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Middlesex County, New Jersey

Coordinates: 40°26′N 74°25′W / 40.44°N 74.41°W / 40.44; -74.41
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Middlesex County
County
Official seal of Middlesex County
Seal
Map of New Jersey highlighting Middlesex County
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
Map of the United States highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°26′N 74°25′W / 40.44°N 74.41°W / 40.44; -74.41
Country United States
State New Jersey
Founded1675
SeatNew Brunswick
Largest cityEdison
Area
 • Total
323 sq mi (840 km2)
 • Land310 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  3.97%
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
750,162
 • Density2,420/sq mi (935/km2)
Websitewww.co.middlesex.nj.us

Middlesex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 750,162. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area and its county seat is New BrunswickTemplate:GR. The center of population for New Jersey is located in Middlesex County, in the township of East Brunswick, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike (see map of location).[1] The county ranks 63rd in the United States among the highest-income counties by median household.[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 323 square miles (835 km²), of which, 310 square miles (802 km²) of it is land and 13 square miles (33 km²) of it (3.97%) is water. The county is named after the historic English county of Middlesex.

Bisected by the Raritan River, the county is topographically typical of Central Jersey in that it is largely flat, with minimal relief. The highest point is a hill scaled by Major Rd. near Route 1 in South Brunswick Township of approximately 300 feet (91.4 m) above sea level; the low elevation is sea level.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179015,956—
180017,89012.1%
181020,38113.9%
182021,4705.3%
183023,1577.9%
184021,893*−5.5%
185028,63530.8%
186034,81221.6%
187045,02929.3%
188052,28616.1%
189061,75418.1%
190079,76229.2%
1910114,42643.5%
1920162,33441.9%
1930212,20830.7%
1940217,0772.3%
1950264,87222.0%
1960433,85663.8%
1970583,81334.6%
1980595,8932.1%
1990671,78012.7%
2000750,16211.7%
2008 (est.)789,102
* lost territory
historical census data source:[3][4]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile (935/km²). There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile (341/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.42% White, 9.13% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 13.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.71% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. 13.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.0% were of Italian, 9.8% Irish, 8.0% Polish and 6.2% German ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 265,815 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $61,446, and the median income for a family was $70,749 (these figures had risen to $74,732 and $86,239 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[5]). Males had a median income of $49,683 versus $35,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,535. About 4.20% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 6.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Middlesex County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Freeholders are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms in the November general election. In January of each year, the Board reorganizes, selecting one Freeholder to be Freeholder Director and another to be Freeholder Deputy Director. The Freeholder Director appoints Freeholders to serve as Chairpersons and members on the various committees which oversee county departments.

As of 2008, Middlesex County's Freeholders are:[6]

Politics

Middlesex County is a Democratic stronghold. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, John Kerry carried the county by a 13.6% margin over George W. Bush, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush.[7] In 2008, Barack Obama carried Middlesex by a 21.8% margin over John McCain, with Obama winning New Jersey by 15.5% over McCain.[8] However, in the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 47% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 45%.

Transportation

Middlesex County hosts various county routes, state routes, US Routes, Interstates and toll highways.

County roads include County Route 501, County Route 514, County Route 516 (only in Old Bridge), County Route 520, County Route 522, County Route 527, County Route 529, County Route 531 and County Route 535. The state routes are: Route 18, Route 26 (only in North Brunswick - entirely concurrent with Livingston Avenue), Route 27, Route 28, Route 32, Route 33 (only in Monroe), Route 34 (only in Old Bridge), Route 35, Route 91 (concurrent with Jersey Avenue in North Brunswick and entering New Brunswick), Route 171, Route 172 (only in New Brunswick), Route 184 and Route 440.

US Routes include: U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 9, U.S. Route 1/9 (only in Woodbridge), and U.S. Route 130.

Middlesex hosts a few highways/interstates as well. Middlesex County hosts the southern end of the Middlesex Freeway (Interstate 287) which then turns into Route 440 that connects to the Outerbridge Crossing. The Garden State Parkway passes through the eastern edge of the county, which features nine interchanges and the northern start/end of the split-roadways (Express & Local Lanes). The New Jersey Turnpike carries Interstate 95 through the center of the county. The Turnpike has five interchanges in Middlesex: Exit 12 in Carteret, Exit 11 in Woodbridge, Exit 10 in Edison, Exit 9 in East Brunswick and Exit 8A in Monroe. The turnpike also features the southern end of the "dual-dual" configuration (inner car lanes and outer truck lanes) which is one mile south of IC 8A at the border of Cranbury and Monroe.

The NJDOT is currently upgrading the Route 18 "avenue" to a freeway between the Route 1 interchange all the way up to the new 18 Extension in Piscataway.

The Turnpike Authority planned to build Route 92, which was to start near the intersection of Ridge Road & Route 1 in South Brunswick Township to Interchange 8A in Monroe Township. This plan was cancelled on December 1, 2006. Instead, the Turnpike Authority will extend the "dual-dual" from Monroe Township, south to the interchange with the Pennsylvania Extension (Exit 6) in Mansfield Township. This widening is anticipated to be finished by 2014.

Middlesex is also served by many county routes as well. See a full list here.

Public transportation

Middlesex County is served by New Jersey Transit for rail service and both New Jersey Transit and Coach USA for bus service. There are bus routes that serve all townships in the county. The main rail lines that serve Middlesex are: North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, and Raritan Valley Line. The North Jersey Coast Line runs through the eastern part of the county. The Northeast Corridor Line runs through the northern and central part of the county. The Raritan Valley Line serves some communities along the county's northern border with Union County.

Intercity rail service is also provided by Amtrak. The routes that runs through Middlesex are the Acela Express, Keystone, Northeast Regional, and Vermonter services, although only the Keystone and Northeast Regional stop within Middlesex County, at either New Brunswick or Metropark.

Higher education

Major employers

Major non-governmental employers in Middlesex County include the following, grouped by ranges of employees:[10]

Municipalities

1947 road map
File:PA080203.JPG
An outdoor scene of Middlesex County
Index map of Middlesex County municipalities (click to see index key)

The following is a list of the municipalities in Middlesex County. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as non-CDP next to the name.

County Parks

  • . Donaldson Park
  • . Carteret Park
  • . Carteret Waterfront Park
  • . Edison Park
  • . Fords Park
  • . Johnson Park
  • . Medwick Park
  • . Merrill Park
  • . Raritan Bay Waterfront Park
  • . Roosevelt Park
  • . Spring Lake Park
  • . Thompson Park
  • . Warren Park
  • . Old Bridge Waterfront Walkway
  • . Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park
  • . Ambrose & Doty's Brooks Park
  • . Davidson's Mill Pond Park
  • . Ireland Brook Park
  • . Jamesburg Park Conservation Area
  • . John A. Phillips Open Space Preserve
  • . John A. Phillips Park

References

  1. ^ Population and Population Centers by State: 2000, accessed November 16, 2006
  2. ^ Census 2000 Demographic Profiles
  3. ^ "New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930".
  4. ^ "Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved 2007-03-02.
  5. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US34021&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34021&_street=&_county=middlesex&_cityTown=middlesex&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
  6. ^ Elected County Officials, accessed February 21, 2007
  7. ^ New Jersey Presidential Election Returns by County 2004, Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Accessed August 31, 2008.
  8. ^ U.S. Election Atlas
  9. ^ Forrestal Campus, Princeton University. Accessed July 23, 2008.
  10. ^ MAJOR EMPLOYERS LOCATED IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, Middlesex County Department of Economic Development, March 2006. Accessed July 5, 2007.
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40°26′N 74°25′W / 40.44°N 74.41°W / 40.44; -74.41

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