Somerset County, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNew Jersey | |
| Coordinates:40°34′N74°37′W / 40.56°N 74.61°W /40.56; -74.61 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| Founded | May 14, 1688[1] |
| Named after | English county ofSomerset[3] |
| Seat | Somerville[2] |
| Largest municipality | Franklin Township (population) Hillsborough Township (area) |
| Government | |
| • Commissioner director | Shanel Robinson (D, term ends December 31, 2026) |
| Area | |
• Total | 304.95 sq mi (789.8 km2) |
| • Land | 301.87 sq mi (781.8 km2) |
| • Water | 3.09 sq mi (8.0 km2) 1.00% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 345,361 |
• Estimate (2024) | 357,467 |
| • Density | 1,144.1/sq mi (441.73/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 7th,12th |
| Website | www |
Somerset County is acounty located in the north-central part of theU.S. state ofNew Jersey. As of the2020 census, the county was the state's13th-most-populous county,[4] with a population of 345,361,[5][6] its highestdecennial count ever and an increase of 21,917 (+6.8%) from the2010 census count of 323,444.[7] Somerset County constitutes part of theNew York metropolitan area. Itscounty seat isSomerville.[2] The most populous place in the county wasFranklin Township, with 68,364 residents at the time of the 2020 census,[5] whileHillsborough Township, with 55.00 square miles (142.4 km2), covered the largest total area of any municipality.[8] The county is part of theCentral Jersey region of the state.[9][10]
In 2015, Somerset County had aper capita personal income of $86,468, the second highest in New Jersey and ranked 25th of 3,113 counties in the United States.[11][12] Somerset County, as of the 2000 Census, was theseventh wealthiest county in the United States bymedian household income at $76,933 (third in New Jersey behindHunterdon County at $79,888 andMorris 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).[13] TheBureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 11th-highestper capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the highest in New Jersey) as of 2009.[14] As of 2023, Somerset County had the highest GDP for counties with populations between 100,000 and 500,000 in America.[15]
In 2012, 49.8% of Somerset County residents were college graduates, the highest percentage in the state.[16] Somerset County was recently ranked number three of 21 NJ counties as one of the healthiest counties in New Jersey, according to an annual report by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps.[17] Somerset County was created on May 14, 1688, from portions ofMiddlesex County.[1]
Somerset County is one of the oldest counties in the United States, and is named after the English county ofSomerset.
The area was first settled in 1681 in the vicinity ofBound Brook,[citation needed] and the county was established by charter on May 22, 1688. Most of the early residents wereDutch.[citation needed]
During theAmerican Revolutionary War,GeneralGeorge Washington and his troops marched through the county on several occasions and slept in many of the homes located throughout the area. Somerset County also played an important part during bothWorld War I andWorld War II. Weapons depots were established here, and factories manufactured the army's woolen blankets. For much of its history, Somerset County was primarily an agricultural county. In the late 19th century, theSomerset Hills area of Somerset County became a popular area for country homes built by wealthy industrialists. The area continues to be the home of wealthy people who own businesses.[18]
In 1917, Somerset County, in cooperation withRutgers University, hired its first agricultural agent to connect local farmers with expert advice. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County, located in Bridgewater, serves residents in the areas of agriculture and natural resources,4-H youth development, and family and community health sciences.[19] In the 1960s, townships which were once exclusively agricultural were quickly developed as suburban residential communities. Examples includeBridgewater Township[20] and the Watchung Hills communities ofWatchung,Green Brook Township andWarren Township.[21][22][23] The growth was aided by the development of the county's very strong pharmaceutical and technology presence.Warren Township used to be considered "the greenest place in New Jersey."[21] More recently, an influx has occurred of New York City commuters who useNJ Transit'sRaritan Valley Line andGladstone Branch or useInterstate 78.
In 1996,Nicholas L. Bissell Jr., the county prosecutor, was charged withembezzlement,tax fraud, andabuse of power. He fled toLaughlin, Nevada, southeast ofLas Vegas, and killed himself when the federal authorities attempted to arrest him.[24]
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According to theU.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 304.95 square miles (789.8 km2), of which 3.09 sq mi (8.0 km2) were covered by water.[26]
The highest point in the county is on Mine Mountain in Bernardsville, around 860 feet (260 m) above mean sea level.[27] The lowest point is just above sea level on theRaritan River at the Middlesex County line.
In recent years,[when?] average temperatures in the county seat of Somerville have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −16 °F (−27 °C) was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1955. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.84 inches (72 mm) in February to 4.83 inches (123 mm) in July.[25]
The county has a hot-summerhumid continental climate (Dfa) except in lower areas along the Raritan River from Bound Brook downstream, where the climate is nowhumid subtropical (Cfa). Thehardiness zone is 7a except in a few small, higher-elevation areas in the north, which are 6b.[28]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 12,296 | — | |
| 1800 | 12,815 | 4.2% | |
| 1810 | 14,725 | 14.9% | |
| 1820 | 16,506 | 12.1% | |
| 1830 | 17,689 | 7.2% | |
| 1840 | 17,455 | * | −1.3% |
| 1850 | 19,692 | 12.8% | |
| 1860 | 22,057 | 12.0% | |
| 1870 | 23,510 | 6.6% | |
| 1880 | 27,162 | 15.5% | |
| 1890 | 28,311 | 4.2% | |
| 1900 | 32,948 | 16.4% | |
| 1910 | 38,820 | 17.8% | |
| 1920 | 47,991 | 23.6% | |
| 1930 | 65,132 | 35.7% | |
| 1940 | 74,390 | 14.2% | |
| 1950 | 99,052 | 33.2% | |
| 1960 | 143,913 | 45.3% | |
| 1970 | 198,372 | 37.8% | |
| 1980 | 203,129 | 2.4% | |
| 1990 | 240,279 | 18.3% | |
| 2000 | 297,490 | 23.8% | |
| 2010 | 323,444 | 8.7% | |
| 2020 | 345,361 | 6.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 357,467 | [5][29] | 3.5% |
| Historical sources: 1790–1990[30] 1970-2010[8] 2010[7] 2020[5][6] * = Lost territory in previous decade. | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 345,361. The median age was 42.0 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.9 males age 18 and over.[31][32]
Theracial makeup of the county was 53.7%White, 9.2%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 19.5%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 8.1% from some other race, and 9.0% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 16.6% of the population.[32]
92.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 7.5% lived in rural areas.[33]
There were 125,598 households in the county, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.3% were married-couple households, 14.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[31]
There were 131,822 housing units, of which 4.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.3% were owner-occupied and 27.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.[31]
Thepopulation density was 1,144.3 inhabitants per square mile (441.8/km2). The 131,822 housing units had an average density of 436.77 per square mile (168.6/km2).[34]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[35] | Pop 1990[36] | Pop 2000[37] | Pop 2010[38] | Pop 2020[39] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 185,440 | 204,834 | 220,584 | 201,849 | 177,411 | 91.29% | 85.25% | 74.15% | 62.41% | 51.37% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 10,000 | 14,403 | 21,571 | 27,480 | 30,480 | 4.92% | 5.99% | 7.25% | 8.50% | 8.83% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 151 | 227 | 229 | 285 | 306 | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.09% | 0.09% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,817 | 10,394 | 24,870 | 45,473 | 67,098 | 1.39% | 4.33% | 8.36% | 14.06% | 19.43% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[40] | x[41] | 91 | 72 | 69 | x | x | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 641 | 234 | 565 | 786 | 2,015 | 0.32% | 0.10% | 0.19% | 0.24% | 0.58% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[42] | x[43] | 3,769 | 5,408 | 10,603 | x | x | 1.27% | 1.67% | 3.07% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,080 | 10,187 | 25,811 | 42,091 | 57,379 | 2.01% | 4.24% | 8.68% | 13.01% | 16.61% |
| Total | 203,129 | 240,279 | 297,490 | 323,444 | 345,361 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
According to the 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, there were 122,606 households, 88,540 families, and 21.5% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them; 59.3% were married couples living together; 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present; 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present; and 27.8% were not families. About 9.3% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.16.[44]
The 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimates also reported that the county's age distribution was 21.5% under age 18, 8.4% from age 18 to 24, 36.3% from age 25 to 44, 17.6% from age 45 to 64, and 16.2% age 65 or older. The median age was 42.2 years, and the gender makeup was 49.2% male and 50.8% female, with 96.8 males for every 100 females.[45]
The 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimates found that the median income for a household was $111,587, and for a family was $135,129. About 5.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.8% of those under 18 and 6.1% of those 65 or over.[46][47]
The2010 United States census counted 323,444 people, 117,759 households, and 84,669 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 1,071.7 per square mile (413.8/km2). There were 123,127 housing units at an average density of 408 per square mile (158/km2). The racial makeup was 70.06% (226,608)White, 8.95% (28,943)Black or African American, 0.17% (556)Native American, 14.11% (45,650)Asian, 0.03% (94)Pacific Islander, 4.13% (13,360) fromother races, and 2.55% (8,233) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 13.01% (42,091) of the population.[7]
Of the 117,759 households, 35.9% had children under 18; 58.8% were married couples living together; 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.1% were not families. Of all households, 23.3% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22.[7]
The county's age distribution was 25.0% under 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and older, there were 91.8 males.[7]
TheBureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county'sgross domestic product was $39.8 billion in 2021, which was ranked sixth in the state and was a 5.6% increase from the prior year.[48]
Based onIRS data for the 2004 tax year, Somerset County taxpayers had the ninth-highest average federal income tax liability per return in the country. Average tax liability was $16,502, representing 16.8% ofadjusted gross income.[49]
TheSomerset Patriots professional baseball team plays at the 6,100-seat TD Bank Ballpark, located on the border of Bridgewater and Bound Brook. The team played in the independentAtlantic League of Professional Baseball until they became the Double-A affiliate of theNew York Yankees in 2021.[50]
Somerset County parks are under the administration of the Somerset County Parks Commission.[51] General parks areNatirar,Duke Island Park,Lord Stirling Park (part of theGreat Swamp National Wildlife Refuge),Colonial Park, North Branch Park,Skillman Park,East County Park and a park in development calledRaritan River Greenway.Leonard J. Buck Garden is abotanical garden of the county. In addition, the Commission manages natural parks such as theWashington Valley Park (with biking and hiking trails) and theSourland Mountain Preserve (hiking and mountain biking trails).[51]
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The southeastern portion of Somerset County in Franklin Township includesDelaware and Raritan Canal State Park, which provides hiking, biking, and boating.[52] The parks commission operates five public golf courses.[51]Trump National Golf Club inBedminster, an exclusive golf club owned byDonald Trump,[53] that he used as a Summer White House during his presidency.[54]
Somerset County is governed by a five-memberboard of county commissioners, whose members are electedat-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the first week of January, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members.[55] In 2016, commissioners (then known as freeholders) were paid $21,902, and the commissioner director was paid an annual salary of $22,902.[56] The commissioners employ a full-time county administrator, Colleen Mahr, who manages the day-to-day operations of the county government.[57] The clerk of the county commissioners oversees the work of their offices. Department heads are appointed in accordance with statute and by resolution of the board. Somerset County has about 1,100 full-time and 140 part-time employees in 52 divisions.[55]
As of 2025[update], Somerset County's County Commissioners are Director Shanel Robinson (D,Franklin Township, term as commissioner ends 2027; term as director ends 2026),[58]Deputy Director Paul Drake (D,Hillsborough Township, term as commissioner and as deputy director ends 2026),[59]Melonie Marano (D,Green Brook Township, 2028),[60]Elizabeth Graner (D,Bernards Township, 2026; elected to serve an unexpired term)[61] and Sara Sooy (D,Bedminster Township, 2027).[62][55][63][64][65][66][67]
In June 2025, Elizabeth Graner was appointed to fill the commissioner seat expiring in December 2025 that had been held by Doug Singleterry until his resignation from office to take a position as a judge of theNew Jersey Superior Court.[68] In November 2025, Graner was elected to serve the balanc3e of the term of office.[65]
In 2018, Democrats captured their first countywide office since 1979, and in 2019 won a majority on the county commission for the first time since 1964. Republicans have not won a county-wide office since 2017.[69]
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of theNew Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are thecounty clerk andcounty surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and thecounty sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[70] Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are Clerk Steve Peter (D,Somerville, 2027),[71][72]Sheriff Darrin Russo (D, Franklin Township, 2028)[73][74] and Surrogate Bernice "Tina" Jalloh (D, Franklin Township, 2030).[75][76][64]
The Somerset County Prosecutor is John P. McDonald, who was nominated by the Governor of New JerseyPhil Murphy and confirmed by theNew Jersey Senate in June 2022.[77] Somerset County is a part of Vicinage 13 of theNew Jersey Superior Court (along withHunterdon County andWarren County), which is seated at the Somerset County Courthouse inSomerville; the Assignment Judge is Michael V. Cresitello.[78]
The 7th and 12thCongressional Districts cover the county.[79][80] For the119th United States Congress,New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented byThomas Kean Jr. (R,Westfield).[81] For the119th United States Congress,New Jersey's 12th congressional district is represented byBonnie Watson Coleman (D,Ewing Township).[82][83]
The 21 municipalities of Somerset County are represented by five districts in theNew Jersey Legislature.[84]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 4,388 | 60.18% | 2,608 | 35.77% | 295 | 4.05% |
| 1900 | 4,437 | 56.32% | 3,184 | 40.42% | 257 | 3.26% |
| 1904 | 4,633 | 57.57% | 3,195 | 39.70% | 219 | 2.72% |
| 1908 | 5,045 | 59.46% | 3,269 | 38.53% | 170 | 2.00% |
| 1912 | 2,068 | 27.94% | 3,146 | 42.50% | 2,188 | 29.56% |
| 1916 | 4,707 | 55.70% | 3,653 | 43.23% | 91 | 1.08% |
| 1920 | 10,962 | 71.02% | 4,192 | 27.16% | 281 | 1.82% |
| 1924 | 12,986 | 71.12% | 4,143 | 22.69% | 1,131 | 6.19% |
| 1928 | 16,386 | 66.66% | 8,120 | 33.03% | 74 | 0.30% |
| 1932 | 15,317 | 54.18% | 12,345 | 43.66% | 611 | 2.16% |
| 1936 | 15,806 | 49.57% | 15,987 | 50.14% | 94 | 0.29% |
| 1940 | 20,169 | 54.87% | 16,490 | 44.86% | 96 | 0.26% |
| 1944 | 20,266 | 58.29% | 14,467 | 41.61% | 37 | 0.11% |
| 1948 | 22,034 | 59.77% | 14,104 | 38.26% | 724 | 1.96% |
| 1952 | 31,239 | 63.34% | 18,007 | 36.51% | 74 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 37,930 | 71.85% | 14,529 | 27.52% | 330 | 0.63% |
| 1960 | 36,200 | 55.81% | 28,489 | 43.92% | 174 | 0.27% |
| 1964 | 28,416 | 39.32% | 43,659 | 60.41% | 195 | 0.27% |
| 1968 | 42,459 | 54.11% | 27,580 | 35.14% | 8,436 | 10.75% |
| 1972 | 56,524 | 66.03% | 26,537 | 31.00% | 2,544 | 2.97% |
| 1976 | 51,260 | 57.15% | 36,258 | 40.43% | 2,173 | 2.42% |
| 1980 | 52,591 | 57.21% | 29,470 | 32.06% | 9,867 | 10.73% |
| 1984 | 66,303 | 66.77% | 31,924 | 32.15% | 1,069 | 1.08% |
| 1988 | 67,658 | 63.71% | 37,406 | 35.22% | 1,129 | 1.06% |
| 1992 | 56,044 | 46.39% | 42,867 | 35.48% | 21,902 | 18.13% |
| 1996 | 51,869 | 45.93% | 50,673 | 44.87% | 10,387 | 9.20% |
| 2000 | 59,725 | 49.61% | 56,232 | 46.71% | 4,420 | 3.67% |
| 2004 | 72,508 | 51.69% | 66,476 | 47.39% | 1,295 | 0.92% |
| 2008 | 70,085 | 46.28% | 79,321 | 52.38% | 2,024 | 1.34% |
| 2012 | 66,603 | 46.52% | 74,592 | 52.10% | 1,985 | 1.39% |
| 2016 | 65,505 | 41.70% | 85,689 | 54.55% | 5,898 | 3.75% |
| 2020 | 71,996 | 38.52% | 111,173 | 59.49% | 3,722 | 1.99% |
| 2024 | 74,101 | 41.55% | 98,790 | 55.39% | 5,452 | 3.06% |
In the2008,Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential nominee to carry the county sinceLyndon Johnson in1964, and only the second since 1936. Obama won Somerset by a 6.1% margin overJohn McCain, with Obama carrying the state by 15.5% over McCain.[91] Somerset's growing Democratic trend at the presidential level has largely been spurred by the rapid growth of the overwhelmingly DemocraticFranklin Township in the county's southeast corner. The county has voted Democratic in every election since, with the 2020 election seeing Democrat Joe Biden win the largest share of the vote in the county for a Democrat since 1964, as the county voted more Democratic than the state as a whole for the first time since 1912. The county also voted to the left of the state in 2024, when Democratic nomineeKamala Harris won the county by 14%, despite winning New Jersey by just 6%.
As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 262,410 registered voters in Somerset County, of whom 92,921 (35.4%) were registered asDemocrats, 66,455 (25.3%) were registered asRepublicans and 100,367 (38.2%) were registered asunaffiliated. There were 2,667 voters (1.0%) registered to other parties.[92] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 67.1% were registered to vote, including 75.% of those ages 18 and over.[93][94]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 71,652 | 41.78% | 95,344 | 55.59% | 4,520 | 2.64% |
| 2018 | 61,373 | 45.07% | 70,359 | 51.67% | 4,450 | 3.27% |
| 2012 | 63,349 | 46.49% | 70,264 | 51.57% | 2,645 | 1.94% |
| 2006 | 46,720 | 50.89% | 42,242 | 46.01% | 2,839 | 3.09% |
| 2000 | 69,045 | 58.61% | 45,948 | 39.00% | 2,811 | 2.39% |
| 1994 | 42,812 | 55.80% | 31,978 | 41.68% | 1,931 | 2.52% |
| 1988 | 53,969 | 52.52% | 47,648 | 46.37% | 1,138 | 1.11% |
| 1982 | 48,067 | 68.27% | 22,030 | 31.29% | 313 | 0.44% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 75,622 | 41.11% | 105,681 | 57.45% | 2,663 | 1.45% |
| 2014 | 37,835 | 49.52% | 37,124 | 48.59% | 1,448 | 1.90% |
| 2013 | 29,304 | 50.16% | 28,539 | 48.85% | 578 | 0.99% |
| 2008 | 71,392 | 50.27% | 66,939 | 47.13% | 3,691 | 2.60% |
| 2002 | 45,590 | 54.26% | 36,476 | 43.42% | 1,951 | 2.32% |
| 1996 | 58,393 | 53.96% | 44,748 | 41.35% | 5,068 | 4.68% |
| 1990 | 38,426 | 56.30% | 27,508 | 40.30% | 2,320 | 3.40% |
| 1984 | 38,862 | 40.41% | 55,757 | 57.97% | 1,562 | 1.62% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1953 | 15,737 | 45.91% | 17,921 | 52.29% | 617 | 1.80% |
| 1957 | 20,844 | 45.47% | 24,802 | 54.10% | 200 | 0.44% |
| 1961 | 28,596 | 55.14% | 22,784 | 43.94% | 477 | 0.92% |
| 1965 | 27,207 | 46.54% | 29,659 | 50.74% | 1,588 | 2.72% |
| 1969 | 45,348 | 68.81% | 18,905 | 28.68% | 1,653 | 2.51% |
| 1973 | 20,933 | 33.86% | 39,864 | 64.48% | 1,024 | 1.66% |
| 1977 | 40,164 | 56.67% | 29,286 | 41.32% | 1,421 | 2.01% |
| 1981 | 43,697 | 62.55% | 25,121 | 35.96% | 1,045 | 1.50% |
| 1985 | 44,502 | 75.60% | 13,601 | 23.11% | 761 | 1.29% |
| 1989 | 34,815 | 47.27% | 37,159 | 50.45% | 1,679 | 2.28% |
| 1993 | 55,444 | 59.35% | 36,046 | 38.58% | 1,933 | 2.07% |
| 1997 | 51,465 | 57.37% | 29,089 | 32.43% | 9,154 | 10.20% |
| 2001 | 44,815 | 52.21% | 39,110 | 45.57% | 1,903 | 2.22% |
| 2005 | 49,406 | 52.83% | 40,459 | 43.26% | 3,661 | 3.91% |
| 2009 | 57,481 | 56.23% | 35,089 | 34.33% | 9,651 | 9.44% |
| 2013 | 58,981 | 67.55% | 26,913 | 30.82% | 1,419 | 1.63% |
| 2017 | 44,231 | 47.48% | 46,825 | 50.26% | 2,107 | 2.26% |
| 2021 | 54,264 | 47.74% | 58,585 | 51.54% | 823 | 0.72% |
| 2025 | 56,095 | 39.93% | 83,355 | 59.33% | 1,037 | 0.74% |
School districts include:[97][98][99][100]
Somerset County is home to twocolleges:
Alma White College (which operated from 1921 to 1978) was a private college located in Zarephath.[104] Beginning in 1931 the college operated WAWZ 1380 on the AM radio dial. The station continued to 1984 after the school closed. The building is now occupied by Somerset Christian College.
Private schools in the county includeGill St. Bernard's School (Gladstone),Immaculata High School (Somerville),Mount St. Mary Academy, (Watchung),Pingry School, (Martinsville),Purnell School, (Pottersville), andRutgers Preparatory School (Somerset).[105]
Somerset Hills Learning Institute, founded in 1998 and located in Bedminster Township, educates children on the autism spectrum by utilizing the principles ofapplied behavior analysis.[106] In 2024, a localShopRite store started selling salads grown by and packed by students in the school's hydroponics career training program.[107]
The 21 municipalities in Somerset County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units, and area) are listed below.[108] Otherunincorporated communities in the county are listed alongside their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). These areas includecensus-designated places (CDPs), which theUnited States Census Bureau created for enumeration purposes within atownship.[8] Other communities, historical areas, unincorporated areas, and enclaves that exist within a municipality are also listed.
| Municipality (with map key) | Map key | Mun. type | Pop. | Housing units | Total area | Water area | Land area | Pop. density | Housing density | School district | Communities[109] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedminster | 21 | township | 8,272 | 4,349 | 26.30 | 0.22 | 26.08 | 313.1 | 166.8 | Somerset Hills (9-12) (S/R) Bedminster Township (PK-8) | Bedminster CDP (1,244) The Hills CDP (part; 11,410) Lamington CDP (135) Pluckemin CDP (359) Pottersville CDP (part; 467) |
| Bernards Township | 20 | township | 27,830 | 10,103 | 24.06 | 0.13 | 23.93 | 1,113.6 | 422.1 | Bernards Township | Basking Ridge CDP (7,196) The Hills CDP (part; 11,410) Liberty Corner CDP (1,877) Lyons CDP (5,345) |
| Bernardsville | 1 | borough | 7,893 | 2,871 | 12.98 | 0.08 | 12.91 | 597.2 | 222.5 | Somerset Hills | |
| Bound Brook | 6 | borough | 11,988 | 3,816 | 1.69 | 0.04 | 1.66 | 6,269.6 | 2,300.0 | Bound Brook | |
| Branchburg | 16 | township | 14,940 | 5,419 | 20.28 | 0.24 | 20.04 | 721.4 | 270.4 | Somerville (9-12) (S/R) Branchburg (PK-8) | Neshanic Station CDP (part; 5,224) North Branch |
| Bridgewater Township | 17 | township | 45,977 | 16,657 | 32.51 | 0.47 | 32.04 | 1,387.9 | 519.9 | Bridgewater-Raritan | Bradley Gardens CDP (14,077) Bridgewater Center CDP (6,082) Finderne CDP (6,392) Green Knoll CDP (6,594) Martinsville CDP (12,147) |
| Far Hills | 3 | borough | 924 | 418 | 4.88 | 0.08 | 4.80 | 191.6 | 87.1 | Somerset Hills | |
| Franklin Township | 14 | township | 68,364 | 24,426 | 46.85 | 0.70 | 46.15 | 1,350.0 | 529.3 | Franklin Township | Blackwells Mills CDP (part; 9,473) Clyde CDP (243) East Franklin CDP (9,788) East Millstone CDP (588) East Rocky Hill CDP (468) Franklin Center CDP (6,803) Franklin Park CDP (13,430) Griggstown CDP (835) Kingston CDP (part; 271) Middlebush CDP (2,368) Pleasant Plains CDP (792) Rockingham Six Mile Run CDP (3,383) Somerset CDP (22,968) Ten Mile Run CDP (2,055) Voorhees CDP (1,517) Weston CDP (2,023) Zarephath CDP (69) |
| Green Brook Township | 19 | township | 7,281 | 2,448 | 4.48 | 0.01 | 4.47 | 1,610.5 | 547.3 | Watchung Hills (9-12) Green Brook (PK-8) | |
| Hillsborough Township | 15 | township | 43,276 | 14,030 | 55.00 | 0.47 | 54.54 | 702.3 | 257.3 | Hillsborough | Amwell Belle Mead CDP (part; 5,569) Blackwells Mills CDP (part; 9,473) Cloverhill Flagtown CDP (1,070) Hillsborough CDP (22,214) |
| Manville | 8 | borough | 10,953 | 4,277 | 2.45 | 0.09 | 2.36 | 4,382.0 | 1,811.9 | Manville | |
| Millstone | 11 | borough | 448 | 167 | 0.76 | 0.02 | 0.74 | 566.5 | 226.3 | Hillsborough (S/R) | |
| Montgomery Township | 13 | township | 23,690 | 7,902 | 32.48 | 0.17 | 32.31 | 688.8 | 244.6 | Montgomery | Amwell Belle Mead CDP (part; 5,569) Blawenburg CDP (287) Dutchtown Harlingen CDP (430) Skillman CDP (237) Stoutsburg Zion |
| North Plainfield | 5 | borough | 22,808 | 7,848 | 2.81 | 0.01 | 2.79 | 7,850.0 | 2,808.5 | North Plainfield | |
| Peapack-Gladstone | 2 | borough | 2,558 | 949 | 5.85 | 0.04 | 5.81 | 444.5 | 163.4 | Somerset Hills | Gladstone |
| Raritan | 10 | borough | 7,835 | 2,847 | 2.04 | 0.04 | 1.99 | 3,452.2 | 1,428.3 | Bridgewater-Raritan | |
| Rocky Hill | 12 | borough | 743 | 292 | 0.62 | 0.00 | 0.62 | 1,101.4 | 471.6 | Montgomery (S/R) | |
| Somerville | 9 | borough | 12,346 | 4,951 | 2.36 | 0.03 | 2.33 | 5,189.5 | 2,123.8 | Somerville | |
| South Bound Brook | 7 | borough | 4,863 | 1,865 | 0.75 | 0.10 | 0.66 | 6,933.8 | 2,834.0 | Bound Brook (9-12) (S/R) South Bound Brook (PK-8) | |
| Warren Township | 18 | township | 15,923 | 5,258 | 19.64 | 0.08 | 19.57 | 782.5 | 268.7 | Watchung Hills (9-12) Warren Township (PK-8) | |
| Watchung | 4 | borough | 6,449 | 2,234 | 6.05 | 0.03 | 6.03 | 962.7 | 370.7 | Watchung Hills (9-12) Watchung (PK-8) | |
| Somerset County | county | 345,361 | 123,127 | 304.86 | 3.04 | 301.81 | 1,071.7 | 408.0 |
Somerset County is served by a number of different routes. As of May 2010[update], the county had a total of 1,714.99 miles (2,760.01 km) of roadways, of which 1,370.80 miles (2,206.09 km) were maintained by the local municipality, 234.23 miles (376.96 km) by Somerset County and 109.96 miles (176.96 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[110]
Major county roads that pass through includeCounty Route 512,County Route 514,County Route 518,County Route 523,County Route 525,County Route 527,County Route 529,County Route 531 andCounty Route 533. The two state routes which traverse through the county areRoute 27 (only inFranklin) andRoute 28. U.S. Routes in the county areU.S. Route 22,U.S. Route 202 andU.S. Route 206. The two Interstates which pass through Somerset County areInterstate 78 andInterstate 287.
It was planned forInterstate 95 to run along theSomerset Freeway from its proposed southern end inHopewell Township,Mercer County to Franklin Township at I-287 in the 1960s. However, the plan was canceled in 1983. Part ofRoute 18 is theNew Brunswick border of Somerset.
NJ Transit provides train service on theGladstone Branch and theRaritan Valley Line.[111][112] Public bus transportation is provided by several transit agencies.[113]
NJ Transit provides bus service to thePort Authority Bus Terminal inMidtown Manhattan, as well as service to major cities in New Jersey and within Somerset County.[114] Ridewise provides three SCOOT shuttles[115] as well as DASH buses and CAT buses.[116][117]
Places adjacent to Somerset County, New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||
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Raritan Valley | |||||
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Municipalities and communities ofSomerset County, New Jersey,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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