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| Middlesex County, New Jersey | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of New Jersey |
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 New Jersey's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1683 |
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| Seat | New Brunswick |
| Largest City | Edison (population) Monroe Township (area) |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
322.83 sq mi (836 km²) 308.91 sq mi (800 km²) 13.91 sq mi (36 km²), 4.31% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
809,858 837,073 (2016 est.; 2nd largest) 2,722/sq mi (1,051.0/km²) |
| Website: www.co.middlesex.nj.us | |
| Named for: Historic English county of Middlesex | |
Middlesex County is a county located in north-central New Jersey, United States. As of the 2016 Census estimate, the county's population was 837,073, making it the state's second-most populous county, an increase of 3.4% from the 2010 United States Census, when its population was enumerated at 809,858, making it the second-most populous county in the state. Middlesex is part of the New York metropolitan area, and its county seat is New Brunswick. The center of population of the state of New Jersey is located in Middlesex County, in East Brunswick Township, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike. The 2000 Census showed that the county ranked 63rd in the United States among the highest-income counties by median household. The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 143rd-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the 10th-highest in New Jersey) as of 2009. Middlesex County holds the nickname, "The Greatest County in the Land".
The county was primarily settled due to its ideal location near the Raritan River and was established as of March 7, 1683, as part of the Province of East Jersey and was partitioned as of October 31, 1693, into the townships of Piscataway, Perth Amboy and Woodbridge. Somerset County was established on May 14, 1688, from portions of Middlesex County. The county's first court met in June 1683 in Piscataway, and held session at alternating sites over the next century in Perth Amboy, Piscataway and Woodbridge before relocating permanently to New Brunswick in 1778. Middlesex County hosts an extensive park system totaling more than 6,300 acres (2,500 ha).
According to the 2010 Census, the county had a total area of 322.83 square miles (836.1 km2), including 308.91 square miles (800.1 km2) of land (95.7%) and 13.91 square miles (36.0 km2) of water (4.3%). The county is named after the historic English county of Middlesex.
Bisected by the Raritan River, the county is topographically typical of Central Jersey in that it is largely flat. The elevation ranges from sea level to 300 feet (91 m) above sea level on a hill scaled by Major Road/ Sand Hill Road near Route 1 in South Brunswick Township.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 15,956 |
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| 1800 | 17,890 | 12.1% | |
| 1810 | 20,381 | 13.9% | |
| 1820 | 21,470 | 5.3% | |
| 1830 | 23,157 | 7.9% | |
| 1840 | 21,893 | * | −5.5% |
| 1850 | 28,635 | 30.8% | |
| 1860 | 34,812 | 21.6% | |
| 1870 | 45,029 | 29.3% | |
| 1880 | 52,286 | 16.1% | |
| 1890 | 61,754 | 18.1% | |
| 1900 | 79,762 | 29.2% | |
| 1910 | 114,426 | 43.5% | |
| 1920 | 162,334 | 41.9% | |
| 1930 | 212,208 | 30.7% | |
| 1940 | 217,077 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 264,872 | 22.0% | |
| 1960 | 433,856 | 63.8% | |
| 1970 | 583,813 | 34.6% | |
| 1980 | 595,893 | 2.1% | |
| 1990 | 671,780 | 12.7% | |
| 2000 | 750,162 | 11.7% | |
| 2010 | 809,858 | 8.0% | |
| Est. 2016 | 837,073 | 11.6% | |
| Historical sources: 1790-1990 1970-2010 2000 2010 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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As of the census of 2010, there were 809,858 people, 281,186 households, and 203,016 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,621.6 per square mile (1,012.2/km2). There were 294,800 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile (368.5/km2)*. The racial makeup of the county was 58.60% (474,589) White, 9.69% (78,462) Black or African American, 0.34% (2,777) Native American, 21.40% (173,293) Asian, 0.03% (251) Pacific Islander, 6.99% (56,569) from other races, and 2.95% (23,917) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.40% (148,975) of the population.
There were 281,186 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.8 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 94 males.
As of the 2010 Census, there were 170,070 people of Asian descent in Middlesex County accounting for 21% of the county's total population. At 61.57% of the population of Asian descent, Indian Americans accounted for a majority of the county's Asian population or 12.93% (104,705 people) of the county's total population in 2010, increasing to 119,579 (14.4%) by 2015, more than that of the other sub-groups combined. Middlesex County had the largest population of Asian Indians of all counties in New Jersey; in the 2010 Census, only Santa Clara County, California (117,596) and Queens County, New York (117,550) had a larger population of Asian Indians.
Middlesex County has the largest and fastest growing population of Chinese Americans of all counties in New Jersey, in places such as East Brunswick.
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile (935/km²). There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile (341/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.42% White, 9.13% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 13.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.71% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. 13.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among residents listing their ancestry, 16.1% were of Italian, 13.8% Irish, 10.2% German and 9.8% Polish ancestry according to the 2000 Census.
There were 265,815 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $61,446, and the median income for a family was $70,749. Males had a median income of $49,683 versus $35,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,535. About 4.2% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Middlesex County hosts various county routes, state routes, US Routes, Interstates and toll highways. As of May 2010[update], the county had a total of 2,584.38 miles (4,159.16 km) of roadways, of which 2,118.08 miles (3,408.72 km) were maintained by the municipality, 292.16 miles (470.19 km) by Middlesex County and 131.48 miles (211.60 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 42.66 miles (68.65 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
County roads include County Route 501, County Route 514, County Route 516 (only in Old Bridge), County Route 520, County Route 522, County Route 527, County Route 529, County Route 531, County Route 535 and County Route 539.
The state routes are: Route 18, Route 26 (only in North Brunswick Township – entirely concurrent with Livingston Avenue), Route 27, Route 28, Route 32, Route 33 (only in Monroe Township), Route 34 (only in Old Bridge), Route 35, Route 91 (concurrent with Jersey Avenue in North Brunswick Township and entering New Brunswick), Route 171, Route 172 (only in New Brunswick), Route 184 and Route 440.
U.S. Routes include: U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 9, U.S. Route 1/9 (only in Woodbridge Township) and U.S. Route 130.
The county also includes some limited access highways and Interstates as well. Middlesex County hosts the southern end of the Middlesex Freeway (Interstate 287) which then turns into Route 440 that connects to the Outerbridge Crossing. The Garden State Parkway passes through the eastern edge of the county, which features nine interchanges and the northern start/end of the split-roadways (Express & Local Lanes). The New Jersey Turnpike carries Interstate 95 through the center of the county. The Turnpike has five interchanges in Middlesex County: Exit 12 in Carteret, Exit 11 in Woodbridge Township, Exit 10 in Edison, Exit 9 in East Brunswick and Exit 8A in Monroe Township.
The NJDOT is upgrading the Route 18 "avenue" to a freeway between the Route 1 interchange all the way up to the new 18 Extension in Piscataway Township.
The Turnpike Authority planned to build Route 92, which was to start near the intersection of Ridge Road & Route 1 in South Brunswick Township to Interchange 8A in Monroe Township. This plan was cancelled on December 1, 2006.
The southern end of the "dual-dual" configuration (inner car lanes and outer truck lanes) used to be one mile south of Interchange 8A at the border of Cranbury Township and Monroe Township. It was relocated to Exit 6 in Mansfield Township in Burlington County after the Turnpike widening project was completed in early November 2014.
New Jersey Transit provides Middlesex County with frequent commuter rail service along the North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line and Raritan Valley Line. The North Jersey Coast Line runs through the eastern part of the county. The Northeast Corridor Line runs through the northern and central part of the county. The Raritan Valley Line serves Dunellen and is accessible to other communities along the county's northern border with Union County and Somerset County .
Intercity rail service is also provided by Amtrak. The routes that runs through Middlesex County are the Acela Express, Keystone, Northeast Regional, and Vermonter services, although only the Keystone and Northeast Regional have regular stops within Middlesex County, at either New Brunswick or Metropark. Acela also occasionally stops at Metropark.
Bus service in Middlesex County is provided by New Jersey Transit, Coach USA's Suburban Transit, the extensive Rutgers Campus bus network, the MCAT shuttle system, and DASH buses. There are bus routes that serve all townships in the county, and studies are being conducted to create the New Brunswick Bus Rapid Transit system.
Municipalities in Middlesex County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area in square miles) are: Other, unincorporated communities in the county are listed next to their parent municipality. Many of these areas are census-designated places that have been defined by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township and for which 2010 population data is included in parentheses.
| Municipality | Municipal type |
Population | Housing units |
Total area |
Water area |
Land area |
Pop. density |
Housing density |
Unincorporated communities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret | Borough | 22,844 | 8,148 | 5.00 | 0.58 | 4.42 | 5,171.1 | 1,844.4 | Chrome West Carteret |
| Cranbury | Township | 3,857 | 1,371 | 13.40 | 0.15 | 13.25 | 291.2 | 103.5 | Cranbury CDP (2,181) Cranbury Station Wyckoffs Mills |
| Dunellen | Borough | 7,227 | 2,683 | 1.05 | 0.00 | 1.05 | 6,894.8 | 2,559.7 | |
| East Brunswick Township | Township | 47,512 | 17,367 | 22.27 | 0.57 | 21.70 | 2,189.6 | 800.4 | Brookview Dunhams Corner East Spotswood Fairview Knolls Farrington Lake Heights Gillilandtown Halls Corner Herberts Jamesburg Park Lawrence Brook Manor Newton Heights Orchard Heights Patricks Corner Paulas Corner Tanners Corner Washington Heights Westons Mills |
| Edison Township | Township | 99,967 | 36,302 | 30.64 | 0.70 | 29.94 | 3,339.0 | 1,212.5 | Bonhamtown Clara Barton Greensand Haven Homes Lahiere Lincoln Park Lindenau Martins Landing Menlo Park New Dover New Durham Nixon North Edison Oak Tree Phoenix Potters Pumptown Raritan Manor Sand Hills Stelton Valentine Washington Park |
| Helmetta | Borough | 2,178 | 920 | 0.91 | 0.06 | 0.85 | 2,562.9 | 1,082.6 | |
| Highland Park | Borough | 13,982 | 6,203 | 1.82 | 0.01 | 1.81 | 7,728.1 | 3,428.5 | |
| Jamesburg | Borough | 5,915 | 2,267 | 0.88 | 0.01 | 0.88 | 6,741.8 | 2,583.9 | |
| Metuchen | Borough | 13,574 | 5,440 | 2.77 | 0.00 | 2.76 | 4,910.4 | 1,967.9 | Jefferson Park Robinvale |
| Middlesex | Borough | 13,635 | 5,148 | 3.54 | 0.02 | 3.52 | 3,876.2 | 1,463.5 | |
| Milltown | Borough | 6,893 | 2,698 | 1.60 | 0.04 | 1.55 | 4,443.0 | 1,739.0 | |
| Monroe Township | Township | 39,132 | 18,002 | 42.23 | 0.26 | 41.97 | 932.3 | 428.9 | Applegarth Clearbrook Clearbrook Park CDP (2,667) Concordia CDP (3,092) Gravel Hill Half Acre Hoffman Jamesburg Gardens Matchaponix Middlesex Downs Mounts Mills Old Church Outcalt Prospect Plains Rossmoor CDP (2,666) Shore Road Estates Spotswood Manor Texas Tracy Union Valley Whittingham CDP (2,476) Wyckoffs Mills |
| New Brunswick | City | 55,181 | 15,053 | 5.79 | 0.56 | 5.23 | 10,556.4 | 2,879.7 | Edgebrook Feaster Park Lincoln Park Raritan Gardens Westons Mills |
| North Brunswick Township | Township | 40,742 | 15,045 | 12.27 | 0.27 | 12.00 | 3,396.2 | 1,254.1 | Adams Berdines Corner Black Horse Franklin Park Georges Road Maple Meade Patricks Corner Red Lion |
| Old Bridge Township | Township | 65,375 | 24,638 | 40.78 | 2.72 | 38.06 | 1,717.7 | 647.3 | Browntown Brownville CDP (2,383) Brunswick Gardens Cheesequake Cottrell Corners East Spotswood Laurence Harbor CDP (6,536) Madison Park CDP (7,144) Matchaponix Moerls Corner Morristown Old Bridge CDP (23,753) Parlin Redshaw Corner Runyon Sayerwood South South Old Bridge Texas |
| Perth Amboy | City | 50,814 | 16,556 | 5.96 | 1.26 | 4.70 | 10,806.8 | 3,521.0 | Barber Harbor Terrace John J Delaney Homes Maurer William Dunlap Homes |
| Piscataway Township | Township | 56,044 | 17,777 | 19.03 | 0.19 | 18.83 | 2,975.5 | 943.8 | Fieldville New Market Newtown North Stelton Possumtown Randolphville Raritan Landing Riverview Manor Society Hill CDP (3,829) |
| Plainsboro Township | Township | 22,999 | 10,089 | 12.21 | 0.42 | 11.78 | 1,951.6 | 856.1 |
Plainsboro Center CDP (2,712) |
| Sayreville | Borough | 42,704 | 16,393 | 18.70 | 2.86 | 15.84 | 2,695.7 | 1,034.8 | Crossmans Ernston Gillespie Laurel Park MacArthur Manor Melrose Morgan Morgan Heights Parlin Phoenix Runyon Sayre Woods Sayreville Junction Sayreville Station |
| South Amboy | City | 8,631 | 3,576 | 2.69 | 1.15 | 1.55 | 5,577.1 | 2,310.7 | Mechanicsville Thomas J Dohany Homes |
| South Brunswick Township | Township | 43,417 | 15,708 | 41.04 | 0.39 | 40.65 | 1,068.1 | 386.4 | Cottageville Dayton CDP (7,063) Deans Franklin Park Fresh Ponds Heathcote CDP (5,821) Kendall Park CDP (9,339) Kingston CDP (1,222) Little Rocky Hill Monmouth Junction CDP (2,887) Sand Hills South Brunswick Terrace |
| South Plainfield | Borough | 23,385 | 8,093 | 8.36 | 0.03 | 8.33 | 2,808.5 | 971.9 | Avon Park Samptown |
| South River | Borough | 16,008 | 5,957 | 2.92 | 0.15 | 2.77 | 5,781.4 | 2,151.4 | Newton Heights |
| Spotswood | Borough | 8,257 | 3,242 | 2.47 | 0.20 | 2.27 | 3,642.2 | 1,430.1 | Outcalt |
| Woodbridge Township | Township | 99,585 | 36,124 | 24.51 | 1.29 | 23.21 | 4,290.0 | 1,556.2 | Avenel CDP (17,011) Boynton Beach Colonia CDP (17,795) Edgars Fords CDP (15,187) Hazelton Hopelawn Iselin CDP (18,695) Keasbey Lynn Woodoaks Menlo Park Terrace Port Reading CDP (3,728) Sand Hills Sewaren CDP (2,756) Shore View Woodbridge CDP (19,265) Woodbridge Oaks |
| Weather chart for New Brunswick, New Jersey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3.6
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22
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3
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24
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4.2
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62
40
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4.2
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5.1
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4.2
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4.5
77
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3.8
66
43
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3.8
55
36
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4.1
44
27
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| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: The Weather Channel |
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Metric conversion
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of New Brunswick have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −13 °F (−25 °C) was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.98 inches (76 mm) in February to 5.08 inches (129 mm) in July.
