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.

[1][2] Hamburg borders the Sussex County municipalities of Franklin and Hardyston Township.

[23][24] The 2010 United States census counted 3,277 people, 1,364 households, and 884 families in the borough.

[30] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 3,105 people, 1,173 households, and 844 families residing in the borough.

[6] 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.

[32][33] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Hamburg Borough is Republican Richard Krasnomowitz, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[3][34][35][36][37] 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.

[38] Oehler won the November 2018 special election to serve the balance of the term of office.

[39] 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.

[43][44][45] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff).

[48] For the 2024-2025 session, the 24th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Parker Space (R, Wantage Township) and in the General Assembly by Dawn Fantasia (R, Franklin) and Mike Inganamort (R, Chester Township).

At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Commissioner Director and Deputy Director from among its members, with day-to-day supervision of the operation of the county delegated to a County Administrator.

[60] 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).

[75] Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Wallkill Valley Regional High School together with students from Franklin Borough, Hardyston Township and Ogdensburg Borough.