Hackettstown is a town in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is perhaps best known as the home to the US headquarters of Mars, Inc.Mars Wrigley Confectionery to base U.S. Headquarters in Hackettstown, Mars, Incorporated, December 5, 2017. Accessed April 27, 2023. "Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S., part of the world's leading manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints, and fruity confections, announced today its intent to base its U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, utilizing existing offices in Hackettstown, New Jersey, as well as a new location in Newark, New Jersey. Mars Wrigley Confectionery's global headquarters will continue to be based in Chicago while its U.S. headquarters will transition to New Jersey by July 2020." As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 10,248, an increase of 524 (+5.4%) from the 2010 census count of 9,724, which in turn reflected a decline of 679 (−6.5%) from the 10,403 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Hackettstown was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1853, from portions of Independence Township. Portions of territory were exchanged with Mansfield Township in 1857, 1860, 1872 and 1875.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 246. Accessed July 6, 2012.

History Founding William Johnson (1817–1891) was a prime contributor to the incorporation of the town in 1853. He and his brother George (1815–1889) were successful merchants in the town beginning in 1839 when they began operating the W.L. & G.W Johnson dry good store. The two men were very active in community affairs. George was a member of First Presbyterian Church, a director of the Hackettstown National Bank, and a member of the Hackettstown Water Board. Both men were involved in the establishment of the Union Cemetery.Historic Main Street, Hackettstown, New Jersey, Frank, Leonard and Raymond Lemasters, Harmony Press, Inc, Easton, Pennsylvania, 2006, pp. 77-78

Hackettstown was named after Samuel Hackett, an early settler and large landowner.via the Trenton Monitor. "Origin of Geographical Names in New Jersey", Camden Democrat, August 12, 1865. Accessed July 6, 2012. "Hackettstown – After Samuel Hackett, an early settler."Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 146. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed March 17, 2015. Hackett is said to have "contributed liberally to the liquid refreshments on the christening of a new hotel, in order to secure the name which, before this, had been Helms' Mills or Musconetcong."Northwestern New Jersey–-A History of Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex Counties, Vol. 2. (A. Van Doren Honeyman, ed. in chief, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1927) p. 689.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.

Tillie Smith murder case

In 1886, Tillie Smith, a 19-year-old kitchen worker from a poverty-stricken family, was raped, murdered and left lying in an open field near the campus of the Centenary Collegiate Institute, where she worked.Brock, Donna. "The Mystery of Tillie Smith", Hackettstown Historical Society. Accessed July 6, 2012. James Titus, a janitor at the school, was tried and convicted of the rape and murder, based on circumstantial evidence and public opinion shaped by yellow journalism. Titus was sentenced to hang, but he signed a confession to avoid the death penalty and served 19 years of hard labor. He lived from 1904 to 1952 in Hackettstown among many of the same residents who championed his conviction, the validity of which remains controversial. The killing is a perennial urban legend in town, inspiring multiple books, Weird NJ magazine articles, theatrical performances and dark tourism ghost tours.

20th century The Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery, a popular tourist destination, was established in 1912.

In 1925, a train wreck just outside of town killed about 50 people and injured about 50 others en route to Hoboken, New Jersey, from Chicago. The derailment involved a Lackawanna Railroad train and occurred at the Hazen Road grade crossing near Rockport Road at approximately 3:30 am, as a result of debris washed downhill by a storm fouling the road crossing. The event made national headlines and stands as the deadliest event in Warren County history."Big Toll Taken In A New Jersey Wreck. Latest Report Shows At Least 27 Were Killed. Thunderstorm Clogged A Switch With Sand Causing A Derailment.", Sterling Daily Gazette, June 16, 1925. Accessed March 17, 2015.Staff. "Derailed In Big Storm; Special Train Leaves Rails in Early Morning Near Hackettstown.", The New York Times, June 17, 1925. Accessed July 6, 2012. "Hackettstown, N.J., June 16. -- Thirty-nine persons are dead and 48 are in hospitals, as the result of the wreck of a special train early this morning on the Delaware, Lackawanna Western Railroad near here, and about sixty miles from New York."Staff. "Wreck Death List Now 45 In Jersey; One More Victim Dies and 13 Others Are in a Critical Condition. Funeral Special Departs Bodies Due in Chicago Tomorrow -- Coroner's Inquest Is Set for Monday Night.", The New York Times, June 19, 1925. Accessed July 6, 2012.

Fund-raising campaigns for a new hospital started as early as 1945, supported and organized by local civic and business groups including Kiwanis, Unico International, PTA and others, a large donation by the Seventh Day Adventists and a grant from the United States Public Health Service, the 106-bed Hackettstown Community Hospital was established in 1973.

In 1977, a mass shooting occurred in the town when Emile Pierre Benoist, a 20-year-old graduate of Hackettstown High School and former U.S. Marine, took random shots at passing cars over the course of about four hours and shot and killed six people before turning the rifle on himself.

In 1994, a charity BBQ picnic organized by the "Tri-County Motorcycle Club" at the Elk's Lodge in Hackettstown was crashed by rival members of the outlaw Pagan's Motorcycle Club. "An altercation started that escalated into knives and guns being used", according to the Warren County Prosecutor. Two Pagans were killed and three other bikers were injured.

21st century Hackettstown was named #72 of the top 100 towns in the United States to Live and Work In by Money Magazine in 2005; it has not been included since.Best Places to Live 2005: No. 72 - Hackettstown, NJ, Money, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 6, 2008. Accessed March 17, 2015.

In 2011, the town council proclaimed a sister city relationship with Hacketstown, Ireland.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 3.71 square miles (9.61 km2), including 3.61 square miles (9.35 km2) of land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) of water (2.67%) as of 2019. The town is located in a valley along the banks of the Musconetcong River.

Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately .History , Borough of Washington. Accessed June 5, 2013. "Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately 6 mi (10 km) to the vicinity of Hackettstown."

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the town include Warren Furnace.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Hackettstown borders the townships of Washington (Morris County) to the southeast, Mansfield to the southwest, Allamuchy to the north, Mount Olive to the northeast, and Independence to the west.Areas touching Hackettstown, MapIt. Accessed March 31, 2020.Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Hackettstown is northeast of Allentown and northwest of New York City.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Hackettstown had a population of 10,248. The median age was 39.3 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.3 males age 18 and over.

99.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,769 households in Hackettstown, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.5% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,945 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 7,130 69.6% Black or African American 370 3.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 33 0.3% Asian 409 4.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 1,198 11.7% Two or more races 1,107 10.8% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,393 23.4%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 9,724 people, 3,575 households, and 2,256 families in the town. The population density was . There were 3,755 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 85.08% (8,273) White, 2.46% (239) Black or African American, 0.24% (23) Native American, 4.97% (483) Asian, 0.05% (5) Pacific Islander, 5.19% (505) from other races, and 2.02% (196) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.16% (1,474) of the population.

Of the 3,575 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18; 49.5% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 36.9% were non-families. Of all households, 30.0% were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.09.

20.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,215 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,907) and the median family income was $82,216 (+/− $10,611). Males had a median income of $51,489 (+/− $5,850) versus $41,822 (+/− $5,248) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,433 (+/− $2,122). About 4.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hackettstown town, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 6, 2012.

2000 census