Washington Township is a township 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 township's population was 18,197, a decrease of 336 (−1.8%) from the 2010 census count of 18,533, which in turn reflected an increase of 941 (+5.3%) from the 17,592 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.

The township is situated in the westernmost part of Morris County bordering both Hunterdon and Warren counties. It is located within the Raritan Valley region and is one of six municipalities (five of which are townships) in the state with the name "Washington".Wilk, Tom. "Awash in Washingtons: New Jersey has six towns named for the father of our country.", New Jersey Monthly, January 17, 2011. Accessed November 8, 2011. "In New Jersey, Washington can lay claim to another first. He's number one in names selected for the state's 566 municipalities. Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Morris and Warren counties all have a Washington Township. Warren also has a Washington Borough surrounded—naturally—by Washington Township. The largest is Gloucester County's Washington, with 52,096 people; the smallest is the Washington in Burlington, with a population of 649. New Jersey had a sixth Washington Township in Mercer County until 2008, when voters there approved a name change to Robbinsville." Washington Borough, located only away, is surrounded by another municipality that is also called Washington Township in Warren County.

The township has been ranked as one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS) for 2014–2018, Washington Township residents had a median household income of $150,682, nearly 90% above the statewide median of $79,363. In the 2013–2017 ACS, Washington Township had a median household income of $140,445, ranking 45th in the state.Cervenka, Susanne. "Rich in New Jersey: Here are the 50 wealthiest towns in the state. Is yours one of them?", Asbury Park Press, July 1, 2019. Accessed February 19, 2020. "45. Washington Township - County: Morris County; Median household income: $140,445; Percent making more than $200,000: 28%"Washington Township 2017 Census Data Summary, Morris County, New Jersey Office of Planning and Preservation. Accessed February 21, 2020.

History Washington Township was incorporated as a township by the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1798, from portions of Roxbury Township.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries , Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1798, April 2. Washington Township is established from Roxbury. Center of Township is known as Long Valley or German Valley." Portions of the township were taken to form Chester Township as of April 1, 1799.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 197. Accessed May 30, 2024. The township was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities statewide named for the first president.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 21, 2015.Rondinaro, Gene. "Washington Slept Here And There And. . .", The New York Times, February 17, 1985. Accessed September 19, 2024. "First in war, first in peace and, come tomorrow, first in the hearts of his countrymen, George Washington may be nowhere more fondly remembered than in New Jersey, where 12 communities are named for him. The profusion of such names - six Washington Townships, one each in Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Mercer, Morris and Warren Counties; Washington in Warren, Washington Crossing in Mercer, Washington Heights and Washington Park in Middlesex, Washingtonville in Sussex and Washington Valley in Morris - causes problems.... A 1983 attempt to change the name of Washington Township in Morris County to Long Valley - the township mailing address - was defeated in an election.... According to Mrs. Allen, historical accounts show that Washington slept overnight at a local tavern at least once in 1780, prompting the town fathers to name the community for him in 1798."

In 1798, Morris County's Washington Township became the first incorporated in New Jersey, but by 1894 there were 18 municipalities and other communities across the state named Washington or Washingtonville.Schweber, Nate. "Washington’s Name Slept Here. And Here.", The New York Times, November 11, 2007. Accessed September 19, 2024. "He was a year away from death when, in 1798, New Jersey’s first Washington Township was incorporated in Morris County. Less than a century later there were 18 boroughs, townships and villages known as Washington or Washingtonville, according to an 1894 geographic dictionary of the state. There are now five townships and one borough called Washington, plus several more areas in municipalities that include the name, like Washington Crossing, a village in Hopewell Township in Mercer County."

In June 1979, a 5-year-old boy was killed by a leopard that had been chained to a stake outside of a circus, during a performance sponsored by the local fire department at Flocktown Road School.Hanley, Robert. "Circus Leopard Kills a Boy of 5 In Jersey Town",The New York Times, June 9, 1979. Accessed July 13, 2022. "Washington Township, N.J., June 8 — A circus leopard chained to stake killed a 5‐year‐old boy last night when he walked within about five feet of the animal."

A 1983 effort to rename Washington Township to Long Valley failed in an election.

Murder of Rachel Domas On September 12, 1985, 14-year-old Rachel Domas was sexually assaulted and murdered on Fairview Avenue by 19-year-old Michael Manfredonia while on her three-mile walk from school to her home after missing the school bus. Manfredonia, a gas station attendant who worked nearby, confessed to asking Domas out; when he was refused he pulled a knife and threatened to kill himself.

Domas told him to "stop acting childish" to which Manfredonia pushed her to the ground, sexually assaulted her and stabbed her 26 times, 15 of which were too shallow to cause significant damage and were intended to make Domas suffer. Police would find Domas's body buried in a shallow grave in the woods close to the road two days later.

Manfredonia would be turned in by his parents and was found by the police attempting to commit suicide by slicing his wrists and ingesting a high concentration of pills. Manfredonia, who had an IQ of 78 making him clinically retarded, was suffering from Intermittent explosive disorder. Manfredonia waived his right to a trial and was found guilty of murder, felony murder, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Manfredonia would be sentenced to life in prison as well as an additional 110 years and will not be eligible for parole until 2041.Hanley, Robert. "Ex-Gas Station Attendant Charged With Slaying Girl", The New York Times, September 17, 1985. Accessed July 13, 2022."Manfredonia seeks new trial for '85 slaying", New Jersey Hills, September 26, 2002. Accessed July 13, 2022. "Manfredonia, formerly of Parker Road, Chester Township, has been in state prison since he was found guilty of the Sept. 12, 1985 sexual assault and stabbing death of 14-year old Rachel Domas, whose family lived in the Long Valley section of the township."Horowitz, Ben. "Funeral on Thursday for Reginald Stanton, remembered as a 'judge's judge'", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 20, 2016. Accessed July 13, 2022. "Among the precedent-setting cases handled by Stanton was that of Michael Manfredonia, a onetime Chester resident who was convicted of murder in the 1986 abduction and stabbing death of 14-year-old Rachel Domas of Long Valley."

Geography

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 (2020 population of 1,827) 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,Staff. , Daily Record, August 6, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2012. "The heart of town, the Long Valley section, was called German Valley when it was first settled in the 1700s by people from Saxony, a region of Germany near the Polish border." until its name was changed around 1917 in the wake of anti-German sentiment following World War I.Karcher, Alan J. , Daily Record, February 7, 1999. Accessed December 23, 2012. "However, the strong anti-German sentiment generated during World War I caused the name to be changed to Long Valley around 1917."

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bartley, Beattystown, Crestmoore, Drakestown, Fairmount, Four Bridges, German Valley, Lake George, Middle Valley, Naughright, Parker, Pleasant Grove, Pottersville, Scrappy Corner, Springtown and Stephensburg.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

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.Staff. "Washington Township", Daily Record, July 16, 2009. Accessed July 30, 2013.

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.Neighboring Municipalities, Washington Township. Accessed January 9, 2025.Areas touching Washington Township, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 18,533 people, 6,237 households, and 5,195 families 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 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.

Of the 6,237 households, 43.4% had children under the age of 18; 73.7% were married couples living together; 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 16.7% were non-families. Of all households, 13.9% were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.27.