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The township is one of six municipalities in New Jersey under the name Washington (one of which is a borough, five of which are townships). Washington Township, Warren County completely surrounds the borough of Washington. Mansfield Township, also in Warren County, borders both this municipality and another Washington Township in Morris County.

Union was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1853, from portions of Bethlehem Township. Clinton Town was formed on April 5, 1865, within portions of the township, and became an independent municipality in 1895.[21] The township was named for Union Furnace, which was producing iron from 1742 until the 1780s.[3] The name “Union” was chosen over the alternative “Rockhill”, which was a community at the southern end of the township.[22]

Tabernacle was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1901, from portions of Shamong Township, Southampton Township and Woodland Township.[21][22] The township was named for a tabernacle constructed by missionaries David and John Brainerd.[23]

The borough of Prospect Park was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of the now-defunct Manchester Township.[21][22] The borough was named for Prospect Park, Brooklyn.[23]

Carlstadt was originally formed as a village by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1860, within Lodi Township. Most sources indicate that the community was named for Dr. Carl Klein, the leader of a group of early German settlers who led the project to establish the community[22][23] though Henry Gannett stated that the name derived from the city of Karlovac in Croatia, which was known as “Carlstadt” in German.[24] The Borough of Carlstadt was incorporated on June 27, 1894, formally set off from Bergen Township.[25][26] The borough was formed during the “Boroughitis” phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[27]

Dennis Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1827, from portions of Upper Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Sea Isle City borough (May 22, 1882) and Woodbine borough (March 3, 1903).[19]

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.[21][22] The name “Watchung” comes from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans, meaning “high hills”[23] or from “watschu,” meaning “hill.”[24]

In 1888, Henry J. Appert, a Swiss immigrant, drained a bog for the cultivation of onions and celery. The business—Allendale Produce Gardens, or the “celery farm” to locals—supplied wholesale markets and Campbell Soup Company. Allendale was formed on November 8, 1894, from portions of Franklin Township (remainder now Wyckoff), Hohokus Township (remainder now Mahwah) and Orvil Township (remainder now Waldwick).[20][21] The borough was formed during the “Boroughitis” phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[22] The borough was named for Joseph Warner Allen, a surveyor for the Erie Railroad.[23]

Maurice River Township was first formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey’s initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Millville on March 1, 1866.[20] The township derives its name from Maurice, Prince of Orange.[21][22]

Shamong was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 19, 1852, from portions of Medford Township, Southampton Township and Washington Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Woodland Township (March 7, 1866) and Tabernacle Township (March 22, 1901).[19] In April 1902, portions of Hammonton and Waterford Township were annexed to the township.[20] The township’s name comes from Native American terms meaning “place of the big horn”, from the words oschummo (“horn”) and onk (“place”).[21][22]