Watchung (/wɑːˈtʃʌŋ/) is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located approximately 29 miles (47 km) west of New York City.

[29] George Washington surveyed the British troops in Perth Amboy, 20 miles away, from the first ridge of the Watchung Mountains.

[citation needed] Watchung was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 23, 1926, from portions of North Plainfield Township (now Green Brook Township) based on the results of a referendum held on April 20, 1926.

[23][24] In the wake of public fear that ensued after the 1938 radio broadcast of Orson Welles' The War of the Worlds, National Guard troops were stationed around the hills in Watchung, as told on the vinyl record recording of news reports of the day.

[citation needed] Notable figures who have lived in Watchung include Bobby Thomson, Billy Ard and Carl Banks.

Known also as the Sunbright Farm farmhouse, the home was damaged in April 2014 when it was hit by trees that fell as a result of a likely microburst in a severe storm that rolled through the area.

[32] The borough is home to Watchung Valley Golf Club, which moved from its original nine-hole course in North Plainfield to its current location on Mountain Boulevard in 1927.

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

[citation needed] The 2010 United States census counted 5,801 people, 2,114 households, and 1,613 families in the borough.

[45][7] The borough form of government used by Watchung 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.

[46][47] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Watchung Borough is Republican Ronald Jubin, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.

Members of the Watchung Borough Council are Sonia Abi-Habib (R, 2026), Curt S. Dahl (R, 2024), Christine B. Ead (R, 2024), Paul Fischer (R, 2025), Robert L. Gibbs (R, 2026) and Paolo Marano (R, 2025).

[55][56][57] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).

[59] For the 2024-2025 session, the 21st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jon Bramnick (R, Westfield) and in the General Assembly by Michele Matsikoudis (R, New Providence) and Nancy Munoz (R, Summit).

[78] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 71.6% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 93.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).

[98] The district's board of education is comprised of nine members, who are elected directly by the voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for each year.

[99][100] Christian denomination Mount St. Mary Academy (9–12), which opened in 1908, is operated by the Sisters of Mercy under the supervision of Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

[104] U.S. Route 22 passes briefly through the borough's southeast corner, entering from North Plainfield in the west and continuing into Scotch Plains Township in Union County.

[105] County Route 527 (Mountain Boulevard / Valley Road) stretches 5.2 miles (8.4 km) across the length of the borough from Warren Township in the southwest to Berkeley Heights in the northeast.