Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
New Jersey. As of 2000, the population was 297,490. It is part of the
New York Metropolitan Area. Its
county seat is
Somerville6. Somerset County ranks 7th among the
highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $37,970.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 790
km² (305
mi²). 789 km² (305 mi²) of it is land and 1 km² (0 mi²) of it (0.12%) is water.
Like neighboring
Middlesex County, Somerset is divided into northern and southern halves by the
Raritan River. However, unlike its eastern neighbor that results in distinctly different topography: the northern half is quite hilly, characteristic of
North Jersey, while south of the river is mostly flat, similar to
Central Jersey.
The high point is on Mine Mountain in Bernardsville, at approximately 860 feet (262 m) above sea level; the lowest point is just above sea level on the Raritan at the Middlesex County line.
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 297,490 people, 108,984 households, and 78,359 families residing in the county. The
population density was 377/km² (976/mi²). There were 112,023 housing units at an average density of 142/km² (368/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.34%
White, 7.53%
Black or
African American, 0.13%
Native American, 8.38%
Asian, 0.04%
Pacific Islander, 2.74% from
other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 8.68% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 108,984 households out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were
married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 33.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $76,933 and the median income for a family was $90,605. Males had a median income of $60,602 versus $41,824 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $37,970. The poverty rate is 1.7%, the lowest of any county in the United States with 250,000 or more people. Out of the total population, 3.80% of those under the age of 18 and 4.90% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Somerset County is one of America's oldest counties. The county was established by charter on
May 22,
1688.
General George Washington and his troops marched through the county on several occasions and slept in many of the homes located throughout the area. Parts of the
Delaware and Raritan Canal run through the county. Somerset County also played an important part during both
World War I and
World War II with weapons depots and the manufacturing of the army's woolen blankets.
Somerset County is governed and managed by a
Board of Chosen Freeholders. The board consists of five members; one or two are elected each year from the County at large to serve three-year terms.
Freeholders elect from among themselves a Director who conducts their meetings. Each Freeholder in Somerset County chairs a standing committee: Human Services, Finance and Administrative Services, Public Works I and Public Works II. The Freeholder Director and County Administrator are ex-officio members of each committee.
The Freeholders employ a full-time County Administrator who manages the day-to-day operations of County government. The Clerk of the Board of Freeholders oversees the work of their offices. Department heads are appointed in accordance with statute and by resolution of the board. Somerset County currently has approximately 1,331 full-time employees and 278 part-timers in about 40 divisions.
As of 2006, Somerset County's Freeholders are:
[The Role of County Government, accessed June 6, 2006]*Ken Scherer - Freeholder Director (term ends
December 31,
2006)
*Robert Zaborowski - Freeholder Deputy Director (2008)
*Denise Coyle (2007)
*Rick Fontana (2006)
*Peter S. Palmer (2008)
Other elected officials in Somerset County are Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano, Sr., County Clerk Brett A Radi and Surrogate Frank Bruno.
Somerset County is home to two
colleges:
*
Raritan Valley Community College,
North Branch (public)
*
Somerset Christian College,
Zarephath, in
Franklin Township (private)
Alma White College, which closed in 1978, was a private college located in Zarephath.
Somerset County boasts a number of beautiful county parks, including but not limited to:
Lord Stirling Park (part of the
Great Swamp),
Colonial Park (with a lovely rose garden),
Washington Valley Park (with biking and hiking trails) and the newest park in development called
Raritan River Greenway (which is being developed along the
Raritan River in
Bridgewater Township). For more information, visit the
Somerset County Park Commission website.
Somerset County also hosts the
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, which provides hiking, biking and boating opportunities. The portion of the park in Somerset County runs along the side of an abandoned canal from Somerset in
Franklin Township to the
Mercer County line in Princeton at
Route 27, also in Franklin Township (Kingston).
The following is a list of the municipalities in Somerset 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, historical areas, unincoporated areas, and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as
non-CDP next to the name.
|
Index map of Somerset County municipalities (click to see index key) |
*
Bedminster Township*
Bernards Township**
Basking Ridge**
Liberty Corner **
Lyons**
West Millington*
Bernardsville*
Bound Brook*
Branchburg Township*
Bridgewater Township*
Far Hills*
Franklin Township**
East Millstone non-CDP**
Franklin Park non-CDP**
Griggstown non-CDP**
Middlebush non-CDP**
Pleasant Plains**
Six Mile Run non-CDP**
Somerset **
Weston non-CDP**
Zarephath non-CDP*
Green Brook Township*
Hillsborough Township**
Belle Mead non-CDP**
Blackwells Mills non-CDP**
Harlingen non-CDP**
Flagtown non-CDP**
Neshanic non-CDP**
South Branch non-CDP*
Manville*
Millstone*
Montgomery Township*
North Plainfield*
Peapack-Gladstone*
Raritan*
Rocky Hill*
Somerville*
South Bound Brook*
Warren Township*
Watchung*
Old Dutch Parsonage*
Rockingham (home)*
Meadows Foundation*
Delaware and Raritan Canal*
Middlebush Giant*
Hall-Mills Murder*
Six-Mile Run Reservoir*
Somerset County website*
Somerset County Parks Commission]
