Monmouth County | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey | |
![]() New Jersey's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 40°17′N 74°09′W / 40.29°N 74.15°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | 1683 |
Named for | Monmouthshire |
Seat | Freehold[1] |
Largest city | Middletown Township (population) Howell Township (area) |
Government | |
• Commissioner Director | Thomas A. Arnone (R, term ends December 31, 2025) |
Area | |
• Total | 661.40 sq mi (1,713.0 km2) |
• Land | 468.18 sq mi (1,212.6 km2) |
• Water | 193.22 sq mi (500.4 km2) 29.2% |
Population | |
• Total | 643,615 |
• Estimate | 642,799 ![]() |
• Density | 1,372.9/sq mi (530.1/km2) |
Congressional districts | 3rd, 4th, 6th |
Website | www |
Monmouth County (/ˈmɒnməθ/) is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is bordered to its west by Mercer and Middlesex Counties, to its south by Ocean County, to its east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to its north by the Raritan Bay (sharing a border with the boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens in New York City, across it). Monmouth County's geographic area comprises 30% water. The county is part of the Jersey Shore region of the state.[6] It has also been categorized under the Central Jersey region,[7] though it was not among the four counties explicitly listed as included in Central Jersey as part of legislation signed into law in 2023.[8]
As of the 2020 United States census, the county was the state's fifth-most-populous county[9] with a population of 643,615,[3][4] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 13,235 (+2.1%) from the 2010 census count of 630,380,[10] which in turn reflected an increase of 15,079 from 615,301 at the 2000 census.[11] As of 2010, the county fell to the fifth-most populous county in the state, having been surpassed by Hudson County.[12][13] Monmouth's county seat is Freehold Borough,[1] though many county offices are also located in neighboring Freehold Township.[14] The most populous place was Middletown Township, with 67,106 residents at the time of the 2020 Census,[4] while Howell Township covered 61.21 square miles (158.5 km2), the largest total area of any municipality.[13]
While there are differing historical theories, the most plausible of theories in the origin of the county's name are attributed to many settlers originating from Rhode Island where the Rhode Island Monmouth Society hailed from, or it being named after the historic county of Monmouthshire in Wales, Great Britain. The county, like much of the state, was significantly involved during the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Monmouth was fought in June 1778 in what has been preserved as Monmouth Battlefield State Park, currently located in Freehold Township and Manalapan Township.[15]
The county's economy is rich and diverse, due to its high population density and proximity to New York City. Located in the middle of the Northeast megalopolis, its inland county seat of Freehold Borough, the Tri-City region of coastal cities of Red Bank, Long Branch, and Asbury Park, along with the county constituting a vast swath of the New Jersey coastline, has contributed in its draw of tourists throughout the state (and much of the Northeastern United States at large), particularly during the Summer months.[16][17] Many communities within the county serve as commuter towns to and from New York City and other points north. Highways such as the Garden State Parkway, U.S. 9, Route's 34, 35, and 36, along with NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line and Seastreak, connects county residents to economic centers in North Jersey and New York City.[18][19] In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $69,410, making it the fifth highest in New Jersey and ranked 74th of 3,113 counties in the United States.[20][21] Many inland areas of the county are still quite agricultural, with many orchards, wineries, equestrian farms, and distilleries, such as Cream Ridge Winery, Delicious Orchards, Four JG's Orchards & Vineyards, and Laird & Company. The Bell Labs Complex is a major scientific research facility in Holmdel, where important breakthroughs, such as evidence for the Big Bang, were discovered.[22] The county is also home to Monmouth University, a private university in West Long Branch.
CensusArea
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Census2020
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).LWD2020
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).PopEst
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Census2010
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).CPH232
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Five years after Hurricane Sandy destroyed communities along the shore, some towns have used the rebuilding process as a time to reinvent themselves.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search