Somerset County, New Jersey
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Somerset County is a county located in the north-central part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's 13th-most-populous county,<ref name=Largest2020>Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> with a population of 345,361,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 21,917 (+6.8%) from the 2010 census count of 323,444.<ref name=Census2010/> Somerset County constitutes part of the New York metropolitan area. Its county seat is Somerville.<ref name=CountyMap>New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref> The most populous place in the county was Franklin Township, with 68,364 residents at the time of the 2020 census,<ref name=Census2020/> while Hillsborough Township, with Template:Convert, covered the largest total area of any municipality.<ref name=CPH232/> The county is part of the Central Jersey region of the state.<ref>Governor Murphy Settles Central Jersey Debate, Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy, press release dated August 4, 2023. "Governor Phil Murphy today signed S3206 to promote Central Jersey tourism.... The 'Central Jersey' region will be comprised of, at minimum, the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset."</ref><ref>Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."</ref>
In 2012, 49.8 percent of Somerset County residents were college graduates, the highest percentage in the state.<ref>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book Available for Order Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University. Accessed May 13, 2015.</ref> Somerset County was recently ranked number 3 of 21 NJ counties as one of the healthiest counties in New Jersey, according to an annual report by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Somerset County was created on May 14, 1688, from portions of Middlesex County.<ref name="Story">Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 221. Accessed October 30, 2012.</ref>
History
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Somerset County is one of America's oldest counties, and is named after the English county of Somerset.
History
[edit]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.
During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington and his troops marched through the county on several occasions and slept in many of the homes located throughout the area. Somerset County also played an important part during both World War I and World War II. Weapons depots were established here, and factories manufactured the army's woolen blankets. For much of its history, Somerset County was primarily an agricultural county. In the late 19th century, the Somerset Hills area of Somerset County became a popular area for country homes built by wealthy industrialists. The area continues to be the home of wealthy people who own businesses.<ref>Clemence, Sara. "Home of the Week: Peapack Palace", Forbes, March 14, 2005. Accessed May 22, 2008. "It was once the country home of some of the 19th century's wealthiest families, and modern-day residents now include pharmaceuticals and chemicals barons."</ref>
In 1917, Somerset County, in cooperation with Rutgers University, hired its first agricultural agent to connect local farmers with expert advice. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County, located in Bridgewater, serves residents in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, and family and community health sciences.<ref>Home Page, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County. Accessed January 11, 2017.</ref> In the 1960s, townships which were once exclusively agricultural were quickly developed as suburban residential communities. Examples include Bridgewater Township<ref>The History of Bridgewater Township, Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. Accessed March 24, 2018. "In the early years, Bridgewater was known as a farming town."</ref> and the Watchung Hills communities of Watchung, Green Brook and Warren Township.<ref name="Warren">Sordillo, Victor J. About Warren Township, Warren Township. Accessed October 1, 2013. "Once described as 'the greenest place in New Jersey', Warren Township residents and elected officials are working to keep its rural character and charm while recognizing that there will be growth due to the town's beauty, favorable property taxes and strategic location. Less than 35 miles to Manhattan makes Warren Township a favorite suburb for commuters to New York City."</ref><ref>Overview Template:Webarchive, Green Brook Historical Society. Accessed October 1, 2013. "As the traffic through the corridor expanded, Green Brook Township developed from a quiet farming community, which it had been for nearly two hundred years, into the suburban community that it is today."</ref><ref>History, Borough of Watchung. Accessed October 1, 2013. "Watchung was settled in the early eighteenth century and grew slowly until recent years. In 1960 the population was 3,312 and in 2000 it was 5,613."</ref> The growth was aided by the development of the county's very strong pharmaceutical and technology presence. Warren Township used to be considered "the greenest place in New Jersey."<ref name="Warren" /> More recently, there has been an influx of New York City commuters who use NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line and Gladstone Branch or use Interstate 78.
In 1996, Nicholas L. Bissell Jr., the county prosecutor, was charged with embezzlement, tax fraud, and abuse of power. He fled to Laughlin, Nevada southeast of Las Vegas, and killed himself when the federal authorities attempted to arrest him.<ref>Glaberson, William. "In Prosecutor's Rise and Fall, a Story of Ambition, Deceit and Shame. ", The New York Times, December 1, 1996. Accessed August 30, 2014. "When Nicholas L. Bissell Jr. put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger in a $20 room on a neon strip here, it was almost the cliche ending to an ambitious man's rise and fall. An unexceptional child of New Jersey's modest suburbs, he rose to become a feared prosecutor in Somerset County known for his swaggering assault on drug dealers."</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert was land (99%) and Template:Convert was water (1%).<ref name=CensusArea>2020 Census Gazetteer File for Counties in New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 1, 2023.</ref>
The high point is on Mine Mountain in Bernardsville, at approximately Template:Convert above sea level.<ref>New Jersey County High Points, Peakbagger.com. Accessed October 1, 2013.</ref> The lowest point is just above sea level on the Raritan River at the Middlesex County line.
Climate and weather
[edit]In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Somerville have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in August 1955. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in July.<ref name="weather" />
The county has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) except in lower areas along the Raritan River from Bound Brook downstream where the climate is now humid subtropical (Cfa). The hardiness zone is 7a except in a few small higher areas in the north which are 6b. [1]
Demographics
[edit]2020 census
[edit]As of the 2020 United States census, the county's had 345,361 people, 122,606 households, and 88,540 families.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 131,822 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 61.0% White, 10.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 18.5% Asian, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.2% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Of the 122,606 households, of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present and 27.8% were non-families, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.16.
About 21.5% of the population was under age 18, 8.4% was from age 18 to 24, 36.3% was from age 15 to 44, and 16.2% was age 65 or older. The median age was 42.2 years. The gender makeup was 49.2% male and 50.8% female. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The median household income was $111,587, and the median family income was $135,129. About 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 323,444 people, 117,759 households, and 84,669 families in the county. The population density was 1,071.7 per square mile (413.8/km2). There were 123,127 housing units at an average density of 408 per square mile (158/km2). The racial makeup was 70.06% (226,608) White, 8.95% (28,943) Black or African American, 0.17% (556) Native American, 14.11% (45,650) Asian, 0.03% (94) Pacific Islander, 4.13% (13,360) from other races, and 2.55% (8,233) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 13.01% (42,091) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 117,759 households, 35.9% had children under the age of 18; 58.8% were married couples living together; 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.1% were non-families. Of all households, 23.3% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22.<ref name=Census2010/>
25% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.8 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
Economy
[edit]The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $39.8 billion in 2021, which was ranked sixth in the state and was a 5.6% increase from the prior year.<ref>Gross Domestic Product by County, 2021, Bureau of Economic Analysis, released December 8, 2022. Accessed July 17, 2023.</ref>
Based on IRS data for the 2004 tax year, Somerset County taxpayers 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.<ref>Biggest Income Tax Burdens: Top 10 Places Template:Webarchive, CNN Money. Accessed April 28, 2007.</ref>
Parks and recreation
[edit]The Somerset Patriots are a professional baseball team that plays at the 6,100-seat TD Bank Ballpark, located on the border of Bridgewater and Bound Brook. They played in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball until they became the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees in 2021.<ref>About TD Bank Ballpark, Somerset Patriots. Accessed October 23, 2017.</ref>
Somerset County parks are under the administration of the Somerset County Parks Commission.<ref name=scpc>Somerset County Parks Commission</ref> General parks are Natirar, Duke Island Park, Lord Stirling Park (part of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge), Colonial Park, North Branch Park, Skillman Park, East County Park and a park in development called Raritan River Greenway. Leonard J. Buck Garden is a botanical garden of the county. In addition, the Commission manages natural parks such as the Washington Valley Park (with biking and hiking trails) and the Sourland Mountain Preserve (hiking and mountain biking trails).<ref name=scpc/>
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The southeastern portion of Somerset County in Franklin Township includes Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, which provides hiking, biking and boating.<ref>Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref> The Parks Commission operates five public golf courses.<ref name="scpc" /> Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, an exclusive golf club owned by Donald Trump,<ref name=":1">Welcome, Trump National Golf Club. Accessed October 6, 2013. "Greetings from Donald J. Trump: When I saw this beautiful piece of property in Bedminster, New Jersey, I knew that it deserved only the best."</ref> that he used as a Summer White House during his presidency.<ref>Niquette, Mark; and Abelson, Max. "Trump Discussing Moving to New Jersey Golf Club for Summer", Bloomberg News, April 23, 2021. Accessed January 31, 2022.</ref>
Government
[edit]County government
[edit]Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held on the first Friday of January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members.<ref>Elected Officials, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> In 2016, commissioners (then known as freeholders) were paid $21,902 and the commissioner director was paid an annual salary of $22,902.<ref>Gallo Jr., Bill. "Which N.J. county freeholders are paid the most?", NJ.com, March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder director: $22,902; Other freeholders: $21,902"</ref> The Commissioners employ a full-time County Administrator who manages the day-to-day operations of the county government. The County Administrator is Colleen Mahr.<ref>Administrator's Office, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2021.</ref> The Clerk of the County Commissioners 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 1,100 full-time and 130 part-time employees in 52 divisions (including the Library System).<ref>The Role of County Government Template:Webarchive, Somerset County. Accessed February 19, 2014.</ref>
Template:As of, Somerset County's County Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31):<ref>Board of County Commissioners, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref>2021 County Data Sheet, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>2021 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Somerset2021>2021 General Election Winning Candidates, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Somerset2020>Somerset County General Election November 3, 2020 Final Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, dated December 3, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2021.</ref><ref name=Somerset2019>General Election November 5, 2019 Final Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>
| Commissioner | Party, residence, term |
|---|---|
| Director Shanel Robinson | D, Franklin Township, 2027<ref>Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
| Deputy Director Sara Sooy | D, Bernards Township, 2027<ref>Commissioner Sara Sooy, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
| Paul Drake | D, Hillsborough Township, 2026<ref>Commissioner Paul M. Drake, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
| Melonie Marano | D, Green Brook Township, 2025<ref>Commissioner Deputy Director Melonie Marano, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
| Douglas Singleterry | D, North Plainfield, 2026<ref>Commissioner Douglas Singleterry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
Democrats captured their first countywide office in 2018 since 1979, and in 2019 won a majority on the county commission for the first time since 1964. Republicans have not won a county-wide office since 2017.<ref>[2]. Accessed September 16, 2023.</ref> Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).<ref>New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed October 26, 2017.</ref> Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis, are:<ref name=SomersetDirectory/>
| Title | Representative |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | Steve Peter (D, Somerville, 2027)<ref>County Clerk Steve Peter, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref>Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
| Sheriff | Darrin Russo (D, Franklin Township, 2025)<ref>Sheriff Darrin J. Russo, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref>Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
| Surrogate | Bernice "Tina" Jalloh (D, Franklin Township, 2025)<ref>Somerset County Surrogate, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2021.</ref><ref>Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> |
The Somerset County Prosecutor is Michael H. Robertson of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, who was nominated by the Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie in September 2016.<ref>Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref><ref>Governor Chris Christie Files Nominations Template:Webarchive, Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, press release dated September 8, 2016. Accessed October 24, 2017. "Somerset County Prosecutor - Nominate for appointment Michael H. Robertson (Basking Ridge, Somerset)"</ref> Somerset County is a part of Vicinage 13 of the New Jersey Superior Court (along with Hunterdon County and Warren County), which is seated at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 15 is Thomas C. Miller.<ref>Somerset / Hunterdon / Warren Vicinage, New Jersey Courts. Accessed October 23, 2017.</ref>
Federal representatives
[edit]The 7th and 12th Congressional Districts cover the county.<ref>2012 Congressional Districts by County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed January 23, 2013.</ref><ref>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2011. Accessed January 23, 2013.</ref> Template:NJ Congress 07 Template:NJ Congress 12
State representatives
[edit]The 21 municipalities of Somerset County are represented by five legislative districts.
Politics
[edit]In the 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential nominee to carry the county since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and only the second since 1936. Obama won Somerset by a 6.1% margin over John McCain, with Obama carrying the state by 15.5% over McCain.<ref>U.S. Election Atlas</ref> Somerset's growing Democratic trend at the presidential level has largely been spurred by the rapid growth of the overwhelmingly Democratic Franklin Township in the county's southeast corner. The county has voted Democratic in every election since, with the 2020 election seeing Democrat Joe Biden win the largest share of the vote in the county for a Democrat since 1964, as the county voted more Democratic than the state as a whole for the first time since 1912. As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 262,410 registered voters in Somerset County, of whom 92,921 (35.4%) were registered as Democrats, 66,455 (25.3%) were registered as Republicans and 100,367 (38.2%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 2,667 voters (1.0%) registered to other parties.<ref>Statewide Voter Registration Summary as of October 1, 2021, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 28, 2022.</ref> Among the county's 2010 Census population, 67.1% were registered to vote, including 75.% of those ages 18 and over.<ref name="VoterRegistration">Statewide Voter Registration Summary Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, as of October 31, 2014. Accessed May 11, 2015.</ref><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County / County Equivalent from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 11, 2015.</ref>
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| Year | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2021 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|47.7% 54,264 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|51.5% 58,585 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2017 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|47.9% 44,231 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|49.8% 45,935 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2013 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|67.6% 58,981 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|30.8% 26,913 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2009 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|56.2% 57,481 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|34.3% 35,089 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2005 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|52.7% 49,406 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.3% 40,459 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2001 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|52.2% 44,815 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|45.6% 39,110 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1997 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|57.4% 51,465 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|32.4% 29,089 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1993 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|59.3% 55,444 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|38.6% 36,046 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1989 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|47.3% 34,815 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|50.5% 37,159 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1985 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|75.6% 44,502 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|23.1% 13,601 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1981 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|62.5% 43,697 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|36.0% 25,121 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1977 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|56.7% 40,164 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|41.3% 29,286 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1973 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|33.9% 20,933 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|64.5% 39,864 |
Education
[edit]School districts
[edit]School districts include:<ref name=NJDOE>New Jersey School Directory for Somerset County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 1, 2022.</ref><ref>Search for Public School Districts in Somerset County, New Jersey, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 1, 2022.</ref><ref>2020 Census School District Reference Map for Somerset County, NJ, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 16, 2022.</ref><ref>2020 Census School District Reference List for Somerset County, NJ, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 16, 2022.</ref>
- K-12
- Bernards Township School District
- Bound Brook School District
- Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District
- Franklin Township Public Schools
- Hillsborough Township School District
- Manville School District
- Montgomery Township School District
- North Plainfield School District
- Somerset Hills Regional School District
- Somerville Public Schools
- Secondary
- Elementary
- Bedminster Township School District
- Branchburg Township School District
- Green Brook School District
- South Bound Brook School District
- Warren Township Schools
- Watchung Borough Schools
Colleges and universities
[edit]Somerset County is home to two colleges:
- Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), North Branch section of Branchburg Township (public).<ref>RVCC: History, Mission, Diversity Statement & Core Values, Raritan Valley Community College. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref> Rutgers University has a partnership with Raritan Valley Community College which allows students who have an accredited associate degree to complete a bachelor's degree by attending Rutgers classes at RVCC's North Branch campus. The degree completion program is specifically designed to cater to the transfer student looking to complete their bachelor's degree while staying close to home.<ref>Rutgers Off Campus - Raritan Valley, Rutgers University. Accessed October 28, 2013.</ref>
- Somerset Christian College, now known as Pillar College, is located in the Zarephath section of Franklin Township (private).<ref>About Pillar College Template:Webarchive, Pillar College. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref>
Alma White College (which operated from 1921 to 1978) was a private college located in Zarephath.<ref>Closed & Renamed New Jersey Colleges & Universities, New Jersey Department of State Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Accessed October 30, 2017.</ref> Beginning in 1931 the college operated WAWZ 1380 on the AM radio dial. The station continued to 1984 after the school closed. The building is now occupied by Somerset Christian College.
Private schools
[edit]Private schools in the county include Gill St. Bernard's School (in Gladstone), Immaculata High School (Somerville), Mount St. Mary Academy, Watchung), Pingry School, Martinsville), Purnell School, Pottersville), and *Rutgers Preparatory School (Somerset).<ref>Private Schools in Somerset County, New Jersey, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 8, 2024.</ref>
Somerset Hills Learning Institute, founded in 1998 and located in Bedminster Township, educates children on the autism spectrum by utilizing the principles of applied behavior analysis.<ref>History, Somerset Hills Learning Institute. Accessed October 29, 2017.</ref> In 2024, a local ShopRite store started selling salads grown by and packed by students in the school's hydroponics career training program.<ref>Redmond, Kimberly. "Chester ShopRite is 1st retail location to carry Somerset Hills students’ salad", NJBiz, January 23, 2024. Accessed February 8, 2024. "ShopRite of Chester is now selling a new salad blend grown by students with autism who are part of Somerset Hills Learning Institute’s hydroponics career training program."</ref>
Municipalities
[edit]
The 21 municipalities in Somerset County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units, and area) are listed below.<ref>GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 14, 2015.</ref> Other unincorporated communities in the county are listed alongside their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). These areas include census-designated places (CDPs), which the United States Census Bureau created for enumeration purposes within a township.<ref name=CPH232/> Other communities, historical areas, unincorporated areas, and enclaves that exist within a municipality are also listed.
| Municipality (with map key) |
Map key | Mun. type |
Pop. | Housing units |
Total area |
Water area |
Land area |
Pop. density |
Housing density |
School district |
Communities<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 11, 2015.</ref> |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedminster Township | 21 | township | 8,272 | 4,349 | 26.30 | 0.22 | 26.08 | 313.1 | 166.8 | Somerset Hills (9-12) (S/R) Bedminster Township (PK-8) |
Bedminster CDP (1,244) The Hills CDP (part; 11,410) Lamington CDP (135) Pluckemin CDP (359) Pottersville CDP (part; 467) |
| Bernards | 20 | township | 27,830 | 10,103 | 24.06 | 0.13 | 23.93 | 1,113.6 | 422.1 | Bernards Township | Basking Ridge CDP (7,196) The Hills CDP (part; 11,410) Liberty Corner CDP (1,877) Lyons CDP (5,345) |
| Bernardsville | 1 | borough | 7,893 | 2,871 | 12.98 | 0.08 | 12.91 | 597.2 | 222.5 | Somerset Hills | |
| Bound Brook | 6 | borough | 11,988 | 3,816 | 1.69 | 0.04 | 1.66 | 6,269.6 | 2,300.0 | Bound Brook | |
| Branchburg | 16 | township | 14,940 | 5,419 | 20.28 | 0.24 | 20.04 | 721.4 | 270.4 | Somerville (9-12) (S/R) Branchburg (PK-8) |
Neshanic Station CDP (part; 5,224) North Branch |
| Bridgewater | 17 | township | 45,977 | 16,657 | 32.51 | 0.47 | 32.04 | 1,387.9 | 519.9 | Bridgewater-Raritan | Bradley Gardens CDP (14,077) Bridgewater Center CDP (6,082) Finderne CDP (6,392) Green Knoll CDP (6,594) Martinsville CDP (12,147) |
| Far Hills | 3 | borough | 924 | 418 | 4.88 | 0.08 | 4.80 | 191.6 | 87.1 | Somerset Hills | |
| Franklin Township | 14 | township | 68,364 | 24,426 | 46.85 | 0.70 | 46.15 | 1,350.0 | 529.3 | Franklin Township | Blackwells Mills CDP (part; 9,473) Clyde CDP (243) East Franklin CDP (9,788) East Millstone CDP (588) East Rocky Hill CDP (468) Franklin Center CDP (6,803) Franklin Park CDP (13,430) Griggstown CDP (835) Kingston CDP (part; 271) Middlebush CDP (2,368) Pleasant Plains CDP (792) Rockingham Six Mile Run CDP (3,383) Somerset CDP (22,968) Ten Mile Run CDP (2,055) Voorhees CDP (1,517) Weston CDP (2,023) Zarephath CDP (69) |
| Green Brook | 19 | township | 7,281 | 2,448 | 4.48 | 0.01 | 4.47 | 1,610.5 | 547.3 | Watchung Hills (9-12) Green Brook (PK-8) |
|
| Hillsborough Township | 15 | township | 43,276 | 14,030 | 55.00 | 0.47 | 54.54 | 702.3 | 257.3 | Hillsborough | Amwell Belle Mead CDP (part; 5,569) Blackwells Mills CDP (part; 9,473) Cloverhill Flagtown CDP (1,070) Hillsborough CDP (22,214) |
| Manville | 8 | borough | 10,953 | 4,277 | 2.45 | 0.09 | 2.36 | 4,382.0 | 1,811.9 | Manville | |
| Millstone Borough | 11 | borough | 448 | 167 | 0.76 | 0.02 | 0.74 | 566.5 | 226.3 | Hillsborough (S/R) | |
| Montgomery | 13 | township | 23,690 | 7,902 | 32.48 | 0.17 | 32.31 | 688.8 | 244.6 | Montgomery | Amwell Belle Mead CDP (part; 5,569) Blawenburg CDP (287) Dutchtown Harlingen CDP (430) Skillman CDP (237) Stoutsburg Zion |
| North Plainfield | 5 | borough | 22,808 | 7,848 | 2.81 | 0.01 | 2.79 | 7,850.0 | 2,808.5 | North Plainfield | |
| Peapack-Gladstone | 2 | borough | 2,558 | 949 | 5.85 | 0.04 | 5.81 | 444.5 | 163.4 | Somerset Hills | Gladstone |
| Raritan | 10 | borough | 7,835 | 2,847 | 2.04 | 0.04 | 1.99 | 3,452.2 | 1,428.3 | Bridgewater-Raritan | |
| Rocky Hill | 12 | borough | 743 | 292 | 0.62 | 0.00 | 0.62 | 1,101.4 | 471.6 | Montgomery (S/R) | |
| Somerville | 9 | borough | 12,346 | 4,951 | 2.36 | 0.03 | 2.33 | 5,189.5 | 2,123.8 | Somerville | |
| South Bound Brook | 7 | borough | 4,863 | 1,865 | 0.75 | 0.10 | 0.66 | 6,933.8 | 2,834.0 | Bound Brook (9-12) (S/R) South Bound Brook (PK-8) |
|
| Warren | 18 | township | 15,923 | 5,258 | 19.64 | 0.08 | 19.57 | 782.5 | 268.7 | Watchung Hills (9-12) Warren Township (PK-8) |
|
| Watchung | 4 | borough | 6,449 | 2,234 | 6.05 | 0.03 | 6.03 | 962.7 | 370.7 | Watchung Hills (9-12) Watchung (PK-8) |
|
| Somerset County | county | 345,361 | 123,127 | 304.86 | 3.04 | 301.81 | 1,071.7 | 408.0 |
Transportation
[edit]Roads and highways
[edit]Somerset County is served by a number of different routes. Template:As of, the county had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the local municipality, Template:Convert by Somerset County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Somerset County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.</ref>
Major county roads that pass through include County Route 512, County Route 514, County Route 518, County Route 523, County Route 525, County Route 527, County Route 529, County Route 531 and County Route 533. The two state routes which traverse through the county are Route 27 (only in Franklin) and Route 28. U.S. Routes in the county are U.S. Route 22, U.S. Route 202 and U.S. Route 206. The two Interstates which pass through Somerset County are Interstate 78 and Interstate 287.
It was planned for Interstate 95 to run along the Somerset Freeway from its proposed southern end in Hopewell Township, Mercer County to Franklin Township at I-287 in the 1960s. However, the plan was canceled in 1983. Part of Route 18 is the New Brunswick border of Somerset.
Public transportation
[edit]
NJ Transit provides train service on the Gladstone Branch and the Raritan Valley Line.<ref>Gladstone Branch Raritan Valley Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref><ref>Raritan Valley Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref> Public bus transportation is provided by several transit agencies.<ref>Transportation Services Template:Webarchive, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed October 1, 2013.</ref>
NJ Transit provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, as well as service to major cities in New Jersey and within Somerset County.<ref>Somerset County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref> Ridewise provides three SCOOT shuttles<ref>Scoot, Ridewise. Accessed October 1, 2013.</ref> as well as DASH buses and CAT buses.<ref>DASH, Ridewise. Accessed October 1, 2013.</ref><ref>CAT, Ridewise. Accessed January 19, 2015.</ref>
See also
[edit]- 2024 New Jersey drone sightings
- Colonel Routh Goshen
- Duke Gardens
- Hall-Mills Murder
- Meadows Foundation (New Jersey)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, New Jersey
- Old Dutch Parsonage
- Rockingham
- Six-Mile Run Reservoir
References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Commons category Template:Wikivoyage
- Somerset County website
- Somerset County National Historic Places
- Somerset County Parks Commission
- The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills – includes Bedminster, Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Far Hills, Peapack/Gladstone
- Hills List, a local informational website for the Bedminster and Basking Ridge areas
- Rutgers at Raritan Valley Community College
Template:Geographic location Template:Raritan Valley navigation Template:Somerset County, New Jersey Template:New Jersey
Template:New York metropolitan area Template:Authority control