Watchung, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watchung, New Jersey
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Borough
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Cascading dam holds in Watchung Lake
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Location of Watchung in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Watchung, New Jersey
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 Watchung, New Jersey
Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Watchung, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Watchung, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Somerset |
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| Incorporated | April 20, 1926 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.04 sq mi (15.65 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.02 sq mi (15.58 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) 0.46% | |
| Area rank | 256th of 565 in state 10th of 21 in county |
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| Elevation | 259 ft (79 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,449 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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6,434 | |
| • Rank | 330th of 565 in state 16th of 21 in county |
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| • Density | 1,072.0/sq mi (413.9/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 374th of 565 in state 12th of 21 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07069
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| Area code(s) | 908 | |
| FIPS code | 3403577600 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885433 | |
Watchung (say it: wah-CHUNG) is a small town called a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey. It's about 29 miles west of New York City. In 2020, about 6,449 people lived there. The name "Watchung" comes from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. It means "high hills" or "hill."
Watchung was officially made a borough on May 23, 1926. This happened after people voted for it on April 20, 1926. It used to be part of North Plainfield Township, which is now Green Brook Township. Watchung is known for being one of New Jersey's wealthier communities.
Contents
History of Watchung
Long ago, George Washington used to watch British troops from the first ridge of the Watchung Mountains. He could see them in Perth Amboy, which was 20 miles away. People first thought about naming the area "Washingtonville." But the United States Postal Service said no because there were already too many places named Washington in New Jersey.
In the 1900s, Watchung was a quiet, country-like community with about 3,200 people. Nearby cities like Plainfield and Somerville were much bigger and more city-like. Henry Baldwin Macdonald was the first mayor of Watchung, serving from 1926 to 1928. In 1967, after some events in nearby Plainfield, many people from the upper-middle class moved to the Watchung Hills area. They settled in towns like Watchung, Warren Township, and Bridgewater Township.
In 1938, after the famous radio show The War of the Worlds caused a lot of public worry, National Guard troops were even sent to the hills in Watchung. This story was shared on news recordings from that time.
Some famous people have lived in Watchung, including football players Bobby Thomson, Billy Ard, and Carl Banks.
Historic Places to See
The Eaton House is a historic spot in Watchung. It used to belong to a congressman named Charles Aubrey Eaton. Other important people have lived there over the years. The house was also known as the Sunbright Farm farmhouse. In 2014, it was damaged when trees fell on it during a strong storm.
Watchung is also home to the Watchung Valley Golf Club. It moved to its current spot on Mountain Boulevard in 1927. For many years, from 1933 to 2017, it was called the Twin Brooks Country Club.
Geography of Watchung
Watchung covers about 6.04 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
A small community called Washingtonville is partly or fully located within Watchung.
Watchung shares borders with several other towns. In Somerset County, it borders Green Brook Township, North Plainfield, and Warren Township. In Union County, it borders Berkeley Heights, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains.
The Stony Brook river flows through Watchung. It starts in Warren Township, goes into Watchung Lake, then through a gorge in the Watchung mountain, and over the Wetumpka Falls before reaching the Green Brook.
Watchung is about a 40-minute drive from New York City and a 20-minute drive from Newark.
Watchung's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 906 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,158 | 27.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,818 | 57.0% | |
| 1960 | 3,312 | 82.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,750 | 43.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,290 | 11.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,110 | −3.4% | |
| 2000 | 5,613 | 9.8% | |
| 2010 | 5,801 | 3.3% | |
| 2020 | 6,449 | 11.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,434 | 10.9% | |
| Population sources: 1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2010, there were 5,801 people living in Watchung. There were 2,114 households, and 1,613 families. The population density was about 963 people per square mile.
Most people in Watchung (about 80.5%) were White. About 12.7% were Asian, and 3.5% were Black or African American. About 5.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, about 23.2% of the people were under 18 years old. About 21.1% were 65 years or older. The average age in Watchung was 46.9 years.
Education in Watchung
Students in Watchung go to public schools for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the Watchung Borough Schools district. This district has two schools:
- Bayberry Elementary School: For students in PreK through 4th grade.
- Valley View School: For students in 5th through 8th grade.
After eighth grade, students attend Watchung Hills Regional High School. This high school is located in Warren Township. Students from Green Brook Township, Warren Township, and Long Hill Township also go to this high school.
There is also a private school in Watchung called Mount St. Mary Academy. It is a Christian school for girls in grades 9-12. The Sisters of Mercy run it under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.
Transportation in Watchung
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Watchung has many roads that help people get around. As of 2010, there were about 44.63 miles of roads in the borough. Most of these roads are taken care of by the town itself.
Two major highways pass near or through Watchung:
- Interstate 78: This highway runs through the northwestern part of Watchung. It connects Watchung to Warren Township and Berkeley Heights.
- U.S. Route 22: This road briefly goes through the southeastern part of Watchung. It connects North Plainfield to Scotch Plains.
Other important roads include County Route 527 (Mountain Boulevard / Valley Road) and County Route 531 (Somerset Road / Hillcrest Road). These roads help people travel across the borough and connect to nearby towns.
Notable People from Watchung
Many interesting people have lived in Watchung, including:
- Billy Ard (born 1959): A former football player for the New York Giants.
- Carl Banks (born 1962): Another former football player for the New York Giants.
- Chaka Khan (born 1953): A famous singer who has won Grammy Awards.
- Laura Prepon (born 1980): An actress known for playing Donna Pinciotti on That '70s Show.
- Bjarne Stroustrup (born 1950): The person who created the C++ computer programming language.
- Bobby Thomson (1923–2010): A former professional baseball player for the New York Giants. He hit a very famous home run called the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951.
- Anthony Volpe (born 2001): A professional baseball player for the New York Yankees.
- Katt Williams (born 1973): A well-known comedian, actor, and rapper.
See also
In Spanish: Watchung para niños
