Union County
County
Downtown Westfield in July 2005
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°39′N 74°17′W / 40.65°N 74.29°W / 40.65; -74.29
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	1857[1]
Named for	Union threatened by slavery dispute[2]
Seat	Elizabeth[3]
Largest city	Elizabeth (population and area)
Government
• Commission Chair	Sergio Granados (D, term ends December 31, 2025)
Area [4]
• Total	105.41 sq mi (273.0 km2)
• Land	102.77 sq mi (266.2 km2)
• Water	2.64 sq mi (6.8 km2)  2.5%
Population  (2020)[5][6]
• Total	575,345
• Estimate  (2023)[5][7]	572,726
• Density	5,593.5/sq mi (2,159.7/km2)
Congressional districts	7th, 8th, 10th, 12th
Website	www.ucnj.org

Union County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the county was the state's seventh-most-populous county^[8] with a population of 575,345,^[5][6] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 38,846 (+7.2%) from the 2010 census count of 536,499.^[9] Its county seat is Elizabeth,^[3] which is also the most populous municipality in the county, with a 2020 census population of 137,298,^[6] and the largest by area, covering 13.46 square miles (34.9 km²).^[10] The county serves as a transition point between the Central Jersey and North Jersey regions of the state.^[11][12]

In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $60,089, the seventh-highest in New Jersey and ranked 152nd of 3,113 counties in the United States.^[13][14] The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 119th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the eighth-highest in New Jersey) in 2009.^[15] A study by Forbes.com determined that Union County residents pay the second-highest property taxes of all U.S. counties, based on 2007 data.^[16]

With a population density of 4,955 inhabitants per square mile (1,913/km²) in 2000, Union County was the 15th-most densely populated county in the United States as of the 2010 Census, and third-densest in New Jersey, behind Hudson County (ranked 6th nationwide at 9,754 per square mile) and Essex County (ranked 11th at 6,126).^[17][18]

History

Etymology

Established in 1857 as the last county created in New Jersey, it was named after the Union threatened by slavery dispute during this period, which would erupt into civil war in 1861.

History

All of present-day Union County was part of the Elizabethtown Tract, which was purchased in 1664, by English colonists from the Lenape Native Americans that lived in the area of present-day Elizabeth, New Jersey. Union County was formed on March 19, 1857, from portions of Essex County; it was the last of New Jersey's 21 counties to be established.^[1]

Many historic places and structures are to be found in the county, including on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, New Jersey.^[19]

In the fall, Union County holds its annual "Four Centuries in a Weekend" festival for the public, celebrating and touring historic buildings, museums and sites in the county.^[20]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 105.41 square miles (273.0 km²), of which 102.77 square miles (266.2 km²) was land (97.5%) and 2.64 square miles (6.8 km²) was water (2.5%).^[4]

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 (170 m) above sea level, are found in Berkeley Heights.^[21] The lowest elevation is sea level along the eastern shore at the Arthur Kill.

Rivers, lakes and streams

• Arthur Kill
• Rahway River
• Elizabeth River
• Nomahegan Brook
• Marshes Creek
• Morses Creek
• Peach Orchard Brook
• Robinson's Brook
• Robinson's Branch Reservoir

Climate and weather

Elizabeth, New Jersey
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.5     39 24     2.9     42 27     4.1     51 34     4.2     62 44     4     72 53     4     82 63     4.7     86 69     3.7     84 68     3.8     77 60     3.6     65 48     3.6     55 39     3.8     44 30 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[22]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     89     4 −4     74     6 −3     104     11 1     107     17 7     102     22 12     102     28 17     119     30 21     94     29 20     97     25 16     91     18 9     91     13 4     97     7 −1 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years,^[when?] average temperatures in the county seat of Elizabeth have ranged from a low of 24 °F (−4 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −14 °F (−26 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1993. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.99 inches (76 mm) in February to 4.76 inches (121 mm) in July.^[22] In Berkeley Heights average monthly temperatures range from 29.4 °F in January to 74.7 °F in July. The climate in the county is hot-summer humid continental (Dfa) in the west and humid subtropical (Cfa) in the east. The hardiness zone is 7a west of the Garden State Parkway and 7b to the east.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	27,780		—
1870	41,859		50.7%
1880	55,571		32.8%
1890	72,467		30.4%
1900	99,353		37.1%
1910	140,197		41.1%
1920	200,157		42.8%
1930	305,209		52.5%
1940	328,344		7.6%
1950	398,138		21.3%
1960	504,255		26.7%
1970	543,116		7.7%
1980	504,094		−7.2%
1990	493,819		−2.0%
2000	522,541		5.8%
2010	536,499		2.7%
2020	575,345		7.2%
2023 (est.)	572,726	[5][7]	−0.5%
Historical sources: 1790–1990[23] 1970–2010[10] 2000[24] 2010[9] 2000–2010[25] 2010-2020[5][6]

Union County is ethnically diverse. Berkeley Heights, Clark, Roselle Park, Cranford, Kenilworth, Linden, New Providence, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union and Westfield have high percentages of Italian American residents. Elizabeth, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle and Union all have large African American communities. Roselle Park has a notably large Indian American community, while Roselle Park, Roselle, Linden, Rahway, Plainfield and particularly Elizabeth have fast-growing Hispanic and Portuguese populations.^{[citation needed]}

The county's Jewish population was 35,000 as of 2004, with notable communities located in Cranford, Elizabeth, Hillside, Linden, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Union, and Westfield.^[26]

2020 census

Union County, New Jersey - demographic profile
(NH = non-Hispanic)

Race / ethnicity	Pop. 2010[27]	Pop. 2020[28]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	243,312	211,245	45.35%	36.72%
Black or African American alone (NH)	111,705	112,261	20.82%	19.51%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	546	552	0.10%	0.10%
Asian alone (NH)	24,496	31,963	4.57%	5.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	107	78	0.02%	0.01%
Some other race alone (NH)	2,279	6,190	0.42%	1.08%
Mixed race/multi-racial (NH)	7,350	17,537	1.37%	3.05%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	146,704	195,519	27.34%	33.98%
Total	536,499	575,345	100.00%	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 536,499 people, 188,118 households, and 134,692 families in the county. The population density was 5,216.1 inhabitants per square mile (2,013.9/km²). There were 199,489 housing units at an average density of 1,939.5 per square mile (748.8/km²). The racial makeup was 61.33% (329,052) White, 22.05% (118,313) Black or African American, 0.39% (2,080) Native American, 4.63% (24,839) Asian, 0.03% (163) Pacific Islander, 8.48% (45,496) from other races, and 3.09% (16,556) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 27.34% (146,704) of the population.^[9]

Of the 188,118 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18; 50.1% were married couples living together; 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.4% were non-families. Of all households, 23.6% were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.32.^[9]

24.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.7 males.^[9]

Government

County government

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Union_County,_New_Jersey
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