In 2015, Somerset County had a per capita personal income of $86,468, the second highest in New Jersey and ranked 25th of 3,113 counties in the United States.[11][12] Somerset County, as of the 2000 Census, was the seventh wealthiest county in the United States by median household income at $76,933 (third in New Jersey behind Hunterdon County at $79,888 and Morris County at $77,340), fourth in median family income at $90,655 (second in New Jersey behind Hunterdon County at $91,050) and ranked seventh by per capita income at $37,970 (highest in New Jersey).[13] The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 11th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the highest in New Jersey) as of 2009.[14]
In 2012, 49.8 percent of Somerset County residents were college graduates, the highest percentage in the state.[15] 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.[16] Somerset County was created on May 14, 1688, from portions of Middlesex County.[1]
History
Etymology
Somerset County is one of America's oldest counties, and is named after the English county of Somerset.
History
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, GeneralGeorge 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.[17]
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.[18] In the 1960s, townships which were once exclusively agricultural were quickly developed as suburban residential communities. Examples include Bridgewater Township[19] and the Watchung Hills communities of Watchung, Green Brook and Warren Township.[20][21][22] 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."[20] 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.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 304.95 square miles (789.8 km2), of which 301.87 square miles (781.8 km2) was land (99%) and 3.09 square miles (8.0 km2) was water (1%).[25]
The high point is on Mine Mountain in Bernardsville, at approximately 860 feet (260 m) above sea level.[26] The lowest point is just above sea level on the Raritan River at the Middlesex County line.
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Somerville have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −16 °F (−27 °C) was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1955. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.84 inches (72 mm) in February to 4.83 inches (123 mm) in July.[24]
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. [2]
Historical sources: 1790–1990[28] 1970-2010[8] 2010[7] 2020[5][6] * = Lost territory in previous decade.
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, the county's had 345,361 people, 122,606 households, and 88,540 families.[29] The population density was 1,144.3 inhabitants per square mile (441.8/km2). There were 131,822 housing units at an average density of 436.77 per square mile (168.6/km2).[30] 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.[31] 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.[32]
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.[33][34]
2010 census
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[36]
The southeastern portion of Somerset County in Franklin Township includes Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, which provides hiking, biking and boating.[39] The Parks Commission operates five public golf courses.[38]Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, an exclusive golf club owned by Donald Trump,[40] that he used as a Summer White House during his presidency.[41]
Government
County government
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.[42] In 2016, commissioners (then known as freeholders) were paid $21,902 and the commissioner director was paid an annual salary of $22,902.[43] 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.[44] 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).[45]
As of 2025[update], Somerset County's County Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31):[46][47][48][49][50][51]
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.[57] 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).[58] Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis, are:[48]
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.[74] 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.[75] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 67.1% were registered to vote, including 75.% of those ages 18 and over.[76][77]
United States presidential election results for Somerset County, New Jersey[78]
Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), North Branch section of Branchburg Township (public).[84]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.[85]
Alma White College (which operated from 1921 to 1978) was a private college located in Zarephath.[87] 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.
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.[89] In 2024, a local ShopRite store started selling salads grown by and packed by students in the school's hydroponics career training program.[90]
Municipalities
Index map of Somerset County municipalities (click to see an index key)
Interactive map of municipalities in Somerset County.
The 21 municipalities in Somerset County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units, and area) are listed below.[91] 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.[8] Other communities, historical areas, unincorporated areas, and enclaves that exist within a municipality are also listed.
Somerset County is served by a number of different routes. As of May 2010[update], the county had a total of 1,714.99 miles (2,760.01 km) of roadways, of which 1,370.80 miles (2,206.09 km) were maintained by the local municipality, 234.23 miles (376.96 km) by Somerset County and 109.96 miles (176.96 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[93]
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.
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.[97] Ridewise provides three SCOOT shuttles[98] as well as DASH buses and CAT buses.[99][100]
^Governor Murphy Settles Central Jersey Debate, Governor of New JerseyPhil 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."
^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."
^"Rankings". County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
^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."
^Home Page, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County. Accessed January 11, 2017.
^ abSordillo, 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."
^OverviewArchived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, 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."
^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."
^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."
^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."
^Biography, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Watson Coleman and her husband William reside in Ewing Township and are blessed to have three sons; William, Troy, and Jared and three grandchildren; William, Kamryn and Ashanee."
^History, Somerset Hills Learning Institute. Accessed October 29, 2017.
^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."
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