[24][25] Raritan town was originally established as a subdivision within Bridgewater Township by act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 3, 1868.

The Raritan Woolen Mills was established in 1846, as a major producer of textiles, known throughout the United States.

Its name changed to the Somerset Manufacturing Company in 1882, employing as many as 400 people during its peak at the turn of the century.

[26] The Knox–Porter Resolution ending United States involvement in World War I was signed by President Harding at the estate of New Jersey Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen Sr. on July 2, 1921.

The 2010 United States census counted 6,881 people, 2,673 households, and 1,748 families in the borough.

[41] As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 6,338 people, 2,556 households, and 1,671 families residing in the borough.

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

[45][46] As of 2024[update], the mayor of the Borough of Raritan is Republican Nicolas Carra, whose term of office expires December 31, 2027.

[47] Members of the Raritan Borough Council are Council President Donald Tozzi (R, 2026),[48] Michael Patente (R, 2026),[49] Adam Armahizer (D, 2025),[50] Kenneth DiGraziano (R, 2024, appointed to fill an unexpired term),[51] David Fritzinger (R, 2024)[52] and Umesh Agrawal (R, 2024, appointed to fill an unexpired term).

[53][54] In January 2024, the borough council appointed Republican Umesh Agrawal to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that became vacant when Nicolas J. Carra took office as mayor earlier that month; Agrawal will serve on an interim basis until the November 2024 general election.

[55] In May 2024, the borough council appointed Republican Kenneth DiGraziano to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Joyce Melitsky resigned earlier that month.

[59][60][61] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).

[63] 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).

[82] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 57.1% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 74.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).

[114] St. Ann Classical Academy is a classical, liberal-arts Catholic school for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade that operates under the supervision of the Raritan Oratory of St. Philip Neri and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

[119] New Jersey Route 28 has one side of the roadway within the borough as it follows the border with Bridgewater Township.

In 1994, an overpass was completed to allow traffic on Route 202 between Flemington and Interstate 78 and Interstate 287 to avoid the circle, though the rate of accidents grew from 195 in 1991 before the project started to 302 for the year after the overpass was open to traffic.

The station building is south of the tracks in the main parking lot and was built in the early 1890s.

The borough is served by the CAT-1R, 2R, and 3R routes (which all continue to Raritan Valley Community College on the western end.

On the eastern end, buses continue to New Brunswick, North Plainfield, and Bridgewater Commons respectively), operated by Community Access Transit.

[127][128] The Raritan Public Library is located in what was originally the homestead of General John Frederick Frelinghuysen.