Somerset County, New Jersey

Somerset County
County
Somerset County courthouse in Somerville, the county seat
Somerset County courthouse in Somerville, the county seat
Flag of Somerset County
Flag
Official seal of Somerset County
Seal
Map of New Jersey highlighting Somerset County
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
Map of the United States highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°34′N 74°37′W / 40.56°N 74.61°W / 40.56; -74.61
Country United States
State New Jersey
FoundedMay 14, 1688[1]
Named forEnglish county of Somerset[2]
SeatSomerville[3]
Largest municipalityFranklin Township (population)
Hillsborough Township (area)
Government
 • Commissioner directorShanel Robinson (D, term ends December 31, 2023)
Area
[4]
 • Total
304.95 sq mi (789.8 km2)
 • Land301.87 sq mi (781.8 km2)
 • Water3.09 sq mi (8.0 km2)  1.00%
Population
 (2020)[5][6]
 • Total
345,361
 • Estimate 
(2023)[5][7]
348,842 Increase
 • Density1,100/sq mi (440/km2)
Congressional districts7th, 12th
Websiteco.somerset.nj.us
Map
Interactive map of Somerset County, New Jersey

Somerset County is a county located in the north-central part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's 13th-most-populous county,[8] with a population of 345,361,[5][6] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 21,917 (+6.8%) from the 2010 census count of 323,444.[9] Somerset County constitutes part of the New York metropolitan area. Its county seat is Somerville.[3] The most populous place in the county was Franklin Township, with 68,364 residents at the time of the 2020 census,[5] while Hillsborough Township, with 55.00 square miles (142.4 km2), covered the largest total area of any municipality.[10] The county is part of the Central Jersey region of the state.[11][12]

In 2015, Somerset County had a per capita personal income of $86,468, the second highest in New Jersey and ranked 25th of 3,113 counties in the United States.[13][14] Somerset County, as of the 2000 Census, was the seventh wealthiest county in the United States by median household income at $76,933 (third in New Jersey behind Hunterdon County at $79,888 and Morris County at $77,340), fourth in median family income at $90,655 (second in New Jersey behind Hunterdon County at $91,050) and ranked seventh by per capita income at $37,970 (highest in New Jersey).[15] The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 11th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the highest in New Jersey) as of 2009.[16]

In 2012, 49.8 percent of Somerset County residents were college graduates, the highest percentage in the state.[17] Somerset County was recently ranked number 3 of 21 NJ counties as one of the healthiest counties in New Jersey, according to an annual report by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.[18] Somerset County was created on May 14, 1688, from portions of Middlesex County.[1]

  1. ^ a b Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 221. Accessed October 30, 2012.
  2. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 29, 2017.
  3. ^ a b New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CensusArea was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference CPH232 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Governor Murphy Settles Central Jersey Debate, Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy, press release dated August 4, 2023. "Governor Phil Murphy today signed S3206 to promote Central Jersey tourism.... The 'Central Jersey' region will be comprised of, at minimum, the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset."
  12. ^ Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."
  13. ^ 250 Highest Per Capita Personal Incomes available for 3113 counties in the United States: 2015 Archived October 26, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 24, 2017.
  14. ^ Local Area Personal Income: 2015 Archived October 15, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 24, 2017.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 Data Rankings; A data rankings document focused on the Roanoke Valley and Alleghany Highlands region" Archived October 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, p. 22. Accessed October 6, 2013.
  16. ^ 250 Highest Per Capita Personal Incomes of the 3113 Counties in the United States, 2009 Archived December 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed April 9, 2012.
  17. ^ 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book Available for Order Archived October 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Rutgers University. Accessed May 13, 2015.
  18. ^ "Rankings". County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Retrieved February 1, 2018.