Elizabeth, New Jersey
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Elizabeth is a
city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
and the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of Union County, in the U.S. state of
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
.New Jersey County Map
, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 10, 2017.
As of the
2020 U.S. census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, the city had a total population of 137,298,Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Elizabeth city
,
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Civil Service Commission is an independent body within the New Jersey state government under the auspices of t ...
. Accessed December 20, 2011.
making it New Jersey's fourth most populous city, after neighboring
Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...
, Jersey City, and Paterson,The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Civil Service Commission is an independent body within the New Jersey state government under the auspices of t ...
. Accessed November 21, 2016.
The
Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal Statistical System of the United States, U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the Americans, Ame ...
's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 135,407 in 2021, ranking the city the 207th-most-populous in the country.


History

Elizabeth, originally called "Elizabethtown" and part of the Elizabethtown Tract, was founded in 1664 by English settlers. The town was not named for Queen
Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...
as many people may assume, but rather for Elizabeth, wife of Sir
George Carteret Vice Admiral Sir George Carteret, 1st Baronet ( – 14 January 1680 N.S.) was a royalist statesman in Jersey and England, who served in the Clarendon Ministry as Treasurer of the Navy. He was also one of the original lords proprietor of the ...
, one of the two original Proprietors of the
colony of New Jersey The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1783. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland but came under English rule after th ...
. She was the daughter of Philippe de Carteret II, 3rd Seigneur de Sark and Anne Dowse. The town served as the first capital of New Jersey. During the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
, Elizabethtown was continually attacked by British forces based on
Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
and
Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...
, culminating in the Battle of Springfield which decisively defeated British attempts to gain New Jersey. After independence, it was from Elizabethtown that George Washington embarked by boat to Manhattan for his 1789 inauguration. There are numerous memorials and monuments of the American Revolution in Elizabeth. On March 13, 1855, the City of Elizabeth was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, combining and replacing both Elizabeth Borough (which dated back to 1740) and Elizabeth Township (which had been formed in 1693), subject to the results of a referendum held on March 27, 1855. On March 19, 1857, the city became part of the newly created Union County. Portions of the city were taken to form Linden Township on March 4, 1861.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''
, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 238. Accessed July 9, 2012.
The first major industry, the
Singer Sewing Machine Singer Corporation is an American manufacturer of consumer sewing machines, first established as I. M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Singer, Isaac M. Singer with New York lawyer Edward Cabot Clark, Edward C. Clark. Best known for its sewing mac ...
Company came to Elizabeth and employed as many as 2,000 people. In 1895, it saw one of the first car companies, when Electric Carriage and Wagon Company was founded to manufacture the
Electrobat The Electrobat was one of the first electric automobiles. It was designed and built in 1894 by mechanical engineer Henry G. Morris and chemist Pedro G. Salom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. History Both Morris and Salom had backgrounds in batt ...
, joined soon by another electric car builder,
Andrew L. Riker Andrew Lawrence Riker (1868–1930) was an early automobile designer known for helping the U.S. car industry to transition from electric to gas-powered car manufacturing. He began experimenting with electric vehicles in 1884. He formed the ...
. The
Electric Boat Company Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by ...
got its start building submarines for the United States Navy in Elizabeth, New Jersey, beginning with the launch of USS ''Holland'' (SS-1) in 1897. These pioneering naval craft nown as A-Classwere developed at Lewis Nixon's
Crescent Shipyard Crescent Shipyard, located on Newark Bay in Elizabeth, New Jersey, built a number of ships for the United States Navy and allied nations as well during their production run, which lasted about ten years while under the Crescent name and banner. ...
in Elizabeth between the years 1896–1903. Elizabeth grew in parallel to its sister city of
Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...
for many years, but has been more successful in retaining a middle-class presence and was mostly spared riots in the 1960s. On September 18, 2016, a backpack holding five bombs was discovered outside
NJ Transit New Jersey Transit Corporation, branded as NJ Transit, and often shortened to NJT, is a state-owned public transportation system that serves the U.S. state of New Jersey, along with portions of New York State and Pennsylvania. It operates bu ...
's Elizabeth train station. One bomb detonated accidentally when a bomb squad robot failed to disarm the contents of the backpack; no one was hurt. Police were initially unsure if this event was related to bombs in
Seaside Park, New Jersey Seaside Park is a borough in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,436, a decrease of 143 (−9.1%) from th ...
and
Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
that had exploded the previous day. On September 19, police arrested Ahmad Khan Rahami, a 28-year-old Afghan-born naturalized
U.S. citizen Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by the Constituti ...
, for questioning in connection with all three incidents; the FBI considered Rahami, whose last known address was within of the train station, to be armed and dangerous.Santora, Marc; Rashbaum, William K.; Baker, Al; and Goldman, Adam
"Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings"
, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', September 19, 2016. Accessed September 25, 2016. "The frenzied end came on a rain-soaked street in Linden, N.J., four hours after the police issued an unprecedented cellphone alert to millions of people in the area telling them to be on the lookout for Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, who was described as 'armed and dangerous'.... Mayor J. Christian Bollwage of Elizabeth, N.J., outside an apartment on Monday where Mr. Rahami was believed to have lived."


Geography

According to the
U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city had a total area of 13.66 square miles (35.37 km2), including 12.32 square miles (31.91 km2) of land and 1.34 square miles (3.46 km2) of water (9.78%). Elizabeth is bordered to the southwest by Linden, to the west by Roselle and
Roselle Park Roselle may refer to: * Roselle (plant), a species of hibiscus (''Hibiscus sabdariffa'') **A drink made from that plant, also called "Hibiscus tea" Roselle is the/a name of: ; People * Mike Roselle - American environmental activist and author ; ...
, to the northwest by
Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...
and Hillside, to the north by
Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...
(in Essex County). To the east the city is across Newark Bay from Bayonne in
Hudson County Hudson County is the most densely populated county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It lies west of the lower Hudson River, which was named for Henry Hudson, the sea captain who explored the area in 1609. Part of New Jersey's Gateway Region in ...
and the Arthur Kill from
Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...
, New York. The borders of Elizabeth, Bayonne, and Staten Island meet at one point on
Shooters Island Shooters Island is a uninhabited island at the southern end of Newark Bay, off the North Shore of Staten Island in New York City. The boundary between the states of New York and New Jersey runs through the island, with a small portion on the ...
, of which of the island is owned by Elizabeth, though the island is managed by the
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, also called the Parks Department or NYC Parks, is the department of the government of New York City responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecolog ...
. The Elizabeth River is a waterway that courses through the city for and is largely channelized, before draining into the Arthur Kill.


Districts and neighborhoods


Midtown / Uptown

Midtown, also occasionally known as Uptown, is the main commercial district and a historic section as well. It includes the First Presbyterian Church and St. John's Episcopal Church, and its St. John's Episcopal Churchyard. The First Presbyterian Church was a battleground for the American Revolution. Located here are also the 1931
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...
Hersh Tower,Goodnough, Abby
"New Jersey & Co.; In Elizabeth, Dusting Off an Art Deco Treasure"
, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', August 6, 1995. Accessed September 28, 2014. "Hersh Tower was the tallest building in Elizabeth when Louis Hersh, an Elizabeth businessman, built it in 1931. (These days, only the Union County Court building is taller.)"
the
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy is a public high school in Elizabeth, New Jersey in Union County in the United States, specializing in the visual, performing, and media arts. Located in historic Midtown, the school serves students in ninth thro ...
, and the Ritz Theatre which has been operating since 1926. Midtown/Uptown includes the area once known as "Brittanville" which contained many English type gardens.


Bayway

Bayway is located in the southern part of the city and borders the City of Linden. From US 1&9 and Allen Street, between the Elizabeth River and the Arthur Kill, it has maintained a strong Polish community for years. Developed at the turn of the 20th century, many of the area residents once worked at the refinery which straddles both Elizabeth and Linden. There are unique ethnic restaurants, bars, and stores along Bayway, and a variety of houses of worship. Housing styles are older and well maintained. There are many affordable two to four-family housing units, and multiple apartment complexes. The western terminus of the
Goethals Bridge The Goethals Bridge () is the name of a pair of cable-stayed bridge spans connecting Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Staten Island, New York, in the United States. The spans cross a strait known as Arthur Kill, and replaced a cantilever bridge span b ...
, which spans the Arthur Kill to
Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...
can be found here. A small section of the neighborhood was isolated with both the completion of the Goethals Bridge in 1928 and the construction of the New Jersey Turnpike in the 1950s.


Downtown / Elizabethport

Downtown / E-Port (a.k.a. The Port and Elizabethport) is the oldest neighborhood and perhaps the most diverse place in Elizabeth. It consists of a collection of old world Elizabethan, new American colonial-style houses and apartment buildings that stretch east of 7th Street to its shores. The name is derived from its dependence on businesses catering to seagoing ventures. It was a thriving center of commerce between the 1660s through the middle of the 20th century. This area has had a great deal of improvement since 2000. Many homes have been renovated or been replaced with new, more ornate structures. Federal housing projects that stood for decades along First Street have been demolished and replaced with low to moderate income housing. The waterfront is home to new town homes and two-family homes (duplexes). The area was once three distinct neighborhoods: Buckeye, Diamondville and New Mexico. It was the US home of the
Singer Manufacturing Company Singer Corporation is an American manufacturer of consumer sewing machines, first established as I. M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Singer, Isaac M. Singer with New York lawyer Edward Cabot Clark, Edward C. Clark. Best known for its sewing mac ...
, makers of Singer sewing machines, which constructed a facility on a site in 1873. Shortly after it opened, the factory manufactured the majority of all sewing machines worldwide. With 6,000 employees working there in the 1870s, it employed the largest number of workers at a single facility in 1873. The company moved out of Elizabeth in 1982. Elizabeth Marina, which was once filled with trash and debris along its walkway, was also restored. It is the site of year-round celebrations from a Hispanic festival in late spring to the lighting of a Christmas tree in winter. Living conditions in this area continue to improve year after year. Historically, there were immigrant communities centered around Christian churches. The Slavic community was centered by Sts. Peter and Paul Byzantine, the Lithuanian community attended Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic and the Polish community attended St. Adalbert
Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
which still stands. St. Patrick Church, originally Irish, dominates the 'Port; the cornerstone for the second and current building was laid in 1887.


Elmora and The West End

Elmora is a middle/working-class neighborhood in the western part of Elizabeth. The main thoroughfare, Elmora Avenue, boasts some of the best restaurants, shops and boutiques. A few of the city's most luxurious high-rise building complexes, affording views of the New York skyline, dot the edge of this neighborhood and are convenient to the Midtown NJ Transit Train Station. The neighborhood area forms a "V" from its approximate borders of the Central RR tracks to Rahway Avenue.


Modern Orthodox Modern may refer to: History *Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Philosoph ...
community in Elmora

The Elmora section of Elizabeth is home to a large
Modern Orthodox Modern may refer to: History *Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Philosoph ...
community. The
Jewish Educational Center The Jewish Educational Center is an eighty-year-old yeshiva school located in Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grades. Throughout the day the student curriculum consist ...
of Elizabeth was founded in 1941 by a Latvian-born rabbi, Pinchas Mordechai Teitz, who arrived to lecture in to the city's then-small Orthodox community in the 1930s.


Elmora Hills

The northwestern part of Elmora is known as Elmora Hills. It is a strongly middle- to upper-middle-class neighborhood. Originally called Shearerville, the name Elmora came from the developers of the area, the El Mora Land Company. This area was annexed from Union, returning to Elizabeth in the early part of the 20th century. This was done to increase the city's tax base as major improvements to infrastructure were necessary at the time.


Frog Hollow

Frog Hollow is a small community of homes east of Atlantic Street, west of the Arthur Kill, and south of Elizabeth Avenue. Its name is derived from the excellent frog catching in its marshes as well as the excellent oyster and fishing of the past. The area expanded east and includes the area formerly known as Helltown. Helltown included many of the docks and shipyards, as well as several drydocks. The area's developer was Edward N. Kellogg, who also laid out the neighborhood in Keighry Head. Frog Hollow contains older-style, affordable homes, rentals, and some quality restaurants in a working-class community. The statue honoring former Mayor Mack on Elizabeth Avenue is a landmark in the community. Frog Hollow is also convenient to the Veteran's Memorial Waterfront Park.


Keighry Head

Its name is attributed to James Keighry of the Isle of Kerry, Ireland. He was a notable resident who owned a business facing the square formed at the junction of Jackson, Madison, Chestnut and Magnolia Avenues. The approximate borders of this neighborhood extended north from East Grand Street to Flora Street and from Walnut to Division Street. Developed by Edward N. Kellogg, many of the streets were named after family and friends. Keighry Head is located close to Midtown, containing affordable one and two-family homes, and apartment houses, convenient to the Midtown shopping district, and transportation.


North End / North Elizabeth

The North End, also known as "North Elizabeth", is a diverse working-class neighborhood. The borders are approximately the Arch north to the city line between North Broad Street and US 1&9. It was developed mostly in the 1920s for workers in the Duesenberg automobile plant (later Durant Auto, Burry Biscuits and Interbake Foods). The area was heavily settled by the Irish and then Portuguese. The North End has easy access to New York and Newark via its own NJ Transit train station, Routes 1&9 and the NJ Turnpike. The neighborhood also has Crane Square, the Historic Nugents Tavern, and Kellogg Park and its proximity to Newark Liberty International Airport. There is currently a plan in place to develop the former Interbake Foods facility into shopping and residential townhouses and condominiums. This community contains many larger one and two-family homes that have been rebuilt over the past decade. North Elizabeth also features many well-kept apartment houses and condominium units on and around North Avenue that are home to professionals who work in New York or the area. The only Benedictine women's community in New Jersey is located at Saint Walburga Monastery on North Broad Street.


Peterstown

Peterstown (also known as "The Burg") is a middle/working-class neighborhood in the southeastern part of the city. Its borders run west of Atlantic Street to South Spring Street from 1st Avenue to the Elizabeth River. Its name is derived from John Peters, who owned most of the land with George Peters. They divided the land and developed it during the end of the 19th century. The area was once predominantly occupied by its earliest settlers, who were German, and during the 1920s was gentrified by newly immigrated Italians. Peterstown has clean, quiet streets and has many affordable housing opportunities with a "village" feel. The area contains the historic Union Square, which is home to produce stands, meat markets, fresh fish and poultry stores. Peterstown is also home of the
DeCavalcante crime family The DeCavalcante crime family, also known as the North Jersey Mafia, is an Italian-American Mafia organized crime family that operates mainly in northern New Jersey, particularly in Elizabeth, Newark, West New York, and various other North Jer ...
, one of the most infamous
Mafia "Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of d ...
families in the United States.


The Point / the Crossroads

The Point, formally known as the Crossroads, is centrally located and defined by New Point Road and Division Street. It is close to Midtown and contains many new affordable two-family homes, apartment houses and is undergoing a transformation. The former Elizabeth General Hospital site is currently being demolished and awaiting a new development.


Quality Hill

Home to St. Mary's and the "Hilltoppers", this area once was lined with mansions. Its approximate borders were South Broad Street to Grier Avenue and Pearl Street to what is now US 1&9. During its development in the 1860s it was the most fashionable area of the city to live. It is now a quiet middle class community experiencing a re-development with many new condominiums.


Westminster

Developed by Edward J. Grassman, Westminster got its name from the city's largest residential estates of the Tudor style and was inhabited by many residents who traced their ancestry to England. This neighborhood borders Hillside with the Elizabeth River running its border creating a dramatic splash of greenery and rolling hills off of North Avenue, near Liberty Hall. Residents use this area for recreation, whether it is at the newly christened
Phil Rizzuto Philip Francis Rizzuto (September 25, 1917 – August 13, 2007), nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career with the New York Yankees (1941–1956), and was elected to th ...
Park area, or for bird watching or for sunbathing by the river. It is one of the more affluent areas of Elizabeth.


Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
system, Elizabeth straddles the boundary between a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
and a hot-summer
humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...
.


Demographics

In 2019, the foreign-born population in the city was 46.6% of the total population, and the
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
population was 65%.


2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars)
median household income The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways o ...
was $43,770 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,488) and the median family income was $46,891 (+/− $1,873). Males had a median income of $32,268 (+/− $1,205) versus $27,228 (+/− $1,427) for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the borough was $19,196 (+/− $604). About 14.7% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.


2000 Census

As of the
2000 United States census The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 ce ...
there were 120,568 people, 40,482 households, and 28,175 families residing in the city. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 9,865.5 inhabitants per square mile (3,809.5/km2). There were 42,838 housing units at an average density of 3,505.2 per square mile (1,353.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.78%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 19.98% Black or
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.48% Native American, 2.35%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.05%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 15.51% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 5.86% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 49.46% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Elizabeth city
,
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
. Accessed July 9, 2012.
DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Elizabeth city, New Jersey
,
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
. Accessed July 9, 2012.
Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
is the nation of birth for the highest number of foreign-born inhabitants of Elizabeth: it was the birthplace of 8,731 Elizabeth residents as of the 2000 Census. This exceeded the combined total of 8,214 for Mexican and Central American immigrants. It also far exceeded the next highest single nation count of Cuba at 5,812. The highest number for a non-Spanish speaking country and third highest overall was Portugal, whose native-born immigrants numbered 4,544. The next largest groups were
Salvadoran Salvadorans (Spanish: ''Salvadoreños''), also known as Salvadorians (alternate spelling: Salvadoreans), are citizens of El Salvador, a country in Central America. Most Salvadorans live in El Salvador, although there is also a significant Salvad ...
immigrants numbering 4,043,
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...
vians at 3,591 and Dominican immigrants, of whom there were 3,492. There were 40,482 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.45. In the city the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $35,175, and the median income for a family was $38,370. Males had a median income of $30,757 versus $23,931 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the city was $15,114. About 15.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.


Economy

Since
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Elizabeth has seen its transportation facilities grow; the
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
is one of the busiest ports in the world, as is Newark Liberty International Airport, located in both
Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...
and Elizabeth. Elizabeth also features Little Jimmy's Italian Ices (since 1932),
The Mills At Jersey Gardens The Mills at Jersey Gardens, originally and also still colloquially called Jersey Gardens, is a two-level indoor outlet mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The mall opened on October 21, 1999, and is the largest outlet mall in New Jersey, and much clo ...
outlet mall An outlet store, factory outlet or factory shop is a brick and mortar or online store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public. Traditionally, a factory outlet was a store attached to a factory or warehouse, sometimes allowin ...
,
Loews Theater Loews Cineplex Entertainment, also known as Loews Incorporated, is an American theater chain operating in North America. From 1924 until 1959, it was also the parent company of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM). The company was originally cal ...
, and the Elizabeth Center, which generate millions of dollars in revenue. Companies based in Elizabeth included
New England Motor Freight New England Motor Freight, Inc. (NEMF) was a Trade union, unionized Less-than-truckload shipping, less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload freight carrier, based in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was one of the largest LTL carriers in the Northeaster ...
. Together with Linden, Elizabeth is home to the Bayway Refinery, a Phillips 66 refining facility that supplies
petroleum Petroleum, also known as crude oil, or simply oil, is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture of mainly hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The name ''petroleum'' covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crud ...
-based products to the New York/New Jersey area, producing approximately per day. Celadon, a mixed-use development containing 14 glass skyscrapers, offices, retail, a hotel, boardwalk and many other amenities is proposed to border the east side of
The Mills at Jersey Gardens The Mills at Jersey Gardens, originally and also still colloquially called Jersey Gardens, is a two-level indoor outlet mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The mall opened on October 21, 1999, and is the largest outlet mall in New Jersey, and much clo ...
, directly on the Port Newark Bay. Groundbreaking was scheduled for the summer of 2008 on the ferry, roads and parking, and construction was planned to continue for at least twelve years. As of 2021 this project has not started construction and there is no recent news about Celadon, so it is assumed that this project has been canceled Portions of the city are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. Elizabeth was selected in 1983 as one of the initial group of 10 zones chosen to participate in the program. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants. Established in November 1992, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in November 2023.


Government


Local government

The City of Elizabeth is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. The city is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the City Council. The Elizabeth City Council is comprised of nine members, who are elected to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis with elections held in even-numbered years. The mayor and the three council members elected at-large come up for election together in leap years and two years later the six members who are elected from each of Elizabeth's six wards are all up for election.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'',
Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University (The Bloustein School) serves as a center for the theory and practice of urban planning, public policy and public health/health administration scholarship. The sc ...
, March 2013, p. 90.
, the city's Mayor is
Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...
Chris Bollwage James Christian (Chris) Bollwage is the mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey, the state's fourth-largest city. A lifelong resident of Elizabeth, he was elected into his first term in 1992, and reelected in November 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 a ...
, a lifelong resident of Elizabeth who is serving his eighth term as Mayor, serving a term of office that ends December 31, 2024.Our Mayor
City of Elizabeth. Accessed January 23, 2022.
City Council members are Council President Patricia Perkins-Auguste (at-large; D, 2024), Carlos Cedeño (Fourth Ward; D, 2022), Frank J. Cuesta (at-large; D, 2024), William Gallman Jr. (Fifth Ward; D, 2022), Nelson Gonzalez (Second Ward; D, 2022), Manny Grova Jr. (at-large; D, 2024), Kevin Kiniery (Third Ward; D, 2022), Frank O. Mazza (Sixth Ward; D, 2022), and Carlos L. Torres (First Ward; D, 2022).''Union County Elected Officials''
Union County, New Jersey Union County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 575,345, making it the seventh-most populous of New Jersey's 21 counties. Its county seat is Elizabeth.
Clerk. Accessed March 30, 2020.
General Election November 3, 2020 Official Results
Union County, New Jersey Union County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 575,345, making it the seventh-most populous of New Jersey's 21 counties. Its county seat is Elizabeth.
, updated December 14, 2020. Accessed January 23, 2022.
General Election November 6, 2018 Official Results
Union County, New Jersey Union County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 575,345, making it the seventh-most populous of New Jersey's 21 counties. Its county seat is Elizabeth.
, updated November 16, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.
Bollwage, who has served as mayor of Elizabeth since 1992, was paid an annual salary of $152,564 in 2016, placing him among the three highest-paid mayors in the state and the only mayor in Union County to earn annual compensation in excess of $100,000.


Federal, state and county representation

Elizabeth is located in the 8th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report
New Jersey Redistricting Commission The New Jersey Redistricting Commission is a constitutional body of the government of New Jersey tasked with redrawing the state's Congressional election districts after each decade's census. Like Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, and Washington; t ...
, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.
and is part of New Jersey's 20th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.
''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.
Prior to the 2010 Census, Elizabeth had been split between the and the , a change made by the
New Jersey Redistricting Commission The New Jersey Redistricting Commission is a constitutional body of the government of New Jersey tasked with redrawing the state's Congressional election districts after each decade's census. Like Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, and Washington; t ...
that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.''2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
, p. 57, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.
Union County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, whose nine members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis with three seats coming up for election each year, with an appointed County Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of the county. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. , Union County's County Commissioners are Chair Rebecca Williams ( D, Plainfield, term as commissioner and as chair ends December 31, 2022), Vice Chair Christopher Hudak (D, Linden, term as commissioner ends 2023; term as vice chair ends 2022), James E. Baker Jr. (D,
Rahway Rahway () is a city in southern Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. A bedroom community of New York City, it is centrally located in the Rahway Valley region, in the New York metropolitan area. The city is southwest of Manhattan ...
, 2024), Angela R. Garretson (D, Hillside, 2023), Sergio Granados (D, Elizabeth, 2022), Bette Jane Kowalski (D, Cranford, 2022), Lourdes M. Leon (D, Elizabeth, 2023), Alexander Mirabella (D, Fanwood, 2024) and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded (D, Westfield, 2024). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (D, Union Township, 2025), Sheriff Peter Corvelli (D,
Kenilworth Kenilworth ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Warwick District in Warwickshire, England, south-west of Coventry, north of Warwick and north-west of London. It lies on Finham Brook, a tributary of the River Sowe, which joins the ...
, 2023) and Surrogate Susan Dinardo (acting). The County Manager is Edward Oatman.


Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 44,415 registered voters in Elizabeth, of which 24,988 (56.3% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,430 (5.5% vs. 15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 16,985 (38.2% vs. 42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered to other parties.Voter Registration Summary – Union
, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 6, 2013.
Among the city's 2010 Census population, 35.5% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 47.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
received 24,751 votes (80.8% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 5,213 votes (17.0% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 166 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 30,640 ballots cast by the city's 50,715 registered voters, for a turnout of 60.4% (vs. 68.8% in Union County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 23,524 votes (74.3% vs. 63.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 7,559 votes (23.9% vs. 35.2%) and other candidates with 202 votes (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 31,677 ballots cast by the city's 48,294 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.6% (vs. 74.7% in Union County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat
John Kerry John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician and diplomat who currently serves as the first United States special presidential envoy for climate. A member of the Forbes family and the Democratic Party, he ...
received 18,363 votes (67.2% vs. 58.3% countywide), ahead of Republican
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
with 8,486 votes (31.0% vs. 40.3%) and other candidates with 144 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 27,334 ballots cast by the city's 45,882 registered voters, for a turnout of 59.6% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county). In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat
Barbara Buono Barbara A. Buono (born July 28, 1953) is an American politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 2002 to 2014, where she represented the 18th Legislative District. She served from 2010 to 2012 as the Majority Leader in the Senate, succ ...
received 63.2% of the vote (7,804 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 35.5% (4,379 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (163 votes), among the 13,592 ballots cast by the city's 49,515 registered voters (1,246 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 27.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat
Jon Corzine Jon Stevens Corzine ( ; born January 1, 1947) is an American financial executive and retired politician who served as a United States Senator from New Jersey from 2001 to 2006 and the 54th governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. Corzine ran fo ...
received 10,258 ballots cast (66.8% vs. 50.6% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 4,386 votes (28.6% vs. 41.7%), Independent
Chris Daggett Christopher Jarvis Daggett (born March 7, 1950) is an American businessman who is the president and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, one of the largest foundations in New Jersey. A former regional administrator of the United States En ...
with 376 votes (2.4% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 131 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 15,355 ballots cast by the city's 46,219 registered voters, yielding a 33.2% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).


Police department

The Elizabeth Police Department was established in May 1858. The current Police Director is Earl Graves and the Chief of Police is Giacomo Sacca. The Table of Organization authorizes 365 officers, including 9 captains, 21 lieutenants and 39 sergeants.


Fire department

The Elizabeth Fire Department provides
fire protection Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially destructive fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as we ...
and
emergency medical services Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...
to the city of Elizabeth. The Elizabeth Fire Department was established as a volunteer organization in 1837 when Engine Company # 1 was organized. In 1901, the volunteer department was no longer adequate and the department reorganized into a paid department on January 1, 1902. There are 7 Engine Companies, 3 Ladder Companies, 1 Rescue Company, and several Special Units. These companies and units are under the command of both a Deputy Chief and two Battalion Chiefs. The department is part of the Metro USAR Strike Team, which consists of nine North Jersey fire departments and other emergency services divisions working to address major emergency rescue situations.


Fire station locations and apparatus


Emergency medical services

Emergency medical services are provided by the Elizabeth Fire Department's Division of Emergency Medical Services. This is a civilian division of the fire department and handles approximately 20,000 calls a year. The division is made up of an EMS chief, 5 supervisors, 28 full-time emergency medical technicians, and approximately 12 per-diem EMTs. The division, at its maximum staffing, aims to operate five ambulances and a supervisor on days (7am–7pm) and three ambulances and a supervisor on nights (7pm–7am). They also operate the NJ EMS Task Force Medical Ambulance Bus #1. Hatzalah of Union County provides EMS primarily to the Elmora Hills neighborhood of Elizabeth, and certain sections of Hillside,
Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...
and
Roselle Park Roselle may refer to: * Roselle (plant), a species of hibiscus (''Hibiscus sabdariffa'') **A drink made from that plant, also called "Hibiscus tea" Roselle is the/a name of: ; People * Mike Roselle - American environmental activist and author ; ...
.


Education

The city's public schools are operated by
Elizabeth Public Schools Elizabeth Public Schools is a public school district in Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were es ...
, serving students in pre-kindergarten through
twelfth grade Twelfth grade, 12th grade, senior year, or grade 12 is the final year of secondary school in most of North America. In other regions, it may also be referred to as class 12 or Year 13. In most countries, students are usually between the ages of 17 ...
. The district is one of 31 former
Abbott district ''Abbott'' districts are school districts in New Jersey that are provided remedies to ensure that their students receive public education in accordance with the state constitution. They were created in 1985 as a result of the first ruling of ''Abb ...
s statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in ''Abbott v. Burke'' which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Administration and operation of the district is overseen by a nine-member board of education. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of 36 schools, had an enrollment of 28,712 students and 2,173.0 classroom teachers (on an full-time equivalent, FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.2:1.District information for Elizabeth Public Schools
National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
High schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Elizabeth High School (New Jersey), Elizabeth High School Frank J. Cicarell Aacdemy (1,152; 9–12), J. Christian Bollwage Finance Academy (420; 9–12), John Dwyer Technology Academy, John E. Dwyer Technology Academy (1,340; 9–12), Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Academy (872; 9–12), Admiral William Halsey Leadership Academy, Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health and Public Safety Academy (1,111; 9–12), Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy (1,014; 9–12) and
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy is a public high school in Elizabeth, New Jersey in Union County in the United States, specializing in the visual, performing, and media arts. Located in historic Midtown, the school serves students in ninth thro ...
(1,122; 9–12). With 5,300 students, Elizabeth High School had been the largest high school in the state of New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States, and underwent a split that created five new academies and a smaller Elizabeth High School under a transformation program that began in the 2009–2010 school year. The school was the 294th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in ''New Jersey Monthly'' magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 302nd in 2008 out of 316 schools. Before the 2008–2009 school year, all of the district's schools (except high schools) became K–8 schools, replacing the middle schools and elementary schools. SchoolDigger.com ranked Elizabeth 449th of 558 districts evaluated in New Jersey. These and other indicators reveal a seriously declining performance standard in the city's schools. Data reported by the state Department of Education showed that a majority of students in a majority of the Elizabeth public schools failed basic skills tests. In the 2008–09 school year, Victor Mravlag Elementary School No. 21 was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive. For the 2006–2007 school year, William F. Halloran Alternative School #22 was one of four schools in New Jersey recognized with the Blue Ribbon Award. William F. Halloran Alternative School #22 earned a second award when it was one of 11 in the state to be recognized in 2014 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 was honored by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2019, one of nine schools in the state recognized as Exemplary High Performing Schools; the school had previously won the honor in 2013.


Private schools

Elizabeth is also home to several private schools. The coeducational St. Mary of the Assumption High School, which was established 1930, and the all-girls Benedictine Academy, which is run by the Benedictine Sisters of Saint Walburga Monastery, both operate under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. The Newark Archdiocese also operates the K–8 schools Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy and St. Genevieve School, which was founded in 1926. St. Patrick High School (New Jersey), Saint Patrick High School was closed by the Newark Archdiocese in June 2012 due to increasing costs and declining enrollment. Administrators and parents affiliated with the defunct school came together to open an independent non-denominational school on Morris Avenue called "The Patrick School" in September 2012. The Benedictine Preschool, operated by the Benedictine Sisters, is housed at Saint Walburga Monastery. The
Jewish Educational Center The Jewish Educational Center is an eighty-year-old yeshiva school located in Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grades. Throughout the day the student curriculum consist ...
comprises the Yeshiva of Elizabeth (nursery through sixth grades), the Rav Teitz Mesivta Academy (for boys in grades 6–12) and Bruriah High School for Girls, Bruriah High School (for girls in grades 7–12). Princeton University was founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey.


Libraries

The Elizabeth Public Library, the free public library with a main library, originally List of Carnegie libraries in New Jersey, a Carnegie library, and three branchesLibraries
, City of Elizabeth. Accessed September 28, 2014.
had a collection of 384,000 volumes and annual circulation of about 115,000 in 2016.


Transportation


Roads and highways

Elizabeth is a hub of several major roadways including the New Jersey Turnpike / Interstate 95 in New Jersey, Interstate 95, Interstate 278 (including the
Goethals Bridge The Goethals Bridge () is the name of a pair of cable-stayed bridge spans connecting Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Staten Island, New York, in the United States. The spans cross a strait known as Arthur Kill, and replaced a cantilever bridge span b ...
, which carries Interstate 278 over the Arthur Kill between Elizabeth and Howland Hook, Staten Island, Howland Hook,
Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...
), U.S. Route 1/9, New Jersey Route 27, Route 27, New Jersey Route 28, Route 28, and New Jersey Route 439, Route 439. Elizabeth's own street plan, in contrast to the more usual grid plan, is to a large degree circular, with circumferential and radial streets centered on the Elizabeth (NJT station), central railroad station. , the city had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Union County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. There are numerous List of crossings of the Elizabeth River, crossings of the Elizabeth River. The city was once home to several smaller bascule bridges. The South First Street Bridge over the river, originally built in 1908, was replaced by a fixed span. The South Front Street Bridge, built in 1922, has been left in the open position since March 2011. A study is underway to determine if the bridge can be rehabilitated. The bridge is notable in that it is the only remaining movable road bridge in Union County (movable railroad bridges still exist).


Public transportation

Elizabeth is among the List of U.S. cities with high transit ridership, U.S. cities with the highest train ridership. It is served by
NJ Transit New Jersey Transit Corporation, branded as NJ Transit, and often shortened to NJT, is a state-owned public transportation system that serves the U.S. state of New Jersey, along with portions of New York State and Pennsylvania. It operates bu ...
on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor Line. There are two active stations in Elizabeth. Elizabeth (NJT station), Elizabeth station, also called Broad Street Elizabeth or Midtown Station, is the southern station in Midtown Elizabeth. The other train station in Elizabeth is North Elizabeth (NJT station), North Elizabeth station.
NJ Transit New Jersey Transit Corporation, branded as NJ Transit, and often shortened to NJT, is a state-owned public transportation system that serves the U.S. state of New Jersey, along with portions of New York State and Pennsylvania. It operates bu ...
has planned a segment of the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link (NERL), designated as the Union County Light Rail (UCLR). The UCLR was planned to connect Elizabeth (NJT station), Midtown Station with Newark Liberty International Airport and have seven or eight other stations in between within Elizabeth city limits. A possible extension of this future line to Plainfield would link the city of Elizabeth with the Raritan Valley Line. NJ Transit provides bus service on the 111 (New Jersey bus), 111, 112 (New Jersey bus), 112, 113 (New Jersey bus), 113 and 115 (New Jersey bus), 115 routes to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, on the , 40 (New Jersey bus), 40, 48 (New Jersey bus), 48, 59 (New Jersey bus), 59 and 62 (New Jersey bus), 62 routes to Newark, New Jersey, with local service available on the 26 (New Jersey bus), 26, 52 (New Jersey bus), 52, 56 (New Jersey bus), 56, 57 (New Jersey bus), 57 and 58 (New Jersey bus), 58 routes. Olympia Trails, ONE Bus provides service between Elizabeth and Newark on the 24 (New Jersey bus), 24 route.


Local media

WJDM (New Jersey), WJDM at 1530 AM signed-on March 11, 1970 with studios at 9 Caldwell Place in Elizabeth. The station signed-off on January 30, 2019. News 12 New Jersey offers weather and news channels with coverage of the city. The ''New Jersey Journal, Daily Journal'' was published in Elizabeth from 1779 to 1992, ending publication as circulation plummeted from a peak of 60,000.


Public-access channel

Residents of Elizabeth can tune into the public-access television cable-TV channel at any time to view public information, the city bulletin board, live meetings, important health information and tips. This service is provided by Altice USA, Optimum on channel 18. The channel also features the top ten ranked television shows, educational facts, quote of the day, gas price statistics, and tips for keeping the city safe and clean.


In popular culture

* In the opening credits of the HBO crime drama ''The Sopranos'', part of the city is shown. * The city is the focal point of Elizabeth native Judy Blume's 2015 novel ''In the Unlikely Event (novel), In the Unlikely Event'', the backdrop of which is three incidents that involved the crash of three commercial airliners in Elizabeth—1951 Miami Airlines C-46 crash, American Airlines Flight 6780 and National Airlines Flight 101—that took place within a period of two months in late 1951 and early 1952. * Elizabeth is the hometown of Mary Dawn Dwyer Levov, the principal female character in Philip Roth's 1997 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ''American Pastoral''.


Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Elizabeth include: * Asad Abdul-Khaliq (born 1980), starting quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2000 to 2003 * Louis Abell (1884–1962), Olympic rower * A. Bernard Ackerman (1936–2008), physician; a founding figure in the field of dermatopathology * Ryan Adeleye (born 1985), Israeli-American professional soccer defender who has played for Hapoel Ashkelon * Matthias W. Baldwin (1795–1866), inventor and machinery manufacturer, specializing in the production of steam locomotives, whose machine shop, established in 1825, grew to become Baldwin Locomotive Works * John D. Bates (born 1946), Senior status, Senior United States federal judge, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia * Eugene J. Bedell (1928–2016), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1982 * Stephen Bercik (1921–2003), politician; mayor of Elizabeth from 1956 to 1964 * Benjamin Blackledge (1743–1815), educator and public official * Judy Blume (born 1938), author * Elias Boudinot (1740–1821), President of the Continental Congress; early United States House of Representatives, U.S. Congressman * Todd Bowles (born 1963), former NFL defensive back with the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers; former Head Coach of the New York Jets from 2015 to 2018 and current Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. * David Brody (historian), David Brody (born 1930), historian; professor emeritus of history at the University of California, Davis * Hubie Brown (born 1933), former basketball coach and current television analyst * Antoinette Brown Blackwell (1825–1921), first woman to be ordained as a mainstream Protestant minister in the U.S. * Robert Nietzel Buck (1914–2007), broke the junior transcontinental air speed record in 1930; youngest pilot ever licensed in the U.S. * N. J. Burkett (born 1962), news correspondent for WABC-TV * William Burnet (1730-1791), William Burnet (1730–1791), physician who represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1781 * Arthur Leopold Busch (1866–1956), submarine pioneer who constructed the USS Holland (SS-1), USS ''Holland'' SS-1 * Deidre Davis Butler (1955–2020), lawyer, disability rights activist and federal official * James G. Butler (1920–2005), trial lawyer who was known for winning many large verdicts for plaintiffs in civil litigation, including the first in a thalidomide case * Nicholas Murray Butler (1862–1947), winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; a founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace * Elias B. Caldwell (1776–1825), Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States * Joan Carroll (1931–2016), actress, known for films such as ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' and ''The Bells of St. Mary's'' * Rodney Carter (born 1964), former NFL running back/3rd down receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers * Al Catanho (born 1972), former linebacker in the National Football League, NFL for the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins * John Catlin (politician), John Catlin (1803–1874), acting Governor of Wisconsin Territory * Gil Chapman (born 1953), running back and return specialist for the University of Michigan and New Orleans Saints * Michael Chertoff (born 1953), United States Secretary of Homeland Security; was born and raised there * Hiram Chodosh (born 1962), Fifth president of Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California * Abraham Clark (1725–1794), Member of the Continental Congress; signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, Declaration of Independence * Amos Clark Jr. (1828–1912), politician and businessman who represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1873 to 1875 * Freddie 'Red' Cochrane (1915–1993), professional boxer in the welterweight (147 lb) division who became World Champion in 1941 in that class * Jim Colbert (born 1941), golfer and multiple winner on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour * Tom Colicchio (born 1962), restaurateur, chef, and judge on reality-TV program ''Top Chef'' * Tom Coyne (music engineer), Tom Coyne (1954–2017), mastering engineer * Joseph Halsey Crane (1782–1851), Congressional representative from Ohio * Elias Dayton (1737–1807), elected to the Continental Congress; served as mayor of Elizabethtown from 1796 to 1805; father of Jonathan Dayton * Jonathan Dayton (1760–1824), signer of the United States Constitution and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; born there;The Founding Fathers: New Jersey
, National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed April 21, 2007.
Dayton, Ohio is named for him * John De Hart (1727–1795), delegate to the Continental Congress; was born and lived there *
DeCavalcante crime family The DeCavalcante crime family, also known as the North Jersey Mafia, is an Italian-American Mafia organized crime family that operates mainly in northern New Jersey, particularly in Elizabeth, Newark, West New York, and various other North Jer ...
, one of the biggest mafia families in the U.S., is based here * Tom DeSanto (born 1968), film producer * Thomas G. Dunn (–1998), seven-term mayor of Elizabeth whose 28 years in office made him the longest-serving mayor of a U.S. city with more than 100,000 people * Drew Esocoff (born 1957), television sports director, who is the director of ''NBC Sunday Night Football'' * John J. Fay Jr. (1927–2003), member of the New Jersey General Assembly and the New Jersey Senate * Chuck Feeney (born 1931), businessman, philanthropist and the founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies, one of the largest private foundations in the world. * Charles N. Fowler (1852–1932), represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district, 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1895 to 1911 * Ron Freeman (born 1947), winner of the gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City; raised there and attended Thomas Jefferson High School * Stanton T. Friedman (1934–2019), professional ufologist * Minna Gale (1869–1944), Shakespearean actress * Chris Gatling (born 1967), NBA player for the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers * Tom Glassic (born 1954), retired NFL offensive lineman who played for the Denver Broncos * William Halsey Jr. (1882–1959), admiral in the United States Navy during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, who was one of four individuals to have attained the rank of fleet admiral (United States), fleet admiral * Alexander Hamilton (–1804), lived here as a young man upon first arriving in America * John T. Hendrickson Jr. (1923–1999), politician who represented the New Jersey's 9th legislative district, 9th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1982 to 1989 * Joseph J. Higgins (1929–2007), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1966 to 1974 * Kyrie Irving (born 1992), basketball player who plays professionally for the NBA's Brooklyn Nets * Raghib Ismail (born 1969), former NFL and Canadian Football League, CFL player * Horace Jenkins (born 1974), former NBA player for the Detroit Pistons * Leo Warren Jenkins (1913–1989), educator who served as the sixth president and chancellor of what is now East Carolina University * Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992), LGBTQ activist * I. Stanford Jolley (1900–1978), film and television actor who starred in the 1946 Serial film, serial film ''The Crimson Ghost'' * Phineas Jones (1819–1884), represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1881 to 1883 * Arnie Kantrowitz (1940–2022), LGBT activist and college professor * Michael Kasha (1926–2019), physical chemist and molecular spectroscopist who collaborated with Andres Segovia in the 1960s and 1970s to create the Kasha Design classical guitars * John Kean (New Jersey), John Kean (1852–1914), represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 1899 to 1911; served two separate terms in the United States House of Representatives, from 1883 to 1885, and from 1887 to 1889, representing New Jersey's 3rd congressional district * James C. Kellogg III (1915–1980), Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey * Daniel Hugh Kelly (born 1952), stage, film and television actor; was born and raised there * Daniel C. Kurtzer (born 1949), United States Ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001 and United States Ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2005 * Chauncey D. Leake (1896–1978), pharmacologist, medical historian and ethicist * Jay Lethal (born 1985 as Jamar Shipman), professional wrestler in Ring of Honor * William Livingston (1723–1790), signer of the United States Constitution and the first elected Governor of New Jersey, he lived there and built his home, Liberty Hall * Zenaida Manfugás (1932–2012), Cuban-American pianist who was considered one of the first black pianists in Cuba * Emilie Martin (1869–1936), mathematician and professor of mathematics at Mount Holyoke College * Patrick McDonnell (born 1956), cartoonist, author and playwright who is the creator of the syndicated daily comic strip ''Mutts (comic strip), Mutts'' * James P. Mitchell (1900–1964), served as United States Secretary of Labor from 1953 to 1961; ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New Jersey * Thomas Mitchell (actor), Thomas Mitchell (1892–1962), Academy Awards, Oscar and Tony Award-winning actor; was born there * Hank Mobley (1930–1986), hard bop jazz saxophone, saxophonist * John Morris (composer), John Morris (1926–2018), film, television and Broadway theatre, broadway composer, dance arranger, conductor and trained concert pianist, best known for his collaborations with filmmakers Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder * Don Newcombe (1926–2019), pitcher who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles DodgersUnion County Baseball Hall of Fame Will Induct Three New Members, Feb. 11
,
Union County, New Jersey Union County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 575,345, making it the seventh-most populous of New Jersey's 21 counties. Its county seat is Elizabeth.
press release dated December 27, 2006. Accessed July 3, 2007. "Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Joe Collins of Union, Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, Jake Wood of Elizabeth, and Elliott Maddox of Union."
* Marissa Paternoster (born 1986), artist, singer and guitarist in the bands Screaming Females and Noun (band), Noun * Elizabeth Peña (1959–2014), actress * Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749–1838), Italian-born librettist and poet *Stephanie Pogue (1944–2002), artist, printmaker, and art educator * Franklin Leonard Pope (1840–1885), telegrapher and inventor; lived there as a young man and befriended Thomas Edison * Elazar Mayer Preil (1878-1933), rabbi who led Elizabeth's Orthodox Judaism, Othodox Jewish community. * Ahmad Khan Rahami (born 1988), naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan and Elizabeth restaurant worker charged in the 2016 New York and New Jersey bombings * Ron Rivers (born 1971), running back in the NFL for six seasons * Jon Rua (born 1983), actor, singer and choreographer who appeared in the Broadway hit ''Hamilton (musical), Hamilton'' * Jonal Saint-Dic (born 1985), NFL player with the Kansas City Chiefs * Sidney M. Schreiber (1915–2009), Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1975 to 1984 * Debralee Scott (1953–2005), actress, known for her role in ''Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'' * Martin J. Silverstein (born 1954), attorney and diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Uruguay under President
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
from 2001 to 2005 * Mickey Spillane (1918–2006), writer * Joseph Stamler (1911–1988), New Jersey Superior Court judge and professor at
Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...
* Leo Steiner (1939–1987), co-owner of the Carnegie Deli * Edward Stratemeyer (1862–1930), creator of the Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, and Nancy Drew, he was born and resided there * William Sulzer (1863–1941), U.S. Congressman and impeached governor of New York * Carole Beebe Tarantelli (born 1942), American-born former member of the Italian parliament who was the first American citizen elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies * Tay-K (born 2000), rapper, songwriter and convicted murderer whose song "The Race (Tay-K song), The Race" went viral following his arrest in Elizabeth, after a nationwide manhunt for murder * Craig Taylor (American football), Craig Taylor (born 1966), former running back for three seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals * Hal Tulchin (1926–2017), television and video director * Daniel Van Pelt (born 1964), politician who represented the New Jersey's 9th legislative district, 9th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2008, until 2009, when he resigned after being arrested in connection with Operation Bid Rig. * General (United States), General John W. Vogt Jr. (1920–2010), flying ace of the United States Army Air Forces in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
who later general rank in the United States Air Force during the Cold War era * Dick Vosburgh (1929–2007), comedy writer and lyricist working chiefly in Britain * Bernie Wagenblast (born 1956), broadcaster and journalist * Bill Walczak, community activist who ran for mayor of Boston in 2013 * Mickey Walker (boxer), Mickey Walker (1903–1981), boxing, boxer; held the Welterweight and Middleweight titles; was born and raised there; ranked #10 on ''Sports Illustrated''s list of ''The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures'' * Mabel Madison Watson (1872-1952), composer and music educator * Joe Weil (born 1958), writer and active member of the New Jersey poetry scene * Henry S. Whitehead (1882–1932), Episcopal minister and author of horror and fantasy fiction * Sam Woodyard (1925–1988), jazz drummer best known for his association with the Duke Ellington orchestra * Glen Everett Woolfenden (1930–2007), ornithology, ornithologist, known for his long-term study of the Florida scrub jay population at Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid, Florida. * Albert Capwell Wyckoff (1903–1953), ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and author of juvenile fiction, most notably the Mercer Boys series and Mystery Hunter series


Sister cities

* Ribera, Agrigento, Ribera, Sicily, Italy * Kitami, Hokkaido, Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan, signed on June 12, 1969"Sister Cities in Hokkaido and New Jersey Celebrate Fifty-Year Relationship"
United States Embassy in Japan, July 5, 2019. Accessed February 1, 2020. "Although Kitami, Hokkaido, and Elizabeth, New Jersey, have been sister cities for about 50 years, their ties go back to the early 1900s when two American missionaries settled in the town.... Kitami has shared historical and spiritual ties with Elizabeth since the time the Piersons settled there. On June 12, 1969, they became sister-cities to deepen their friendship and mutual understanding."


References


External links

*
Elizabeth Tourism website
{{authority control Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1664 establishments in New Jersey 1855 establishments in New Jersey Cities in Union County, New Jersey County seats in New Jersey Faulkner Act (mayor–council) Former colonial and territorial capitals in the United States New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones Port cities and towns in New Jersey Populated places established in 1664 Populated places established in 1855