[16] The rolling hills and rich soils which produce bountiful agricultural crops drew Native American tribes and then Europeans to the area.

Over 150,000 acres (610 km2) were bought with metal knives and pots, clothing, blankets, barrels of rum or hard cider, guns, powder and shot allowing for European settlers to enter into Hunterdon County in the early 18th century.

After 1760, nearly all Native Americans left New Jersey and relocated to eastern Canada or the Mississippi River area.

[16] Hunterdon County was being affected by industrialization in the state and nation, mining speculation in northwest New Jersey, and competitors constructing railroads.

The Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad leased a section to White House just south of Tewksbury Township in 1848.

[citation needed] Transitioning from rural to suburban, Hunterdon County is an exurb on the western edge of New Jersey and home to commuters to New York City and Philadelphia.

The highest points are two areas in Lebanon Township, one on the Morris County line, both reaching approximately 1,060 feet (320 m) above sea level.

The lowest elevation is where the Mercer County line reaches the Delaware River, approximately 50 feet (15 m) above sea level.

Then around four hundred million years ago, a small continent that was long and thin, collided with proto North America.

The African plate which later collided with North America created more folding and faulting, especially in the southern Appalachians.

Piedmont includes the Hunterdon Plateau and the Raritan Valley Lowlands which are 150 to 300 feet (46 to 91 m) above sea level.

[23] Hunterdon has a humid continental climate which is hot-summer (Dfa) except in some higher northern areas where it is warm-summer (Dfb).

The hardiness zone is mainly 6b except for some 6a in higher northern areas and 7a along the Delaware River in West Amwell Township.

[7] The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $7.1 billion in 2021, which was ranked 16th in the state and was a 5.3% increase from the prior year.

It ranks fourth among U.S. counties for household income according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

[31] Trans-Bridge Lines also provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, as well as several towns/cities west in Pennsylvania.

Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who serve three-year terms of office at-large on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year on a partisan basis as part of the November general election.

As legislators, they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated.

[33][34] As of 2025[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31): Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers."

[41] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are: The Hunterdon County Prosecutor is Renée M. Robeson, who was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy in 2021.

[50] In June 2022, the commissioners appointed Jeff Kuhl to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Mike Holt until he resigned from office.

[52][53] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).

[58] On December 22, 2008, state investigators seized computers and other records related to Sheriff Deborah Trout's hiring of undersheriffs and other personnel without the usual background checks and qualifications.

[58] In 2010, a grand jury indicted then-sheriff Deborah Trout and two under-sheriffs on 43 counts of official misconduct and other charges.

[59][60][61] Hunterdon County is considered a Republican stronghold and has traditionally elected some of the most conservative members of the New Jersey legislature.

All five County Commissioners are Republicans, as are all countywide elected officers and the majority of township committee and borough council members.

In 2020, Joe Biden came closer than any Democratic nominee to carrying the county since Lyndon B. Johnson’s win in 1964, losing by 4.4 percent to Donald Trump.

[62] The following 26 municipalities are located in Hunterdon County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area):[65] Pittstown (part)Swinesburg Hampton (PK-5)|| Hampton Junction Clinton Township (7-8) (S/R)Lebanon Borough (PK-6)|| School districts include:[70][71][72][73] Hunterdon County is considered the premier place to hunt white tailed deer in New Jersey.

[84] New Jersey Fish and Game has nine Wildlife Management Areas for hunting ducks, deer, pheasants, quail, rabbits, squirrels and bears.