Mercer County, New Jersey

Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Trenton ⁶. Mercer County is in the New York metropolitan area. 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. Mercer County ranks 79th among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $27,914.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 593 km² (229 mi²). 585 km² (226 mi²) of it is land and 8 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.27% water.

The county is generally flat and low-lying, 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.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 599/km² (1,552/mi²). There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 228/km² (590/mi²). 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.

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 current County Executive 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 has a Chair and Vice-Chair, and these positions are rotated amongst board members each year.

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 2006, Mercer County's Freeholders areMeet the Freeholders, accessed March 30, 2006:

Freeholder Chair Keith V. Hamilton (term ends December 31, 2007; Hamilton Township)
Freeholder Vice Chair Pasquale "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (2006; Lawrenceville)
Ann M. Cannon (2006; East Windsor Township)
Anthony P. Carabelli (2007; Trenton)
Tony Mack (2008; Trenton)
Elizabeth Maher Muoio (2006; Pennington Borough)
Lucylle R. S. Walter (2008; Ewing Township)

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.

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 addresses of all time, Orson Welles acted out his 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.

References

Mercer County, New Jersey | New York metropolitan area | New Jersey counties