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Warren County, New Jersey
Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap, between Warren County and neighboring Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Flag of Warren County, New Jersey
Flag
Seal of Warren County, New Jersey
Seal
Map of New Jersey highlighting Warren County
Location in the state of New Jersey
Map of the U.S
New Jersey's location in the U.S.
Founded November 20, 1824[1]
Named for Joseph Warren[2]
Seat Belvidere[3]
Largest city Phillipsburg (population)
Hardwick Township (area)
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

362.86 sq mi (940 km²)
356.92 sq mi (924 km²)
5.94 sq mi (15 km²), 1.64
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

109,632
Congressional districts 5th, 7th
Website www.co.warren.nj.us

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Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county's population was 109,632, representing an increase of 940 (0.9%) from the 108,692 residents counted at the 2010 U.S. Census.[4] Its county seat is Belvidere. It is part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and demarcates the eastern border of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan region.

Warren County shares a border with the New York City metropolitan area to its east, with its northwestern section bordering The Poconos. The most populous place is Phillipsburg, with 14,950 residents at the time of the 2010 Census, while Hardwick Township had both the largest area 37.92 square miles (98.2 km2) and the fewest people (1,696).[5]

Warren County was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County. At its creation, the county consisted of the townships of Greenwich, Independence, Knowlton, Mansfield, Oxford, and now defunct Pahaquarry. The county was named for Joseph Warren, an American Revolutionary War hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Geology and geography[]

According to the 2010 Census, the county had a total area of 362.86 square miles (939.8 km2), including 356.92 square miles (924.4 km2) of land (98.4%) and 5.94 square miles (15.4 km2) of water (1.6%).[5][6]

Warren County has rolling hills, with the Kittatinny Ridge in the west. Allamuchy Mountain and Jenny Jump Mountain are part of the New York – New Jersey Highlands, also known as the Reading Prong. Around 450 million years ago, a chain of volcanic islands collided with proto North America. The chain of islands went over the North American plate, thus the Highlands were created from the island rock and so was the Great Appalachian Valley. The Highlands is Allamuchy Mountains and the Jenny Jump Mountains. Thus, Warren County was born.

Around 400 million years ago, a small continent that was long and thin collided with proto North America. This created the Kittatinny Mountains, as the land was compressed from the collision. The quartzite that was lying in a shallow sea over top of the Martinsburg shale, folded and faulted due to pressure and heat. The quartzite lifted, thus the Kittatinny Mountain was born.

The final collision was when the African plate collided with the North American plate. This was the final episode of the building of the Appalachian Mountains. Then the African plate tore away from North America.

Then the Wisconsin Glacier covered the northern part of the county from 21,000 to 13,000 BC. This glacier covered the top of Kittatinny Mountain and carved the terrain in the northern part of the county. The terminal moraine runs from north of Belvidere to south of Great Meadows to north of Hackettstown, to north of Budd Lake. Blairstown Township, Hope Township, half of Independence Township, part of White Township, and all of Allamuchy Township was covered by the Glacier. When the glacier melted, a lake was formed at Great Meadows. Slowly the lake drained leaving a large flat area filled with organic material.

The county is drained by three rivers. All three rivers are shallow and narrow. They are fresh water rivers that are excellent for fishing. The Paulins Kill drains the western portion of the county. The river flows from Newton to Blairstown Township, and then through Knowlton Township where it drains into the Delaware River. The Pequest River drains the middle of the county flowing from Andover Township through Allamuchy, then to Independence Township where it turns west and flows through White Township and then empties into the Delaware River at Belvidere. The third river is the Musconetcong. Starting at Lake Musconetcong, the river divides the county from Morris and Hunterdon. This river drains the southern portion of the county and empties into the Delaware River near Warren Glen.

Warren County is located in two valleys of the Great Appalachian Valley. The first is the Kittatinny Valley, which is in the northern part of the county, and the Lehigh Valley, which is in the southern part of the county.

The Lehigh Valley starts at the terminal moraine of the Wisconsin Glacier slightly north of Belvidere. It extends from the Delaware River south to where the Musconetcong River goes into the Delaware River, northeast to the Jenny Jump Mountains and then along Route 80 to the Allamuchy Mountains to the terminal moraine near Hackettstown.

The Kittatinny Valley is north of the terminal moraine; it runs north of Belvidere, to south of Great Meadows, then east to the north of Hackettstown. Towns such as Blairstown, Johnsonburg, Hope and Allamuchy are in the Kittatinny Valley

The highest elevation is 1,600 feet (490 m) above sea level on the Kittatinny Ridge, at two areas just south of Upper Yards Creek Reservoir, west of Blairstown. The lowest point is the confluence of the Delaware and Musconetcong rivers at the county's southern tip, at 160 feet (49 m) of elevation.

The highest elevation on Allamuchy Mountain is 1,240 feet (380 m) on the ridge northeast of Allamuchy. On Jenny Jump Mountain the highest point is 1,134 feet (346 m) east of the Shiloh area or south of Interstate 80. Sunfish Pond has an elevation of 1,379 feet (420 m) and upper Yards Creek Reservoir is at 1,555 feet (474 m).

Climate and weather[]

Warren County has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb). Average monthly temperatures in downtown Phillipsburg range from 29.0 °F (−1.7 °C) in January to 74.2 °F (23.4 °C) in July, while in Hackettstown they range from 27.0 °F (−2.8 °C) in January to 71.5 °F (21.9 °C) in July. [1] The hardiness zones are 6a and 6b.

Climate chart for Belvidere, New Jersey
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
3.08
 
37
19
 
 
2.77
 
41
21
 
 
3.60
 
50
28
 
 
3.95
 
61
37
 
 
4.12
 
72
47
 
 
4.30
 
80
57
 
 
4.65
 
85
62
 
 
3.90
 
83
60
 
 
4.33
 
76
52
 
 
4.54
 
65
41
 
 
3.57
 
54
32
 
 
3.61
 
42
24
temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mm
source: The Weather Channel[7]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Belvidere have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −17 °F (−27.2 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 101 °F (38 °C) was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.77 inches (70 mm) in February to 4.65 inches (118 mm) in July.[7]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected areas[]

  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (part)
  • Middle Delaware National Scenic River (part)

History[]

Template:Cleanup rewrite


Prehistory[]

After the Wisconsin Glacier melted around 13,000 B.C., the area slowly warmed, but was still cold and wet. Cold water was everywhere due to glacial melt. Huge lakes and swamps were everywhere. There was a huge lake at Great Meadows. At first the area was Tundra, in which lichens and mosses grew. Later, grass lands filled in the landscape. As climate warmed over a thousand years, Taiga/Boreal Forests grew. The water drained slowly from the glacier and so grasslands grew first. Big game such as mastodons, mammoths, and caribou came into the area, as well as other game such as rabbits and fox. These animals ate the lichens, moss and grasses that grew. This is when Paleo Indians moved into the area. The area was rich in wildlife. Paleo Indians lived in small groups and traveled in search of game and plants to eat. They were hunter-gathers. They lived near water and moved after game became scarce in the area. They ate various berries and plants as well as game hunted. They also ate fresh water clams and fish that migrated north in the Delaware River to spawn such as shad and sturgeon. Fish were caught by spears or fish traps made of stones and sticks. The shallow riffles in rivers were used to catch fish.

They made spear points of jasper, quartz, shale, or black chert. They traveled to quarries in search of stones for spear points or they traded with other small groups for these points. They also used atl-atls, which is a stick that throws a dart with a lighter stone point than a spear. Later, coniferous forests grew as the area warmed. Paleo-Indian camp sites are many feet below the present ground surface, making them difficult to locate.

Mastodon bones dating back over 10,000 years have been found in Allamuchy, Blairstown, Hope, Independence, Liberty and Mansfield townships.[8]

The mega fauna of the tundra, such as the caribou, either moved north as the climate warmed or became extinct. Some Paleo Indians moved north with the caribou.

There are four Paleo Indians sites. One is in Warren County and the other three are nearby. The Plenge site located on the north side of the Musconetcong River in Franklin Township, Warren County. This site is estimated at 10,000 B.C. The Zierdt site is located near the Delaware River in Montague Township. The next is the Dutchess Cave in Orange County, New York, just east of the Wallkill River. This site is dated at 10,580 B.C. + or – 370 years. Caribou bones and a spear point was located at this site. The last is the Shawnee site located north of the Delaware Water Gap on the west side of the river, where Broadhead Creek enters the Delaware in Pennsylvania. This site is dated from charcoal found at 8640 B.C. + or – 300 years.

As climate warmed further, hemlock began to grow followed by deciduous trees around 8000 B.C. such as oaks, and maples. This was the beginning of the Archaic period, in which projectile points were no longer fluted but indented at the bottom of the stone point. Oak nuts and other seeds were eaten at this time. Harry's Farm site in Pahaquarry Township is an Archaic hunters camp with charcoal dating at 5430 B.C. + or – 120 years. Also the Plenge site was an Archaic camp in Franklin Township.

As climate warmed further around 3,000 B.C., beech, walnut, hickories, chestnut, and butternut grew. These trees produced nuts for feeding Archaic hunters; Archaic Indian populations grew more rapidly. As populations grew, large families became small tribes in various areas. During this time the 12 prominent hardwood tree species of Eastern North America existed in Warren County, which were Ash, Beech, Birch, Cherry, Chestnut, Elm, Hickory, Maple, Oak, Sweet Gum, Sycamore, and Walnut. The Chestnut tree is now extinct in Warren County, following the Chestnut blight that decimated the eastern U.S. in the earlier twentieth century. The Archaic period lasted from 8000 B.C. to 1000 B.C.

Native Americans[]

Around 1000 B.C. clay pottery was beginning to be used. This was the beginning of the Woodland period. With this advancement in technology, Native people could cook food better as well as store food.

Technological innovations occurred around the year 500 A. D. with the invention of the bow and arrow; as projectile points became smaller to fit onto an arrow shaft. Now Native Americans could procure more food as they could be further away from game to kill it. Atl-atls were still being used. This allowed Native Americans at this time to procure more food, as game could be taken at a longer distance. Food such as nuts could be stored in clay pots or the pots were used for cooking

Various cultures of indigenous peoples occupied the area at that time.

Eventually ancestors of the Algonquian-speaking Lenape moved into the area, perhaps as early as 1000 AD from the Mississippi River area.

Agriculture also started around that time, with the cultivation of corn, beans, and squash. Seeds were probably procured from traveling groups or tribes. Settlements of family groups became more stable, as they could store food in pottery, as well as procure more game with the bow and arrow. Agriculture contributed to the rise of population density in areas where crops could be grown. The Lenape would tend their oval gardens during the spring and summer months. They fished with nets or by hand in the shallow rivers. The Lenape trapped game with deadfalls and snares.

Problems developed in the early 17th century when the Little Ice Age came to North America. With late frost in May and June and early frosts in August or September, made the growing of crops difficult. Cold weather also made big and small game more difficult to find. as game would go into semi hibernation. Also nut crops from oak, hickory, beech, walnut, butternut, and chestnut, failed at times; making the supply of these nuts scarce. Rivers froze early, and water became cold fast; so fishing became impossible. The Native populations had declined after epidemics of infectious diseases, for which they had no acquired immunity. Native American populations were separated from Europe for thousands of years and had no immunity to these diseases that the Europeans brought with them.Template:Relevance inline Many Native American populations were weakened from starvation due to the Little Ice Age, which was coldest during the 17th century. Their important corn, bean and squash crops failed due to spring frosts and early frosts in autumn. As the Native American population declined, more land was available for European settlement. All these factors made the Native American populations decline dramatically.

Europeans purchased land known as land patents so Native Americans moved west to Ohio or Canada.

European settlement[]

The Dutch settled the Hudson River Valley and claimed all lands west of the Hudson River in the early 17th century. They claimed all land between the 40th and 45th latitude. They traded with the Native Americans for furs, such as beaver, otter, muskrat, and deer. The Dutch built a fort at the southern end of Manhattan Island known as Fort Amsterdam.Template:Relevance inline This was their main fort in North America. They also had other forts along the Hudson River up to Albany, New York.Template:Relevance inline The English took over the Fort Amsterdam in August 1664 and gain control of the land the Dutch claimed. There was a ten-year war that followed with England and the Netherlands, but the English won.

Since the English owned the Province of New Jersey, it was divided into two parts; East and West Jersey. The Quintipartite Deed of 1674 to 1702; divided the province of Jersey with two surveys: the Keith Line and the Coxe-Barclay line, which created the border of eastern Sussex county from the headwaters of the Pequannock River with a line going northeast to the line of the Province of New Jersey and New York. The western border was the Delaware River.

The area which was to be Warren County was part of Burlington County in 1694. The area became Hunterdon County in 1714. In 1739, the area of Warren County was included in Morris County. Later Sussex County separated from Morris County but the area of which was to be Warren County was included in Sussex County in 1753.[1]

During the French and Indian War of 1754, fortified homes or small forts were built along the Delaware River from Phillipsburg to Port Jervis, New York. The mountains of Warren County were the frontier of the war. Hostilities between the British and the French began to spill over from the European continent into the colonies in the New World. This was due to land claims by the English and French in western Pennsylvania and the Ohio River Valley area.Template:Relevance inline After the battle of Jumonville Glen in southwestern Pennsylvania in May 1754, French colonists in North America armed several Native American tribes. The Native Americans sided with the French due to poor treatment by the British; unfair land purchases, and the Walking Purchase in eastern Pennsylvania of September 1737.Template:Relevance inline

During the French and Indian War (as the Seven Years' War's hostilities in North America were called), Sussex County was often raided by bands of Native Americans, among them members of the Lenape, Shawnee, and Iroquois who fought against white settlers. In 1756, a small band of Lenape raided the homes of local militia commanders, killing several members of the Swartout family and kidnapping other settlers during the Hunt-Swartout raid. In response to these aggressions, Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher approved a plan for 8 forts to be constructed along the Delaware River to defend the New Jersey frontier from such incursions, and authorized the New Jersey Frontier Guard to man them. Several of these forts were little more than blockhouses, others were personal homes that were fortified. These forts went from Phillipsburg northward to Belvidere in Warren County. Then north of Blairstown to Van Campen's Inn. Then north along the eastern side of the Delaware River to Port Jervis, New York. The first fort was called Fort Reading. This fort was near the Pequest River on the south side of the river near the Belvidere-Riverton Bridge. This fort was built in 1757. The second fort was Ellison's Fort built of stone in Knowlton Township. This fort is located at the Delaware River Family Campground. The trail went through the Kittatinny Mountains north of Blairstown to Colonel Isaac Van Campen's Inn 1742, about 18 miles northeast of Fort Reading. Fort John also called Headquarters Fort was up a hill near Van Campens Fort. The next fortification was Fort Walpack build six miles north of Van Campens Fort in the bow of Walpack Bend around 1756. This is in Walpack Township.Template:Relevance inline About six miles north of Walpack Fort is Fort Nominack 1756, which is located just north of Jager Road and Old Mine Road in Sandyston Township. The next fort was Fort Shipeconk 1757 located 4 miles north of the previous fort. A fortified house owned by Captain Abraham Shimer was very close to Fort Shipeconk. Further north the next fortified house was maintained west of Port Jervis, New York and it was called Fort Cole. After Fort Cole there was Fort Gardner which was located north of Port Jervis below the Great Mountain. After the war ended in 1763, there was very few Native Americans left in Warren county.

In the present-day Phillipsburg area, European settlement occurred in the late 17th century. Surveyors from Philadelphia went north along the Delaware River to survey land. Settlers from Philadelphia moved north into present-day Warren County after colonists purchased land from the Native Americans. As the Native American population declined, more land was available for European settlement.

By the late 1700s/early 1800s, Phillipsburg, Hackettstown, Belvidere, and Washington emerged as small settlements and served as the cornerstone communities in lower Sussex County. In 1824, Warren County was established and Belvidere was named as its county seat.[9]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 18,627
1840 20,366 9.3%
1850 22,358 9.8%
1860 28,433 27.2%
1870 34,336 20.8%
1880 36,589 6.6%
1890 36,553 −0.1%
1900 37,781 3.4%
1910 43,187 14.3%
1920 45,057 4.3%
1930 49,319 9.5%
1940 50,181 1.7%
1950 54,374 8.4%
1960 63,220 16.3%
1970 73,960 17.0%
1980 84,429 14.2%
1990 91,607 8.5%
2000 102,437 11.8%
2010 108,692 6.1%
Historical sources: 1790–1990[10]
1970–2010[5] 2000[11] 2010[12] 2000–2010[13]

2010-2020[4]

2020 Census[]

2010 Census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 108,692 people, 41,480 households, and 28,870 families residing in the county. The population density was 304.5 inhabitants per square mile (117.6 /km2). There were 44,925 housing units at an average density of 125.9 per square mile (48.6 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.29% (98,137) White, 3.51% (3,818) African American, 0.14% (155) Native American, 2.46% (2,673) Asian, 0.03% (30) Pacific Islander, 1.81% (1,964) from other races, and 1.76% (1,915) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.05% (7,659) of the population.[12]

There were 41,480 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 25% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.1.[12]

In the county the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.[12]

Municipalities[]

Warren County, New Jersey Municipalities

Index map of Warren County municipalities (click to see index key)

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Municipalities in Warren County, with Census-designated places (CDPs) and other communities listed, are:[14]

Municipality
(with map key)
Map key Mun.
type
Pop. Housing
units
Total
area
Water
area
Land
Area
Pop.
density
Housing
density
School district Communities[15]
Allamuchy
Township
17 township 4,323 2,096 20.76 0.31 20.45 211.3 102.5 Hackettstown (9–12) (S/R)
Allamuchy (PK-8)
Allamuchy CDP (78)
Panther Valley CDP (3,327)
Alpha 5 borough 2,369 1,032 1.70 0.03 1.67 1,417.2 617.4 Phillipsburg (9–12) (S/R)
Alpha (PK-8)
Belvidere 3 town 2,681 1,140 1.49 0.04 1.45 1,847.0 785.4 Belvidere
Blairstown
Township
21 township 5,967 2,272 31.70 0.89 30.82 193.6 73.7 North Warren (7–12)
Blairstown (K-6)
Blairstown CDP (515)
Jacksonburg
Paulina
Franklin
Township
10 township 3,176 1,219 24.13 0.09 24.04 132.1 50.7 Warren Hills (7–12)
Franklin Township (PK-6)
Asbury CDP (273)
Broadway CDP (244)
New Village CDP (421)
Frelinghuysen
Township
18 township 2,230 826 23.57 0.24 23.32 95.6 35.4 North Warren (7–12)
Frelinghuysen (PK-6)
Johnsonburg CDP (101)
Marksboro CDP (82)
Greenwich
Township
7 township 5,712 1,870 10.54 0.01 10.53 542.5 177.6 Phillipsburg (9–12) (S/R)
Greenwich (PK-8)
Greenwich CDP (2,755)
Stewartsville CDP (349)
Upper Stewartsville CDP (212)
Hackettstown 1 town 9,724 3,755 3.71 0.10 3.61 2,696.1 1,041.1 Hackettstown
Hardwick
Township
22 township 1,696 619 37.92 1.32 36.60 46.3 16.9 North Warren (7–12)
Blairstown (K-6)
Harmony
Township
9 township 2,667 1,109 24.08 0.38 23.70 112.5 46.8 Belvidere (9–12) (S/R)
Harmony (PK-8)
Brainards CDP (202)
Harmony CDP (441)
Hutchinson CDP (135)
Hope
Township
19 township 1,952 809 18.84 0.22 18.62 104.8 43.4 Belvidere (9–12) (S/R)
Hope Township (PK-8)
Hope CDP (195)
Mount Hermon CDP (141)
Silver Lake CDP (368)
Independence
Township
16 township 5,662 2,325 19.89 0.15 19.74 286.8 117.8 Hackettstown (9–12) (S/R)
Great Meadows (K-8)
Great Meadows CDP (303)
Vienna CDP (981)
Knowlton
Township
20 township 3,055 1,212 25.33 0.58 24.75 123.4 49.0 North Warren (7–12)
Knowlton (PK-6)
Columbia CDP (229)
Delaware CDP (150)
Hainesburg CDP (91)
Warrington
Liberty
Township
14 township 2,942 1,151 11.87 0.26 11.60 253.6 99.2 Hackettstown (9–12) (S/R)
Great Meadows (K-8)
Mountain Lake CDP (575)
Townsbury
Lopatcong
Township
8 township 8,014 3,420 7.16 0.06 7.10 1,129.0 481.8 Phillipsburg (9–12) (S/R)
Lopatcong (PK-8)
Delaware Park CDP (700)
Lopatcong Overlook CDP (734)
Mansfield
Township
15 township 7,725 3,316 29.93 0.11 29.82 259.1 111.2 Warren Hills (7–12)
Mansfield (PK-6)
Anderson CDP (342)
Beattystown CDP (4,554)
Port Murray CDP (129)
Oxford
Township
12 township 2,514 1,033 5.89 0.10 5.79 434.5 178.5 Warren Hills (9–12) (S/R)
Oxford (K-8)
Oxford CDP (1,090)
Phillipsburg 4 town 14,950 6,607 3.31 0.12 3.19 4,682.1 2,069.2 Phillipsburg
Pohatcong
Township
6 township 3,339 1,420 13.71 0.36 13.36 250.0 106.3 Phillipsburg (9–12) (S/R)
Pohatcong (PK-8)
Carpentersville
Finesville CDP (175)
Hughesville
Upper Pohatcong CDP (1,781)
Washington
Borough
2 borough 6,461 2,897 1.95 0.00 1.94 3,326.8 1,491.7 Warren Hills (7–12)
Washington Borough (PK-6)
Washington
Township
11 township 6,651 2,493 17.75 0.09 17.66 376.6 141.1 Warren Hills (7–12)
Washington Township (PK-6)
Brass Castle CDP (1,555)
Changewater
Port Colden CDP (122)
White
Township
13 township 4,882 2,304 27.63 0.48 27.15 179.8 84.9 Belvidere (9–12) (S/R)
White Township (PK-8)
Bridgeville CDP (106)
Brookfield CDP (675)
Buttzville CDP (146)
Foul Rift (ghost town)
Warren County county 108,692 44,925 362.86 5.94 356.92 304.5 125.9

Zip Code locations[]

[16][17]

  • Allamuchy
  • Andover (Sussex)
  • Asbury (Hunterdon)
  • Belvidere
  • Blairstown
  • Bloomsbury (Hunterdon)
  • Broadway
  • Buttzville
  • Changewater
  • Columbia
  • Delaware
  • Great Meadows
  • Port Murray
  • Phillipsburg
  • Stewartsville
  • Stanhope (Sussex)
  • Vienna
  • Washington

Government[]

Warren County Courthouse, Belvidere, NJ - looking north

Warren County Courthouse, built 1826

Warren County is governed by a three-member Board of County Commissioners who are chosen at-large on a staggered basis in partisan elections with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Commissioner Director and other as Deputy Director..[18] In 2016, commissioners were paid $24,000 and the head Commissioner had an annual salary of $25,000.[19]

As of 2022, Warren County's Commissioners are:[20]

  • Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski (R, Lopatcong Township; term as commissioner and commissioner director ends December 31, 2022)[21]
  • Commissioner Deputy Director Lori Ciesla (R, Lopatcong Township; term as commissioner ends 2024, term as deputy director ends 2022)[22]
  • James R. Kern III (R, Pohatcong Township; 2025)[23]

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[24] Constitutional officers of Warren County are:[20][25]

  • County Clerk Holly Mackey (R, Alpha; 2022)[26][27]
  • Sheriff James McDonald Sr. (R, Phillipsburg; 2022)[28][29]
  • Surrogate Kevin O'Neill (R, Hackettstown; 2025)[30][31]

The County Prosecutor is James L. Pfeiffer of Hackettstown, who was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy and sworn into office in November 2019 after being confirmed by the New Jersey Senate.[32][33] Warren County is a part of Vicinage 13 of the New Jersey Superior Court (along with Somerset County and Hunterdon County), which is seated at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 15 is the Honorable Yolanda Ciccone. The Warren County Courthouse is in Belvidere. Law enforcement at the county level is provided by the Warren County Sheriff's Office and the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.

Federal Representation[]

Two Congressional Districts cover the county, including portions of the 5th District and 7th District. Template:NJ Congress 05 New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township).

State representatives[]

The 22 municipalities of Warren County are represented by two separate legislative districts.[34]

District Senator[35] Assembly[35] Municiaplties
23rd Michael J. Doherty (R) John DiMaio (R)

Erik Peterson (R)

Alpha (2,082), Franklin Township (3,046), Greenwich Township (5,712), Hackettstown (9,485), Harmony (2,486),

Lopatcong (8,322), Mansfield Township (7,384), Phillipsburg (14,344), Pohatcong (3,197), Washington Borough (6,490) and Washington Township (6,651). The remainder of this district covers portions of Hunterdon and Somerset counties]].

24th Steve Oroho (R) Parker Space (R)

Hal Wirths (R)

Allamuchy (4,640), Belvidere (2,590), Blairstown (5,728), Frelinghuysen (2,178), Hardwick (1,631),

Hope (1,952), Independence (5,444), Knowlton (2,945), Liberty (2,820), Oxford Township (2,433) and

White Township (4,687). The remainder of this district covers portions of Morris County and the entirety of Sussex County.

Emergency services are provided by the Warren County Public Safety Department and the county's municipal fire and police departments.

County Commissioners[]

Current

  • 2019– (present) James R. Kern III (R)
  • 2011– (present) Jason Sarnoski (R)
  • 2003– (present) Richard Gardner (R)

Former

  • 2012–2018 Edward Smith (R)
  • 2004–12 – Everett Chamberlain (R)
  • 2010 – Angelo Accetturo (R)
  • 2001–03 – Michael J. Doherty (R)
  • 2001–09 – John DiMaio (R)
  • 2000–02 – James DeBosh (D)
  • 1997–99 – Stephen Lance (R)
  • 1996-00 – Ann Stone (D)
  • 1993-01 – Susan Dickey (R)
  • 1989–94 – Jacob Matthenius (R)
  • 1988–96 – Kenneth Miller (R)
  • 1986–88 – Anthony Fowler (R)
  • 1984–87 – Charles Lee (R)
  • 1981–83 – George Thompson (R)
  • 1980–82 – Kenneth Keyes (R)
  • 1979–81 – Chuck Haytaian (R)
  • 1977–79 – Christopher Maier (D)
  • 1976–78 – Irene Smith (D)
  • 1975–77 – Benjamin Bosco (D)
  • 1974–76 – Raymond Stem (D)
  • 1973–75 – Frank Seney (R)
  • 1968–73 – Herman Shotwell (D)

Political outlook and elections[]

Warren County has long been a consistently conservative county in local, state, and national elections, much like the neighboring counties of Sussex and Hunterdon. All of its state legislators and countywide elected officials are Republicans, as are the vast majority of municipal officials.

As of August 1, 2020, there were a total of 81,863 registered voters in Warren County, of which 21,116 (25.8%) were registered as Democrats, 32,004 (39.1%) were registered as Republicans and 27,721 (33.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 1,022 (1.3%) voters registered to other parties.[36]

In the 2004 U.S. presidential election, George W. Bush carried the county by a 24% margin over John Kerry, the second-highest margin for Bush in the state behind Sussex County. In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, John McCain carried Warren County by a 14% margin over Barack Obama, with Obama winning statewide by 15.5% over McCain. In the 2012 U.S. presidential election, Mitt Romney carried the county by a 15.4% margin over Barack Obama. In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump carried the county by a 25.3% margin over Hillary Clinton. In 2020, Trump carried Warren County by a 16.1% margin over Joe Biden.

United States presidential election results for Warren County, New Jersey[37]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 34,769 56.95% 24,901 40.78% 1,387 2.27%
2016 29,858 60.10% 17,281 34.78% 2,544 5.12%
2012 25,744 56.69% 18,745 41.27% 926 2.04%
2008 27,500 56.00% 20,628 42.01% 980 2.00%
2004 29,542 61.28% 18,044 37.43% 622 1.29%
2000 22,172 54.34% 16,543 40.55% 2,086 5.11%
1996 17,160 45.52% 14,805 39.27% 5,736 15.21%
1992 18,468 44.50% 13,002 31.33% 10,032 24.17%
1988 21,715 64.50% 11,640 34.57% 311 0.92%
1984 21,938 67.07% 10,647 32.55% 122 0.37%
1980 16,935 54.99% 10,510 34.13% 3,352 10.88%
1976 15,254 50.67% 14,238 47.29% 613 2.04%
1972 19,301 65.33% 10,008 33.88% 234 0.79%
1968 13,950 48.13% 12,822 44.24% 2,214 7.64%
1964 8,822 30.85% 19,755 69.09% 15 0.05%
1960 16,893 57.36% 12,540 42.58% 20 0.07%
1956 18,517 66.95% 9,128 33.00% 13 0.05%
1952 15,737 58.63% 11,074 41.26% 28 0.10%
1948 10,558 50.97% 9,972 48.14% 186 0.90%
1944 10,714 51.62% 10,024 48.30% 16 0.08%
1940 10,595 49.15% 10,929 50.70% 31 0.14%
1936 9,437 42.98% 12,476 56.82% 44 0.20%
1932 9,277 45.58% 10,636 52.25% 442 2.17%
1928 14,992 73.15% 5,444 26.56% 59 0.29%
1924 9,606 60.63% 5,186 32.73% 1,052 6.64%
1920 8,035 51.23% 7,218 46.02% 430 2.74%
1916 3,302 36.56% 5,374 59.50% 356 3.94%
1912 1,411 16.68% 4,663 55.14% 2,383 28.18%
1908 3,904 39.38% 5,662 57.12% 347 3.50%
1904 3,935 43.82% 4,368 48.64% 677 7.54%
1900 3,587 38.62% 5,219 56.20% 481 5.18%
1896 4,063 42.78% 5,013 52.79% 421 4.43%



In the state's 2005 gubernatorial election, Warren County voted for Doug Forrester by 21 points over statewide winner Jon Corzine. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 61% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 26%. In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Chris Christie received 72.6% of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger Barbara Buono, who received 25% of the vote. In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadango received 61.2% of the vote, while the eventual statewide winner Democrat Phil Murphy received 25.4% of the vote.

Transportation[]

Roads and highways[]

As of 2010, the county had a total of 1,055.07 miles (1,697.97 km) of roadways, of which 690.53 miles (1,111.30 km) were maintained by the local municipality, 256.15 miles (412.23 km) by Warren County and 103.20 miles (166.08 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 5.19 miles (8.35 km) by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

The county has a few notable state and federal roads. The chief state routes are Route 31, a north–south road that runs from Buttzville in White Township to Trenton, and Route 57 that runs between Lopatcong Township to Hackettstown. Route 94 in the northern part runs through Blairstown into New York via Newton and the rest of Sussex County. Route 173 runs near Bloomsbury into Hunterdon County, terminating at Clinton/Annandale, and Route 182 serves as one of the commercial areas of Hackettstown. The US Routes are U.S. Route 22 in the Phillipsburg area and U.S. Route 46 runs from Columbia to Hackettstown in the northern section. The two interstates that pass through are the Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway (Interstate 78), and the Bergen-Passaic Expressway (Interstate 80).

Rail and bus transportation[]

Warren County has a single NJ Transit train stop, located at the Hackettstown station on the Montclair-Boonton Line and the Morristown Line.

The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through the southern Warren County on its way to Phillipsburg.

Warren County also contracts with Easton Coach to provide demand-responsive service, as well as limited fixed-route service along the Route 31 and Route 57 corridors. NJ Transit operates the No. 890 & No. 891 buses in the Phillipsburg area.

By air, the county is served by Lehigh Valley International Airport near Allentown, Pennsylvania to the west and Newark Liberty International Airport to the east.

Education[]

Colleges[]

Old Main, Centenary University, Hackettstown, NJ

Old Main at Centenary University

  • Centenary University is a private college located in Hackettstown that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
  • Warren County Community College, in Washington Township, offers both associate and bachelor's degree programs and certificate programs. The College serves approximately 1,700 full-time and part-time students, in addition to students in non-credit programs and courses. The college is able to offer bachelor programs through partnerships with four-year colleges.[38]

Private secondary schools[]

Dam and footbridge, Blair Academy, NJ

Waterfall and footbridge at Blair Academy

  • Blair Academy is a college preparatory school located in Blairstown, founded in 1848 with a gift from John Insley Blair.

Public education[]

  • Belvidere High School, a part of the Belvidere School District (PreK-12) with students attending from Harmony, Hope and White townships
  • Hackettstown High School, a part of the Hackettstown School District (PreK-12) with students from Allamuchy, Independence, and Liberty townships
  • North Warren Regional High School, which serves the northern townships of Blairstown (where the school is located), Frelinghuysen, Hardwick and Knowlton
  • Phillipsburg High School, a part of the Phillipsburg School District (PreK-12) with students attending from Alpha Borough and the Townships of Greenwich, Lopatcong and Pohatcong.
  • Warren Hills Regional High School, a part of the Warren Hills Regional School District that serves the Borough of Washington, and the Townships of Washington, Mansfield, Franklin and Oxford (9–12 only)
  • Warren County Technical School serves the entire county. It includes grades 9–12 and also has a post secondary night school.

Agriculture[]

Flickr - Nicholas T - Nestled

Farm in Franklin Township

Most of Warren County is part of the Warren Hills Viticultural Area, and the county has 5 active wineries:

  • Alba Vineyard
  • Brook Hollow Winery
  • Four Sisters Winery
  • Vacchiano Farm
  • Villa Milagro Vineyards

Recreation[]

Warren County borders the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Warren County has many areas for hunting and fishing. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife houses its Pequest Fish Hatchery, which produces trout and other fish, in Warren County about five miles northeast of Oxford, along U.S. Route 46. Thousands of trout are raised in this hatchery and also serves as an educational center for other outdoor activity. Wildlife Management Areas in the county include White Lake, Oxford Lake, and the Pequest River W.M.A. The five major rivers or creeks for fishing in Warren County are the Paulinskill, the Pequest, the Musconetcong, Pohatcong Creek, as well as the Delaware River. Merrill Creek Reservoir, located in Harmony Township, is also stocked with fish and has game in the surrounding woods.

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Warren County, New Jersey
  • Media in the Lehigh Valley
  • Musconetcong County, New Jersey, a proposed county in the 19th Century from parts of Warren and Hunterdon Counties

References[]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Story
  2. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Hutchinson
  3. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CountyMap
  4. ^ a b "Census 2020". https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/warrencountynewjersey/PST045219. 
  5. ^ a b c New Jersey: 2010 – Population and Housing Unit Counts; 2010 Census of Population and Housing, p. 6, CPH-2-32. United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed August 29, 2016.
  6. ^ Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Counties, United States Census Bureau, Backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 11, 2012. Accessed October 7, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Monthly Averages for Belvidere, New Jersey, [[ The Weather Channel]]. Accessed October 13, 2012.
  8. ^ "Garden State Mastodons". 2018. https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/pricelst/gsreport/gsr43.pdf. 
  9. ^ Morgan, Susan. "HISTORIC SITES OF WARREN COUNTY". http://www.co.warren.nj.us/download/historic.pdf. 
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L. Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 from the Twenty-one Decennial Censuses, pp. 108–109. United States Census Bureau, March 1996. ISBN 9780934213486. Accessed October 7, 2013.
  11. ^ DP-1 – Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000; Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Warren County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 30, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d DP1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Warren County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 26, 2016.
  13. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Delivers New Jersey's 2010 Census Population Totals, United States Census Bureau, February 3, 2011. Accessed February 5, 2011.
  14. ^ GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Warren County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 26, 2017.
  15. ^ Locality Search Archived July 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 26, 2017.
  16. ^ "Listing of all Zip Codes in the state of New Jersey". https://www.zip-codes.com/state/nj.asp. 
  17. ^ "Warren County, NJ Zip Codes - Phillipsburg Zip Code Boundary Map". https://www.cccarto.com/nj/warren_zipcodes/index.html. 
  18. ^ Governmental Structure, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022. "Warren County operates under the County Commissioner form of county government. The Board of County Commissioners consists of three Commissioners each elected at large for staggered terms of three years. The Commissioner Director is chosen by the full board at the board’s annual reorganization meeting in January. The Commissioners supervise, direct and administer all county services and functions through the various departments, autonomous boards, agencies, and commissions. Reporting to the Board of County Commissioners is an appointed County Administrator."
  19. ^ Gallo Jr., Bill. "Which N.J. county freeholders are paid the most?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder director: $25,000; Other freeholders: $24,000"
  20. ^ a b Board of County Commissioners, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Jason J. Sarnoski, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  22. ^ Lori Ciesla, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  23. ^ James R. Kern III, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  24. ^ New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  25. ^ Constitutional Officers, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  26. ^ County Clerk: Contact Us, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  27. ^ Members List: Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  28. ^ About, Warren County Sheriff's Office. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  29. ^ Members List: Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  30. ^ Surrogate's Court, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  31. ^ Members List: Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  32. ^ About, Warren County Prosecutor's Office. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  33. ^ James L. Pfeiffer Appointed Acting Warren County Prosecutor Prosecutor Richard T. Burke to join Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, New Jersey Attorney General, October 21, 2019. Accessed February 22, 2022. "Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced the appointment of James L. Pfeiffer as Acting Warren County Prosecutor effective November 1."
  34. ^ State Officials, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
  35. ^ a b "New Jersey Legislature – Legislative Roster". https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. 
  36. ^ "NJ Voter Registration by County". https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/svrs-reports/2020/2020-08-voter-registration-by-county.pdf. 
  37. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  38. ^ College History, Warren County Community College. Accessed October 7, 2013.

External links[]


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Warren County, New Jersey. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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