[21] Hawthorne was originally part of the now-defunct Manchester Township, which was later subdivided to create Hawthorne, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park, Totowa, The Heights/Columbia Heights District of Fair Lawn and most of the First Ward of Paterson.

The Borough of Hawthorne was incorporated from portions of Manchester Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1898.

[1][2] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Goffle, North Hawthorne and Van Winkle.

[26][27][28] The 2010 United States census counted 18,791 people, 7,454 households, and 4,949 families in the borough.

[36] As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 18,218 people, 7,260 households, and 4,929 families residing in the borough.

A Charter Study Commission, formed in the 1980s after two major commercial businesses left the borough, led to a recommendation for the adoption of a mayor–council form in which there are four wards to give residents a representative in each area of the community, in addition to a mayor and two at-large members of the borough council, all of whom are directly elected by residents, with all members of the governing body serving four-year terms of office.

[39][40] As of 2023[update], the Mayor of the Borough of Hawthorne is Republican John V. Lane, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.

[41][42][43][44][45][46] In January 2020, the borough council appointed Michael Sciarra to fill the Ward 3 expiring in December 2023 that had been won by Garret G. Sinning, who died two weeks after winning re-election; Sciarra served on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election, when voters chose him to serve the balance of the term of office.

[47][48][45] On July 29, 2008, former mayor Patrick Botbyl announced he would resign effective August 15, 2008.

[49] A special election was held on November 4, 2008, in which Republican Richard Goldberg defeated Democrat Joseph Wojtecki to become the mayor of Hawthorne for the remainder of Botbyl's term.

[50] The Hawthorne Police Department is Led by its Chief James W. Knepper, who oversees two Captains, six Lieutenants, six Sergeants, 18 patrol and traffic officers and three detectives.

[51][52] The police department maintains several special units including K-9, motorcycle, quality of life, education and firearms.

The department runs many community programs such as the Junior Police Academy, Citizen's Police Academy, ROAR Education, and a high school Criminal Justice program.

[55] The PCSPCA Humane Police Department maintains two black and white patrol vehicles.

[58] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 9th congressional district is represented by Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon)[59] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).

[60] For the 2024-2025 session, the 40th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kristin Corrado (R, Totowa) and in the General Assembly by Al Barlas (R, Cedar Grove) and Christopher DePhillips (R, Wyckoff).

[62] As of 2025[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are: Bruce James (D, Clifton, 2026),[63] Deputy Director Cassandra "Sandi" Lazzara (D, Little Falls, 2027),[64] Director John W. Bartlett (D, Wayne, 2027),[65] Orlando Cruz (D, Paterson, 2026),[66] Terry Duffy (D, West Milford, 2025),[67] Rodney DeVore (D, Paterson, 2027)[68] and Pasquale "Pat" Lepore (D, Woodland Park, 2025).

[79] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 64.2% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 81.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).

[110] Other significant roads passing through Hawthorne include County Route 504.