Elizabeth, New Jersey is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2020 United States Census, the city had a total population of 128,885 making it the 4th largest city in New Jersey. Elizabeth has a diverse population including European Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans.
History
Elizabeth was originally founded in 1664 and was named after Elizabeth, wife of Sir George Carteret, one of the two original Proprietors of the colony of New Jersey. Elizabeth was originally part of Essex County but became part of the newly formed Union County in 1857. The city had a population boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with an influx of immigrants working in its expanding manufacturing sector. Major employers included Singer Sewing Machine, Standard Oil, Roselle Milling Company, and Celluloid Company.
Demographics
According to the 2020 Census, Elizabeth had a population of 128,885 making it the 17th largest city in New Jersey and the 198th largest city in the United States. The racial makeup of the city was:
- 45.7% White
- 21.6% Black or African American
- 4.6% Asian
- 2.7% Two or More Races
- 49.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race
The median household income in Elizabeth was $43,770 and 24.5% of residents lived below the poverty line. Elizabeth had a population density of 10,144 people per square mile.
Government
Elizabeth operates under a Special Charter granted under the Optional Municipal Charter Law. Legislative power is vested in the nine-member City Council. The executive power of the city is exercised by the Mayor who is elected to four-year terms.
The current mayor of Elizabeth is Chris Bollwage who first took office in 1992. The city government website can be found at elizabethnj.org.
Economy
Elizabeth has long been a working-class city with a strong manufacturing sector. Major employers today include Wakefern Food Corporation, UPS, Verizon, and Trinitas Regional Medical Center. The city’s transportation access including shipping ports, airports, and interstate highways have made it an important transportation hub and distribution center.
Other major companies headquartered in Elizabeth include Celanese Corporation, a chemical company and Apple Leisure Group, a travel and hospitality conglomerate. Elizabeth is also home to the Jersey Gardens outlet mall which generates significant retail tax revenue for the city.
Culture and Landmarks
Elizabeth has a vibrant arts community. The city contains one of the oldest theaters in New Jersey, the Ritz Theater which opened in 1926. There are also several notable examples of Art Deco architecture throughout the city including the Elmora Firehouse.
Popular landmarks and institutions in the city include:
- Elizabeth Seaport – maritime museum along the Arthur Kill.
- Liberty Hall Museum – historic house museum.
- Kean University – public university with main campus in Elizabeth.
- Elizabeth Public Library – public library system with five branches.
- RWJBarnabas Health Arena – 8,000 seat multipurpose arena, home to minor league hockey team.
Sports
Elizabeth is home to Elizabeth Athletic, an American soccer club. From 2014-2017, the city was home to the Elizabeth Express minor league basketball team.
The Elizabeth High School football team are one of the oldest prep football programs in the country having fielded a team since the late 1800s. The team plays at Williams Field which can seat 5,000 spectators.
Every October, the city hosts the Elizabeth 5K Run, one of the largest 5K races in the state.