Pohatcong Township is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,241, a decrease of 98 (−2.9%) from the 2010 census count of 3,339, which in turn reflected a decline of 77 (−2.3%) from the 3,416 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 name Pohatcong is thought to be derived from the Lenni Lenape Native American term meaning "stream between split hills".About , Pohatcong Township. Accessed June 14, 2013. "Pohatcong Township whose Lenni Lenape name is said to mean 'stream between split hills' is located in the picturesque northwest New Jersey and is in the center of the Highlands Region spanning four states- New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut."

History Pohatcong Township was officially established in 1881. On March 24, 1881, Chapter 145 of the Acts of the New Jersey General Assembly was published defining and creating Pohatcong Township. The act to form Pohatcong had been introduced by Assemblyman William Fritts and, once law, was to take effect January 1 of the following year. Pohatcong was incorporated on January 1, 1882.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 20, 2015. It was divided off of Greenwich Township. Pohatcong township's name comes from Lenape Native Americans, who called the area "split hills stream outlet". The industrialized center of the township was separated to form Alpha borough, on April 27, 1911.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 248. Accessed May 30, 2024.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 13.76 square miles (35.63 km2), including 13.37 square miles (34.63 km2) of land and 0.39 square miles (1.00 km2) of water (2.81%).US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.

Finesville (with a 2020 Census population of 364) and Upper Pohatcong (1,714) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.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 June 14, 2013.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 14, 2013.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, p. III-5, August 2012. Accessed June 14, 2013. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Carpentersville, Hughesville, Huntington, Kennedys, Riegelsville, Springtown, Warren and Warren Glen.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 18, 2014.

Pohatcong Township borders the municipalities of Greenwich Township, Lopatcong Township and Phillipsburg in Warren County; and Bethlehem Township, Bloomsbury and Holland Township in Hunterdon County.Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. The borough of Alpha is completely surrounded by Pohatcong Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.

Demographics

The township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Lehigh Valley / Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.Karp, Gregory. "Lehigh Valley, Warren County reunited as a metro area ** Economies, social patterns similar, federal office says.", The Morning Call, June 22, 2003. Accessed February 15, 2022. "This time, new rules for defining MSAs determined that because the Phillipsburg area was the biggest cluster of people in Warren County, the whole county should be lumped with the nearby Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area."

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,339 people, 1,310 households, and 942 families in the township. The population density was . There were 1,420 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 95.24% (3,180) White, 1.59% (53) Black or African American, 0.03% (1) Native American, 0.90% (30) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.69% (23) from other races, and 1.56% (52) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.47% (116) of the population.

Of the 1,310 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18; 58.8% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.1% were non-families. Of all households, 23.4% were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.3 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,318 (with a margin of error of +/− $14,047) and the median family income was $95,982 (+/− $2,028). Males had a median income of $56,705 (+/− $13,134) versus $35,481 (+/− $1,974) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,781 (+/− $7,346). About 3.9% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pohatcong township, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 14, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census,U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014. there were 3,416 people, 1,341 households, and 989 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,411 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 98.01% White, 0.44% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pohatcong township, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 14, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Pohatcong township, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 14, 2013.

There were 1,341 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $52,188, and the median income for a family was $60,208. Males had a median income of $44,327 versus $32,316 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,754. About 3.4% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy The Phillipsburg Mall is located on the border of Pohatcong and Lopatcong Township. of the mall is located in Pohatcong, with the portion of the property in the township being assessed for $39.8 million, one of the highest valuations in the municipality.Wojcik, Sarah M. "Phillipsburg Mall appeals tax assessment, setting up battle with Lopatcong and Pohatcong townships", The Express-Times, November 9, 2010. Accessed August 15, 2011. "Lopatcong and Pohatcong townships are uniting to fight a tax appeal filed by the Phillipsburg Mall, one of the largest property owners in the two townships and a source of nearly $2 million in taxes this year.... About 32 acres of the mall property sit in Lopatcong Township, while the remaining 43 acres are part of Pohatcong Township.... In 2009, the Phillipsburg Mall was assessed at about $39.8 million in Pohatcong Township and about $25 million in Lopatcong Township..."

Government

Local government Pohatcong Township is governed by the Faulkner Act (small municipality) form of government. The Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, allows municipalities to adopt a Small Municipality form of government only for municipalities with a population of under 12,000 at the time of adoption. The township is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The government is comprised of the Mayor and the four-member Township Council, with all positions elected at-large on a non-partisan basis. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. Council members serve a term of three years, which are staggered so that either one or two seats come up for election each year as part of the November general election.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. In May 2011, the township council submitted an ordinance to shift the non-partisan elections from May to November. The shift, which took effect in November 2012, was intended to save the municipality $8,000 a year in costs associated with conducting the election.Wojcik, Sarah M. "Pohatcong Township Council plans to move May elections to November", The Express-Times, May 5, 2011. Accessed June 14, 2013. "Township council voted Tuesday night to introduce an ordinance that would move the nonpartisan government elections from May to November. The move is expected to save the township about $8,000 in costs associated with putting on the May elections."