Lebanon is a borough in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,665, the highest ever in any decennial census and an increase of 307 (+22.6%) from the 2010 census count of 1,358, which in turn reflected an increase of 293 (+27.5%) from the 1,065 counted in the 2000 census.
Lebanon was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1926, from portions of Clinton Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 20, 1926. Additional portions of Clinton Township were annexed in 1962.
The borough is located north of the Round Valley Reservoir. The borough was known in the early part of the 19th century as Jacksonville and later as Lebanonville, Lebanonville Depot and finally Lebanon, a station on the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The center of Lebanon has changed little in the past century. The Dutch Reformed Church is one of the oldest churches in the County. Records of the church begin in 1769, however, the church is cited as early as 1747. The Lebanon Historic District was listed on the state and national registers of historic places in 2009.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.90 square miles (2.34 km2), almost all of which was land.
The borough is an independent municipality surrounded by Clinton Township, making it part of one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,358 people, 602 households, and 366 families in the borough. The population density was 1,532.0 per square mile (591.5/km2). There were 664 housing units at an average density of 749.1 per square mile (289.2/km2). The racial makeup was 90.13% (1,224) White, 1.77% (24) Black or African American, 0.15% (2) Native American, 5.23% (71) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.88% (12) from other races, and 1.84% (25) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.01% (68) of the population.
Of the 602 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18; 46.5% were married couples living together; 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.2% were non-families. Of all households, 34.2% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.
21.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 84.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 82.6 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $71,629 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,410) and the median family income was $96,500 (+/− $10,275). Males had a median income of $70,977 (+/− $9,418) versus $53,750 (+/− $18,758) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,035 (+/− $2,975). About 1.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,065 people, 458 households, and 287 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 477 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 95.40% White, 0.66% African American, 0.19% Native American, 3.10% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.
There were 458 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.