Hudson County, New Jersey

U.S. County|

 county  = Hudson County|
 state = New Jersey |
 seal = Hudson seal.gif |
 map = Map of New Jersey highlighting Hudson County.svg |
 map size = 100 |

founded = 1840 | seat = Jersey City | area = 162 km² (62 mi²) |

 area land  = 121 km² (47 mi²) |
 area water = 41 km² (16 mi²) |
 area percentage = 25.21% |
 census yr = 2000|
 pop = 608,975 |
 density = 5,036|

web = www.hudsoncountynj.org|}}

The skyline of Jersey City, as seen from Lower New York Bay. The Goldman Sachs Tower, is in the center of the picture.

Hudson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 608,975. Its county seat is Jersey City ⁶. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area.

Hudson County lies several hundred feet from the western shore of Ellis and Liberty Islands, and has always been a gateway for many immigrants to the United States. Both Ellis Island and Liberty Island lie entirely within Hudson County's waters, which extend to the New York state line at the middle of the Hudson River. Liberty Island is wholly part of New York. Ellis Island is jointly administered by the states of New Jersey and New York. Nine-tenths of its land is technically part of Hudson County, with the remainder being part of New YorkNew Jersey wins claim to Ellis Island, CNN.com, May 26, 1998. It is also recognized as one of the Northeast's major transportation and industrial hubs.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 162 km² (62 mi²). 121 km² (47 mi²) of it is land and 41 km² (16 mi²) of it (25.21%) is water.

The county's topography is marked by a sharp ridge that rises along the Hudson in the northern part of the county, the southern extension of the New Jersey Palisades. It gradually levels off to the west. The southern peninsula of the county is coastal and flat; the western region, between the Passaic and Hackensack rivers is largely marshland.

The highest point is along the ridge, two points, one in Guttenberg and the other in West New York, that top out at 260 feet (79 m) above sea level; the lowest point is sea level itself along the rivers.

Hudson County is the smallest of New Jersey's 21 counties.

Demographics

Hudson County is one of America's most ethnically diverse counties. Perhaps most notable are its heavy Cuban communities. It also features substantial African American and Asian American populations, while still retaining a strong non-Hispanic White American presence. It also has a very heavy amount of intermarriage from other races, resulting in a higher percentage of people of two or more races.

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 608,975 people, 230,546 households, and 143,630 families residing in the county. The population density was 5,036/km² (13,044/mi²). There were 240,618 housing units at an average density of 1,990/km² (5,154/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.58% White, 13.48% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 9.35% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 15.48% from other races, and 5.63% from two or more races. 39.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 230,546 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.80% were married couples living together, 16.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.70% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.60% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 35.60% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,293, and the median income for a family was $44,053. Males had a median income of $36,174 versus $31,037 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,154. About 13.30% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.00% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

Hudson County is the most densely populated county in the state.

Government

Hudson County's County Executive is Thomas A. DeGise. The County Executive is elected by a direct vote of the electorate. The executive, together with the Board of Chosen Freeholders in a legislative role, administer all county business. Nine members are elected concurrently to serve three-year terms as Freeholder, each representing a specified district which are equally proportioned based of population. Each year, in January, the Freeholders select one of their nine to serve as Chair and one as Vice Chair for a period of one year.

Hudson County's Freeholders, as of 2006, are November 2005 Election Results, accessed January 31, 2006:
*Freeholder District 1: Doreen McAndrew DiDomenico (Bayonne and parts of Jersey City)
*Freeholder District 2: William O'Dea (parts of Jersey City)
*Freeholder District 3: Jeffrey Dublin (parts of Jersey City)
*Freeholder District 4: Eliu Rivera (parts of Jersey City)
*Freeholder District 5: Maurice Fitzgibbons (Parts of Hoboken and Jersey City)
*Freeholder District 6: Tilo Rivas (Union City)
*Freeholder District 7: Silverio Vega - Freeholder Chairman (Guttenberg, Weehawken and West New York)
*Freeholder District 8: Thomas Liggio - Freeholder Vice-Chairman (North Bergen and parts of Jersey City and Secaucus)
*Freeholder District 9: Albert Cifelli (East Newark, Harrison, Kearny and parts of Secaucus)

Three federal Congressional Districts cover the county, including portions of New Jersey's 9th congressional district, represented by Steve Rothman (D), New Jersey's 10th congressional district, represented by Donald Payne (D) and New Jersey's 13th congressional district currently vacant.

Politics

Owing to its urban nature and ethnic diversity, Hudson County is often considered the most Democratic county in New Jersey. Democrat John Kerry beat Republican George W. Bush here by a 2-to-1 margin in the 2004 presidential race, and Democrat Jon Corzine beat Republican Doug Forrester by a 3-to-1 margin in the 2005 gubernatorial race. Both Republican candidates failed to carry even one town within the county. 2 out of the 3 statewide elected officials, Governor Corzine and United States Senator Robert Menendez, both hail from Hudson County.

Transportation

Hudson County is well-served by an extensive road and freeway network, connecting the county's communities to the rest of New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. Indeed, an estimated one million commuters travel through Hudson County daily. Major highways include the New Jersey Routes 3, 7, 139, 185, 440, 495, Interstate 78, Interstate 95 (the New Jersey Turnpike), Interstate 280, and U.S. Route 1/9. The Pulaski Skyway connects Jersey City with neighboring Newark.

Automobile access to New York City is available through the Lincoln Tunnel, which connects Weehawken to midtown Manhattan, the Holland Tunnel, which connects Jersey City to lower Manhattan, and the Bayonne Bridge, which connects Bayonne to Staten Island.

The county is served by an extensive mass transit infrastructure. The PATH system provides an alternate means of transportation into Manhattan and Newark, with four stations in Jersey City and one station each in Hoboken and Harrison. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail connects the communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen and provides connections to the PATH and the New Jersey Transit commuter rail system. The Hoboken Terminal is a major hub of train, bus, and ferry activity. Buses, run both by New Jersey Transit and private companies, provide service throughout much of the densely populated county.

The New York metropolitan area's three major airports are within a relatively short distance of Hudson County. Newark Liberty, however, is the closest.

Municipalities

Hudson County map with municipalities labeled

*Bayonne (city)
*East Newark (borough)
*Guttenberg (town)
*Harrison (town)
*Hoboken (city)
*Jersey City (city)
*Kearny (town)
*North Bergen (township)
*Secaucus (town)
*Union City (city)
*Weehawken (township)
*West New York (town)

Education

Colleges and universities

*Hudson County Community College (Jersey City)
*New Jersey City University (Jersey City)
*Saint Peter's College (Jersey City)
*Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken)

Secondary schools

Each Hudson County municipality has a public school district. All but two, East Newark and Guttenberg, have their own public high schools. East Newark students attend Harrison High School in Harrison. Guttenberg students attend North Bergen High School in North Bergen.

Hudson County Schools of Technology is a public secondary and adult vocational-technical school with locations in North Bergen, Jersey City, Union City and Harrison.

Hudson County, New Jersey: Encyclopedia BETA

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