Belvidere is a town in and the county seat of Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 10, 2017. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 2,520, a decrease of 161 (−6.0%) from the 2010 census count of 2,681, which in turn reflected a decline of 90 (−3.2%) from the 2,771 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.
Belvidere was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1845, from portions of Oxford Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 245. Accessed October 25, 2012. The town's name is a misspelling of "beautiful to see" in Italian.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.
Geography and climate According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 1.48 square miles (3.84 km2), including 1.45 square miles (3.75 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.09 km2) of water (2.36%). Dildine Island is located in the Delaware River, approximately north of Belvidere.
Belvidere borders White Township in Warren County and Northampton County in Pennsylvania across the Delaware River.Areas touching Belvidere, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Belvidere had a population of 2,520. The median age was 41.7 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.3 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,031 households in Belvidere, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.2% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,143 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,220 88.1% Black or African American 30 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 7 0.3% Asian 25 1.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 56 2.2% Two or more races 182 7.2% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 198 7.9%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 2,681 people, 1,054 households, and 682 families in the town. The population density was . There were 1,140 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 96.01% (2,574) White, 1.57% (42) Black or African American, 0.11% (3) Native American, 0.78% (21) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.22% (6) from other races, and 1.31% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% (97) of the population.
Of the 1,054 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18; 48.8% were married couples living together; 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.3% were non-families. Of all households, 28.7% were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.17.
25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $60,707 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,476) and the median family income was $74,028 (+/− $13,366). Males had a median income of $53,796 (+/− $11,432) versus $32,000 (+/− $7,359) for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,220 (+/− $2,359). About 0.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 31, 2013.
2000 census As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 2,771 people, 1,088 households, and 716 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,165 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.02% White, 0.51% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Belvidere town, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 31, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 31, 2013.
There were 1,088 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,792, and the median income for a family was $62,212. Males had a median income of $41,800 versus $31,444 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,231. About 1.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. Economy A large site of DSM-Firmenich Nutritional Products that includes of facilities in the town, manufacturing products including arachidonic acid and beta-carotene by fermentation processes, is located on the town's border with White Township.Molnar, Phillip. "DSM Nutritional Products will spend roughly $60 million on White Township facility", The Express-Times, April 10, 2012. Accessed October 15, 2018. "DSM Nutritional Products will spend roughly $60 million on expansion and improvement to its facility in White Township, the company announced today.... It said the construction would take place in Belvidere, not White Township. Roughly 250,000 square feet of the facility extends into Belvidere."
Holidays Belvidere, once every year, on the first Saturday after Labor Day, celebrates their founding and legacy with the "Victorian Days" event, where people dress in a similar style to the 1800s. The location, Garret Wall, usually contains fun facts about Belvidere, prize games, timed events, horse rides, etc. It is a day where the county seat of Belvidere unites together as one.
Government Local government Belvidere is governed under the town form of municipal government. The town is one of nine municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this traditional form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the six-member Town Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The town council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 5. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
, the Mayor of Belvidere is Republican Kathleen B. Miers, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Town Council are Council President Joseph Roth (R, 2027), Christopher Allen (R, 2026), John Johnson III (D, 2028), Peter Koop (R, 2027), Tammy Koop (R, 2026) and Donald Mitchell (R, 2028).Contact Us, Town of Belvidere. Accessed February 26, 2026.2025 Municipal Data Sheet, Town of Belvidere. Accessed February 26, 2026.Warren County Summary Results Report Official Results 2025 General Election - 11-4-2025, Warren County, New Jersey, published November 17, 2025. Accessed January 1, 2026.Summary Results Report 2024 General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.Warren County 2023 General Election November 21, 2023 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, published November 29, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.
Federal, state, and county representation Belvidere is located in the 7th Congressional District2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022. and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.
Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,687 registered voters in Belvidere, of which 380 (22.5% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 611 (36.2% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 694 (41.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.Voter Registration Summary - Warren, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 31, 2013. Among the town's 2010 Census population, 62.9% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 84.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 31, 2013.