Counties of New Jersey | |
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Location | New Jersey |
Number | 21 |
Populations | 65,338 (Salem) – 957,736 (Bergen) |
Areas | 47 square miles (120 km2) (Hudson) – 805 square miles (2,080 km2) (Burlington) |
Government | |
Subdivisions |
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There are 21 counties in the U.S. state of New Jersey. These counties together contain 564 municipalities, or administrative entities composed of clearly defined territory; 252 boroughs, 52 cities, 15 towns, 241 townships, and 4 villages.[1] In New Jersey, a county is a local level of government between the state and municipalities. County government in New Jersey includes a Board of County Commissioners,[2] sheriff, clerk, and surrogate (responsible for uncontested and routine probate),[3] all of which are elected officials. Counties organized under the Optional County Charter Law may also have an elected county executive.[4] Counties traditionally perform state-mandated duties such as the maintenance of jails, parks, and certain roads.[5] The site of a county's administration and courts is called the county seat.