Mercer County, New Jersey

Infobox U.S. County
county = Mercer County
state = New Jersey




map size = 100
founded = 1838
seat = Trenton | largest city = Trenton
area_total_sq_mi =229
area_land_sq_mi =226
area_water_sq_mi =3
area percentage = 1.27%
census yr = 2006
pop = 367605
density_km2 =599
web = www.mercercounty.org
|

Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is TrentonGR|6. It is officially part of the New York Metropolitan Area, but due to it being close to New York City and Philadelphia, Mercer County is also its own Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is named the Trenton-Ewing MSA. As of 2007, the Trenton-Ewing MSA is ranked 136th in the list of U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas for total population at 365,449.

The county is named for Continental Army General Hugh Mercer, who died at the Battle of Princeton in 1777. The Mercer Oak, against which the dying general rested as his men continued to fight, appears on the county seal. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 350,761, estimated to have risen to 367,605 as of 2006. Mercer County ranks 79th among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also is ranked 57th in the United States by personal per-capita income. [ [http://www.bea.gov/regional/reis/pcpihigh.cfm 250 Highest Per Capita Personal Incomes of the 3111 Counties in the United States, 2006] , Bureau of Economic Analysis. Statistics for year 2006 Accessed May 2, 2008.]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 229 square miles (593 km²), of which, 226 square miles (585 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.27% water.

The county is generally flat and low-lying on the inner coastal plain with a few hills closer to the Delaware River. Baldpate Mountain near Pennington, is the highest hill, at 480 feet (146.3 m) above sea level. The lowest point is at sea level along the Delaware.

Adjacent counties

*Somerset County, New Jersey - north
*Middlesex County, New Jersey - northeast
*Monmouth County, New Jersey - east
*Burlington County, New Jersey - south
*Bucks County, Pennsylvania - west
*Hunterdon County, New Jersey - northwest

Demographics

USCensusPop
1840=21502
1850=27992
1860=37419
1870=46386
1880=58061
1890=79978
1900=95365
1910=125657
1920=159881
1930=187143
1940=197318
1950=229781
1960=266392
1970=304116
1980=307863
1990=325824
2000=350761
estimate=367605
estyear=2006
estref=cite web
url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/34021.html
title=QuickFacts: Mercer County, New Jersey
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
accessdate=2007-03-01]
footnote=historical census data source: [cite web
url=http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd5.htm
title=New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930] [cite web
url=http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/
title=Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser
publisher=University of Virginia Library
accessdate=2007-03-02]

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile (599/km²). There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile (228/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.48% White, 19.81% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 4.94% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.29% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. 9.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.5% were of Italian, 9.7% Irish, 8.2% German, 6.7% Polish and 5.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 125,807 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $56,613, and the median income for a family was $68,494. Males had a median income of $47,444 versus $34,788 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,914. About 5.90% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.60% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Mercer County has a County Executive form of government, in which the County Executive performs executive functions and a Board of Chosen Freeholders acts in a legislative capacity. The County Executive as of 2008 is Brian M. Hughes. Members of the seven-person Board of Chosen Freeholders are elected at-large to serve three-year staggered terms. The Board is led by a Freeholder Chair and Vice-Chair, selected on an annual basis from among its members. [ [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/what.html What is a Freeholder?] , Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed March 11, 2008.]

The Freeholder Board acts as a formulator of policy and provides a check on the powers of the County Executive. The Board also approves all county contracts and gives advice and consent to the County Executive’s appointments of department heads, and appointments to boards and commissions. After receiving the proposed county budget from the County Executive in January of each year, it is the duty of the Freeholder Board to thoroughly review, make appropriate changes, and then vote on the budget.

As of 2008, Mercer County's Freeholders are: [ [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/meet.html Meet the Freeholders] , Mercer County. Accessed July 4, 2007.]

*Freeholder Chair [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/lwalter.html Lucylle R. S. Walter] (term ends December 31, 2008; Ewing Township)
*Freeholder Vice Chair [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/meet.html Anthony P. Carabelli]
* [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/acannon.html Ann M. Cannon] (2009; East Windsor Township)
* [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/dbenson.html Dan Benson] Hamilton Township)
* [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/pcolavita.html Pasquale "Pat" Colavita, Jr.] (2009; Lawrenceville)
* [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/khamilton.html Keith V. Hamilton] (2010; Hamilton Township)
* [http://nj.gov/counties/mercer/officials/freeholders/about/tmack.html Tony Mack] (2008; Trenton)

Politics

In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, John Kerry carried the county by a 23.4% margin over George W. Bush, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush. [ [http://www.njvoterinfo.org/2004presNJ.htm New Jersey Presidential Election Returns by County 2004] , Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Accessed August 31, 2008.]

Transportation

Mercer County has state routes, U.S. Routes and Interstates. Mercer also boasts its NJTransit's stations, including Trenton, Hamilton, and Princeton Junction. The state routes that pass through Mercer are Route 33, Route 29, Route 31, Route 27, Route 129, and Route 133. There are three US Routes that pass through Mercer, which are: U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 130 and U.S. Route 206.

Mercer County houses a couple of limited access roads, such as Interstate 295, Interstate 195, and Interstate 95 (which is also designated along the New Jersey Turnpike). Two turnpike interchanges are located in Mercer, Exit 7A and Exit 8.

Interstate 95 abruptly ends at the interchange with US 1 & I-295 in Lawrence Township, and becomes I-295 south. Signs direct motorists to the continuation of I-95 by using I-295 to I-195 east to "Interstate 95 / New Jersey Turnpike". This is all due in part to the cancellation of the Somerset Freeway that was supposed to go from Hopewell in Mercer County up to Franklin in Somerset County. However, the 95 shields on the "Trenton section" are to re-numbered as part of "I-195 Extension," when a direct interchange with Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania & Interstate 276 is built (which won't be until 2012).

Municipalities

The following municipalities are located in Mercer 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 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

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 fictional 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.

ports

Mercer County has a number of large parks. The largest, Mercer County Central Park is the home for the US Olympic Rowing Team's training center. [http://features.csmonitor.com/backstory/2008/07/17/qrowing/]

Mercer County is also the home of the minor league baseball team, the Trenton Thunder (|Eastern League Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees), and the minor league hockey team, the Trenton Devils (ECHL Double-A affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.)

Media

* [http://www.wzbntv25.com "WZBN-TV" (television)| W25AW]
*Town Topics
* [http://www.njhomesteader.com "The Homesteader - Greater Princeton Edition" (magazine)]

External links

* [http://webserver.mcl.org Mercer County Library System]

References