Essex County
County
Newark Penn Station in Newark at dusk in June 2015
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°47′N 74°15′W / 40.79°N 74.25°W / 40.79; -74.25
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	March 7, 1683[2]
Named for	Essex, England
Seat	Newark[3]
Largest city	Newark (population and area)
Government
• County executive	Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, term ends December 31, 2026)
Area [4]
• Total	129.42 sq mi (335.2 km2)
• Land	126.09 sq mi (326.6 km2)
• Water	3.34 sq mi (8.7 km2)  2.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	863,728[1]
• Estimate  (2023)[5][6]	851,117
• Density	6,843.5/sq mi (2,642.3/km2)
Congressional districts	8th, 10th, 11th
Website	essexcountynj.org

Interactive map of Essex County, New Jersey

Essex County is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey, and is one of the centrally located counties in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's second-most populous county,^[7] with a population of 863,728,^[5][8] its highest decennial count since the 1970 census and an increase of 79,759 (+10.2%) from the 2010 census count of 783,969.^[9][10][11] The county is part of the North Jersey region of the state.^[12]

For 2022, the Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 849,477, which was ranked third-largest among New Jersey's 21 counties behind Bergen and Middlesex Counties.^[6] Its county seat is Newark,^[3] the state's most populous city with a 2020 census population of 311,549.^[8][7]

In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $60,030, the eighth-highest in New Jersey and 153rd highest of 3,113 counties in the U.S.^[13][14] The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 94th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the U.S. and seventh-highest in New Jersey in 2009.^[15]

History

Etymology

The county is named after Essex, a county in the East of England.^[16]

History

Based on data from the 2010 census, Essex County is the 14th-most densely populated county in the United States, and was ranked New Jersey's second-most densely populated after Hudson County, which ranked sixth most-densely populated in the nation at 13,731.4 per square mile as of 2010.^[17] Newark, with a population density of 11,458.3 people per square mile, is the largest municipality in the county both in terms of land area (24.19 square miles) and population (277,140), while Caldwell is the smallest in terms of land area (1.17 square miles) and Essex Fells has the smallest population (2,113).^[18] Many of the county's smallest municipalities have population densities that are comparable to those of many big cities, and are well above the state's average which in turn is the highest in the nation.

Like many of the counties of Northern New Jersey near New York City, which tend to have sharp divides between relatively rich suburban neighborhoods and less wealthy, more densely populated cities nearby, the eastern region of Essex County tends to be poorer and more urbanized, while the western parts tend to be more affluent and suburban. The wide area of Eastern Essex has significant pockets of high population, high building density, high poverty, and high crime rates. Within this general area, however, are numerous areas composed of safe, mixed and middle-income neighborhoods of diverse populations. For example, north and west sides of Newark have well-kept suburban areas such as Vailsburg and Forest Hill. The east side of Newark is the Ironbound, a working-class Brazilian and Portuguese community. East Orange is home to the Presidential Estate neighborhood, a well-kept area of large, pre-war, single-family homes. Belleville and Bloomfield are suburbs with historic Italian communities that, in spite of retaining a core Italian-American population, now have many immigrants from Latin America and Asia. As of the 2000 Census, 36% of Nutley residents indicated that they were of Italian ancestry, the 12th-highest of any municipality in the nation and third-highest in New Jersey.^[19]

Beginning at about the turn of the century, this region led the state in the rebuilding and rehab of its housing stock. In the 2000s, Newark led the state in the issuance of building permits. Many reasons were cited: citywide incentives to encourage construction development, an improving local economy, the rising demand of low-cost housing so close to Manhattan. Newark has since then become one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire Northeast,^[20][21] and reported a gain in median income and drop in poverty rate.^[22] This is a turnaround from the deterioration and abandonment experienced in the post-riot 1970s, 1980s and early part of the 1990s.

Crime in this part of the county has traditionally been among the highest in the state and the country as well, but recently has also seen significant declines, mirroring its large neighbor to the east, New York City.^[23] By 2006, crime in Newark had fallen 60% over the previous decade to its lowest levels in 40 years.^[24][25] Neighboring East Orange has also experienced a decline in crimes, dropping 50% in the three years (2005 to 2007).^[26] While crime rates have fallen significantly in these cities in recent years, they nonetheless remain high here compared to national crime statistics, as well as Irvington, and Orange. In 2008, Newark had 67 homicides, down from 105 in 2007 and the record of 161 murders set in 1981.^[23][27]

In contrast, Western Essex tends to be more suburban and affluent. Within this region are some of the most diverse and racially integrated municipalities in the state and nation, including Montclair, West Orange, South Orange and Maplewood. Many of these municipalities are well-known magnets for people moving from New York City, such as Glen Ridge, Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, South Orange and West Orange. The communities of Livingston, West Caldwell, South Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, North Caldwell, and Essex Fells are some of the wealthiest towns in the county. Short Hills (in Millburn), South Orange, West Orange, and Livingston have large Jewish communities. Short Hills has a popular upscale shopping mall, The Mall at Short Hills located near affluent communities in Morris and Union counties.^[28]

As the poorest place in the county, Newark has a median household income of $33,025 and a per capita income of $17,198;^[29] at the other extreme, Essex Fells, one of the wealthier places in the county and the 4th wealthiest municipality in the state, has a median household income of $174,432 and a per capita income of $89,316.^{[30][citation needed]}

Essex County was the first county in the country to create a county park system (Essex County Park System), to ensure that it did not lose all its land to development.^[31] Some of the county's municipalities, especially Newark, The Oranges, and The Caldwells were seen on episodes of the HBO mob drama The Sopranos, which was set in North Caldwell.^[32]

Secession

The municipalities of western Essex County have discussed secession from the county, to create a new county or be annexed to Morris County, spurred mainly by a belief that tax policy benefits the poorer, urban, eastern portions of the county at the expense of the wealthier, more suburban municipalities in the west of the county. From 2001 to 2003, Millburn, Montclair and Roseland all held nonbinding ballot referendums on the issue. Then-Montclair mayor Robert J. Russo gave a statement in 2003 about secession, "I've watched Essex County burden our people, with very little to show for it. We're fiscally conservative here and socially progressive – and we're finally rebelling."^[33]

Essex was originally formed as one of four administrative districts within Province of East Jersey in 1675, together with Bergen, Middlesex and Monmouth districts. Essex County was formed within East Jersey on March 7, 1683.^[2] The county was named after the English county of Essex. When the provinces of East Jersey and West Jersey were combined in 1702, the county boundaries were retained. Portions of Essex were taken in 1741 and transferred to Somerset County. In 1837, Passaic County was formed from portions of Essex and Bergen counties. In 1857, Union County was created from parts of Essex County.^[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 129.42 square miles (335.2 km²), of which 126.09 square miles (326.6 km²) was land (97.4%) and 3.34 square miles (8.7 km²) was water (2.6%).^[4]

The county rises from generally flat in the east to the twin ridges of the Watchung Mountains in the western half, beyond which the land lowers again into the Passaic River valley.

The highest elevation is found at four areas scattered between Verona, North Caldwell, and Cedar Grove, reaching 660 feet (200 m) above sea level.^[34] The lowest point is sea level, at Newark Bay.

Climate

All of Essex County has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) if the -3 °C isotherm is used. If the 0 °C isotherm is used, Cfa only exists in eastern Newark and the rest of the county has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa). However temperatures do vary in various locations. In Newark, Eastern Essex County, and Southern/Southeastern Essex County, temperatures are relatively cool to hot, even in the winter months. Western Essex County has similar temperatures to Eastern Essex, but the elevation increase within the Watchung Mountains allows for some minor differences. An example would be that in January on Interstate 280 it could be raining in East Orange. Heading west on 280 there is a large hill that elevates from 150 to 650 feet (46 to 198 m), a 500 feet (150 m) difference. At the top of the hill it could be snowing because of the 3 to 4 degree temperature differences.

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Newark 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 108 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 22, 2011, which is the highest temperature ever recorded in the state.^[36] Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.99 inches (76 mm) in February to 4.76 inches (121 mm) in July.^[35] In Roseland, average monthly temperatures range from 29.2 °F (−1.6 °C) in January to 74.6 °F (23.7 °C) in July.^[37]

Demographics

2020 census

This section needs expansion with: examples with reliable citations. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021)

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 783,969 people, 283,712 households, and 189,236 families in the county. The population density was 6,211.5 per square mile (2,398.3/km²). There were 312,954 housing units at an average density of 2,479.6 per square mile (957.4/km²). The racial makeup was 42.59% (333,868) White, 40.88% (320,479) Black or African American, 0.39% (3,056) Native American, 4.57% (35,789) Asian, 0.04% (286) Pacific Islander, 8.38% (65,687) from other races, and 3.16% (24,804) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.30% (159,117) of the population.^[9]

Of the 283,712 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18; 40.1% were married couples living together; 20.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.3% were non-families. Of all households, 27.7% were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.29.^[9]

24.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.6 males.^[9]

The non-Hispanic white population was 33.2%.

The county had 76,200 Jewish residents according to the 2002 results of the National Jewish Population Survey.^[41]

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $48.7 billion in 2021, which was ranked fourth in the state and was a 6.5% increase from the prior year.^[42]

Government

County government

The county seat is of Essex County is Newark, where many offices and courts are concentrated at the Essex County Government Complex.

Essex County is governed by a County Executive and a nine-member Board of County Commissioners, who administer all county business. Essex joins Atlantic, Bergen, Hudson and Mercer counties as one of the 5 of 21 New Jersey counties with an elected executive.^[43] The County Executive is elected by a direct vote of the electorate. Nine commissioners are elected to serve three-year concurrent terms of office. Five of the commissioners represent districts; four are elected from the county on an at-large basis. At an annual organization meeting, the commissioners choose a Commissioner President and vice-president from among its members to serve one-year terms.^[44] In 2016, commissioners were paid $37,249 and the commissioner president was paid an annual salary of $38,211; commissioner salaries were the second-highest in the state, behind Hudson County.^[45] the county executive was paid $161,615 in 2015.^[46]

As of 2024^[update], the Essex County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.^[47][48] Essex County's Commissioners are (with terms for president and vice president ending every December 31):^{[49][50][51][52][53]}

In February 2019, Romaine Graham was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Lebby Jones until her death the previous month.^[63] Graham served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was chosen to serve the balance of the term of office.^[64] No Republican has won countywide office since 1998, a freeholder seat since 2001, and an at-large freeholder seat since 1971.^[65]

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).^[66] Essex County is one of two counties statewide that has an elected Register of Deeds.^[67] Essex County's constitutional officers and register are:^[52]

The Acting Essex County Prosecutor is Theodore N. Stephens II, who was appointed as acting prosecutor in September 2018. Stephens previously served as Essex County Surrogate from 2012 until his appointment as Acting Prosecutor.^[76] Essex County constitutes Vicinage 5 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is seated at the Veterans' Courthouse in Newark, which also houses the Criminal Part; civil and probate cases are heard at both the historic Essex County Courthouse and at the Essex County Hall of Records, also in Newark, while family and chancery cases are heard at the Robert N. Wilentz Court Complex, also in Newark, with additional facilities in East Orange. The Assignment Judge for the vicinage is Sallyanne Floria.^[77]

Federal representatives