Union County, New Jersey

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 522,541. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth⁶. Union County ranks 92nd among the highest-income counties in the United States with its per capita income being $26,992.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 273 km² (105 mi²). 268 km² (103 mi²) of it is land and 6 km² (2 mi²) of it (2.06%) is water.

Much of Union County is relatively flat and low-lying. Only in the northwestern corner does any significant relief appear as the Watchung Mountains cross the county. It is there that highest elevations, two areas approximately 560 feet (171 m) above sea level, are found in Berkeley Heights. The lowest elevation is sea level along the eastern shore.

Adjacent Counties

• Essex County, New Jersey - north
• Hudson County, New Jersey - east
• Middlesex County, New Jersey - south
• Somerset County, New Jersey - west
• Morris County, New Jersey - west
• Richmond County, New York - east

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 522,541 people, 186,124 households, and 133,264 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,953/km² (5,059/mi²). There were 192,945 housing units at an average density of 721/km² (1,868/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.51% White, 20.78% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.37% from other races, and 3.25% from two or more races. 19.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 186,124 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,339, and the median income for a family was $65,234. Males had a median income of $44,544 versus $32,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,992. About 6.30% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Union County is extremely diverse. Berkeley Heights, New Providence, Westfield, Summit, Cranford, Kenilworth, Clark, Linden, Union, Springfield and Scotch Plains have a very high number of Italian American residents as well as a large number of Irish Americans and residents of Northern European descent in general. Plainfield, Roselle, Linden, Rahway, and Elizabeth all have large African American communities. Roselle Park has a notably large Indian American community, and Roselle Park, Linden, Rahway, and Plainfield, and particularly Elizabeth, have fast-growing Hispanic populations. Portuguese-Americans are an increasing group across the county. There are fair-sized Jewish-American communities in Springfield, Scotch Plains, western Elizabeth, Cranford, Westfield, and Summit, but not on the level of Essex County.

Government

Union County is governed by a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. The members are elected at large to serve three-year terms. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of the County. Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by a County Manager.

The Freeholders are the center of legislative and administrative responsibility in Union County and, as such, perform a dual role. As legislators they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated. Many of these duties in Union County have been delegated by the Board of Chosen Freeholders to the County Manager.

Each of the freeholders serves on various committees and boards as a part of their duties. These include the Economic Development Committee, the Parks and Recreation Board, the Libraries Committee, and the Policy Committee, to name a few. In addition, the Board oversees the county's Open Space Trust Fund.

As of the January 2006 reorganization, Union County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski, Angel G. Estrada, Chester Holmes, Adrian O. Mapp, Rick Proctor, Deborah P. Scanlon, Daniel P. Sullivan and Nancy Ward.^[4]

Union County Freeholder Meetings

Union County Freeholders Meet publicly on a monthly basis. Citizens have the ability to provide feedback and comment on issues that concern them. A sample Freeholder meeting held in September 2003 can be viewed by clicking:

1. Union County, NJ Freeholder Meeting -- 25 September 2003

Transportation

The county is served by numerous transportation modes including rail, air, highways and ports.

Major highways which traverse the county include the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Interstate 78, Interstate 278, U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 9, U.S. Route 22 and the Goethals Bridge.

Passenger rail service is provide by NJ Transit via the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Raritan Valley Line, the Morristown Line and the Gladstone Branch. Freight service is provided by on Conrail's Lehigh Line and Chemical Coast Branch.

The Elizabeth Marine Terminal is part of the Port of New York and New Jersey.

The southern portion of Newark Liberty International Airport is located within Union County.

Municipalities

Cities

• Elizabeth
• Linden
• Plainfield
• Rahway
• Summit

Towns

• Westfield

Townships

• Berkeley Heights
• Clark
• Cranford
• Hillside
• Scotch Plains
• Springfield Township
• Union Township
• Winfield Township

Boroughs

• Fanwood
• Garwood
• Kenilworth
• Mountainside
• New Providence
• Roselle Park
• Roselle

References

1. ^ QuickFacts: Union County, New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
2. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930.
3. ^ Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
4. ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, accessed June 6, 2006

Coordinates: 40°40′N, 74°19′Wbpy:ইউনিয়ন কাউন্টি, নিউ জার্সি de:Union County (New Jersey) it:Contea di Union (New Jersey) lmo:Union County, New Jersey no:Union County i New Jersey pl:Hrabstwo Union (New Jersey) pt:Condado de Union (Nova Jérsei) sv:Union County, New Jersey zh:聯合縣 (新澤西州)

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