Jump to content

List of counties in New Jersey: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Remove redundant words
Fixing other bare link in reference, cleanup refs
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:New Jersey counties map.png|thumb|right|300px|New Jersey's 21 counties|alt=The shape of New Jersey divided by black lines into the different counties. There is a star for Trenton in Mercer county (western part of the state) and a dot for Newark in Essex county (northeastern part of the state).]]
[[Image:New Jersey counties map.png|thumb|right|300px|New Jersey's 21 counties|alt=The shape of New Jersey divided by black lines into the different counties. There is a star for Trenton in Mercer county (western part of the state) and a dot for Newark in Essex county (northeastern part of the state).]]


There are 21 [[County (United States)|counties]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]]. These counties together contain 566 [[municipalities]], or [[administrative]] entities composed of clearly defined territory; 250 [[borough (New Jersey)|borough]]s, 52 [[city (New Jersey)|cities]], 15 [[town (New Jersey)|town]]s, 245 [[township (New Jersey)|township]]s, and 4 [[village (New Jersey)|village]]s.<ref name="census">[[2000 U.S. Census]]</ref> Each county has a [[county seat]]. New Jersey was governed by two separate groups of proprietors as two distinct provinces, [[East Jersey]] and [[West Jersey]], for the 28 years between 1674 and 1702. New Jersey's first counties were created as administrative districts within each province, with East Jersey split in 1675 into [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen]], [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]] and [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth]] counties, while West Jersey's initial counties of [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington]] and [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem]] date to 1681.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njaeo.us/County%20Formation%20Map.pdf|title=County Formation Map|work=New Jersey Association of Election Officials|accessdate=2009-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://genealogytrails.com/njer/countyformation.html|title=New Jersey County Formation|last=Torp|first=Kim|date=2006|work=Genealogy Trails |accessdate=2009-08-30}}</ref> The most recent county created in New Jersey was [[Union County, New Jersey|Union County]], created in 1857 and named after the union of the [[United States]] when the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] was imminent. New Jersey's county names derive from a number of sources, though the majority of the counties are named after place names in [[England]] and prominent leaders in the colonial and revolutionary periods. [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]] is the most populous county as of the Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate with 894,840 people, whereas [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem County]] is the least populous with 66,141 people.<ref name="census" />
There are 21 [[County (United States)|counties]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]]. These counties together contain 566 [[municipalities]], or [[administrative]] entities composed of clearly defined territory; 250 [[borough (New Jersey)|borough]]s, 52 [[city (New Jersey)|cities]], 15 [[town (New Jersey)|town]]s, 245 [[township (New Jersey)|township]]s, and 4 [[village (New Jersey)|village]]s.<ref name="census">[[2000 U.S. Census]]</ref> In New Jersey, a county is a local level of government between the state and municipalities. County government in New Jersey includes a [[Board of Chosen Freeholders]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Coppa|first=Frank J.|title=County government: a guide to efficient and accountable government|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|date=2000|pages=39–40|isbn=9780275968298|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=SpN8aALBgw0C&pg=PA39#v=onepage&q=&f=false |accessdate=8-31-09}}</ref> a [[County executive]],<ref>Coppa, ''County government'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=SpN8aALBgw0C&pg=PA108#v=onepage&q=&f=false p. 108]</ref> sheriff, clerk, and surrogate,<ref>Coppa, ''County government'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=SpN8aALBgw0C&pg=PA165#v=onepage&q=&f=false p. 165]</ref> all of which are elected officials. Counties traditionally perform state-mandated duties such as the maintenance of jails, parks, and certain roads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_Counties/County_Government/A_Brief_Overview_of_County_Government.htm|title=An Overview of County Government|work=National Associaton of Counties|accessdate=2009-08-31}}</ref> The site of a county's administration and courts is called the [[county seat]].
New Jersey was governed by two separate groups of proprietors as two distinct provinces, [[East Jersey]] and [[West Jersey]], for the 28 years between 1674 and 1702. New Jersey's first counties were created as administrative districts within each province, with East Jersey split in 1675 into [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen]], [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]] and [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth]] counties, while West Jersey's initial counties of [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington]] and [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem]] date to 1681.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njaeo.us/County%20Formation%20Map.pdf|title=County Formation Map|work=New Jersey Association of Election Officials|accessdate=2009-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://genealogytrails.com/njer/countyformation.html|title=New Jersey County Formation|last=Torp|first=Kim|date=2006|work=Genealogy Trails |accessdate=2009-08-30}}</ref> The most recent county created in New Jersey was [[Union County, New Jersey|Union County]], created in 1857 and named after the union of the [[United States]] when the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] was imminent. New Jersey's county names derive from a number of sources, though the majority of the counties are named after place names in [[England]] and prominent leaders in the colonial and revolutionary periods. [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]] is the most populous county as of the Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate with 894,840 people, whereas [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem County]] is the least populous with 66,141 people.<ref name="census" />


The [[Federal Information Processing Standard]] (FIPS) code, used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry. FIPS codes are five digit numbers, for New Jersey the codes start with 34 and are completed with the three digit county code. The FIPS code for each county in the table links to census data for that county.<ref name="epa">{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/nj.html |title=EPA County FIPS Code Listing |accessdate=2007-07-24 |work=US Environmental Protection Agency }}</ref>
The [[Federal Information Processing Standard]] (FIPS) code, used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry. FIPS codes are five digit numbers, for New Jersey the codes start with 34 and are completed with the three digit county code. The FIPS code for each county in the table links to census data for that county.<ref name="epa">{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/nj.html |title=EPA County FIPS Code Listing |accessdate=2007-07-24 |work=US Environmental Protection Agency }}</ref>

Revision as of 15:16, 31 August 2009

The shape of New Jersey divided by black lines into the different counties. There is a star for Trenton in Mercer county (western part of the state) and a dot for Newark in Essex county (northeastern part of the state).
New Jersey's 21 counties

There are 21 counties in the U.S. state of New Jersey. These counties together contain 566 municipalities, or administrative entities composed of clearly defined territory; 250 boroughs, 52 cities, 15 towns, 245 townships, and 4 villages.[1] In New Jersey, a county is a local level of government between the state and municipalities. County government in New Jersey includes a Board of Chosen Freeholders,[2] a County executive,[3] sheriff, clerk, and surrogate,[4] all of which are elected officials. Counties traditionally perform state-mandated duties such as the maintenance of jails, parks, and certain roads.[5] The site of a county's administration and courts is called the county seat.

New Jersey was governed by two separate groups of proprietors as two distinct provinces, East Jersey and West Jersey, for the 28 years between 1674 and 1702. New Jersey's first counties were created as administrative districts within each province, with East Jersey split in 1675 into Bergen, Essex, Middlesex and Monmouth counties, while West Jersey's initial counties of Burlington and Salem date to 1681.[6][7] The most recent county created in New Jersey was Union County, created in 1857 and named after the union of the United States when the Civil War was imminent. New Jersey's county names derive from a number of sources, though the majority of the counties are named after place names in England and prominent leaders in the colonial and revolutionary periods. Bergen County is the most populous county as of the Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate with 894,840 people, whereas Salem County is the least populous with 66,141 people.[1]

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties, is provided with each entry. FIPS codes are five digit numbers, for New Jersey the codes start with 34 and are completed with the three digit county code. The FIPS code for each county in the table links to census data for that county.[8]

List

County
 FIPS Code [8] County Seat [9] Created [9] Formed from [10] Named for [11] Population (2008) [9] Area [9] Map
 
Atlantic County 001 Mays Landing 1837 Gloucester County The Atlantic Ocean, which forms the county's eastern border 270,681 671 sq mi
(1,738 km2)		 State map highlighting Atlantic County
Bergen County 003 Hackensack 1675 One of four original counties created in East Jersey The town of Bergen op Zoom, Holland or Bergen, Norway 894,840 247 sq mi
(640 km2)		 State map highlighting Bergen County
Burlington County 005 Mount Holly Township 1681 One of two original counties created in West Jersey The old name for the ancient market town a mile from shore in Bridlington, England 445,475 819 sq mi
(2,121 km2)		 State map highlighting Burlington County
Camden County 007 Camden 1844 Gloucester County Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), an English supporter of the colonists during the American Revolution[12] 517,234 228 sq mi
(591 km2)		 State map highlighting Camden County
Cape May County 009 Cape May Court House 1685 Burlington County The 17th-century Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey (?–16??), who explored and surveyed the Delaware Bay to the south of the county 95,838 365 sq mi
(945 km2)		 State map highlighting Cape May County
Cumberland County 011 Bridgeton 1748 Salem County Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), second son of George II of England and military victor at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 156,830 677 sq mi
(1,753 km2)		 State map highlighting Cumberland County
Essex County 013 Newark 1675 One of four original counties created in East Jersey The county of Essex in England 770,675 130 sq mi
(337 km2)		 State map highlighting Essex County
Gloucester County 015 Woodbury 1686 Burlington County The city of Gloucester, England 287,860 337 sq mi
(873 km2)		 State map highlighting Gloucester County
Hudson County 017 Jersey City 1840 Bergen County The English explorer Henry Hudson (1570–1611), who explored portions of New Jersey's coastline 595,419 62 sq mi
(161 km2)		 State map highlighting Hudson County
Hunterdon County 019 Flemington 1714 Burlington County Robert Hunter (1664–1734), the Colonial Governor of New Jersey from 1710 to 1720 129,031 438 sq mi
(1,134 km2)		 State map highlighting Hunterdon County
Mercer County 021 Trenton 1838 Burlington County, Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, and Somerset County The Continental Army General Hugh Mercer (1726–1777), who died at the Battle of Princeton[13] 364,883 229 sq mi
(593 km2)		 State map highlighting Mercer County
Middlesex County 023 New Brunswick 1675 One of four original counties created in East Jersey The former county of Middlesex in England 789,102 323 sq mi
(837 km2)		 State map highlighting Middlesex County
Monmouth County 025 Freehold Borough 1675 One of four original counties created in East Jersey The Rhode Island Monmouth Society or the historic county of Monmouthshire in Wales 642,448 665 sq mi
(1,722 km2)		 State map highlighting Monmouth County
Morris County 027 Morristown 1739 Hunterdon County Colonel Lewis Morris (1671–1746), colonial governor of New Jersey at the time of the county's formation.[14][15] 487,548 481 sq mi
(1,246 km2)		 State map highlighting Morris County
Ocean County 029 Toms River 1850 Monmouth County The Atlantic Ocean, which forms the eastern border of New Jersey 569,111 916 sq mi
(2,372 km2)		 State map highlighting Ocean County
Passaic County 031 Paterson 1837 Bergen County and Essex County "Pasaeck", a Lenape word meaning "valley" 490,948 197 sq mi
(510 km2)		 State map highlighting Passaic County
Salem County 033 Salem 1681 One of two original counties created in West Jersey A Hebrew word meaning "peace" 66,141 373 sq mi
(966 km2)		 State map highlighting Salem County
Somerset County 035 Somerville 1688 Middlesex County The county of Somerset in England 324,563 305 sq mi
(790 km2)		 State map highlighting Somerset County
Sussex County 037 Newton 1753 Morris County The county of Sussex in England 150,909 536 sq mi
(1,388 km2)		 State map highlighting Sussex County
Union County 039 Elizabeth 1857 Essex County The union of the United States threatened by dispute between North and South over slavery 523,249 105 sq mi
(272 km2)		 State map highlighting Union County
Warren County 041 Belvidere 1824 Sussex County The American Revolutionary War General Joseph Warren (1741–1775), killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill 109,876 363 sq mi
(940 km2)		 State map highlighting Warren County

See also

References

  1. ^ a b 2000 U.S. Census
  2. ^ Coppa, Frank J. (2000). County government: a guide to efficient and accountable government. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9780275968298. Retrieved 8-31-09. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ Coppa, County government, p. 108
  4. ^ Coppa, County government, p. 165
  5. ^ "An Overview of County Government". National Associaton of Counties. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  6. ^ "County Formation Map" (PDF). New Jersey Association of Election Officials. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  7. ^ Torp, Kim (2006). "New Jersey County Formation". Genealogy Trails. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  8. ^ a b "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  9. ^ a b c d "NACo - Find a county". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  10. ^ "New Jersey Formation Maps". Genealogy, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
  11. ^ "The Origin of New Jersey Place Names" (PDF). New Jersey State Library Commission. Federal Writers' Program. 1938. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  12. ^ Greenberg, Gail (August 30, 2009). "A Brief History of Camden County". Camden County Board of Freeholders. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  13. ^ "History". Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  14. ^ "The Land Past and Present". Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  15. ^ "How did our county get its name?". Morris County Library. July 26, 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_counties_in_New_Jersey&oldid=311092597"