Hamburg is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,266, a decrease of 11 (−0.3%) from the 2010 census count of 3,277, which in turn reflected an increase of 172 (+5.5%) from the 3,105 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 United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the population of Hamburg increased by 65 (+2.0%) to 3,331 in 2023.
In 1753, when Sussex County was formed from portions of Morris County, the area of present-day Hamburg was part of Newton Township; on February 25, 1762, it became part of the newly established Hardyston Township. On April 8, 1793, when Vernon Township was formed from Hardyston, Hamburg was included within the boundaries of Vernon. In 1852, the boundary line was changed so that Hamburg was again in Hardyston Township. Hamburg was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1920, from portions of Hardyston Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 24, 1920.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 230. Accessed May 28, 2024. The borough was named after Hamburg, Germany.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.17 square miles (3.03 km2), including 1.15 square miles (2.96 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2) of water (2.05%).
Hamburg borders the Sussex County municipalities of Franklin and Hardyston Township.Sussex County Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed February 23, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Hamburg had a population of 3,266. The median age was 45.1 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.
99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,452 households in Hamburg, of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.7% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,539 housing units, of which 5.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,693 82.5% Black or African American 101 3.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 8 0.2% Asian 94 2.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 86 2.6% Two or more races 284 8.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 318 9.7%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,277 people, 1,364 households, and 884 families in the borough. The population density was 2,870.4 per square mile (1,108.3/km2). There were 1,476 housing units at an average density of 1,292.9 per square mile (499.2/km2). The racial makeup was 91.27% (2,991) White, 2.01% (66) Black or African American, 0.24% (8) Native American, 2.04% (67) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.80% (59) from other races, and 2.62% (86) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.87% (225) of the population.
Of the 1,364 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18; 49.5% were married couples living together; 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.2% were non-families. Of all households, 29.4% were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.
22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $64,016 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,681) and the median family income was $74,421 (+/− $13,156). Males had a median income of $66,083 (+/− $11,467) versus $40,735 (+/− $7,620) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,528 (+/− $3,671). About 7.0% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hamburg borough, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 1, 2013.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,105 people, 1,173 households, and 844 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,233 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 93.14% White, 0.74% African American, 0.29% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 1.67% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Hamburg borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 20, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Hamburg borough, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 20, 2013.
There were 1,173 households, out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $58,246, and the median income for a family was $64,773. Males had a median income of $45,729 versus $28,482 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,651. About 3.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. Government
Local government Hamburg is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110. The borough form of government used by Hamburg is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
, the mayor of Hamburg Borough is Republican Richard Krasnomowitz, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are John Burd (R, 2025), George Endres (R, 2026), John Haig (R, 2024), Russell Law (R, 2025), Joyce Oehler (R, 2026) and Mark S. Sena (R, 2024).Mayor and Council, Hamburg Borough. Accessed May 20, 2024.2024 Municipal User Friendly Budget, Hamburg Borough. Accessed May 20, 2024.Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election, Sussex County, New Jersey, November 22, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report, Sussex County, New Jersey, dated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results, Sussex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
In August 2018, Joyce Oehler was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Chris Fitzpatrick until he resigned from office."Republican, Democrat in contest for two-year term in Hamburg", New Jersey Herald, November 4, 2018. Accessed April 13, 2020. "Two candidates have been selected by their respective parties to run in the Nov. 6 general election for the two years remaining on the term of former Councilman Chris Fitzpatrick, who resigned from the council this past summer. Selected by the borough’s Democrats is Almir Osmanovic while the Republicans selected Joyce Oehler, who was chosen by the council in August to serve the rest of this year in Fitzpatrick’s seat." Oehler won the November 2018 special election to serve the balance of the term of office.Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 6, 2018, Official Results Summary Report, Sussex County, New Jersey, dated November 9, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.
In April 2014, the borough council selected former councilmember Russell Law from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2016 of Chris Kelly, who had resigned from office after announcing that he would be moving out of the borough.Staff. "Hamburg names new councilman", The Advertiser News, April 8, 2014. Accessed January 18, 2015. "Russell Law is sworn into his council seat to fill Chris Kelly's seat until someone is elected in November to finish the term ending Dec. 31, 2016." Law served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, when he was elected to serve the one year remaining on the term of office.Sussex County General Election November 4, 2014 Summary Report Official Results, Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 10, 2014. Accessed August 1, 2016.
Federal, state and county representation