Watchung, New Jersey

Watchung, New Jersey
Borough
Cascading dam holds in Watchung Lake
Cascading dam holds in Watchung Lake
Official seal of Watchung, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Watchung in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left). Interactive map of Watchung, New Jersey
Location of Watchung in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Map
Interactive map of Watchung, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Watchung, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Watchung, New Jersey
Watchung is located in Somerset County, New Jersey
Watchung
Watchung
Location in Somerset County
Watchung is located in New Jersey
Watchung
Watchung
Location in New Jersey
Watchung is located in the United States
Watchung
Watchung
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°38′34″N 74°26′10″W / 40.642845°N 74.436233°W / 40.642845; -74.436233[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Somerset
IncorporatedApril 20, 1926
Government
[7]
 • TypeBorough
 • BodyBorough Council
 • MayorRonald Jubin (R, term ends December 31, 2026)[3][4]
 • AdministratorJames J. Damato[5]
 • Municipal clerkEdith G. Gil[6]
Area
[8]
 • Total
6.04 sq mi (15.65 km2)
 • Land6.02 sq mi (15.58 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)  0.46%
 • Rank256th of 565 in state
10th of 21 in county[1]
Elevation
[9]
259 ft (79 m)
Population
 (2020)[10][11]
 • Total
6,449
 • Estimate 
(2023)[10][12]
6,434
 • Rank330th of 565 in state
16th of 21 in county[13]
 • Density1,072.0/sq mi (413.9/km2)
  • Rank374th of 565 in state
12th of 21 in county[13]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07069[14][15]
Area code908[16]
FIPS code3403577600[1][17][18]
GNIS feature ID0885433[1][19]
Websitewww.watchungnj.gov

Watchung (/wɑːˈtʃʌŋ/) is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located approximately 29 miles (47 km) west of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,449,[10][11] an increase of 648 (+11.2%) from the 2010 census count of 5,801,[20][21] which in turn reflected an increase of 188 (+3.3%) from the 5,613 counted in the 2000 census.[22] It is located within the Raritan Valley region.

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.[23][24] The name "Watchung" comes from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans, meaning "high hills"[25] or from "watschu," meaning "hill."[26]

In 2012, Forbes.com listed Watchung as 384th in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $767,507.[27]

The borough is one of the state's highest-income communities.[28] Based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS) for 2014–2018, Watchung residents had a median household income of $153,341, almost double the statewide median of $79,363.[29]

  1. ^ a b c d 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MayorCouncil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Administrator, Borough of Watchung. Accessed February 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Clerk, Borough of Watchung. Accessed February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  9. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Watchung, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 14, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Watchung, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed February 14, 2013.
  15. ^ Zip Codes, State of New Jersey. Accessed September 1, 2013.
  16. ^ Area Code Lookup – NPA NXX for Watchung, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 1, 2013.
  17. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  18. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  19. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 225. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Watchung Profile, Borough of Watchung. Accessed October 22, 2015.
  25. ^ South Mountain Reservation, Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. Accessed February 3, 2015. "The presence of the early Lenape Indians lingers in the name given to the Watchung—the 'high hills.'"
  26. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 21, 2015.
  27. ^ Brennan, Morgan. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes 2012", Forbes, October 16, 2012. Accessed February 18, 2020.
  28. ^ "New Jersey Towns With Highest, Lowest Incomes: How Does Each Town Compare?". Caldwells, NJ Patch. September 14, 2017.
  29. ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/watchungboroughnewjersey,somersetcountynewjersey,NJ/PST045219 [dead link‍]