Boonton was originally formed on March 16, 1866, within portions of Hanover Township and Pequannock Township. The town was reincorporated and became independent on March 18, 1867.
Today's Boonton began in about 1829, as a result of the construction of the Morris Canal and the development of the New Jersey Iron Company. The original location of the town is now largely under the Jersey City Reservoir, completed in 1904. The waters from this reservoir were the first municipal water supply in the United States to be chlorinated in 1908.
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,496 people, 3,272 households, and 2,159 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,395.9/km² (3,619.5/mi²). There were 3,352 housing units at an average density of 550.7/km² (1,428.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 83.00% White, 3.97% African American, 0.21% Native American, 7.77% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.85% of the population.
There were 3,272 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,322, and the median income for a family was $75,147. Males had a median income of $50,518 versus $38,634 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,919. About 6.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
3.53% of Boonton residents claim Pakistani ancestry, making Boonton the most Pakistani city in the United States.
The Boonton train station provides service on the New Jersey Transit Montclair-Boonton Line, with service to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and to Hoboken Terminal.
New Jersey Transit bus service is provided on the MCM1 local route.
Interstate 287 and Route 202 run through the center of town.