Part of the eastern land drains under the Morris Canal bed and south into the Musconetcong River just below the boundary with Mansfield Township.

The hillsides are steep, layered with rock and limestone while the valleys still hold soil deposited here from the receding glaciers.

This area was initially settled and cleared as farmland for growing hay and grain or as pastureland.

Timber was cut for lumber, grain was milled into flour, and some iron ore was mined from the Jenny Jump Mountain area during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

After many attempts the Great Meadow was drained with the water channeled to permit successful development of commercial vegetable production.

[25][26][27] Through the 2000 United States Census, the areas were grouped together as Great Meadows-Vienna, which had a population of 1,264 as of that year.

[28] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Petersburgh.

[30][31] The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

[43] The 2010 United States census counted 5,662 people, 2,234 households, and 1,506 families in the township.

[44] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 5,603 people, 2,146 households, and 1,489 families residing in the township.

[6][46] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

As of 2022[update], members of the Independence Township Committee are Mayor Robert M. Giordano (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Glenn Cougle (R, 2024), Kathleen Gesumaria (R, 2023), Bonnie Kelsey (R, 2023) and Michael S. Pennington (R, 2022).

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

[54] 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).

[59][60] Constitutional officers of Warren County are: Clerk Holly Mackey (R, Alpha; 2027),[61][62] Sheriff James McDonald Sr. (R, Phillipsburg; 2025)[63][64] and Surrogate Michael J. Doherty (R, Washington; 2025).

[68] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 66.9% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 87.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

[78][79] The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division blocked a 2007 effort by Liberty Township to leave the Great Meadows district based on Liberty's greater share of district costs, with the court citing the inability of the two communities to provide an efficient education separately.