[20] What is now Hampton was originally incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as Junction Borough on February 20, 1895, from portions of both Lebanon Township and Bethlehem Township, based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.

[21] As part of the 1931 settlement reached between the two municipalities to resolve a border dispute dating back to the borough of Glen Gardner's formation in 1919, Hampton paid Glen Gardner $4,000 (equivalent to $80,000 in 2023) for 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land that became part of the borough.

In 1880, the town consisted of a store, hotel, cabinet manufacturer, blacksmith, wheelwright shop, grist mill, school house and about 25 dwellings.

[citation needed] The cremated remains of occultist Aleister Crowley were buried under a tree by O.T.O.

[24][25][26] The 2010 United States census counted 1,401 people, 570 households, and 368 families in the borough.

[33] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 1,546 people, 559 households, and 377 families residing in the borough.

[6] The borough form of government used by Hampton 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.

[35][36] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Hampton Borough is Republican Todd Shaner, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.

Members of the Hampton Borough Council are Council President Robert T. Wotanowski (R, 2023), Robert M. Celentano (R, 2023), John R. Drummond (R, 2025), Douglas E. Rega (R, 2024), Carroll L. Swenson (R, 2025) and Jeffrey A. Tampier (R, 2024).

[3][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] In May 2013, the borough council selected James Cregar from a list of three candidates recommended by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Mayor Peter Winter following his resignation in May, at which time Cregar had become acting mayor.

[46][47][48] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).

[50] For the 2024-2025 session, the 23rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Doug Steinhardt (R, Lopatcong Township) and in the General Assembly by John DiMaio (R, Hackettstown) and Erik Peterson (R, Franklin Township).

[57][58] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are Clerk Mary H. Melfi (R; Flemington, 2026),[59][60] Sheriff Fredrick W. Brown (R; Alexandria Township, 2025)[61][62] and Surrogate Heidi Rohrbach (R; Lebanon Township, 2028).

In 1955, the Hampton Fire Company selected one of its members, Gilbert Riddle, to organize an emergency squad.

The Fire Company purchased the first ambulance, which was housed in the firehouse until the squad's permanent facilities were completed.

The Hampton Emergency Squad incorporated itself in 1976, becoming independent of the Fire Company, however its name did not change.

A new GMC rescue truck was purchased in 1978, equipped with four-wheel drive and quartz spotlights for better lighting during accidents and fires.

An additional bay was added to the building in 1979 to provide storage of emergency vehicles and equipment.

The Hampton Emergency Squad dedicated their building to the memory of Charles Tampier and William Deemer in 1982.