Phillipsburg is a town located along the Delaware River that is the most populous municipality in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan statistical area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2023. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 15,249, an increase of 299 (+2.0%) from the 2010 census count of 14,950, which in turn reflected a decline of 216 (−1.4%) from the 15,166 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.

The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line, formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad with a mix of mainline trackage combined long leased to the Central Railroad of New Jersey by its builder Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, runs through Phillipsburg and then across the Delaware River into Easton, Pennsylvania. The Belvidere Delaware Railroad was leased in 1871 and later acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad, connecting the lower Poconos to Trenton, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

Phillipsburg is located northeast of Allentown, north of Philadelphia, and west of New York City.

History The town grew from an agricultural village in 1824. It was transformed into a transportation hub and shipping center as the Delaware River terminus of the Morris Canal, with operations commencing in 1831, the first of several transportation infrastructure projects that gave the community a direct connection to New York City. The Central Railroad of New Jersey soon followed with a connection. The community's growth soon reached the canal terminals of both the Delaware Canal and the Lehigh Canal by its cross-river cable ferry system to Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1853, the Lehigh Valley Railroad connected across the river with the Central Railroad of New Jersey and a passenger short line railroad, the Belvidere Delaware Railroad, and Morris Canal, all within Phillipsburg, which was followed by rapid growth.

On March 8, 1861, Phillipsburg was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of Phillipsburg Township, which is now Lopatcong Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 248. Accessed May 30, 2024. The town was named for William Phillips, an early settler of the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 3.31 square miles (8.58 km2), including 3.19 square miles (8.26 km2) of land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km2) of water (3.66%).

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

Pohatcong Mountain is a ridge, approximately long, in the Appalachian Mountains that extends from Phillipsburg northeast approximately to Washington.

Phillipsburg borders the municipalities of Lopatcong Township and Pohatcong Township in Warren County; and both Easton, Pennsylvania, and Williams Township across the Delaware River in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.Areas touching Phillipsburg, MapIt. Accessed March 2, 2020.Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Phillipsburg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Phillipsburg was on July 22, 1926, while the coldest temperature recorded was on January 22, 1961.

Demographics

The town's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the United States Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Phillipsburg had a population of 15,249. The median age was 37.8 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.7 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,024 households in Phillipsburg, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.4% were married-couple households, 20.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 6,659 housing units, of which 9.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 10,253 67.2% Black or African American 2,035 13.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 24 0.2% Asian 223 1.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 6 0.0% Some other race 1,102 7.2% Two or more races 1,606 10.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,552 16.7%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 14,950 people, 5,925 households, and 3,786 families in the town. The population density was . There were 6,607 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 83.44% (12,475) White, 7.49% (1,120) Black or African American, 0.17% (26) Native American, 1.53% (228) Asian, 0.05% (8) Pacific Islander, 3.92% (586) from other races, and 3.39% (507) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 11.82% (1,767) of the population.

Of the 5,925 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 39.0% were married couples living together; 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 36.1% were non-families. Of all households, 29.9% were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.12.

25.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.0 males.

Income and poverty

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $42,825 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,386) and the median family income was $51,334 (+/− $3,243). Males had a median income of $44,311 (+/− $2,090) versus $37,673 (+/− $6,847) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,291 (+/− $1,061). About 16.5% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Phillipsburg town, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 29, 2012.

Economy Industrial history Phillipsburg historically benefited from being a major transportation hub, then manufacturing with the investments by Ingersoll Rand in 1903 by opening the first Ingersoll-Sergeant factory in Phillipsburg. Within a year it employed 1,000 people, reaching a peak of 5,000. The town is situated at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers. Phillipsburg served as the western terminus of the Morris Canal for approximately 100 years from the 1830s to 1920s, which connected the city by water to the industrial and consumer centers of the New York City area, with connections westward via the Lehigh Canal and Delaware Canal across the Delaware. Long gone is the era of canal shipping and many of the important freight railways that served the area have gone bankrupt or bypass the city on long-distance routes.Phillipsburg / Easton Transportation Hub Early 20th Century , Morris Canal Greenway. Accessed December 7, 2015. "The real impetus for the industrial development of Warren County was the construction of the railroads... As all of these railroads passed through Phillipsburg, the town became a gateway to the west."

Phillipsburg was served by five major railroads: Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) Lehigh and Hudson River Railway (L&HR) Lehigh Valley Railroad (LVRR) Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Phillipsburg Branch (DL&W) Pennsylvania Railroad Belvidere Division (PRR)

Economic revival A majority of the manufacturing jobs left Warren County's largest city once Ingersoll Rand closed operations in 2000.Novak, Steve. "TIMELINE: The rise and fall of Ingersoll Rand in Phillipsburg, and a glimpse at what the future may hold", The Express-Times, October 29, 2018, updated September 24, 2019. Accessed November 23, 2021. "For a century, Ingersoll Rand was Phillipsburg. From 1903 to 2000, the company was the town's biggest employer and the biggest taxpayer. It wasn't unusual for multiple generations of a family to work there. They made rock drills that helped develop the interstate highway system. They made pumps, steam condensers, and rock compressors... But the company slowly declined from its mid-century peak of about 5,000 employees."

Portions of the town are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The city was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program.Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "In 1994, the legislation was amended, and ten more zones were added to this successful economic development program. Six of the ten new zones were predetermined: Paterson, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Lakewood, and Asbury Park/Long Branch (joint zone). The four remaining zones were selected on a competitive basis. They are Carteret, Pleasantville, Union City, and Mount Holly." In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.Urban Enterprise Zone Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases; currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018" Established in November 1994, the town's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in October 2025.Urban Enterprise Zones Effective and Expiration Dates, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018.

Businesses have begun to move on to South Main Street, including the opening of the Apothecarium Dispensary – Phillipsburg in November 2019