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 (+5.3%) from the 17,592 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,000 (+12.8%) from the 15,592 counted in the 1990 Census.
It is one of six municipalities (five of which are townships) in the state of New Jersey with the name “Washington Township”. Washington Borough, in fact is only 10 miles (16 km) away. To add to the confusion, Washington Borough is surrounded by another municipality that is also called Washington Township.
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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 44.771 square miles (115.957 km2), including 44.387 square miles (114.963 km2) of land and 0.384 square miles (0.994 km2) of water (0.86%).
Long Valley (2010 population of 1,879) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) 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, Bettystown, 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.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 18,533 people, 6,237 households, and 5,195 families residing in the township. The population density was 417.5 per square mile (161.2/km2). There were 6,488 housing units at an average density of 146.2 per square mile (56.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 93.06% (17,247) White, 1.39% (257) Black or African American, 0.06% (11) Native American, 3.30% (612) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.69% (127) from other races, and 1.49% (277) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.57% (847) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
