Netcong is a borough in southwestern Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Explore Southwestern Morris County, Morris County Tourism Authority. Accessed April 10, 2024. "Southwestern Morris County includes a multitude of farms, farmers markets and community-supported agriculture offering fresh produce and festivals throughout the growing season throughout its communities of Mount Olive, Washington Township (Long Valley), Roxbury, Chester, Chester Township, Mount Arlington, Mendham, Mendham Township, Randolph and Netcong." As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,375, an increase of 143 (+4.4%) from the 2010 census count of 3,232, which in turn reflected an increase of 652 (+25.3%) from the 2,580 counted in the 2000 census.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. Netcong lies on the shores of Lake Musconetcong.

Established as South Stanhope by workers employed as miners in Stanhope, the name "Netcong" was adopted for the community in 1889 when a post office used the name.Grumet, Robert S. Manhattan to Minisink: American Indian Place Names of Greater New York and Vicinity, p. 110. University of Oklahoma Press, 2013. . Accessed January 24, 2018. "Today, the borough of Netcong is located along the Musconetcong River just below Lake Hopatcong. Workers employed at the nearby iron mines at Stanhope first called their village South Stanhope. They adopted the contraction Netcong for the post office opened at the locale in 1889." Netcong was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 23, 1894, from portions of both Mount Olive Township and Roxbury Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 195. Accessed May 30, 2024.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries , Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1894, October 22. Netcong is established from Roxbury and Mount Olive Township. This area was previously known as South Stanhope."

History Netcong received its name from the Musconetcong River, named by the Lenape Native Americans and meaning "grass creek", "swamp stream", "rapid stream" or "clear stream place".Netcong, New Jersey community profile , Epodunk. Accessed November 5, 2007.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 9, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 218. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 9, 2015. Along with the river, the proximity of the old Morris and Sussex Turnpike, which passed through the region shortly after 1801, and the coming of the Morris Canal, in 1831, made the site a favorable one for development.

After becoming a borough, the residents had to elect the first governing body. The first mayor was Abraham J. Drake, elected November 14, 1894."Abraham J. Drake Netcong, N. J.", New-York Tribune, March 22, 1919. Accessed January 11, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Abraham J. Drake, first Mayor and first Postmaster of Netcong, died last night of apoplexy." A census of Netcong taken July 1895 showed a population of 877 people.

Netcong derived much of its business from the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, which had its last stop in Morris County in the heart of the borough. The DL&W's Sussex Branch to Branchville also stopped at Netcong Station, with the Sussex Branch coming into the opposite side of the station from where NJ Transit's line is today. The big railroad roundhouse in Port Morris also supplied many jobs for the town residents.Netcong: A Brief History , Netcong Borough. Accessed August 3, 2006.

In 1968, AT&T announced that the company would be building a two-story building in the borough at the bottom of a hole underground. The facility, designed to connect a cable running between Boston and Miami, was designed to withstand a nuclear attack and continue 24-hour operations for as long as three weeks using supplies and generating capacity on the site.O'Kane, Lawrence. "News Of Realty: A.T.&T. Building; Underground Structure in Jersey to Be Bombproof", The New York Times, March 30, 1967. Accessed January 11, 2021. "A new communications center designed to withstand nuclear blasts is being built in a 47-foot-deep hole in the ground in Netcong, N.J., for the Long Lines Department of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.49 km2), including 0.83 square miles (2.16 km2) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.33 km2) of water (13.33%).

Netcong borders the municipalities of Mount Olive Township and Roxbury Township in Morris County; and Stanhope in Sussex County.Areas touching Netcong, MapIt. Accessed February 29, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed February 29, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Netcong had a population of 3,375. The median age was 41.1 years. 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.9 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,434 households in Netcong, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.9% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,490 housing units, of which 3.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,321 68.8% Black or African American 158 4.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 21 0.6% Asian 118 3.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 418 12.4% Two or more races 339 10.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 817 24.2%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,232 people, 1,381 households, and 811 families in the borough. The population density was 3,828.4 per square mile (1,478.2/km2). There were 1,449 housing units at an average density of 1,716.4 per square mile (662.7/km2). The racial makeup was 84.22% (2,722) White, 3.90% (126) Black or African American, 0.34% (11) Native American, 2.78% (90) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 6.71% (217) from other races, and 2.04% (66) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.70% (572) of the population.

Of the 1,381 households, 23.5% had children under the age of 18; 41.7% were married couples living together; 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.3% were non-families. Of all households, 32.7% were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.99.

18.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $59,167 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,354) and the median family income was $72,222 (+/− $9,501). Males had a median income of $64,569 (+/− $6,401) versus $46,094 (+/− $3,857) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,135 (+/− $3,825). About 7.8% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Netcong borough, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 20, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,580 people, 1,008 households, and 681 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,043 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 94.30% White, 1.20% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 1.43% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.13% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Netcong borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 7, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Netcong borough, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 7, 2012.

The most common ancestries in Netcong is Italian (23.5%), Irish (11.4%), German (10.4%), English (6.6%), and Hungarian (3.3%)

There were 1,008 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $65,833. Males had a median income of $42,179 versus $36,458 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,472. About 2.5% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over. Government

Local government