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What is an Appraisal  

A real estate appraisal is a service performed by a licensed or certified appraiser, who develops an opinion of value based upon the highest and best use of real property. The highest and best use is that use which produces the highest value for the land, as if vacant. This use is based on 4 parts; physically possible, appropriate, legal, and economically feasible. Also of importance is the definition of the type of value being developed and this must be included in the appraisal, i.e. market value, condemnation value, quick sale value, etc. For mortgage valuations of improved residential property, this value is most often reported on a standardized form, the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report.

An appraisal is performed for a specific client, to whom the appraiser has a fiduciary responsibility, regardless of what party ultimately pays for the appraisal, whether anyone actually pays for the appraisal, or when the appraisal is paid for. Typically residential appraisers agree to accept orders from lending institutions with the understanding that payment will be made following settlement, or closing of the loan. In most cases, the homeowner or buyer ultimately pays for a residential appraisal, either directly or rolled into settlement fees.

In the USA, minimum appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications are the province of The Appraisal Foundation which is chartered by Congress.[ Through one of its boards, The Appraisal Standards Board (ASB), it periodically publishes the uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). USPAP provides the minimum development and reporting standards an appraiser/appraisal report must meet. The Appraisal Foundation is also responsible for setting the minimum qualifications for appraiser licensure/certification through its other board, The Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB). The AQB is responsible for establishing the minimum education, examination, and experience requirements for licensed/certified appraisers. Effective January 1, 2008, the requirements to become a state licensed or certified real property appraiser will significantly increase. State licensing was established in the early 1990s in the wake of the Savings and Loan "crisis".

The implementation of licensure and enforcement are state functions. In addition, there are appraisal organizations, private not-for-profits, some of which date back to the Great Depression of the 1930s, such as the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, founded in 1929.[ Others were founded as needed and opportunity arose in specialized fields, such as the Appraisal Institute and the American Society of Appraisers (founded in the 1930s) and the International Right of Way Association and the National Association of Realtors (after World War II). These organizations all existed to establish and enforce standards, but their influence has waned as the government increases appraisal regulation.

There are several professional organizations of appraisers in the US. They include the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and the largest, the Appraisal Insitute (AI). In addition to state licensing and certification, appraisers can earn professional designations from the above organizations.

Types of Value

Types of valueThere are several types and definitions of value sought by a real estate appraisal. Some of the most common are listed:Market Value – The price at which an asset would trade in a competitive Walrasian auction setting. Market value is usually interchangeable with open market value or fair value. However, the word "fair" is no longer in use when describing Market Value.International Valuation Standardds (IVS) define Market Value as: Market Value is the estimated amount for which a property should exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arms-length transaction after proper marketing wherein the parties had each acted knowledgably, prudently, and without compulsion. Value-in-use – The net present value (NPV) of a cash flow that an asset generates for a specific owner under a specific use. Value-in-use is the value to one particular user, which may be above or below the market value of a property. Investment value - is the value to one particular investor, which may be above or below the market value of a property. Insurable value - is the value of real property covered by an insurance policy. Generally it does not include the site value.

It is important to distinguish between Market Value and price. Market value is a fluid concept, ever changing, while price is a historical fact at the time of a transaction. A price obtained for a specific property under a specific transaction may or may not represent that property's market value: special considerations may have been present, such as a family relationship between the buyer and seller, or else the transaction may have been part of a larger set of transactions in which the parties had engaged. Another possibility is that a specific buyer would be willing to pay a price higher than the market value. Such situations often arise in corporate finance, as per example when a merger or acquisition is concluded at a price which is higher than the value represented by the price of the underlying stock. The usual rationale for these valuations is that the 'sum is greater than its parts', since full ownership of a company entails special privileges for the buyer for which he is willing to pay. Such situations arise in real estate/property markets as well (see value-in-use). It is the task of the real estate appraiser/property valuer to judge whether a certain price obtained under a certain transaction is indicative of market value.

 Market value definitions in the US

In the US, "Fair Market Value" and "Fair Value" are commonly used as accounting terms. The equivalent appraisal term is "Market Value." (USPAP Advisory Opinion 8.)[citation needed] USPAP defines Market Value as "a type of value, stated as an opinion, that presumes the transfer of a property (i.e., a right of ownership or a bundle of such rights), as of a certain date, under specific conditions set forth in the definition of the term identified by the appraiser as applicable in an appraisal".

Forming an opinion of market value is the purpose of many real property appraisal assignments, particularly when the client’s intended use includes more than one intended user. The conditions included in market value definitions establish market perspectives for development of the opinion. These conditions may vary from definition to definition but generally fall into three categories:1) The relationship, knowledge, and motivation of the parties (i.e., seller and buyer); 2) The terms of sale (e.g., cash, cash equivalent, or other terms); and 3) The conditions of sale (e.g., exposure in a competitive market for a reasonable time prior to sale). (Definitions: USPAP 2005.)

In the US, a typical definition of market value can be found on the FNMA residential appraisal forms, as the FNMA 1025, which states the following:DEFINITION OF MARKET VALUE: The most probable price which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller, each acting prudently, knowledgeably and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus. Implicit in this definition is the consummation of a sale as of a specified date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby: (1) buyer and seller are typically motivated; (2) both parties are well informed or well advised, and each acting in what he or she considers his or her own best interest; (3) a reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market; (4) payment is made in terms of cash in U. S. dollars or in terms of financial arrangements comparable thereto; and (5) the price represents the normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions* granted by anyone associated with the sale.

'*'Adjustments to the comparables must be made for special or creative financing or sales concessions. No adjustments are necessary for those costs which are normally paid by sellers as a result of tradition or law in a market area; these costs are readily identifiable since the seller pays these costs in virtually all sales transactions. Special or creative financing adjustments can be made to the comparable property by comparisons to financing terms offered by a third party institutional lender that is not already involved in the property or transaction. Any adjustment should not be calculated on a mechanical dollar for dollar cost of the financing or concession but the dollar amount of any adjustment should approximate the market’s reaction to the financing or concessions based on the appraiser’s judgment.(FNMA form 1025, March 2005.)

 Types of ownership interest

Fee simple value - Leased fee value - Leasehold value - 

Highest and best use

The highest and best use in real estate appraisal is the use that will render the maximum fair market value of a particular property. That use must be legally allowable, physically possible, financially feasible, and result in the maximum value for the property. The test of highest and best use is given to a property both as if vacant and as improved.

For example, "House A" in a residentially zoned area may have a highest and best use as vacant and a highest and best use as improved that are both the same. A similar "House B" in a commercially zoned area may have a highest and best use as vacant as a commercial lot and ''highest and best use as improved as a residence. If the value of the commercial lot as vacant in "House B" exceeds the value of house as a residence as improved plus demolition costs, the overall highest and best use of this property would be the as vacant value of a commercial lot.

Since vacant lots are not improved, such properties are generally given only the as vacant test.

The highest and best use is critical to real property valuation since in order to value a property at its fair market value, comparable properties with similar highest and best uses must be examined. In the "House B" scenario, comparing that house to other houses that do not have a similar highest and best use would result in an inaccurate value opinion.

In the US, the legally permissible aspect of highest and best use is very important. In some locations, the governing jurisdiction can use the "police power" concept to destroy illegally built improvements. This would obviously affect the market value of a property. This overall concept is logical, ie. a governing agency would be remiss to allow a toxic chemical plant to be built in the middle of a suburban area.

 Three approaches to value

There are three usual approaches to determining the fair market value of a property: cost approach, sales comparison approach, and income approach. The appraiser will determine which of the approaches is applicable and develop an appraisal based upon information from each individual market area. Costs, income, and sales vary widely from area to area and particular importance is given to the specific location of the property.

Consideration is also given to the market for the property appraised. Properties that are typically purchased by investors (ie. skyscrapers) will give greater weighting to the Income Approach, while small retail or office properties (purchased by owner-users) will give greater weighting to the Sales Comparison Approach. Single Family Residences are most commonly valued with greatest weighting to the Sales Comparison Approach.

Cost approach

The Cost approach was formerly called the summation approach. The theory is that the value of a property can be estimated by summing the land value and the depreciated value of any improvements. It is the land value, plus the cost to reconstruct any improvements, less the depreciation on those improvements. The value of the improvements is sometimes abbreviated to RCNLD—reproduction cost new less depreciation, or replacement cost new less deprecation. Reproduction refers to reproducing an exact replica. Replacement cost refers to the cost of building a house or other improvement which has the same utility, but using modern design, workmanship and materials.

In most instances, when the cost approach is involved, the overall methodology used is a hybrid of the cost and market data approaches. For instance, while the cost to construct a building can be determined by adding the labor and materials costs together, land values and depreciation must be derived from an analysis of the market data. This approach is typically most reliable when used on newer structures, but the method tends to become less reliable as properties grow older.

The underlying premise of the cost approach in appraising market value is that building a substitute property is an alternative to someone who wishes to own such a property. While age is a fairly obvious constraint on that premise, developed urban areas present their own challenges. For instance, if there is little or no vacant land available in a neighborhood, the premise breaks down. Appraising land value is subjective when a scarcity of relevant land sales exists. But also, estimating construction cost is problematic because of an absence of similar construction from which to derive costs. Not only are building codes frequently changing in developed urban areas, but the small number of houses built do not allow the economies of scale available in a new development. The absence of land sales presents more than a data problem for completing the cost approach. The absence of such a market indicates that buyers may not be thinking in terms of building a new home as a substitute for buying an existing home, which tends to expose the unrealistic nature of the underlying premise. Building an individual new home also can be more difficult due to the difficulty in obtaining mortgage financing.

Observe that as the Cost Approach has non-market based components (costs), the approach may not be a good indicator of market value, even when new. This is most noticeable on properties where the market demand is limited. Say for example a military base. The cost to produce the base is not indicative of its market value, even when new. In the US, the government is the only party that would be willing to "buy" this product. This immediate "loss" is a form of obsolescence.

Also observe that this includes "home improvements" that do not recover their costs in the market. A common example in California is the cost of a pool. In most houses, the cost to build a pool is far greater than the increase in market value to the house. This immediate "loss" is again, a form of obsolescence. Accurately determining obsolescence and depreciation (as the property ages) are usually the main problems within the Cost Approach to open market value.

Notwithstanding, the latter challenge must be accepted for insurance purposes. Insurors are interested in insuring structures, not the value of the whole property.

Sales comparison approach

The sales comparison approach looks at the price or price per unit area of similar properties being sold in the marketplace. Simply put, the sales of properties similar to the subject are analyzed and the sale prices adjusted to account for differences in the comparables to the subject to determine the fair market value of the subject. This approach is generally considered the most reliable, if good comparable sales exist. In any event, it is the only independent check on the reasonability of an appraisal opinion.

 Income approach or Income capitalization approach

The income capitalization approach is used to value commercial and investment properties.

In a commercial income producing property this approach capitalizes an income stream into a present value. This can be done using revenue multipliers or single-year capitalization rates of the net operating income. The Net operating income (NOI) is gross potential income (GPI), less vacancy (= Effective Gross Income) less operating expenses (but excluding debt service or depreciation charges applied by accountants).

Alternatively, multiple years of net operating income can be valued by a discounted cash flow analysis (DCF) model. The DCF model is widely used to value larger and more expensive income-producing properties, such as large office towers.

New Jersy Counties

Atlantic County, New Jersey

Atlantic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 252,552. Its county seat is Mays Landing.

This county is part of the Delaware Valley area.

History

All of what is known today as Atlantic County was once called Egg Harbor Township, the eastern half of the original County of Gloucester. Named as an official district as early as 1693, when the area was known as the province of West Jersey, it was bounded on the north by the Little Egg Harbor River (now known as the Mullica River), and on the south by the Great Egg Harbor River and its southern branch the Tuckahoe River. Its eastern boundary was the Atlantic Ocean, but the western boundary in the South Jersey interior was not fixed until 1761.

Municipalities

Absecon (city)
Atlantic City (city)
Brigantine (city)
Buena Vista Township (township)
Collings Lakes
Buena (borough)
Corbin City (city)
Egg Harbor City (city)
Egg Harbor Township (township)
Estell Manor (city)
Folsom (borough)
Galloway Township (township)
Pomona
Hamilton Township (township)
Mays Landing
Hammonton (town)
Linwood (city)
Longport (borough)
Margate City (city)
Mullica Township (township)
Elwood-Magnolia
Northfield (city)
Pleasantville (city)
Port Republic (city)
Somers Point (city)
Ventnor City (city)
Weymouth Township (township)

Bergen County, New Jersey

Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 884,118, growing to 904,037 as of the Census Bureau's 2006 estimate. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack. Bergen County ranks as the 21st among the highest-income counties in the United States, with a per capita income of $33,638.

History

In 1675, Bergen was included in a judicial district with Essex, Monmouth and Middlesex counties, while the territory was called East Jersey, a proprietary colony (as opposed to a royal colony). In 1683, Bergen (along with the three other counties) was officially recognized as an independent county by the Provincial Assembly. At the time of its creation, Bergen County's territory also included the current territory of Hudson County (formed in 1840), and portions of Passaic County (formed in 1837).

Bergen saw several battles and troop movements during the American Revolutionary War. Fort Lee's location atop the New Jersey Palisades, opposite Fort Washington in Manhattan, made it a strategic position during the war. In November, 1776 the Battle of Fort Lee took place as part of the Continental Army's attempts to keep British forces from sailing up the Hudson River. After these defensive positions were hastily abandoned, the American forces staged a retreat through present-day Englewood and Teaneck, and across the Hackensack River at New Bridge Landing, one of the few sites where the river was crossed by a bridge. With the British in pursuit, this retreat allowed American forces to escape capture and regroup for subsequent successes against the British elsewhere in New Jersey later that winter.The Baylor Massacre took place in 1778 in River Vale, resulting in severe losses for the Continentals.
 
Bergen and Passaic counties, 1872In 1852, the Erie Railroad began operating major rail services from Jersey City on the Hudson River to points north and west via leased right-of-way in the county. This became known as the Erie Main Line, and is still in use for passenger service today.

In the late 19th century, state law was changed to allow easy formation of municipalities with the Borough form of government. This led to the Boroughitis phenomenon where many new municipalities were created in a span of a few years.

Camp Merritt was created in eastern Bergen County for troop staging in World War I.

In 1931, the George Washington Bridge was completed, linking Fort Lee to Manhattan. This connection would spur development in the post-World War II era, developing much of the county to suburban levels. A second deck of traffic on the bridge was completed in 1962, expanding its capacity to 14 lanes.

In 1955, the U.S. Army created a Nike Missile station at Campgaw Mountain (in the west of the county) for the defense of the New York Metropolitan Area from strategic bombers. In 1959, the site was upgraded to house Nike-Hercules Missiles with increased range, speed and payload characteristics. The missile site closed in June 1971.

Bergen County is one of the last remaining areas of the country in which blue laws are still in effect. This means that nearly all businesses in the county are closed on Sundays.

In 2005, Bergen County, along with neighboring Passaic County, was listed by Forbes.com as the sixth most overpriced place in the nation. In 2004, the two counties were ranked second.

As of 2005, Bergen had the fourth-highest median property tax of any county in the nation at $6,846, the second highest in New Jersey behind Hunterdon.

Municipalities
In the last decades of the 19th century, Bergen County, to a far greater extent than any other county in the state, began divvying its townships up into incorporated boroughs; this was chiefly due to the Boroughitis phenomenon, triggered by a number of loopholes in state laws that allowed boroughs to levy lower taxes and send more members to the county's board of freeholders. There was a 10-year period in which many of Bergen County's townships disappeared into the patchwork of boroughs that exist today, before the state laws governing municipal incorporation were changed.

 Municipalities

Allendale (Borough)
Alpine (Borough)
Bergenfield (Borough)
Bogota (Borough)
Carlstadt (Borough)
Cliffside Park (Borough)
Closter (Borough)
Cresskill (Borough)
Demarest (Borough)
Dumont (Borough)
East Rutherford (Borough)
Edgewater (Borough)
Elmwood Park (Borough)
Emerson (Borough)
Englewood Cliffs (Borough)
Englewood (City)
Fair Lawn (Borough)
Fairview (Borough)
Fort Lee (Borough)
Franklin Lakes (Borough)
Garfield (City)
Glen Rock (Borough)
Hackensack (City)
Harrington Park (Borough)
Hasbrouck Heights (Borough)
Haworth (Borough)
Hillsdale (Borough)
Ho-Ho-Kus (Borough)
Leonia (Borough)
Little Ferry (Borough)
Lodi (Borough)
Lyndhurst (Township)
Mahwah (Township)
Maywood (Borough)
Midland Park (Borough)
 Montvale (Borough)
Moonachie (Borough)
New Milford (Borough)
North Arlington (Borough)
Northvale (Borough)
Norwood (Borough)
Oakland (Borough)
Old Tappan (Borough)
Oradell (Borough)
Palisades Park (Borough)
Paramus (Borough)
Park Ridge (Borough)
Ramsey (Borough)
Ridgefield (Borough)
Ridgefield Park (Village)
Ridgewood (Village)
River Edge (Borough)
River Vale (Township)
Rochelle Park (Township)
Rockleigh (Borough)
Rutherford (Borough)
Saddle Brook (Township)
Saddle River (Borough)
South Hackensack (Township)
Teaneck (Township)
Tenafly (Borough)
Teterboro (Borough)
Upper Saddle River (Borough)
Waldwick (Borough)
Wallington (Borough)
Washington Township
Westwood (Borough)
Wood-Ridge (Borough)
Woodcliff Lake (Borough)
Wyckoff (Township)

Camden County, New Jersey

Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 508,932. Its county seat is Camden. It was formed on March 13, 1844, from portions of Gloucester County.

This county is part of the Delaware Valley area.

[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 589 km² (228 sq mi). 576 km² (222 sq mi) of it is land and 14 km² (5 sq mi) of it (2.32%) is water.

Located in a coastal/alluvial plain area, the county is uniformly flat and low-lying. The highest points are a survey benchmark near the Burlington County line at 219 feet (66.7 m) above sea level, and another nearby area at least 210 feet. The low point is sea level, along the Delaware River.


Municipalities
 
Audubon Borough
Audubon Park Borough
Barrington Borough
Bellmawr Borough
Berlin Borough
Berlin Township
Brooklawn Borough
Camden City
Cherry Hill Township
Ashland
Barclay-Kingston
Cherry Hill Mall
Erlton-Ellisburg
Golden Triangle
Greentree
Springdale
Chesilhurst Borough
Clementon Borough
Collingswood Borough
Gibbsboro Borough
Gloucester City
Gloucester Township
Blackwood
Glendora
Haddon Heights Borough
Haddon Township
Haddonfield Borough
Hi-Nella Borough
Laurel Springs Borough
Lawnside Borough
Lindenwold Borough
Magnolia Borough
Merchantville Borough
Mount Ephraim Borough
Oaklyn Borough
Pennsauken Township
Pine Hill Borough
Pine Valley Borough
Runnemede Borough
Somerdale Borough
Stratford Borough
Tavistock Borough
Voorhees Township
Echelon
Waterford Township
Winslow Township
Woodlynne Borough

Historical municipalities
Centre Township
Clementon Township
Delaware Township
Newton Township
Stockton Township
Union Township

Cape May County, New Jersey

Cape May County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 102,326. It is included in the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county seat is the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township.

This county is part of the Delaware Valley area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,607 km² (620 sq mi). 661 km² (255 sq mi) of it is land and 946 km² (365 sq mi) of it (58.86%) is water.

Most of the county is flat and coastal. Sea level is the lowest point; the highest elevation is found at three areas in Belleplain State Forest in the county's northern corner which are approximately 60 feet (18.2 m) above sea level.

Municipalities

The following municipalities are located in Cape May County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are listed under their municipalities.

Avalon (borough)
Cape May Point (borough)
Cape May (city)
Dennis Township
Dennisville
Lower Township
Diamond Beach
Erma
North Cape May
Villas
Middle Township
Cape May Court House
Rio Grande
Whitesboro-Burleigh
North Wildwood (city)
Ocean City
Sea Isle City
Stone Harbor (borough)
Upper Township
Marmora
Strathmere
Tuckahoe
West Cape May (borough)
West Wildwood (borough)
Wildwood Crest (borough)
Wildwood (city)
Woodbine (borough)

Cumberland County, New Jersey

Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 146,438. Its county seat is Bridgeton. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses the New Jersey cities of Vineland, Millville and Bridgeton and all of Cumberland County for statistical purposes. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland.

This county is part of the Delaware Valley area.

 Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,752 km² (677 sq mi). 1,267 km² (489 sq mi) of it is land and 485 km² (187 sq mi) of it (27.68%) is water.

Cumberland is a low-lying, generally featureless coastal county, with many salt marshes near the Delaware Bay. The highest elevation is at one of 12 areas in Upper Deerfield Township that exceed 140 feet (42.6 m) above sea level; the lowest elevation is sea level.

Municipalities
 
The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are listed under their municipalities.

Bridgeton (city)
Commercial Township
Laurel Lake
Port Norris
Deerfield Township
Rosenhayn
Downe Township
Fairfield Township
Fairton
Greenwich Township
Hopewell Township
Lawrence Township
Cedarville
Maurice River Township
Millville (city)
Shiloh (borough)
Stow Creek Township
Upper Deerfield Township
Seabrook Farms
Vineland (city)

Essex County, New Jersey

Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 793,633, ranking it second in the state after Bergen County; Essex County's population had declined to 786,147 as of the bureau's 2006 population estimate. Its county seat is Newark6. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area.

Overview

Essex County is the second most densely populated county in the state after Hudson County[3], and has the second largest total population after Bergen County. Newark, with a population density of 11,400 people/square mile, is the largest municipality in the county both in terms of area (24.14 square miles) and population (280,000). Meanwhile, Caldwell is the smallest in terms of land area (1.2 square miles) and Roseland has the smallest population (5,298); nevertheless, even these small towns have population densities (6,396 people/square mile and 1,464 people/square mile, respectively) that rival 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.

Eastern Essex This wide area has significant pockets of areas that qualify as inner-city: high building density, high poverty and crime rates, underperforming school systems and majority black-Latino populations, especially in the cities of Newark, East Orange, and Irvington. Within this general area however are many stable, mixed and middle-income areas of diverse populations. For example, North and West sides of Newark have well-kept suburban areas and estate areas such as Vailsburg and Forest Hill, Newark, New Jersey. The East side of Newark is the Ironbound, a thriving Brazilian and Portuguese community. East Orange has a Presidential Estate section and Upper Irvington is a suburban area. Belleville and Bloomfield are old Italian neighborhoods reinvented as destinations for recent immigrants and young couples.

Beginning at about the turn of the century, this region led the state in the rebuilding and rehab of its housing stock. In the 2000's, Newark led the state in the issuance of building permits. Many reasons were cited: city-wide 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.[4] [5] and reported a gain in median income and drop in poverty rate. [6] This is a welcome turnaround to the deterioration and abandonment, experienced in the post-riot 70s, 80s and early part of the 90s.

Crime in this part of the county has traditionally been among the highest in the state, but recently has also seen significant declines, mirroring its large neighbor to the east, New York City.By 2006, crime in Newark had fallen 60% over 10 years to its lowest levels in 40 years.[8][9] Neighboring East Orange has seen crime fall more recently, dropping 50% in the three years (2005 to 2007).[10] Despite the overall progress, the murder rate in some neighborhoods remain stubbornly high. In 2006, Newark had 106 homicides, up from 98 in 2005 and the highest since 1995, but a substantial decrease since the record of 161 murders set in 1981.

In contrast, Western Essex tends to be more suburban and affluent and white. However, within this region are some of the most diverse and racially integrated neighborhoods in the state and nation, including Montclair, South Orange, and Maplewood. As well, many neighborhoods are well-known magnets for New Yorkers, with its liberal flavor, cute downtowns, and architecturally beautiful, pre-war housing stock, such as Glen Ridge, Montclair and the Oranges. As an example of the widespread affluence of the area, the communities of Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, and Essex Fells are four of the hundred wealthiest towns in America and have all been known to be home to famous actors, musicians, corporate heads, and members of the New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils. Short Hills is regionally well-known as a conservative old-money bastion and a popular upscale shopping mall.

As the poorest place in the county, Newark has a median household income of $26,913 and a per capita income of $13,009; at the other extreme, Essex Fells, the wealthiest place in the county and the 4th wealthiest municipality in the state, has a median household income of $148,173 and a per capita income of $77,434. Newark and Essex Fells are only five miles apart.

While many residents commute to New York City, Organon, Anheuser-Busch, Automatic Data Processing, Inc., CIT Group, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Grainger, Dun & Bradstreet and Prudential have large facilities in Essex County or are headquartered there, and there are numerous factories and large office parks scattered throughout.

Essex County was one of the first counties in America to become fully urbanized[citation needed] and was the first county in the country to create a county park system, to ensure that it did not lose all its land to development.

The various towns of the county, especially Newark, the Oranges, and the Caldwells can be seen in every episode of the HBO mob drama The Sopranos, which is set in North Caldwell.

The county is also home to Newark Liberty International Airport, Essex County Airport, and Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal.


 Municipalities
 
Belleville (township)
Bloomfield (township)
Caldwell (borough)
Cedar Grove (township)
East Orange (city)
Essex Fells (borough)
Fairfield (township)
Glen Ridge (borough)
Irvington (city)
Livingston (township)
Maplewood (township)
Millburn (township)
Montclair (township)
Newark (city)
North Caldwell (borough)
Nutley (township)
Orange (township)
Roseland (borough)
South Orange (township)
Verona (township)
West Caldwell (township)
West Orange (township)

Gloucester County, New Jersey

Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 254,673. Its county seat is Woodbury.

This county is part of the Delaware Valley area. It is located south of Philadelphia and northwest of Atlantic City.


History

Gloucester dates back to May 26, 1686, when courts were established separate from those of Burlington. It was officially formed and its boundaries defined as part of West Jersey on May 17, 1694. Portions of Gloucester County were set off on February 7, 1837 to create Atlantic County, and on March 13, 1844 to create Camden County.

Woodbury, founded in 1683 by Henry Wood, is the oldest town in the county. National Park, another town in the county, was the site of the Revolutionary War Battle of Red Bank (now included in a county park) where Fort Mercer once stood. Here can be seen the remains of the British ship Augusta (stored in a shed in the park), which sank during the battle. During the colonial era, Gloucester County's main economic activity was agriculture. In Woodbury (even then the main town) was located the county courthouse, the county jail, a Quaker meeting house (still in existence), and an inn (on the current location of Woodbury Crossings). Because of the county's many creeks leading to the Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean, smuggling was very common. Today, Gloucester County has a large and diverse population.

Municipalities
 
The following municipalities are located in Gloucester County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are listed under their municipalities.

Clayton (borough)
Deptford Township
Oak Valley
East Greenwich Township
Elk Township
Franklin Township
Glassboro (borough)
Greenwich Township
Gibbstown
Harrison Township
Mullica Hill
Logan Township
Beckett
Bridgeport
Center Square
Nortonville
Repaupo
Mantua Township
Sewell
Barnsboro
Monroe Township
Victory Lakes
Williamstown
National Park (borough)
Newfield (borough)
Paulsboro (borough)
Pitman (borough)
South Harrison Township
Swedesboro (borough)
Washington Township
Turnersville
Wenonah (borough)
West Deptford Township
Westville (borough)
Woodbury (city)
Woodbury Heights (borough)
Woolwich Township

Hudson County, New Jersey

Hudson County is in New Jersey, United States. Its county seat is Jersey City

History

Hudson County was originally inhabited the Lenape or Lenni-Lenape (later named Delaware Indian), who practiced small-scale agriculture to augment a largely mobile hunter-gatherer society which likely, given the topography of the area, included much fishing and trapping. They were displaced by European settlers, whose purchase of their lands was misconstrued by both parties. Their Algonquian language can still be inferred in some local place names such as Communipaw, Hoboken, Weehawken, Secaucus.

New Netherland
 
Hudson County is called Oesters Eylandt, or Oyster IslandHenry Hudson, for whom the county and river on which it sits is named, established a claim for the area in 1609 when anchoring his ship the Halve Maen (Half Moon) at Harsimus Cove and Weehawken Cove. The west bank of the North River (as it was called) and the cliffs, hills, and marshlands abutting and beyond it, were settled by Europeans (Dutch, Flemish, Walloon, Huguenot) from the Lowlands around the same time as New Amsterdam, in the mid 1600s. After Micheal Pauw, whose Latin-ized name Pavonia gave the settlement its name, failed to populate his patroonship, or land-grant, homesteads were established at Communipaw (1633), Harisumus (1634), Hoebuck (1643), Constable Hook (1646), Awiehaken (1647), and other 'lands behind Kill van Kull' (1647). Relations were tenuous with the Lenape, with whom they engaged in a series of raids and reprisals, notably Kieft's War, which began as a raid on Pavonia and is considered to be the first genocide of Native Americans by Europeans. In 1658, Governor Peter Stuyvesant of New Netherland negotiated a deal with the Lenape to re-purchase the area named Bergen, "by the great rock above Wiehacken," then taking in the sweep of land on the peninsula west of the Hudson and east of the Hackensack River extending down to the Kill Van Kull in Bayonne.[13] In 1660, a charter was granted to build a village/garrison at the site of present-day Bergen Square, establishing what is considered to be the oldest self-governing municipality in New Jersey. The Dutch ceded control of province to the English in 1664.

Municipalities
 
Bayonne (city)
Jersey City (city)
Hoboken (city)
Union City (city)
West New York (town)
Guttenberg (town)
Secaucus (town)
Kearny (town)
Harrison (town)
East Newark (borough)
North Bergen (township)
Weehawken (township)

Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Hunterdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 121,989. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington.

Hunterdon County ranks as the 13th among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $36,370. It ranks third among U.S. counties for household income according to the most recent U.S. Census. Hunterdon County's median household income was $93,342, behind only Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Virginia. As of 2005, Hunterdon had the third-highest median property tax of any county in the nation at $6,988, the highest in New Jersey.

General

Transitioning from rural to suburban, Hunterdon County is an exurb on the western edge of New Jersey and home to commuters to New York City and Philadelphia. The county seat, Flemington, is noted for the Lindbergh kidnapping trial which convicted Bruno Hauptmann of the murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's son. With growing towns and shopping areas, as well as relaxing rural areas, Hunterdon County is a far stretch from the urban areas associated with New Jersey.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,134 km² (438 sq mi). 1,114 km² (430 sq mi) of it is land and 20 km² (8 sq mi) of it (1.79%) is water.

Much of the county is hilly, the ground rising up slowly from the Delaware River. The highest points are two areas in Lebanon Township, one on the Morris County line, both reaching at least 1,060 feet (323 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is where the Mercer County line reaches the Delaware River, approximately 40 feet (12 m) above sea level.

Municipalities
 
The following municipalities are located in Hunterdon County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are listed under their municipalities.

Alexandria Township
Bethlehem Township
Bloomsbury (borough)
Califon (borough)
Clinton Township
Annandale
Clinton (town)
Delaware Township
East Amwell Township
Flemington (borough)
Franklin Township
Frenchtown (borough)
Glen Gardner (borough)
Hampton (borough)
High Bridge (borough)
Holland Township
Kingwood Township
Lambertville (city)
Lebanon Township
Lebanon (borough)
Milford (borough)
Raritan Township
Readington Township
White House Station
Stockton (borough)
Tewksbury Township
Union Township
West Amwell Township
Ringoes

Mercer County, New Jersey

Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Trenton6. Since the 2000 Census, Mercer County has been part of the New York Combined Statistical Area; before then, it was part of the Philadelphia Combined Statistical Area. Mercer County is its own Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is formally named the Trenton-Ewing MSA. The county is named for Continental Army General Hugh Mercer, who died at the Battle of Princeton in 1777. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 350,761, estimated to have risen to 367,605 as of 2006.[1] Mercer County ranks 79th among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $27,914.

History

Officially founded in 1838 and carved out of other surrounding counties, Mercer County has a historical impact that reaches back to the pivotal battles of the American Revolutionary War. On the night of December 25, 1776, General George Washington led the American forces across the Delaware River to attack Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey, who did not anticipate an attack near Christmas. Washington followed up the assault with a surprise attack on General Charles Cornwallis' forces in the Battle of Princeton on the eve of January 2, 1777, eventually retaking the colony. The successful attacks built morale among the pro-independence colonists.

Mercer County also has the dubious distinction of being the famed landing spot for a Martian invasion of the United States. In 1938, in what has become one of the most famous radio plays of all time, Orson Welles acted out his The War of the Worlds invasion. Wells landed his imaginary aliens on Mercer County soil, using what is now West Windsor Township as the point of first contact. A monument commemorating the "landing" is erected at Grover's Mill.

Municipalities
 
The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated areas are listed under their municipalities.

East Windsor Township
Twin Rivers
Ewing Township
Hamilton Township
Mercerville-Hamilton Square
White Horse
Yardville-Groveville
Hightstown (borough)
Hopewell Borough
Hopewell Township
Titusville
Lawrence Township
Lawrenceville
Pennington (borough)
Princeton Township
Princeton North
Princeton Borough
Robbinsville Township (known as Washington Township until November 2007)
Robbinsville
Windsor
Trenton (city)
West Windsor Township
Princeton Junction

Middlesex County, New Jersey

Middlesex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 750,162. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area and its county seat is New Brunswick. The center of population for New Jersey is located in Middlesex County, in the town of Milltown, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 835 km² (323 sq mi). 802 km² (310 sq mi) of it is land and 33 km² (13 sq mi) of it (3.97%) is water.

Bisected by the Raritan River, the county is topographically typical of Central Jersey in that it is largely flat, with minimal relief. The highest point is a hill in a residential neighborhood in South Brunswick Township of approximately 300 feet (91.4 m) above sea level; the low elevation is sea level.

Municipalities
 

Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as non-CDP next to the name.

Carteret
Cranbury Township
Cranbury CDP
Dunellen
East Brunswick Township
East Brunswick
Edison
Helmetta
Highland Park
Jamesburg
Metuchen
Middlesex
Milltown
Monroe Township
Clearbrook Park
Concordia
Rossmoor
Whittingham
New Brunswick
North Brunswick Township
Old Bridge Township
Brownville
Laurence Harbor
Madison Park
Old Bridge CDP
Perth Amboy
Piscataway Township
Society Hill
Plainsboro Township
Plainsboro Center
Princeton Meadows
Sayreville
South Amboy
Mechanicsville
South Brunswick Township
Dayton
Deans non-CDP
Heathcote
Kendall Park
Kingston
Monmouth Junction
South Plainfield
South River
Spotswood
Woodbridge Township
Avenel
Colonia
Fords
Hopelawn non-CDP
Iselin
Keasbey non-CDP
Menlo Park Terrace non-CDP
Port Reading
Sewaren
Woodbridge

Monmouth County, New Jersey

Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 615,301. Its county seat is Freehold Borough6. Monmouth County ranks 42nd among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $31,149. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township, with 66,327 residents at the time of the 2000 Census. It is the northernmost county on the Jersey Shore.

Monmouth County's location on the Jersey Shore and close proximity to New York City has made it an increasingly desirable place to live, as reflected by recent surges in population and property values. In its 2007 ranking of the Most Expensive ZIP Codes in the United States, Monmouth County was represented by Allenhurst, Avon By The Sea, Colts Neck, Deal, Holmdel, Millstone, Sea Girt, and Rumson.Forbes, Sept 13, 2007.Money magazine has frequently named the Monmouth-Ocean County area one of the 10 best areas to live in the country.

The county contains only two incorporated cities, Long Branch and Asbury Park. Long Branch is larger and more populated, but Asbury Park possesses a population density nearly twice that of Long Branch, and as such is decidedly more urban. Despite its name, Neptune City is incorporated as a borough, as are Red Bank and Freehold Borough, despite a fairly urban character.

History

Monmouth County was established in 1675. Its name may come from the Rhode Island Monmouth Society or from a suggestion from Colonel Lewis Morris. He suggested it be named after Monmouthshire, Wales.[citation needed] In 1714 the first county government was established. At the June 28, 1778 Battle of Monmouth, near Freehold, General George Washington's soldiers defeated the British under Sir Henry Clinton, in the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War.


Municipalities
 
Aberdeen Township
Cliffwood Beach
Strathmore
Allenhurst
Allentown
Asbury Park
Atlantic Highlands
Avon-by-the-Sea
Belmar
Bradley Beach
Brielle
Colts Neck Township
Deal
Eatontown
Englishtown
Fair Haven
Farmingdale
Freehold Borough
Freehold Township
East Freehold
West Freehold
Hazlet Township
West Keansburg
Highlands
Holmdel Township
Howell Township
Ramtown
Interlaken
Keansburg
Keyport
Lake Como
Little Silver
Loch Arbour
Long Branch
Elberon
North Long Branch
Pier Village
West End
Manalapan Township
Yorketown
Manasquan
Marlboro Township
Morganville
Matawan
Middletown Township
Belford
Fairview
Leonardo
Lincroft
Navesink
North Middletown
Port Monmouth
Millstone Township
Monmouth Beach
Neptune City
Neptune Township
Ocean Grove
Shark River Hills
Ocean Township
Oakhurst
Wanamassa
Wayside
West Allenhurst
Colonial Terrece
Oceanport
Red Bank
Roosevelt
Rumson
Sea Bright
Sea Girt
Shrewsbury Township
Shrewsbury
Spring Lake
Spring Lake Heights
Tinton Falls
Union Beach
Upper Freehold Township
Wall Township
Allenwood
West Belmar
West Long Branch

Morris County, New Jersey

Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about 25 mi (40 km) west of New York City. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 470,212, and grew to 493,160 as of the Census Bureau's 2006 estimate.[1]. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown. It is the sixth-wealthiest county in the United States by median household income, and ranks tenth by per capita income.

History

The area of Morris County was inhabited by the Lenape prior to the coming of the Europeans.

Morris County was created on March 15, 1739, from portions of Hunterdon County.The county was named for the Governor of the Province of New Jersey, Colonel Lewis Morris. In later years Sussex County (on June 8, 1753) and Warren County (on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County) were carved out of what had been the original area of Morris County.


Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,247 km² (481 sq mi). 1,215 km² (469 sq mi) of it is land and 32 km² (12 sq mi) of it (2.55%) is water.

The county rises in elevation and relief from east to west, with only the more developed eastern suburbs in the Passaic River valley being relatively level. The highest point is at 1,395 feet (425 m) above sea level in the Mahlon Dickerson Reservation in Jefferson Township; the lowest point is about 140 feet (42.6 m) in elevation, at Two Bridges, the confluence of the Passaic and Pompton rivers.

Municipalities

The following is a list of the municipalities in Morris County. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked with an asterisk (*) next to the name.

Boonton Township
Boonton
Butler
Chatham
Chatham Township
Chester
Chester Township
Denville Township
Indian Lake*
Union Hill*
Cedar Lake*
Estling Lake*
Dover
East Hanover Township
Florham Park
Hanover Township
Cedar Knolls*
Whippany*
Harding Township
Green Village*
New Vernon*
Jefferson Township
Kinnelon
Lincoln Park
Long Hill Township
Gillette*
Meyersville*
Millington*
Stirling*
Madison Borough
Mendham
Mendham Township
Brookside*
Ralston*
Pleasant Valley*
Mine Hill Township
Montville Township
Pine Brook*
Towaco*
 Morris Plains
Morris Township
Collinsville*
Convent Station*
Washington Valley*
Morristown
Mount Arlington
Mount Olive Township
Budd Lake
Flanders*
Mountain Lakes
Netcong
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township
Greystone Park*
Lake Hiawatha*
Lake Parsippany*
Parsippany*
Troy Hills*
Pequannock Township
Pompton Plains*
Randolph Township
Mount Freedom*
Riverdale
Rockaway Township
Hibernia*
Lake Telemark*
White Meadow Lake*
Green Pond*
Rockaway
Roxbury Township
Landing*
Ledgewood*
Port Morris*
Succasunna-Kenvil
Victory Gardens
Washington Township
Long Valley
Wharton

Ocean County, New Jersey

Ocean County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the southernmost county in the New York metropolitan area; however the southern part of the county borders the Philadelphia metro area. Its county seat is Toms River6. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 510,916. 2006 Census Bureau estimates show the county's population growing to around 553,251 making it the fastest growing county in the state and one of the fastest growing in America. Ocean County was established in 1850 from portions of Monmouth County.

Ocean County is home to many attractions including Island Beach State Park, Long Beach Island, Six Flags Great Adventure, home of the world's tallest, fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka. Ocean County is also the northeast gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens.

The state's largest suburban school district, Toms River Regional Schools, is located in the county.

It is also home to Mantoloking, the wealthiest community in the state of New Jersey and Brick Township, America's safest city.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,372 km² (916 sq mi). 1,648 km² (636 sq mi) of it is land and 724 km² (280 sq mi) of it (30.53%) is water. It is the second largest county by area in New Jersey.

Much of the county is flat and coastal, and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the nation. The highest point is one of three unnamed hills (one in Jackson Township, the other two in Plumsted Township) that reach at least 230 feet (70 m) in elevation. The lowest elevation in the county is sea level.

Municipalities
The following is a list of the municipalities in Ocean County. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township.

Barnegat Light
Barnegat Township
Barnegat CDP
Ocean Acres (part)
Bay Head
Beach Haven
Beachwood
Berkeley Township
Holiday City-Berkeley
Holiday City South
Holiday Heights
Silver Ridge
Brick Township
Eagleswood Township
Harvey Cedars
Island Heights
Jackson Township
Vista Center
Lacey Township
Forked River
Lanoka Harbor
Lakehurst
Lakewood Township
Lakewood CDP
Leisure Village
Leisure Village East
Lavallette
Little Egg Harbor Township
Mystic Island
Long Beach Township
North Beach Haven
Manchester Township
Cedar Glen Lakes
Cedar Glen West
Crestwood Village
Leisure Knoll
Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park
Pine Ridge at Crestwood
Mantoloking
Ocean Gate
Ocean Township
Waretown
Pine Beach
Plumsted Township
New Egypt
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Beach
Seaside Heights
Seaside Park
Ship Bottom
South Toms River
Stafford Township
Beach Haven West
Manahawkin
Ocean Acres (part)
Surf City
Toms River Township (County Seat)
Dover Beaches North
Dover Beaches South
Tuckerton

Passaic County, New Jersey

Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 489,049. Its county seat is Paterson. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area.

Passaic County was created on February 7, 1837, from portions of both Bergen County and Essex County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 510 km² (197 sq mi). 480 km² (185 sq mi) of it is land and 30 km² (12 sq mi) of it (5.97%) is water.

The highest point is any one of six areas on Bearfort Ridge in West Milford Township at approximately 1,480 ft (451 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is approximately 30 ft (9 m) along the Passaic River in Clifton.

The southeastern, more populous half of the county is either flat near the river or mildly hilly. The northwestern section is rugged and mountainous.

Municipalities
 
Bloomingdale (borough)
Macopin, New Jersey (community)
Clifton (city)
Haledon (borough)
Hawthorne (borough)
Little Falls (township)
North Haledon (borough)
Passaic (city)
Paterson (city)
Pompton Lakes (borough)
Prospect Park (borough)
Ringwood (borough)
Totowa (borough)
Wanaque (borough)
Haskell (community)
Wayne (township)
Packanack Lake (community)
Pines Lake (community)
Preakness (community)
West Milford (township)
Hewitt (community)
Newfoundland (community)
Oak Ridge (community)
West Paterson (borough)

Salem County, New Jersey

Salem County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 64,285. Its county seat is Salem. This county is considered part of the Delaware Valley area.

The Old Salem County Courthouse, situated on the same block as the Salem County Courthouse, serves as the court for Salem City. It is the oldest active courthouse in New Jersey and is tied for being the second oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States, the others being King William County Courthouse (1725) and Hanover County Courthouse (1735) in Virginia.[citation needed] The present courthouse was built in 1735 during the reign of King George II using locally manufactured bricks. The building was enlarged in 1817 and enlarged and remodeled in 1908. Its distinctive bell tower is essentially unchanged and the original bell sits in the courtroom. The courthouse was the scene of the "treason trials" of 1778, wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British during the Salem Raid in February and March of that same year. Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason; however, they were pardoned by Governor William Livingston and exiled from New Jersey. The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proving the edibility of the tomato. Before 1820, Americans often assumed tomatoes were poisonous. In 1820, Colonel Johnson, according to legend, stood upon the courthouse steps and ate tomatoes in front of a large amazed crowd assembled to watch him do so.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 965 km² (373 sq mi). 875 km² (338 sq mi) of it is land and 90 km² (35 sq mi) of it (9.31%) is water.

The terrain is almost uniformly flat coastal plain, with minimal relief. The highest elevation in the county has never been determined with any specificity, but is likely one of seven low rises in Upper Pittsgrove Township that exceed 160 feet (48.7 m) in elevation. Sea level is the lowest point.

Municipalities

The following municipalities are located in Salem County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as non-CDP next to the name.

Alloway Township
Alloway CDP
Carneys Point Township
Carneys Point CDP
Elmer (borough)
Elsinboro Township
Lower Alloways Creek Township
Mannington Township
Oldmans Township
Penns Grove (borough)
Pennsville Township
Pennsville CDP
Pilesgrove Township
Pittsgrove Township
Olivet
Quinton Township
Salem (city)
Upper Pittsgrove Township
Woodstown (borough)

Somerset County, New Jersey

Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of 2000, the population was 297,490. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville6. Somerset County has the seventh-highest per capita income of any U.S. county, based on per capita income.

Somerset County was created on May 14, 1688, from portions of Middlesex County


History

Somerset County is one of America's oldest counties. The area was first settled in 1681, in the vicinity of Bound Brook, and the county was established by charter on May 22, 1688. Most of the early residents were Dutch. General George Washington and his troops marched through the county on several occasions and slept in many of the homes located throughout the area. Parts of the Delaware and Raritan Canal run through the county. Somerset County also played an important part during both World War I and World War II with weapons depots and the manufacturing of the army's woolen blankets.

Municipalities

The following is a list of the municipalities in Somerset County. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township. Other communities, historical areas, unincorporated areas, and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as non-CDP next to the name.

 
Bedminster Township
Bernards Township
Basking Ridge
Liberty Corner
Lyons
West Millington
Bernardsville
Bound Brook
Branchburg Township
Bridgewater Township
Far Hills
Franklin Township
East Millstone non-CDP
Franklin Park non-CDP
Griggstown non-CDP
Kingston non-CDP (Somerset County portion)
Middlebush non-CDP
Pleasant Plains non-CDP
Six Mile Run non-CDP
Somerset
Weston non-CDP
Zarephath non-CDP
Green Brook Township
Hillsborough Township
Belle Mead non-CDP
Blackwells Mills non-CDP
Harlingen non-CDP
Flagtown non-CDP
Neshanic non-CDP
South Branch non-CDP
Manville
Millstone
Montgomery Township
North Plainfield
Peapack-Gladstone
Raritan
Rocky Hill
Somerville
South Bound Brook
Warren Township
Watchung

Sussex County, New Jersey

The County of Sussex (also known as Sussex County) is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. The county was founded on 8 June 1753, by an order of Jonathan Belcher (1689-1757), Royal Governor of New Jersey (1747-1757) and his council, from portions of Morris County. It originally contained all the land north and west of the Musconetcong River, including the area of the present-day Warren County (created from the southwestern half of Sussex County on November 20, 1824). At present, it is the fourth largest county in New Jersey by area. The county seat of Sussex County is the Town of Newton.

Though lacking much historical evidence, local tradition asserts that in the 1650s, Dutch adventurers from New Amsterdam started mines in the now-defunct Pahaquarry Township, building the Old Mine Road to transport copper ore to Esopus on the Hudson River.[2] Sources indicate that first settlement by European colonists began circa 1690-1710, by Dutch settlers from New York along the Delaware River, and in the decades subsequent, Palatine Germans via Philadelphia, and English colonists from New England, Long Island, Newark, and Salem County, New Jersey.

Early industry and commerce chiefly centered around agriculture, iron mining, shifting during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to focus on several factories and the mining of zinc. Today, Sussex County features a mix of rural farmland, forests and suburban development at the western extent of the New York metropolitan area. Though agriculture (chiefly dairy farming) is on the decline and because the county hosts little light industry, Sussex County is considered a "bedroom community" as most residents commute to neighboring counties (Bergen, Essex and Morris Counties) or to New York City for work.

As of the 2000 Federal decennial census, 144,166 persons resided in Sussex County of which nearly 95% were white. Sussex County is the 91st richest county in the United States with its per capita income being $26,992.

History

Origin of the county's name
Sussex County was named by Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher (1689-1757) for Sussex in England which was the ancestral seat of His Grace, Thomas Pelham-Holles, first Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and first Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne (1693-1768), who at the time was the Secretary of State for the Northern Department, and later the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1754-1756, 1757-1762). Pelham-Holles, whose office oversaw British affairs in North America, was Governor Belcher's political superior. During his term as Governor of New Jersey (1747-1757), Belcher named many municipalities in honor of important British political figures, most of whom were superior to him in rank or precedence. It is believed that he did so in order to curry political favor and regain a level of standing that was diminished from his scandal which precipitated his removal from the Governorship of Massachusetts in 1741.

Sussex, in England, was notable historically as one of the seven kingdoms of the Heptarchy (A.D. 500–850), which were later unified under Egbert of Wessex (c. 770–839) into the Kingdom of England.


Establishment of Sussex County
 
The original provinces of West and East New Jersey are shown in yellow and green respectively. The Keith Line (1687) is shown in red, and the Coxe and Barclay Line (1688) is shown in orangeUnder the 1664 deed from Charles II of England to his brother the Duke of York, and the subsequent deed that granted New Jersey to Lord Berkeley and George Carteret, New Jersey's northern border was drawn from a line at 41 degrees North Latitude on the Hudson River to a point at 41 40' North on the Delaware River. This line which granted New Jersey a significant swath of land in present day Orange and Sullivan Counties in New York.

With the boundary between the Provinces of East Jersey and West Jersey undefined, the land area that became Sussex County was first, briefly, under the auspices of Essex County when it was established in 1682. After the settling of the border with the Keith Line (1687) and the subsequent Coxe-Barclay Line (1688), this area was under the control of the West Jersey Proprietors and given to Burlington County when it was established in 1696. Burlington County ceded all the lands north of the Assunpink Creek to Hunterdon County in 1711. In 1739, Hunterdon County cede the land north of the Musconetcong River—comprising the present-day Morris, Sussex and Warren Counties—to form Morris County.[8]

In the years following the creation of Morris County, the area north and west of the Musconetcong River grew in population to several hundred settlers. Given the lack of roads and the long, arduous journey to attend to the courts, government and other business at Morristown, the county's seat, the residents of this area petitioned the provincial government to erect a new county.On 8 June 1753, Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher and his Council ordered the creation of the County of Sussex by the following boundaries:

"That all and singular, the lands and upper parts of said Morris County northwest of Muskonetkong river, BEGINNING at the mouth of said river, where it empties itself into Delaware river, and running up said Muskonetkong river, to the head of the great pond; from thence to the line that divides the province of New-York and said New-Jersey; thence along the said line to Delaware river aforesaid; thence down the same to the mouth of Muskonetkong…”

At this time, Sussex County consisted of four municipalities that were founded before the establishment of the county: Walpack (1731), Newtown (1751), Hardwick (1751) and Greenwich Townships (1738). These townships would, over the next two hundred years, be carved into the twenty-four municipalities that comprise present-day Sussex County, and the twenty-two in present-day Warren County.

The first county seat was established on the lands of Jonathan Pettit, a local justice-of-the-peace and tavernkeeper in present-day Johnsonburg in Frelinghuysen Township, then part of Hardwick Township. At the first meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1754, monies were appropriated for the construction of a jail which was built from logs. This caused the village to be known as Log Gaol. Disputes between Pettit and the early county freeholders lead to the courts and county government to be held elsewhere in the subsequent years, including at the taverns of Thomas Woolverton (1719-1760) and Henry Hairlocker (1715-1777) in Newtown Township. In 1761, the Provincial Legislature and Royal Governor Josiah Hardy authorized the construction of a courthouse and jail on the Newton Township lands of Jonathan Hampton (1720-1777), a surveyor and merchant from Elizabethtown, one half-mile (0.85 km) from the tavern of Henry Hairlocker. This site, which became known as Sussex Court House, is presently the Town of Newton.

In 1824, heeding the petitions of the southern residents of Sussex County, the State Legislature ordered a line drawn across the county from the mouth of the Flat Brook (where it enters the Delaware River) in Walpack Township, through the village of Yellow Frame in then Hardwick Township to a point on the county's eastern boundary, the Musconetcong River. The lands south of this line were ceded on 20 November 1824 to form Warren County, named for American Revolutionary War hero, Doctor Joseph Warren (1741-1775) who died leading American troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill on 17 June 1775.


Municipalities
 
Andover Township (township)
Andover (borough)
Branchville (borough)
Byram Township (township)
Frankford Township (township)
Franklin (borough)
Fredon Township (township)
Green Township (township)
Hamburg (borough)
Hampton Township (township)
Hardyston Township (township)
Hopatcong (borough)
Lafayette Township (township)
Montague Township (township)
Newton (town)
Ogdensburg (borough)
Sandyston Township (township)
Sparta Township (township)
Stanhope (borough)
Stillwater Township (township)
Sussex (borough)
Vernon Township (township)
Walpack Township (township)
Wantage Township (township)

Union County, New Jersey

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 522,541. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 92nd among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $26,992. With more than 5,000 persons per square mile on average, Union County is one of the [most densely populated counties in America]. Its population density exceeds that of Fulton County, Georgia (which contains Atlanta), Denver County, Colorado (which contains Denver) and Dallas County, Texas (which contains Dallas)

Municipalities
 
Cities
Elizabeth
Linden
Plainfield
Rahway
Summit

Towns
Westfield

Townships
Berkeley Heights Township
Clark
Cranford
Hillside
Scotch Plains
Springfield Township
Union Township
Winfield Township

Boroughs
Fanwood
Garwood
Kenilworth
Mountainside
New Providence
Roselle Park
Roselle

Warren County, New Jersey

Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 102,437. Its county seat is Belvidere.

Warren County was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County. At its creation, the county consisted of the townships of Greenwich, Independence, Knowlton, Mansfield, Oxford, Pahaquarry (now defunct).

Warren County is generally considered the eastern border of the Lehigh Valley.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 940 km² (363 sq mi). 927 km² (358 sq mi) of it is land and 13 km² (5 sq mi) of it (1.35%) is water.

Much of Warren County is rugged and mountainous, with the Kittatinny Ridge providing a hard backbone to the county in the west and many lower ridges winding their way through the county, with narrow valleys in between. The highest elevation is on the Kittatinny Ridge, at two areas near Upper Yards Creek Reservoir near Blairstown that slightly exceed 1,600 feet (487.6 m) above sea level; the lowest point is the confluence of the Delaware and Musconetcong rivers at the county's southern tip, at 160 feet (48.7 m) of elevation.

Municipalities
 
Allamuchy Township
Allamuchy-Panther Valley
Alpha
Belvidere
Blairstown Township
Franklin Township
Frelinghuysen Township
Greenwich Township
Hackettstown
Hardwick Township
Harmony Township
Hope Township
Independence Township
Great Meadows-Vienna
Knowlton Township
Liberty Township
Lopatcong Township
Mansfield Township
Beattystown
Oxford Township
Oxford
Phillipsburg
Pohatcong Township
Washington Township
Brass Castle
Washington
White Township

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