Middlesex County, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middlesex County
|
||
|---|---|---|
The main campus of Rutgers University, New Jersey's flagship of higher education, in New Brunswick, a center for the sciences, arts, and cultural activities, and the county seat of Middlesex County
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
The Greatest County in the Land
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
|
||
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
|
||
| Coordinates: 40°26′N 74°25′W / 40.44°N 74.41°WCoordinates: 40°26′N 74°25′W / 40.44°N 74.41°W | ||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| Founded | 1683 | |
| Named for | Historic English county of Middlesex | |
| Seat | New Brunswick | |
| Largest city | Edison (population) Monroe Township (area) |
|
| Area | ||
| • Total | 322.83 sq mi (836.1 km2) | |
| • Land | 308.91 sq mi (800.1 km2) | |
| • Water | 13.91 sq mi (36.0 km2) 4.31% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 863,162 (2nd in NJ) | |
| • Density | 2,794.2/sq mi (1,078.8/km2) | |
| Congressional districts | 6th, 12th | |
Middlesex County is located in north-central New Jersey, United States, extending inland from the northern portion of the Jersey Shore. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county's population was enumerated at 863,162, making Middlesex the state's third-most populous county. Middlesex County's population in 2020 represented a growth of 53,304 (6.6%) from the 809,858 residents counted at the 2010 census. Middlesex County is on the edge of the New York metropolitan area and in the middle of the Northeast megalopolis of the U.S. Its county seat is the city of New Brunswick, a center for the sciences, arts, and cultural activities, and the headquarters of the state's flagship academic institution, Rutgers University. The center of population of the state of New Jersey is also located within Middlesex County, in East Brunswick Township, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike. Middlesex County hosts an extensive transportation network, including several rail stations along the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor Line of the New Jersey Transit commuter rail system, as well as the intersection of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, the state's two busiest motor vehicle roadways, in Woodbridge Township. Middlesex County holds the nickname, The Greatest County in the Land.
The county was primarily settled due to its optimal location along 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. Adjacent Somerset County was established on May 14, 1688, created 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. Despite its status as a residential, commercial, and industrial stronghold and a centrally accessible transportation hub, Middlesex is also home to an extensive public park system with expansive greenways, totaling more than 6,300 acres (2,500 ha). Middlesex County is most demographically notable as the U.S. county with the highest concentration of Asian Indians, at nearly 20% in 2020, spanning the county's boundaries between Little India, Edison/Iselin in the north and Monroe Township at its southern tip.
Contents
Geography
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.
Adjacent counties
- Union County, New Jersey – north
- Monmouth County, New Jersey – southeast
- Mercer County, New Jersey – southwest
- Somerset County, New Jersey – northwest
- Richmond County, New York – northeast
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 15,956 | — | |
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 863,162 | 6.6% | |
| Historical sources: 1790-1990 1970-2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
|||
Middlesex County is prominently known for its significant concentration of Asian Indians. The growing Little India is a South Asian-focused commercial strip in Middlesex County, the U.S. county with the highest concentration of Asian Indians. The Oak Tree Road strip runs for about one-and-a-half miles through Edison and neighboring Iselin in Woodbridge Township, near the area's sprawling Chinatown and Koreatown, running along New Jersey Route 27. It is the largest and most diverse South Asian cultural hub in the United States. Monroe Township in Middlesex County has experienced a particularly rapid growth rate in its Indian American population, with an estimated 5,943 (13.6%) as of 2017, which was 23 times the 256 (0.9%) counted as of the 2000 Census; and Diwali is celebrated by the township as a Hindu holiday. Carteret's Punjabi Sikh community, variously estimated at upwards of 3,000, is the largest concentration of Sikhs in New Jersey. In Middlesex County, election ballots are printed in English, Spanish, Gujarati, Hindi, and Punjabi.
As of 2017 Census estimates, there were 201,243 people of Asian descent in Middlesex County accounting for 24% of the county's total population. At 61.57% of the population of Asian descent, Indian Americans accounted for 12.93% (104,705 people) of the county's total population in 2010, increasing to 127,875 (15.3%, the highest of any U.S. county) by 2017, more than that of the other Asian sub-groups combined.
2020 Census
2010 Census
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.
Transportation
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.
Public transportation
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
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.
County parks
- Donaldson Park
- Carteret Park
- Carteret Waterfront Park
- Edison Park
- Fords Park
- Johnson Park
- Medwick Park
- Merrill Park
- Raritan Bay Waterfront Park
- Roosevelt Park
- Spring Lake Park
- Thompson Park
- Warren Park
- Old Bridge Waterfront Walkway
- Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park
- Ambrose & Doty's Brooks Park
- Davidson's Mill Pond Park
- Ireland Brook Park
- Jamesburg Park Conservation Area
- John A. Phillips Open Space Preserve
- John A. Phillips Park
- Catherine Von Ohlen Park
Climate and weather
| Weather chart for New Brunswick, New Jersey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3.6
39
22
|
3
43
24
|
4.2
51
30
|
4.2
62
40
|
4.2
72
50
|
4.4
81
60
|
5.1
86
65
|
4.2
84
64
|
4.5
77
55
|
3.8
66
43
|
3.8
55
36
|
4.1
44
27
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: The Weather Channel |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Metric conversion
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
Higher education
- Middlesex County College (Edison - main campus; New Brunswick, Perth Amboy)
- Rutgers University New Brunswick Campus (New Brunswick, Piscataway)
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (New Brunswick)
- Princeton University – Forrestal Campus (Plainsboro)
- DeVry University (North Brunswick)
- Chamberlain University (North Brunswick)
- New Brunswick Theological Seminary (New Brunswick Campus)
Images for kids
-
Garden State Parkway northbound entering Middlesex County
-
1947 road map
_just_south_of_Exit_120_in_Old_Bridge_Township,_Middlesex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
