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 has the seventh-highest per capita income of any U.S. county, based on per capita income.
Somerset County was created on May 14, 1688, from portions of Middlesex County."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 221.

Contents

Geography

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

History

Government

Taxation

Education

Recreation

Municipalities

See also

References

External links

Geography

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.

Adjacent Counties

★ Morris County, New Jersey - north

★ Union County, New Jersey - east

★ Middlesex County, New Jersey - southeast

★ Mercer County, New Jersey - south

★ Hunterdon County, New Jersey - west

Demographics

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. 17.6% were of Italian, 11.4% Irish, 9.3% German and 7.5% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.
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.

History

Somerset County is one of America's oldest counties. The area was first settled in 1681, in the vicinity of Bound Brook, and the county was established by charter on May 22, 1688. Most of the early residents were Dutch. 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.

Government

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 current County Administrator is Richard E. Williams.^[1] 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 2007, Somerset County's Freeholders are:^[2]

★ Robert Zaborowski - Freeholder Director (term ends December 31, 2008)

★ Denise Coyle - Freeholder Deputy Director (2007)

★ Jack Ciattarelli (2009)

★ Rick Fontana (2009)

★ Peter S. Palmer (2008)
Coyle will not seek re-election in 2007, instead running for the state Assembly seat being vacated by Christopher Bateman (a former freeholder), who is seeking to move up to the state Senate. Bateman and Coyle have the backing of the Republican leadership and their constituencies are heavily Republican.
Other elected officials in Somerset County are Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano, Sr., County Clerk Brett A. Radi and Surrogate Frank Bruno.
All current elected officials in Somerset County are Republicans.

Taxation

based on IRS data for the 2004 tax year, Somerset County had the ninth highest average federal income tax liability per return in the country Average tax liability was $16,502, representing 16.8% of Adjusted Gross Income.^[3]

Education

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, located in the building now occupied by Somerset Christian College.

Recreation

Somerset County boasts a number of beautiful county parks, including but not limited to: Lord Stirling Park (part of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge), Colonial Park (with a lovely rose garden), Washington Valley Park (with biking and hiking trails), the Sourland Mountain Preserve (hiking and mountain biking 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).

Municipalities

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, unincorporated areas, and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as 'non-CDP' next to the name.



★ 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'

★
★ Kingston 'non-CDP (Somerset County portion)'

★
★ Middlebush 'non-CDP'

★
★ Pleasant Plains 'non-CDP'

★
★ 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

See also

★ Old Dutch Parsonage

★ Rockingham

★ Meadows Foundation

★ Delaware and Raritan Canal

★ Middlebush Giant

★ Hall-Mills Murder

★ Six-Mile Run Reservoir

★ Somerset, England

References

1. Somerset County Officers of the Board, accessed January 25, 2007.
2. Somerset County, New Jersey, accessed January 25, 2007.
3. Biggest Income Tax Burdens: Top 10 Places, CNN Money, accessed April 28, 2007.

External links

★ Somerset County website

★ Somerset County National Historic Places

★ Somerset County Parks Commission