accessed February 5, 2008.
  20. ^ Charles Aubrey Eaton, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 9, 2007.
  21. ^ Dransfeldt, Jeffrey. "On the 'Road' again", Oregon Daily Emerald, January 31, 2008. Accessed February 5, 2008. "Prepon grew up in a small town herself in Watchung, N.J. She finds enthusiasm with low-key activities in horseback riding and fly fishing. She also has an understanding of the intimate nature of small-town life."
  22. ^ "BASEBALL; 40 Years Later, Here's the Pitch", The New York Times, October 3, 1991, accessed April 6, 2008. " Bobby Thomson and Ralph Branca will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their historic showdown at the Polo Grounds by spending today together and earning more money than if they had won the World Series. They will have an early wake-up call, Thomson at his home in Watchung, N.J...."
  23. ^ Martin, Douglas. "Adella Wotherspoon, Last Survivor of General Slocum Disaster, Is Dead at 100", The New York Times, February 4, 2004. Accessed April 6, 2008. "After his death, Mrs. Liebenow and her daughter moved to Watchung, N.J., where Mrs. Wotherspoon made her home for the rest of her life."
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