Elizabeth⁴

 

city (1990 pop. 110,002), seat of Union co., NE N.J., on Newark Bay; inc. 1855. It is a shipping and transportation hub, with some of the world's largest containerized dock facilities at Port Elizabeth. Since 1985 the harbor, as part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has seen a steady increase in the volume of containerized exports. Highly industrialized, Elizabeth makes furnaces, plastics, chemicals, metal and food products, tea, paperboard boxes, and pharmaceuticals. A campus of Union College is in the city. The Goethals Bridge (1928) links Elizabeth with Staten Island, N.Y., and Newark International Airport is nearby. Since the 1980s the Jersey Gardens Mall and other developments have made Elizabeth a retailing center.

The area was purchased (1664) from the Delaware and called Elizabethtown. From 1668 to 1682, Elizabeth borough served as the meeting place of the New Jersey assembly. Chartered as the town of Elizabeth in 1740, it was the scene of several Revolutionary clashes; many buildings were burned (1780). Among surviving older buildings are the 18th-century Elias Boudinot House and the 17th-century Nathaniel Bonnell House. Early industries were tanning and brewing. In the 19th cent., Elizabeth's proximity to New York City and the coming of the railroad stimulated great industrial expansion, especially in shipbuilding, machine production, and oil refining. Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr lived at times in Elizabeth.

City of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Map of Elizabeth in Union County (click image to enlarge; also see: state map)
Coordinates: 40°39′44″N 74°12′33″W / 40.66222, -74.20917
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Union
Founded	1665
Incorporated	March 13, 1855
Government
- Type	Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
- Mayor	Chris Bollwage
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation [2]	ft ( m)
Population (2006)[1]
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code	07201 - Union Square station 07202 - Bayway station 07206 - Elizabethport station 07207 - P.O. Boxes 07208 - Elmora station
Area code(s)	908
FIPS code	34-210002
GNIS feature ID	08761473
Website: http://www.elizabethnj.org/

Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 120,568, making it New Jersey's fourth largest city (by population). The population of Elizabeth was 126,179, as of the Census Bureau's 2006 estimate.^[1] It is the county seat of Union County⁶.

History

Elizabeth was founded in 1664 by English settlers and was named for the wife of Sir George Carteret, not Queen Elizabeth I as many people assume. Originally called "Elizabethtown," and part of the Elizabethtown Tract, it was the first English speaking community formed in the new colony. It was the first capital of New Jersey. During the American Revolutionary War, Elizabeth was constantly attacked by British forces based in Manhattan and Staten Island.

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), based on 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.^[3]

The first major industry, the Singer Sewing Machine 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, joined soon by another electric car builder, Riker.^[4]

Elizabeth grew in parallel to its sister city of Newark for many years, but has been more successful in retaining a middle class presence and was spared riots in the 1960s.

Geography

Elizabeth is located at 40°39′44″N, 74°12′33″W (40.662152, -74.209066)¹.

Elizabeth is bordered to the southwest by Linden, to the west by Roselle and Roselle Park, to the northwest by Union and Hillside, to the north by Newark (in Essex County) and to the east by Staten Island, New York.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.4 km² (13.7 mi²). 31.6 km² (12.2 mi²) of it is land and 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it (10.47%) is water.

Business and industry

Since World War II, Elizabeth has seen its transportation facilities grow; Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal is one of the busiest ports in the world (owing to its proximity to New York City), as is Newark Liberty International Airport, parts of which are actually in Elizabeth. Elizabeth also features the Jersey Gardens outlet mall and IKEA, which generate millions of dollars in revenue.

Together with Linden, Elizabeth is home to the Bayway Refinery, a ConocoPhillips refining facility that helps supply petroleum-based products to the New York/New Jersey area, producing approximately 230,000 barrels per day.

Portions of the city are covered by an Urban Enterprise Zone, which cuts the sales tax rate to 3½% (half of the 7% charged statewide) and offers other incentives to businesses within the district. The Elizabeth UEZ has the highest business participation rate in the state, with approximately 1,000 businesses participating in — and benefiting from — the program. The UEZ has helped bring in more than $1.5 billion in new economic development to the City and has brought in over $50 million in sales tax revenue that has been reinvested in funding for additional police, streetscape and other infrastructure improvements.^[5]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1810			—
1820			18.1%
1830			-1.7%
1860			—
1870			80.1%
1880			35.5%
1890			33.8%
1900			38.0%
1910			40.8%
1920			30.5%
1930			19.6%
1940			-4.1%
1950			2.6%
1960			-4.5%
1970			4.6%
1980			-5.7%
1990			3.6%
2000			9.6%
Est. 2006		[1]	4.7%
historical data source: [6][7]

As of the census² of 2000, there were 120,568 people, 40,482 households, and 28,175 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,809.5/km² (9,865.5/mi²). There were 42,838 housing units at an average density of 1,353.5/km² (3,505.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.78% White, 19.98% African American, 0.48% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 15.51% from other races, and 5.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 49.46% of the population.

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 for the city was $15,114. About 15.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.

Districts

Midtown, also occasionally known as Uptown, is the main commercial district. Midtown is 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 Art Deco Hersh Tower and the Ritz Theatre which has been operating since 1926. Elizabeth Avenue/Union Square is a vibrant and mainly Hispanic immigrant neighborhood and is just east of Midtown. Even though it is still a domain of many Cuban-owned businesses, there are many other Hispanic groups as well, including Central and South Americans. There are also some Italian-owned shops, many of which have been in business for decades. The neighborhood's commerce is mainly centered on Elizabeth Avenue which is sometimes nicknamed "The Market." Spanish is the dominant language. Unfortunately, the area is also viewed by some as a dangerous area, due to the amount of panhandlers and thieves who target the area, and contains some drug-ridden sections.

North Elizabeth, also known as "North End," is mainly a diverse working-class neighborhood. Morris Avenue is home to many Colombian stores and restaurants and is sometimes given the nickname "Little Colombia." Many Colombians refer to Morris Avenue as La Morris.

Westminster, is one of the more affluent and historic area of Elizabeth, located between North Avenue and Elizabeth's border with Hillside, home of Senator Raymond J. Lesniak (D) and the largest estates in the city .

Elizabethport Although this has been an impoverished part of Elizabeth for many decades, this area has had a great deal of improvement in the last five years. Many homes have been refurbished or replaced with new, more ornate constructions. There is an area where housing projects stood for years along First Street that were demolished and replaced with attractive apartment complexes for those with low to moderate incomes. The Elizabeth Marina, which in the past was filled with trash and debris along its walkway, has also improved and many celebrations are held year round, from a Hispanic festival in the late spring to the lighting of a Christmas tree in the winter. Living conditions in this area continue to improve year after year. The population is mainly Black, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban and Portuguese. Historically, there was a Lithuanian community here, and a Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church still stands in the neighborhood. However, "The Port" was largely Irish from the late 1800s until WWII and the largest church in Elizabeth is St. Patrick's Church in Elizabethport, built by the Irish in the late 1800s and still in beautiful condition today.

Despite these improvements, the waterfront remains a dangerous area after dark, as does much of midtown.

Elmora is a middle/working-class neighborhood in the western part of Elizabeth. Home to many Colombians and Jews, a number of kosher eateries, Colombian restaurants and the locally well-known Goodman's delicatessen can be found on Elmora Avenue, the main thoroughfare.

Elmora Hills is the northwestern part of Elizabeth just north of Elmora. It is a strongly middle- to upper-middle class neighborhood and is about 65% White. The area still maintains a large Jewish population.

Peterstown (also known as The Burg) is a middle/working-class neighborhood in the southeast part of the city. It is heavily industrial and ethnically diverse. Peterstown was once predominantly occupied by newly immigrated Italians and their descendants, but is less so today. The western terminus of the Goethals Bridge, which spans the Arthur Kill to Staten Island can be found here.

Government

Local government

The City of Elizabeth is governed under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government under the Faulkner Act.

The City government of Elizabeth is made up of a Mayor and a City Council. The City's Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, a lifelong resident of Elizabeth, is currently serving his fourth term as Mayor.

The Elizabeth City Council is made up of nine members. Three Council members are elected at large and six members are elected from each of Elizabeth's six wards. Council Members-at-large are Frank Cuesta, Edward Jackus and Patricia Perkins-Auguste. Ward Council members are Manny Grova, Jr. - First Ward; Nelson Gonzalez - Second Ward; Joseph Keenan - Third Ward; Carlos Cedeño - Fourth Ward; William Gallman, Jr. (Council President) - Fifth Ward; and Frank Mazza - Sixth Ward.^[8]

Federal, state and county representation

The City of Elizabeth is split between the Tenth and Thirteenth Congressional districts and is part of New Jersey's 20th Legislative District.^[9]

New Jersey's Tenth Congressional District, covering portions of Essex County, Hudson County, and Union County, is represented by Donald M. Payne (D, Newark). New Jersey's Thirteenth Congressional District, covering portions of Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, and Union Counties, is now represented by Albio Sires (D, West New York), who won a special election held on November 7, 2006 to fill the vacancy the had existed since January 16, 2006. The seat had been represented by Bob Menendez (D), who was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the seat vacated by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine. New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 20th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Raymond Lesniak (D, Union) and in the Assembly by Neil M. Cohen (D, Union) and Joseph Cryan (D, Union). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Union County is governed by a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of the January 2007 reorganization, Union County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairwoman Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Vice Chairman Angel G. Estrada, Chester Holmes, Adrian O. Mapp, Alexander Mirabella, Rick Proctor, Deborah P. Scanlon, Daniel P. Sullivan and Nancy Ward.

Union County Freeholder Meetings

Union County Freeholders meet publicly on a monthly basis. Citizens have the ability to provide feedback and comment on issues that concern them. A sample Freeholder meeting held in September 2003 can be viewed by clicking:

1. Union County, NJ Freeholder Meeting -- 25 September 2003

Education

The city's public schools are operated by Elizabeth Public Schools, an Abbott District. Elizabeth High School is the largest high school in the state of New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States.

Transportation

Elizabeth is a hub of several major roadways including the New Jersey Turnpike / Interstate 95, Interstate 78, U.S. Route 1/9, U.S. Route 22, Route 27, Route 28, Route 82 and Route 439.

Elizabeth currently has two train stations on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line and the Northeast Corridor Line. 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 Station.

New Jersey Transit is planning a segment of the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link (NERL), designated as the Union County Light Rail (UCLR). The UCLR will connect 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.

Local Media

WJDM at 1530 on the AM dial is licensed to Elizabeth.

Notable residents and natives

• Matthias W. Baldwin (1795–1866), manufacturer of steam locomotives, was born there.
• Rick Barry (b. 1944), basketball great, was born there.
• Antoinette Brown Blackwell (1825–1921), first female ordained minister in the U.S., lived and died there.
• Carol Blazejowski (b. 1956), member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, was born there.
• Judy Blume (b. 1938), author.^[10]
• Elias Boudinot (1740-1821), President of the Continental Congress and an early U.S. Congressman.^[11]
• Todd Bowles, former NFL Defensive Back with the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers. Currently, the Defensive Back Coach of the Dallas Cowboys.^[12]
• Hubie Brown (b. 1933), basketball Hall of Fame coach, was raised there.^[13]
• William Burnet (1730-1791), physician who represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1781.^[14]
• Nicholas Murray Butler (1862-1947), winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and a founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was born here.^[15]
• Rodney Carter, former NFL Running back/3rd Down Receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[16]
• Al Catanho, former linebacker in the NFL for the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins.^[17]
• Abraham Clark (1725–1794), Member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born and raised there.^[18]
• Amos Clark, Jr. (1828-1912), U.S. Representative from New Jersey and businessman.^[19]
• Michael Chertoff, (b. 1953), United States Secretary of Homeland Security, was born and raised there.^[20][21]
• Tom Colicchio (b. 1962), restaurateur, chef, and judge on reality-TV program "Top Chef."
• Jonathan Dayton (1760–1824), signer of the United States Constitution and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, was born there.^[22] (Dayton, Ohio is named for him.)
• John De Hart (1727–1795), delegate to the Continental Congress, was born and lived there.^[23]
• Eddie Donovan (1922-2001), NCAA and NBA basketball head coach, lived there, after retiring from basketball.
• Thomas Edison (1847-1931), lived here as a young man.
• E.Town Concrete a now defunct hardcore/metal band from Elizabeth (or as they called it E.Town).
• Charles N. Fowler (1852-1932), represented 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1895 to 1911.^[24]
• Orson Squire Fowler (1809-1887), phrenologist and author, lived there.
• Ron Freeman, winner of gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, raised there and attended Thomas Jefferson High School.^[25]
• William Halsey, Jr. (1882-1959). World War II Fleet Admiral "Bull" Halsey was born in Elizabeth and attended the Pingry School.
• Alexander Hamilton (ca. 1755-1804), lived here as a young man upon first arriving in America.^[26]
• Horace Jenkins (b. 1974), former NBA player for Detroit Pistons, attended Elizabeth High.^[27]
• Phineas Jones (1819-1884) - represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1881-83.^[28]
• John Kean (1852-1914), represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 1899 to 1911, and 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.^[29]
• William Livingston (1723-1790), signer of the Declaration of Independence, lived there and built the home, Liberty Hall.^[22]
• Thomas Mitchell (1892–1962), Oscar and Tony Award-winning actor, was born there.
• Don Newcombe, pitcher who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.^[30][)
• Elizabeth Peña (b. 1961), actress, was born there.
• Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838), Italian-born librettist and poet, lived there.
• Franklin Leonard Pope (1840-1885), telegrapher and inventor, lived there as a young man and befriended Thomas Edison.^[31]
• Debralee Scott (1953-2005), actress, was born there
• Jamar Shipman a.k.a. Jay Lethal, pro wrestler in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling was born there.
• Mickey Spillane (1918-2006), writer, grew up there.^[32]
• Edward Stratemeyer (1862-1930), creator of the Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, and Nancy Drew, was born and resided there.^[33]
• William Sulzer (1863-1941), U.S. Congressman and impeached governor of New York, was born there.^[34]
• Craig Taylor (1966-) former running back for three seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals.^[35]
• Dick Vosburgh (1929-2007), comedy writer and lyricist working chiefly in Britain, was born there.^[36]
• Bernie Wagenblast (b. 1956), broadcaster, journalist, was born there
• Edward Patrick Mickey Walker (1903-1981), boxer, who held the Welterweight and Middleweight titles, was born and raised there. Ranked #10 on the Sports Illustrated list of The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures.^[37]
• Joe Weil (b. 1958), writer and active member of the New Jersey poetry scene, was born and grew up there.

References