Hamburg, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.165 square miles (3.016 km²), including 1.142 square miles (2.957 km²) of land and 0.023 square miles (0.059 km²) of water (1.96%).

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 3,277 people, 1,364 households, and 883.9 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,870.4 per square mile (1,108.3/km²). The borough contained 1,476 housing units at an average density of 1,292.9 per square mile (499.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough 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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.87% (225) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,364 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.4% of all households 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.

In the borough, 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 census counted 94.3 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 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.

Census 2000

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 2,686.6 people per square mile (1,033.5/km²). There were 1,233 housing units at an average density of 1,066.9 per square mile (410.4/km²). 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.

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.

Local government

Hamburg is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists 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. The Borough form of government used by Hamburg, the most common system used in the state, 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.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Hamburg Borough is Republican Paul Marino, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Borough Council Members are Daniel P. Barr (R, 2017), John Burd (R, 2016), Ronald Garrett (R, 2018), Rich Krasnomowitz (R, 2017), Russell Law (R, 2016; elected to serve an unexpired term) and Mark Sena (R, 2018).

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. 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.

Federal, state and county representation

Hamburg is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 24th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Steve Oroho (R, Franklin) and in the General Assembly by Parker Space (R, Wantage Township) and Gail Phoebus (R, Andover Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Sussex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Freeholder Director and Deputy Director from among its members, with day-to-day supervision of the operation of the county delegated to a County Administrator. As of 2014, Sussex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Richard Vohden (R, Green Township, 2016), Deputy Director Dennis J. Mudrick (R, Sparta Township, 2015), Phillip R. Crabb (R, Franklin, 2014), George Graham (R, Stanhope, 2016) and Gail Phoebus (R, Andover Township, 2015). Graham was chosen in April 2013 to fill the seat vacated by Parker Space, who had been chosen to fill a vacancy in the New Jersey General Assembly. Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Jeff Parrott (R, 2016), Sheriff Michael F. Strada (R, 2016) and Surrogate Gary R. Chiusano (R, filling the vacancy after the resignation of Nancy Fitzgibbons). The County Administrator is John Eskilson.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,064 registered voters in Hamburg, of which 322 (15.6% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 752 (36.4% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 988 (47.9% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 63.0% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 81.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 733 votes (53.6% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 594 votes (43.5% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 30 votes (2.2% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,367 ballots cast by the borough's 2,104 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.0% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 852 votes (57.1% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 606 votes (40.6% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,491 ballots cast by the borough's 2,007 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.3% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 893 votes (63.0% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 490 votes (34.6% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.9% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,417 ballots cast by the borough's 1,897 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.7% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.7% of the vote (570 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.7% (250 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (22 votes), among the 851 ballots cast by the borough's 2,115 registered voters (9 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 546 votes (59.2% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 283 votes (30.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 78 votes (8.5% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 922 ballots cast by the borough's 1,985 registered voters, yielding a 46.4% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education

The Hamburg School District serves students in public school for kindergarten through eighth grade at Hamburg School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 275 students and 26.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.27:1.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Wallkill Valley Regional High School which comprises Franklin Borough, Hamburg Borough, Hardyston Township and Ogdensburg Borough.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 11.04 miles (17.77 km) of roadways, of which 7.50 miles (12.07 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.00 mile (1.61 km) by Sussex County and 2.54 miles (4.09 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

New Jersey Route 23 and New Jersey Route 94 intersect and pass through the borough.

Public transportation

Hamburg is served by the Highlands Connect bus, which provides service to Newton, Sparta, and Sussex.

Wineries

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hamburg include: