Somerset County, New Jersey
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Map_of_New_Jersey_highlighting_Somerset_County.png
Image:Map of New Jersey highlighting Somerset County.png
Somerset County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. As of 2000, the population is 297,490. Its county seat is Somerville6.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 790 km² (305 mi²). 789 km² (305 mi²) of it is land and 1 km² (0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.12% water.
Like neighboring Middlesex County, Somerset is divided into northern and southern halves by the Raritan River. However, unlike its eastern neighbor that results in distinctly different topography: the northern half is quite hilly, more like North Jersey, while south of the river is mostly flat like Central Jersey.
The high point is on Mine Mountain in Bernardsville, at approximately 860 feet (262 m) above sea level; the lowest point is just above sea level on the Raritan at the Middlesex county line.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 297,490 people, 108,984 households, and 78,359 families residing in the county. The population density is 377/km² (976/mi²). There are 112,023 housing units at an average density of 142/km² (368/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 79.34% White, 7.53% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 8.38% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.74% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 8.68% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 108,984 households out of which 36.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% are married couples living together, 8.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% are non-families. 22.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.00% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.19.
In the county the population is spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 33.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $89,289, the highest in the United States, and the median income for a family is $90,605. Males have a median income of $60,602 versus $41,824 for females. The per capita income for the county is $37,970. The poverty rate is 1.7%, the lowest of any county in the United States with 250,000 or more people. Out of the total population, 3.80% of those under the age of 18 and 4.90% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
- Bedminster Township
- Bernards Township
- Bernardsville
- Bound Brook
- Branchburg Township
- Bridgewater Township
- Far Hills
- Franklin Township
- Green Brook Township
- Hillsborough Township
- Manville
- Millstone
- Montgomery Township
- North Plainfield
- Peapack-Gladstone
- Raritan
- Rocky Hill
- Somerset
- Somerville
- South Bound Brook
- Warren Township
- Watchung
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| Counties of New Jersey | |
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