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Essex County, New Jersey

Article Discussion

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county Template:Maplink

Essex County is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey, and is one of the centrally located counties in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's second-most populous county,<ref name=Largest2020>Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> with a population of 863,728,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count since the 1970 census and an increase of 79,759 (+10.2%) from the 2010 census count of 783,969.<ref name=Census2010/><ref>Wu, Sen-Yuan. NJ Labor Market Views; Population Keeps Growing in the Most Densely Populated State, United States Census Bureau, March 15, 2011. Accessed December 26, 2022.</ref><ref name=Census2000/> The county is part of the North Jersey region of the state.<ref>Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."</ref>

The United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program estimated a 2024 population of 881,527 for Essex County, an increase of 17,799 (+2.1%) from the 2020 decennial census, which was ranked third-largest among New Jersey's 21 counties behind Bergen County (which had a population of 978,641) and Middlesex County (with 890,119).<ref name=PopEst/> Its county seat is Newark,<ref name=CountyMap>New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref> the state's most populous city with a 2020 census population of 311,549.<ref name=LWD2020/><ref name=Largest2020/>

In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $60,030, the eighth-highest in New Jersey and 153rd highest of 3,113 counties in the U.S.<ref>[lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/industry/incpov/highcnty.xls 250 Highest Per Capita Personal Incomes available for 3113 counties in the United States: 2015], New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref><ref>Local Area Personal Income: 2015 Template:Webarchive, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref> The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 94th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the U.S. and seventh-highest in New Jersey in 2009.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}, Bureau of Economic Analysis, backed uo by the Internet Archive as of July 22, 2011. Accessed September 9, 2012.</ref>

HistoryEdit

File:Millburn NJ View.JPG
Millburn in Essex County

EtymologyEdit

The county is named after Essex, a county in the East of England.<ref>Kane, Joseph Nathan; and Aiken, Charles Curry. The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950–2000, p. 95. Scarecrow Press, 2005. Template:ISBN. Accessed January 21, 2013.</ref>

HistoryEdit

Essex was originally formed as one of four administrative districts within Province of East Jersey in 1675, together with Bergen, Middlesex and Monmouth districts. Essex County was formed within East Jersey on March 7, 1683.<ref name="Story">Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 125. Accessed June 6, 2012.</ref> The county was named after the English county of Essex. When the provinces of East Jersey and West Jersey were combined in 1702, the county boundaries were retained. Portions of Essex were taken in 1741 and transferred to Somerset County. In 1837, Passaic County was formed from portions of Essex and Bergen counties. In 1857, Union County was created from parts of Essex County.<ref name="Story" />

SecessionEdit

The municipalities of western Essex County have discussed secession from the county, to create a new county or be annexed to Morris County, spurred mainly by a belief that tax policy benefits the poorer, urban, eastern portions of the county at the expense of the wealthier, more suburban municipalities in the west of the county. From 2001 to 2003, Millburn, Montclair and Roseland all held nonbinding ballot referendums on the issue. Then-Montclair mayor Robert J. Russo gave a statement in 2003 about secession, "I've watched Essex County burden our people, with very little to show for it. We're fiscally conservative here and socially progressive – and we're finally rebelling."<ref>Pearce, Jeremy. "In Essex County, Secession Gathers Momentum", The New York Times, September 7, 2003. Accessed September 23, 2016. "Montclair and Roseland both have decided to test the winds for revolution. In November, each community plans to put the secession issue before the public, in the form of a nonbinding referendum. Two years ago, Millburn posed a similar question and was bowled over at the response: 88 percent of voters agreed that the town should take steps toward leaving Essex for neighboring Morris County."</ref>

File:Essex Troop 1315 PVW WOrange jeh.jpg
Essex Troop, New Jersey National Guard
File:Essex Co Hall of Records jeh.jpg
Essex County Hall of Records
File:Edison labs Main St Lakeside Av jeh.jpg
Thomas Edison Laboratory

GeographyEdit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert was land (97.4%) and Template:Convert was water (2.6%).<ref name=CensusArea>2020 Census Gazetteer File for Counties in New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 1, 2023.</ref>

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

The highest elevation is found at four areas scattered between Verona, North Caldwell, and Cedar Grove, reaching Template:Convert above sea level.<ref>New Jersey County High Points, Peakbagger.com. Accessed October 4, 2013.</ref> The lowest point is sea level, at Newark Bay.

ClimateEdit

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

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Newark have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in July 22, 2011, which is the highest temperature ever recorded in the state.<ref>Strunsky, Steve. "N.J. city set two heat records Sunday, one for hitting 100 degrees for a 5th straight day", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 16, 2023. Accessed December 31, 2023. "It was in Newark — on July 22, 2011 — that the National Weather Service recorded New Jersey’s highest temperature on record, for any date, in any location, at 108 degrees, said Amanda Lee, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly forecast office."</ref> Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in July.<ref name="weather"/> In Roseland, average monthly temperatures range from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July.<ref>Time Series Values for Individual Locations, Oregon State University. Accessed June 24, 2023.</ref>

DemographicsEdit

Template:US Census populationBased on data from the 2010 census, Essex County is the 14th-most densely populated county in the United States, and was ranked New Jersey's second-most densely populated after Hudson County, which ranked sixth most-densely populated in the nation at 13,731.4 per square mile as of 2010.<ref>Staff. "Census 2010 data show population and diversity trends" Template:Webarchive, USA Today. Accessed October 4, 2013. Click on "Population per Square Mile" to sort counties nationwide by descending population density."</ref> Newark, with a population density of 11,458.3 people per square mile, is the largest municipality in the county both in terms of land area (24.19 square miles) and population (277,140), while Caldwell is the smallest in terms of land area (1.17 square miles) and Essex Fells has the smallest population (2,113).<ref name="GCTPH1-2010">GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Essex County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 6, 2012.</ref> Many of the county's smallest municipalities have population densities that are comparable to those of many big cities, and are well above the state's average which in turn is the highest in the nation.

Like many of the counties of Northern New Jersey near New York City, which tend to have sharp divides between relatively rich suburban neighborhoods and less wealthy, more densely populated cities nearby, the eastern region of Essex County tends to be poorer and more urbanized, while the western parts tend to be more affluent and suburban. The wide area of Eastern Essex has significant pockets of high population, high building density, high poverty, and high crime rates. Within this general area, however, are numerous areas composed of safe, mixed and middle-income neighborhoods of diverse populations. For example, north and west sides of Newark have well-kept suburban areas such as Vailsburg and Forest Hill. The east side of Newark is the Ironbound, a working-class Brazilian and Portuguese community. East Orange is home to the Presidential Estate neighborhood, a well-kept area of large, pre-war, single-family homes. Belleville and Bloomfield are suburbs with historic Italian communities that, in spite of retaining a core Italian-American population, now have many immigrants from Latin America and Asia. As of the 2000 Census, 36% of Nutley residents indicated that they were of Italian ancestry, the 12th-highest of any municipality in the nation and third-highest in New Jersey.<ref>Italian Communities Template:Webarchive, EPodunk. Accessed October 4, 2013.</ref>

Beginning at about the turn of the 20th century, Essex County led the state in the rebuilding and rehab of its housing stock. In the 2000s, Newark led the state in the issuance of building permits. Many reasons were cited: citywide incentives to encourage construction development, an improving local economy, the rising demand of low-cost housing so close to Manhattan. Newark has since then become one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire Northeast,<ref>Roberts, Sam. "Biggest Urban Growth Is in South and West", June 28, 2007. Accessed November 13, 2007.</ref><ref>Census data for Newark, New Jersey, accessed November 14, 2006</ref> and reported a gain in median income and drop in poverty rate.<ref>Newark city, New Jersey – Fact Sheet – American FactFinder</ref> This is a turnaround from the deterioration and abandonment experienced in the post-riot 1970s, 1980s and early part of the 1990s.

Crime in this part of the county has traditionally been among the highest in the state and the country as well, but recently has also seen significant declines, mirroring its large neighbor to the east, New York City.<ref name="Ledger2007">Wang, Katie. "County reports largest drop is in violent crime", The Star-Ledger, October 17, 2007. Accessed November 13, 2007. "For the second year in a row, overall crime in Essex County dropped by 10 percent, according to the annual crime statistics released by the State Police yesterday. The county saw the biggest drops in violent crime in 2006, particularly in robberies and aggravated assaults. Those incidents dropped by 6 percent and 7 percent respectively."</ref> By 2006, crime in Newark had fallen 60% over the previous decade to its lowest levels in 40 years.<ref>Total Crime Rate for US Cities, 1995: Population 40,000+, accessed November 14, 2006</ref><ref>Crime in the Cities, New Jersey State Police. Accessed November 14, 2006</ref> Neighboring East Orange has also experienced a decline in crimes, dropping 50% in the three years (2005 to 2007).<ref>Jones, Richard G. "The Crime Rate Drops, and a City Credits Its Embrace of Surveillance Technology", The New York Times, May 29, 2007. Accessed November 11, 2007.</ref> While crime rates have fallen significantly in these cities in recent years, they nonetheless remain high here compared to national crime statistics, as well as Irvington, and Orange. In 2008, Newark had 67 homicides, down from 105 in 2007 and the record of 161 murders set in 1981.<ref name="Ledger2007" /><ref>Lueck, Thomas J. "As Newark Mayor Readies Crime Fight, Toll Rises", The New York Times, January 8, 2007. Accessed October 6, 2007. "For all of 2006, the police said, Newark had 104 homicides, far below its record of 161 in 1981, but more than in any other year since 1995."</ref>

In contrast, Western Essex tends to be more suburban and affluent. Within this region are some of the most diverse and racially integrated municipalities in the state and nation, including Montclair, West Orange, South Orange and Maplewood. Many of these municipalities are well-known magnets for people moving from New York City, such as Glen Ridge, Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, South Orange and West Orange. The communities of Livingston, West Caldwell, South Orange, Maplewood, Millburn, North Caldwell, and Essex Fells are some of the wealthiest towns in the county. Short Hills (in Millburn), South Orange, West Orange, and Livingston have large Jewish communities. Short Hills has a popular upscale shopping mall, The Mall at Short Hills located near affluent communities in Morris and Union counties.<ref>About Us, The Mall at Short Hills. Accessed May 10, 2015.</ref>

As the poorest place in the county, Newark has a median household income of $33,025 and a per capita income of $17,198;<ref>"Census.gov". Accessed June 11, 2018.</ref> at the other extreme, Essex Fells, one of the wealthier places in the county and the 4th wealthiest municipality in the state, has a median household income of $174,432 and a per capita income of $89,316.<ref>"Census.gov". Accessed June 11, 2018.</ref>Template:Citation needed

2020 censusEdit

Template:Expand section

2010 censusEdit

The 2010 United States census counted 783,969 people, 283,712 households, and 189,236 families in the county. The population density was 6,211.5 per square mile (2,398.3/km2). There were 312,954 housing units at an average density of 2,479.6 per square mile (957.4/km2). The racial makeup was 42.59% (333,868) White, 40.88% (320,479) Black or African American, 0.39% (3,056) Native American, 4.57% (35,789) Asian, 0.04% (286) Pacific Islander, 8.38% (65,687) from other races, and 3.16% (24,804) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.30% (159,117) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 283,712 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18; 40.1% were married couples living together; 20.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.3% were non-families. Of all households, 27.7% were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.29.<ref name=Census2010/>

24.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The non-Hispanic white population was 33.2%.

The county had 76,200 Jewish residents according to the 2002 results of the National Jewish Population Survey.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}, National Jewish Population Survey. Accessed May 11, 2006.</ref>

EconomyEdit

The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $48.7 billion in 2021, which was ranked fourth in the state and was a 6.5% increase from the prior year.<ref>Gross Domestic Product by County, 2021, Bureau of Economic Analysis, released December 8, 2022. Accessed July 17, 2023.</ref>

GovernmentEdit

County governmentEdit

The county seat of Essex County is Newark. Many offices and courts are concentrated at the Essex County Government Complex. Essex County is governed by the County Executive and the nine-member Board of County Commissioners, who administer all county business. Essex county joins Atlantic, Bergen, Hudson and Mercer counties as one of the 5 of 21 New Jersey counties with an elected executive.<ref>Rinde, Meir. "Explainer: What's a Freeholder? NJ's Unusual County Government System", NJ Spotlight, October 27, 2015. Accessed October 26, 2017. "Five counties – Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Mercer – opted for popularly elected county executives in addition to freeholder boards."</ref> The County Executive is elected by a direct vote of the electorate. Nine commissioners are elected to serve three-year concurrent terms of office. Five of the commissioners represent districts; four are elected from the county on an at-large basis. At an annual organization meeting, the commissioners choose a Commissioner President and vice-president from among its members to serve one-year terms.<ref>Definition of the County Commissioners, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed October 22, 2017.</ref> In 2016, commissioners were paid $37,249 and the commissioner president was paid an annual salary of $38,211; commissioner salaries were the second-highest in the state, behind Hudson County.<ref>Gallo Jr., Bill. "Which N.J. county freeholders are paid the most?", NJ.com, March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder president: $38,211; Other freeholders: $37,249"</ref> the county executive was paid $161,615 in 2015.<ref>Lagerkvist, Mark. "Double-dipping tricks cost millions in NJ's Essex County; To find double-dippers in New Jersey's Essex County, taxpayers only need look up. Three top county officials have pocketed more than $2.8 million in retirement pay in addition to their six-figure salaries." Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Watchdog, August 31, 2015. Accessed October 26, 2017. "'Joe D,' as he is widely known, gets two checks for one job – $161,615 in salary as county executive plus $68,861 from pension as retired county executive."</ref>

Template:As of, the Essex County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref>Essex County Executive, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref><ref>Mazzola, Jessica. "Political power player to seek 5th term", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 8, 2017. Accessed March 8, 2018. "Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo is looking for another four years. The Democratic heavy hitter is expected to announce Monday his reelection bid to a fifth term in the county's top seat."</ref> Essex County's Commissioners are (with terms for president and vice president ending every December 31):<ref>Members of the Board, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed March 8, 2018.</ref><ref>Breakdown of Commissioner Districts, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref><ref>2021 County Data Sheet, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref><ref name=EssexDirectory>County Directory, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Essex2020>November 3, 2020, General Election Unofficial Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

District Commissioner
1 - Newark's North and East Wards, parts of Central and West Wards Robert Mercado (D, Newark, 2026)<ref>Robert Mercado, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
2 - Irvington, Maplewood, Millburn and Newark's South Ward and parts of West Ward A'Dorian Murray-Thomas (D, Newark, 2026)<ref>Wayne L. Richardson, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
3 - East Orange, Newark's West and Central Wards,
Orange and South Orange 		Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper (D, East Orange, 2026)<ref>Tyshammie L. Cooper, Freeholder District 3, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
4 - Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange Leonard M. Luciano (D, West Caldwell, 2026)<ref>Leonard M. Luciano, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
5 - Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley President Carlos M. Pomares (D, Bloomfield, 2026)<ref>Carlos M. Pomares, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
at large Brendan W. Gill (D, Montclair, 2026)<ref>Brendan W. Gill, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
at large Romaine Graham (D, Irvington, 2026)<ref>Romaine Graham, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
at large Wayne Richardson (D, Newark, 2026)<ref>Rufus I. Johnson, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed March 8, 2018.</ref>
at large Patricia Sebold (D, Livingston, 2026)<ref>Patricia Sebold, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>

In February 2019, Romaine Graham was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Lebby Jones until her death the previous month.<ref>"Graham chosen to fill Lebby Jones' vacant freeholder seat", Essex News Daily, February 24, 2019. Accessed June 20, 2022. "Irvington Board of Education President Romaine Graham has been appointed to fill the seat left vacant on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders by former Freeholder Lebby Jones, who died of cancer Wednesday, Jan. 9."</ref> Graham served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was chosen to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Essex2019>November 5, 2019, General Election Unofficial Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 14, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref> No Republican has won countywide office since 1998, a commissioner seat since 2001, and an at-large commissioner seat since 1971.<ref name="EssexChanges">[1], Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).<ref>New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref> Essex County is one of two counties statewide that has an elected Register of Deeds.<ref>History of Registers, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022. "A Register of Deeds is an elected County Statutory Officer who is responsible for recording, filing, and preserving all property transactions within the municipalities of the County in which they serve.... There are presently 2 out of 21 Counties in the State of New Jersey where the Office of Register of Deeds exists (Essex and Hudson Counties). In the other 19 Counties the functions of the Register are under the jurisdiction of the County Clerk."</ref> Essex County's constitutional officers and register are:<ref name=EssexDirectory/>

Title Representative
County Clerk Christopher J. Durkin (D, West Caldwell, 2025)<ref>About The Clerk, Essex County Clerk. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref><ref>Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
Sheriff Amir Jones (D, Newark, 2027)<ref>Armando B. Fontura, Essex County Sheriff's Office. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref><ref>Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
Surrogate Alturrick Kenney (D, Newark, 2028)<ref>About the Surrogate, Essex County Surrogate's Court. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref><ref>Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>
Register Juan Rivera Jr. (D, Newark, 2029)<ref>About the Register, Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed June 20, 2022. "The Essex County Register is an elected, statutory officer who is responsible under the law for recording, filing, and preserving all property transactions within the 22 municipalities of the County. Registers serve five-year terms."</ref><ref>Registers, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 20, 2022.</ref>

The Acting Essex County Prosecutor is Theodore N. Stephens II, who was appointed as acting prosecutor in September 2018. Stephens previously served as Essex County Surrogate from 2012 until his appointment as Acting Prosecutor.<ref>Meet The Prosecutor, Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Accessed June 29, 2022.</ref> Essex County constitutes Vicinage 5 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is seated at the Veterans' Courthouse in Newark, which also houses the Criminal Part; civil and probate cases are heard at both the historic Essex County Courthouse and at the Essex County Hall of Records, also in Newark, while family and chancery cases are heard at the Robert N. Wilentz Court Complex, also in Newark, with additional facilities in East Orange. The Assignment Judge for the vicinage is Sallyanne Floria.<ref>[2], New Jersey Courts. Accessed October 22, 2017.</ref>

Federal representativesEdit

Three federal Congressional Districts cover the county, including portions of the 8th, 10th and 11th Districts.<ref>[3], New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2021. Accessed November 5, 2022.</ref> Template:NJ Congress 08 Template:NJ Congress 10 Template:NJ Congress 11

State representativesEdit

The 22 municipalities of Essex County are represented by five separate legislative districts.

District citation CitationClass=web

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Assembly<ref name=":0" /> Municipalities
27th John F. McKeon (D) Rosaura Bagoile (D)

Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)

Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Roseland, and West Orange. The remainder of this district covers portions of Passaic County.
28th Renee Burgess (D) Garnet Hall (D)

Cleopatra Tucker (D)

Irvington, Maplewood, South Orange, and a portion of Newark. The remainder of this district covers portions of Union County.
29th Teresa Ruiz (D) Eliana Pintor Marin (D)

Shanique Speight (D)

A portion of Newark. The remainder of this district covers portions of Hudson County.
34th Britnee Timberlake (D) Michael Venezia (D)

Carmen Morales (D)

Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley, and Orange.
40th Kristin Corrado (R) Al Barlas (R)

Christopher DePhillips (R)

Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Verona. The remainder of this district covers portions of Bergen County and Passaic County.

Law enforcementEdit

File:Police Academy Essex Co jeh.jpg
Essex County Police Academy

Law enforcement at the county level is provided by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Essex County Sheriff's Office. The Essex County Police was completely absorbed by the sheriff's office by 2007.<ref>In the Matter of County Police Officers, Essex County Sheriff's Office, New Jersey Department of State, decided April 11, 2007. Accessed September 25, 2017. "Subsequently, in June 2006, the Essex County Sheriff (Sheriff) promulgated an order to consolidate the functions of the County Police with the Sheriff's Office."</ref> Essex County College and its satellite locations are patrolled by the Essex County College Police Department.<ref>Public Safety Template:Webarchive, Essex County College. Accessed March 7, 2018.</ref>

In 2021, the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark ended its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold undocumented immigrants, instead entering into a contract with Union County, New Jersey, to house their inmates.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

PoliticsEdit

In presidential elections, the county has long been Democratic and is the most Democratic county in the state. It was the only county in the state to be won by Walter Mondale in 1984, and voted Democratic all but once since 1960. Democrats have won every presidential election in the 21st century with over 70% of the vote and Republicans have not won the county in a statewide contest since the 1985 gubernatorial election.<ref>David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Maps for New Jersey by election)</ref> As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 571,960 registered voters in Essex County, of whom 299,613 (52.4%) were registered as Democrats, 58,618 (10.2%) were registered as Republicans and 208,422 (36.4%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 5,307 voters (0.9%) registered to other parties.<ref>Statewide Voter Registration Summary as of October 1, 2021, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 28, 2022.</ref>

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Year Democratic Republican
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |1973 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |69.2% 162,989 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |29.0% 68,223
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |1977 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |58.0% 120,576 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |40.1% 83,409
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |1981 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |57.9% 129,969 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |41.1% 92,185
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |1985 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |31.2% 56,694 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |66.9% 121,685
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |1989 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |68.9% 131,835 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |29.9% 57,206
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |1993 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |58.7% 116,891 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |39.6% 78,824
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |1997 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |61.2% 120,429 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |35.3% 69,470
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |2001 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |71.9% 129,406 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |27.0% 48,540
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |2005 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |72.7% 131,312 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |25.4% 45,789
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |2009 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |67.2% 122,640 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |27.5% 50,240
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |2013 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |61.8% 95,747 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |37% 57,353
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |2017 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |79.5% 129,470 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |18.8% 30,633
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |2021 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic |74.3% 132,520 style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican |25.6% 45,542

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EducationEdit

Higher educationEdit

Essex County has five public and four private institutions. Another private college closed in 1995, and Bloomfield College was absorbed into Montclair State University in July 2023.

Public
Private

School districtsEdit

School districts in Essex County include:<ref name=NJDOE>New Jersey School Directory for Essex County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 1, 2022.</ref><ref>Search for Public School Districts in Essex County, New Jersey, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 1, 2022.</ref><ref>2020 Census School District Reference Map for Essex County, NJ, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 23, 2022.</ref><ref>2020 Census School District Reference List for Essex County, NJ, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 23, 2022.</ref>

K-12

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Secondary
Elementary

TransportationEdit

Roads and highwaysEdit

File:2018-07-17 07 28 23 View south along New Jersey State Route 444 (Garden State Parkway) between Exit 153 and Exit 151, entering Bloomfield Township, Essex County from Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg
Garden State Parkway South entering Essex County

Template:As of, the county had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert are maintained by the local municipality, Template:Convert by Essex County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.<ref>Essex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Essex County is traversed by a number of highways. Three primary interstates and one auxiliary cross the county. This includes two long distance main interstates, one north–south Interstate 95 (concurrent with the New Jersey Turnpike toll road) and one east–west Interstate 80. East-West Interstate 78 also crosses the county. All of these only have interchanges in one municipality in the county, Newark for I-95 and I-78 and Fairfield for I-80. Interstate 280 passes through the county in a northeast–southwest direction and has exits in Roseland, Livingston, West Orange, Orange, East Orange and Newark, making it one of the most important roads for intracounty travel.

Essex County also has four U.S. Routes that cross it. Route 1/9 are concurrent and a freeway throughout their length in the county. They pass through Newark from Elizabeth in Union County to Kearny in Hudson County. It crosses over the Passaic River on the Pulaski Skyway, which bans trucks, so just before it leaves the county in the north Truck 1/9 splits for the traffic that is not allowed on the bridge. Truck 1/9 is also a freeway its entire length in the county. U.S. Route 22 eastern terminus is in Newark the only municipality it crosses in the county. It is a freeway along it route in Essex County. It connects Newark with points to the east. The last U.S. Route in the county is U.S. Route 46, which passes through Fairfield, where it is a major commercial road that parallels Interstate 80.

The most important state road in the county is the Garden State Parkway which passes north–south through the county, connecting Union Township in the south in Union County to Clifton in the north in Passaic County.<ref>Garden State Parkway Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, January 1997. Accessed August 25, 2014.</ref> It is a toll road, a freeway, and bans trucks of more than 7,000 pounds during its entire length in the county. It has one interchange in Irvington, one in Newark, two in East Orange, and four in Bloomfield.<ref>Travel Resources: Interchanges, Service Areas & Commuter Lots, New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Accessed August 25, 2014.</ref> Outside the county, it is the longest road of any kind in the state.

New Jersey Route 7 is a major arterial road in Nutley and Belleville. It has two discontinuous sections. The southern section starts at an overpass for Route 21 and passes over the Belleville Turnpike Bridge into border between Hudson and Bergen counties. The northern section starts at the Newark/Belleville border passes through Belleville and Nutley until in crosses into Clifton.

Other highways in the county include:

BusesEdit

There are many buses that operate around the county, with NJ Transit (NJT) headquarters located just behind Newark Penn Station, a transit hub in the eastern part of the county.<ref>Annual Notice of Board Meetings Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed October 22, 2017. "Unless otherwise indicated, meetings will be held at NJ TRANSIT's Corporate Headquarters in Newark, New Jersey. The meetings will convene at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room at NJ TRANSIT's Headquarters, One Penn Plaza East, Ninth Floor, Newark, New Jersey."</ref> There are two major bus terminals in the county, Newark Penn Station and the Irvington Bus Terminal.<ref>Essex County System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed October 22, 2017.</ref> Community Coach, and OurBus operate buses from Essex County to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. Some of the NJ Transit bus lines follow former streetcar lines.

RailEdit

Essex County has a large rail network, but most train service is geared toward the heavily utilized Newark/New York City commute. All of the passenger rail lines in the county are electrified, although many trains that continue on to non-electrified lines use dual-mode or diesel push-pull locomotives.

Commuter railEdit

NJ Transit has five lines that make stops in the county. All of them stop at either Newark Penn Station or Newark Broad Street Station. The Northeast Corridor Line from Trenton with connections from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, Camden, and Princeton has stops at Newark Airport and Newark Penn Stations before continuing to Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station.<ref>Northeast Corridor Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref> The North Jersey Coast Line from Bay Head or Long Branch also stops at Newark Airport and Newark Penn Stations before continuing to Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station or Hoboken Terminal.<ref>North Jersey Coast Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref> The Raritan Valley Line from High Bridge usually terminates in Newark Penn Station, but mid-day trains continue to New York and one eastbound morning train terminates at Hoboken Terminal.<ref>Raritan Valley Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref>

The Montclair-Boonton Line from Hackettstown or Little Falls has six stations in Montclair, one in Glen Ridge, and two in Bloomfield before reaching Newark Broad Street Station and continuing to Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station or Hoboken Terminal.<ref>Morristown Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref> The Morris and Essex Lines from Hackettstown and Peapack-Gladstone has two stops in Millburn, one in Maplewood, and two each in South Orange, Orange and East Orange before reaching Newark Broad Street and continuing to Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station or Hoboken Terminal.<ref>Montclair-Boonton Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref>

Light railEdit

File:NewarkLightRailExt.jpg
Broad Street station of Newark Light Rail

The Newark Light Rail is completely contained within the county. It has 17 stations in Newark, Belleville, and Bloomfield and also operates out of Newark Penn Station. It is composed of two lines: the Newark City Subway and the Broad Street Extension.<ref>Newark Light Rail System Map, NJ Transit. Accessed February 27, 2022.</ref>

The Newark City Subway is the only survivor of the many street car lines that once crossed New Jersey, although it no longer uses street cars. It survived in part because it does not include street running, instead following the abandoned Morris Canal right of way before going underground. It has one station in Bloomfield and one in Belleville on the old Orange Branch of the New York & Greenwood Lake Service of the Erie Railroad before entering Newark and turning onto the Morris Canal right of way. From there it follows Branch Brook Park before turning into downtown Newark as a subway. It has nine stops in Newark before terminating in Newark Penn Station.

The Broad Street Extension was built to provide connections between Newark Penn Station and Newark Broad Street Station and service to the waterfront of Newark. Leaving Penn Station, the line comes up from the subway and runs on streets or at grade for most of its length. It stops at NJPAC/Center Street, Atlantic Street, and Riverfront Stadium before reaching Broad Street Station. From Broad Street it takes a different route stopping at Washington Park and NJPAC/Center Street before arriving at Penn Station.

Rapid transitEdit

The PATH also operates out of Newark Penn Station. It has direct service to Harrison, Jersey City, and Lower Manhattan. With a free transfer, the PATH also provides service to Hoboken, as well as Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and Midtown Manhattan.<ref>PATH System Map Template:Webarchive, Port Authority Trans-Hudson. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref>

Intercity railEdit

Amtrak has two stations in the county, Newark Penn Station and Newark Airport, both on the Northeast Corridor. Newark Penn Station has service on the only high speed train in the Western Hemisphere, the Acela Express, to Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Newark Penn Station also offers services on the Cardinal to Chicago; Carolinian to Charlotte; Crescent to New Orleans; Keystone Service to Harrisburg; Palmetto to Charleston; Pennsylvanian to Pittsburgh; Northeast Regional to Newport News, Norfolk, and Lynchburg; Silver Star and Silver Meteor to Miami; and Vermonter to St. Albans all with intermediate stops. Newark Airport is served by Northeast Regional and Keystone Service trains.

MonorailEdit

Newark Liberty International Airport has a monorail called AirTrain Newark that connects the terminals, four parking areas, and the Newark Liberty International Airport Station on the Northeast Corridor. The monorail is free except for service to and from the train station.<ref>AirTrain Newark, Newark Liberty International Airport. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref>

AirportsEdit

Newark Liberty International Airport is a major commercial airport located in the southeast section of the county in Newark and Elizabeth in Union County. It is one of the New York Metropolitan airports operated by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It is a hub for United Airlines. It is also a leading cargo airport and is a hub for FedEx Express and Kalitta Air.

The Essex County Airport in Fairfield is a general aviation airport.<ref>Home Page, Essex County Airport. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref>

PortsEdit

Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal is a major component of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Located on the Newark Bay it serves as the principal container ship facility for goods entering and leaving New York-Newark metropolitan area, and the northeastern quadrant of North America. It consists of two components – Port Newark and the Elizabeth Marine Terminal (sometimes called "Port Elizabeth") – which exist side by side and are run conjointly by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The facility is located within the boundaries of the two cities of Newark and Elizabeth, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike and Newark Liberty International Airport.<ref>Home Page, Port Newark Container Terminal. Accessed June 20, 2014.</ref>

BridgesEdit

Several important or noteworthy bridges currently or historically exist at least partially in the county. Most of them cross Newark Bay or the Passaic River into Hudson or Bergen counties. The Newark Bay Bridge carries Interstate 78 over Newark Bay from Newark to Bayonne and is currently the most southern bridge crossing the bay. The Upper Bay Bridge, a vertical-lift bridge located just north of the Newark Bay Bridge, carries a freight train line over the bay from Newark to Bayonne.

The PD Draw is an abandoned and partially dismantled railroad bridge across the Passaic River from Newark to Kearny. The Lincoln Highway Passaic River Bridge carries Truck 1/9 across the Passaic River and is currently the southernmost crossing of the river before it reaches the bay. It is a vertical-lift bridge and was the route that the Lincoln Highway used to cross the river. The Pulaski Skyway, the most famous bridge entirely in New Jersey, carries Route 1/9 across the Passaic River, Kearny Point, and the Hackensack River from Newark through Kearny to Jersey City.

The Point-No-Point Bridge is a railroad swing bridge that carries a freight line across the Passaic River between Newark and Kearny. The Jackson Street Bridge is a historic vehicular swing bridge across the Passaic from Newark to Harrison. The Dock Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places carries four tracks of the Northeast Corridor rail line and two tracks of the PATH on two vertical lift spans from Newark Penn Station to Harrison.

The Center Street Bridge is a former railroad, rapid transit, and road bridge connecting Newark and Harrison. The Bridge Street Bridge is another vehicular swing bridge across the Passaic from Newark to Harrison, as is the Clay Street Bridge, a swing bridge that connects Newark and East Newark.

Park and RecreationEdit

Essex County was the first county in the country to create a county park system (Essex County Park System), to ensure that it did not lose all its land to development.<ref>Accomando, Peter R. and Liebau, Michelle M. "Essex County park system celebrates 100 years of beauty and service", Parks and Recreation, March 1995. Accessed May 26, 2007. "This picturesque scheme amid the bustling cityscape of Newark is Branch Brook Park, the largest park in Essex County and the first county park in the United States."</ref>

MunicipalitiesEdit

File:Essex County, New Jersey Municipalities.png
Index map of Essex County municipalities (click to see index key)

Template:Maplink

The 22 municipalities in Essex County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area in square miles) are:<ref>GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Essex County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 25, 2014.</ref> Other, unincorporated communities in the county are listed next to their parent municipality. 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.

Municipality Map key Municipal
type 		Population Housing
units 		Total
area 		Water
area 		Land
area 		Pop.
density 		Housing
density 		School district Unincorporated communities
Belleville 15 township 38,222 14,327 3.40 0.06 3.34 10,755.7 4,289.3 Belleville Silver Lake CDP (part; 3,769)
Bloomfield 13 township 53,105 19,470 5.33 0.02 5.30 8,920.5 3,670.7 Bloomfield Ampere North CDP (5,132)
Brookdale CDP (9,854)
Silver Lake CDP (part; 474)
Watsessing CDP (8,078)
Caldwell 6 borough 9,027 3,510 1.17 0.00 1.17 6,710.3 3,011.1 Caldwell-West Caldwell
Cedar Grove 10 township 12,980 4,661 4.38 0.13 4.25 2,918.6 1,096.1 Cedar Grove
East Orange 2 city 69,612 28,803 3.92 0.00 3.92 16,377.1 7,339.5 East Orange
Essex Fells 5 borough 2,244 758 1.42 0.01 1.41 1,496.3 536.8 West Essex (7-12)
Essex Fells (PK-6)
Fairfield 8 township 7,872 2,723 10.46 0.16 10.30 725.1 264.5 West Essex (7-12)
Fairfield (PK-6)
Glen Ridge 3 borough 7,802 2,541 1.29 0.00 1.28 5,872.8 1,982.6 Glen Ridge
Irvington 22 township 61,176 23,196 2.93 0.00 2.93 18,417.0 7,922.0 Irvington
Livingston 18 township 31,330 10,284 14.08 0.31 13.77 2,132.8 746.9 Livingston
Maplewood 20 township 25,684 8,608 3.88 0.00 3.88 6,155.3 2,220.0 South Orange-Maplewood
Millburn 19 township 21,710 7,106 9.88 0.55 9.32 2,161.3 762.2 Millburn Township Short Hills CDP (14,422)
Montclair 12 township 40,921 15,911 6.32 0.01 6.31 5,971.2 2,522.2 Montclair Upper Montclair CDP (13,146)
Newark 1 city 311,549 109,520 26.11 1.92 24.19 11,458.3 4,528.1 Newark
North Caldwell 7 borough 6,694 2,134 3.02 0.00 3.01 2,053.2 708.6 West Essex (7-12)
North Caldwell (PK-6)
Nutley 14 township 30,143 11,789 3.43 0.04 3.38 8,384.1 3,484.0 Nutley
Orange 16 township 34,447 12,222 2.20 0.00 2.20 13,705.7 5,558.9 Orange
Roseland 4 borough 6,299 2,432 3.56 0.02 3.54 1,644.4 687.3 West Essex (7-12)
Roseland (PK-6)
South Orange 21 village 18,484 5,815 2.86 0.00 2.86 5,672.8 2,036.5 South Orange-Maplewood
Verona 11 township 14,572 5,523 2.78 0.02 2.76 4,838.4 2,004.4 Verona
West Caldwell 9 township 11,012 4,009 5.07 0.01 5.05 2,128.5 793.1 Caldwell-West Caldwell
West Orange 17 township 48,843 17,612 12.17 0.13 12.05 3,836.0 1,462.1 West Orange Llewellyn Park CDP (821)
Pleasantdale CDP (2,329)
Essex County county 863,728 312,954 129.63 3.42 126.21 6,211.5 2,479.6

Other communitiesEdit

Points of interestEdit

Essex County was the first county in the United States to have its own parks department.<ref>Essex County parks history, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed August 23, 2007.</ref> It is called the Essex County Park System.

There are various attractions in Essex County, such as The Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey Historical Society, Montclair Art Museum, Turtle Back Zoo,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Thomas Edison National Historical Park,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Grover Cleveland Birthplace.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Essex County is home to part of the Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the largest port on the East Coast and the third largest in the United States,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and two airports: Newark Liberty International Airport and Essex County Airport.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Cultural referencesEdit

Some of the county's municipalities, especially Newark, The Oranges, and The Caldwells, were seen on episodes of the HBO mob drama The Sopranos, which was set in North Caldwell.<ref>Parrillo, Rosemary. "The Locations" (Template:Webarchive), The Star-Ledger, March 4, 2001. Accessed October 4, 2013.</ref>

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

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