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New Jersey
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Union Sealgif
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Map of New Jersey highlighting Union Countysvg
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100
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1857
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Elizabeth
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273 Km&2 (105 Mi&2 )
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268 km&2 (103 mi&2)
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6 km&2 (2 mi&2)
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206%
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2000
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522,541
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1,953
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wwwunioncountynjorg
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is a
County located in the
State of
New Jersey . As of the
United States 2000 Census , the population is 522,541. Its
County Seat is
Elizabeth 6 .
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 273
Km&2 (105
Mi&2 ). 268 km&
2 (103 mi&
2) of it is land and 6 km&
2 (2 mi&
2) of it is water. The total area is 2.06% water.
Much of Union County is relatively flat and low-lying. Only in the northwestern corner does any significant relief appear as the
Watchung Mountains cross the county. It is there that highest elevations, two areas approximately 560 feet (171 m) above sea level, are found in Berkeley Heights. The lowest elevation is sea level along the eastern shore.
As of the
Census 2 of 2000, there were 522,541 people, 186,124 households, and 133,264 families residing in the county. The
Population Density was 1,953/km&
2 (5,059/mi&
2). There were 192,945 housing units at an average density of 721/km&
2 (1,868/mi&
2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.51%
White , 20.78%
Black or
African American , 0.23%
Native American , 3.83%
Asian , 0.04%
Pacific Islander , 6.37% from
Other Races , and 3.25% from two or more races. 19.71% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 186,124 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were
Married Couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $55,339, and the median income for a family was $65,234. Males had a median income of $44,544 versus $32,487 for females. The
Per Capita Income for the county was $26,992. 8.40% of the population and 6.30% of families were below the
Poverty Line . 10.50% of those under the age of 18 and 8.00% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Union County is extremely diverse. The far-western part, including
Berkeley Heights ,
New Providence ,
Westfield , and
Summit is unusually Northern European for New Jersey, while
Cranford ,
Kenilworth ,
Clark ,
Linden ,
Union , and
Springfield are noted for their high
Italian-American populations.
Plainfield ,
Roselle , Linden,
Rahway , and
Elizabeth all have large
African-American communities.
Roselle Park has a notably large
Indian-American community, and Roselle Park, Linden, Rahway, and Plainfield, and particularly Elizabeth, have fast-growing
Hispanic populations.
Portuguese-Americans are an increasing group across the county. There are fair-sized
Jewish-American communities in Springfield,
Scotch Plains , western Elizabeth, Cranford, Westfield, and Summit, but not on the level of
Essex County .
Union County is governed by a nine-member
Board Of Chosen Freeholders . The members are elected at large to serve three-year terms. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of the County. Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by a County Manager.
The Freeholders are the center of legislative and administrative responsibility in Union County and, as such, perform a dual role. As legislators they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated. Many of these duties in Union County have been delegated by the Board of Chosen Freeholders to the County Manager.
Each of the freeholders serves on various committees and boards as a part of their duties. These include the Economic Development Committee, the Parks and Recreation Board, the Libraries Committee, and the Policy Committee, to name a few. In addition, the Board oversees the county's Open Space Trust Fund.
As of the January 2006 reorganization, Union County's
Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Vice Chairman Bette Jane Kowalski, Angel G. Estrada, Chester Holmes, Adrian O. Mapp, Rick Proctor, Deborah P. Scanlon, Daniel P. Sullivan and Nancy Ward.
