[21] Stanhope was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1904, from portions of Byram Township.

[1][2] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Lake Musconetcong.

[7] The borough form of government used by Stanhope 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 2024[update], the mayor of Stanhope is Republican Gene Wronko, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

Members of the Borough Council are Council President William Thornton (R, 2024), Diana M. Kuncken (R, 2025), Anthony J. Riccardi (D, 2026), Thomas J. Romano (R, 2026), Tyler Simpson (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Scott Wachterhauser (R, 2025; elected to serve an unexpired term).

[3][37][38][39][40] Tyler Simpson was appointed in January 2024 to serve the rest of the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Gene Wronko took office as mayor earlier that month.

[38] Michael Vance was chosen in June 2021 to fill the seat that had been held by Raymond Cipollini that expired in December 2022.

[40] In January 2020, the borough council selected Gene Wronko from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to serve to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that was vacated by Patricia Zdichocki when she took office as mayor.

[44] In January 2018, the borough council selected Anthony Riccardi from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Michael A. Depew until he left office because of health issues.

[48][49][50] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).

[52] 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).

At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Commissioner Director and Deputy Director from among its members, with day-to-day supervision of the operation of the county delegated to a County Administrator.

[64] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 66.6% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 86.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

[82] For ninth through twelfth grades, the borough shares Lenape Valley Regional High School, which serves public school students from Netcong in Morris County and the Sussex County communities of Byram Township and Stanhope.

[84] Students from the borough had attended Netcong High School until 1974, when the Lenape Valley district was created.

U.S. Route 206 also passes through in the western section and is partially a limited access road (the "Netcong Bypass") which connects to Interstate 80 in neighboring Mount Olive.

[91] Since 1949, the Patriots' Path Council of the Boy Scouts of America operate two camps at the Mt.

[94] The Plaster Mill was part of an iron works along the Morris Canal, which ran through the borough.