Chao Lu & CC Ouyang
Monday December 3, 2007
ORF467 Transportation
NJ PRT’07
Overview of Somerset County, New Jersey (1)
Somerset County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. As of 2000, the population was 297,490. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Somerset County has the seventh-highest per capita income of any U.S. county, based on per capita income. Somerset County was created on May 14, 1688, from portions of Middlesex County.
Somerset County is adjacent to the following counties:
Morris County, New Jersey - north
Union County, New Jersey - east
Middlesex County, New Jersey - southeast
Mercer County, New Jersey - south
Hunterdon County, New Jersey - west
Geography (1)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 790 km² (305 sqmi). 789 km² (305 sqmi) of it is land and 1 km² (0 sqmi) of it (0.12%) is water.
Like neighboring Middlesex County, Somerset is divided into northern and southern halves by the Raritan River. However, unlike its eastern neighbor that results in distinctly different topography: the northern half is quite hilly, characteristic of North Jersey, while south of the river is mostly flat, similar to Central Jersey.
The high point is on Mine Mountain in Bernardsville, at approximately 860 feet (262 m) above sea level; the lowest point is just above sea level on the Raritan at the Middlesex County line.
Municipalities (1)
The following is a list of the municipalities in Somerset County, and their locations are marked on the map:
Index / Name1 / Bernardsville / 12 / Rocky Hill
2 / Peapack and Gladstone / 13 / Montgomery Township
3 / Far Hills / 14 / Franklin Township
4 / Watchung / 15 / Hillsborough Township
5 / North Plainfield / 16 / Branchburg Township
6 / Bound Brook / 17 / Bridgewater Township
7 / South Bound Brook / 18 / Warren Township
8 / Manville / 19 / Green Brook Township
9 / Somerville / 20 / Bernards Township
10 / Raritan / 21 / Bedminster Township
11 / Millstone
Land Use description
- Employment
Description[1] / Establishment / Sales, receipts, or shipments ($1000) / Annual payroll ($1000) / Paid employeesMining / 24087 / 182911093 / 21173895 / 477840
Utilities / 17103 / 398907044 / 42417830 / 663044
Construction / 710307 / 1196555587 / 254292144 / 7193069
Manufacturing / 350828 / 3916136712 / 576170541 / 14699536
Wholesale trade / 435521 / 4634755112 / 259653080 / 5878405
Retail trade / 1114637 / 3056421997 / 302113581 / 14647675
Transportation & warehousing / 199618 / 382152040 / 115988733 / 3650859
Information / 137678 / 891845956 / 194670163 / 3736061
Finance & insurance / 440268 / 2803854868 / 377790172 / 6578817
Real estate & rental & leasing / 322815 / 335587706 / 60222584 / 1948657
Professional, scientific, & technical services / 771305 / 886801038 / 376090052 / 7243505
Management of companies & enterprises / 49308 / 107064264 / 178996060 / 2605292
Administrative & support & waste management & remediation service / 350583 / 432577580 / 206439329 / 8741854
Educational services / 49319 / 30690707 / 10164378 / 430164
Health care & social assistance / 704526 / 1207299734 / 495845829 / 15052255
Arts, entertainment, & recreation / 110313 / 141904109 / 45169117 / 1848674
Accommodation & food services / 565590 / 449498718 / 127554483 / 10120951
Other services (except public administration) / 537576 / 307049461 / 82954939 / 3475310
- Primary and secondary Education
Name[2] / USGS Map / Latitude / LongitudeAdamsville School / Bound Brook / 40.57 / -74.58
Alma White College / Bound Brook / 40.54 / -74.58
Branchburg School / Raritan / 40.56 / -74.7
Camplain Road School / Bound Brook / 40.54 / -74.59
Central School / Chatham / 40.63 / -74.5
East End School / Chatham / 40.63 / -74.42
Fairview School / Raritan / 40.51 / -74.73
Far Hills Day School / Bernardsville / 40.7 / -74.62
Green Knoll School / Raritan / 40.59 / -74.63
Hamilton School / New Brunswick / 40.49 / -74.48
Harrison School / Plainfield / 40.62 / -74.44
Hillsborough School / Raritan / 40.5 / -74.64
Lafayette School / Bound Brook / 40.57 / -74.6
LaMonte School / Bound Brook / 40.56 / -74.54
Liberty School / Raritan / 40.53 / -74.63
Morris School / Bound Brook / 40.55 / -74.53
Mount Saint Marys Academy / Chatham / 40.65 / -74.42
New Jersey Neuropsychiatric Institute / Rocky Hill / 40.41 / -74.69
North Plainfield High School / Plainfield / 40.62 / -74.44
Pine Grove Manor School / New Brunswick / 40.5 / -74.47
Project School / Bound Brook / 40.55 / -74.6
Roosevelt School / Bound Brook / 40.55 / -74.59
Saint Joseph School / Bound Brook / 40.56 / -74.53
Smalley School / Bound Brook / 40.57 / -74.54
Somerset School / Plainfield / 40.62 / -74.43
Stony Brook School / Plainfield / 40.62 / -74.44
2000 CENSUS DATA[3]
SOMERSET COUNTY
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT / Somerset / NJ / US
Number
Population 25 and older / 204,343
Number / Pct / Pct / Pct
High school graduates (includes equivalency) / 43,972 / 21.5 / 29.4 / 28.6
Some college, or associate's degree / 44,015 / 21.5 / 22.9 / 27.4
Bachelor's degree / 55,991 / 27.4 / 18.8 / 15.5
Master's, professional or doctorate degree / 39,053 / 19.1 / 11 / 8.9
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Number
Population 3 years and over enrolled in school / 76,743
Number / Pct / Pct / Pct
Preschool and kindergarten / 12,350 / 16.1 / 13.7 / 11.9
Grades 1-12 / 49,766 / 64.8 / 65.1 / 65.3
College / 14,627 / 19.1 / 21.2 / 22.8
- Higher education
Raritan Valley Community College
Somerville, NJ 08876
Enrollment: 6,498 (as of October 1, 2007)[4]
- Housing
SOMERSET COUNTY / NJ / US
HOUSING UNITS
Number
Total housing units / 112,023
RENTER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS
Number / Pct / Pct / Pct
Renter-occupied housing units / 24,831 / 22.2 / 31.8 / 30.8
Number / Number / Number
Average number of household members / 2.3 / 2.37 / 2.36
Average number of rooms / 4.2 / 3.96 / 4.04
Average number of vehicles / 1.38 / 1.05 / 1.19
Median year structure was built / 1968 / 1960 / 1969
Median year householder moved in / 1997 / 1997 / 1998
Median rent ($) / 813 / 672 / 519
Median rent asked for vacant units ($) / 900 / 660 / 469
Number / Pct / Pct / Pct
Rent includes utilities / 3,268 / 13.2 / 16.3 / 16.5
Number / Number / Number
Rent as a pct of household revenue / 24 / 26 / 26
OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS
Number / Pct / Pct / Pct
Owner-occupied housing units / 84,153 / 75.1 / 60.8 / 60.2
Number / Number / Number
Average number of household members / 2.8 / 2.85 / 2.71
Average number of rooms / 7.13 / 6.77 / 6.3
Average number of vehicles / 1.33 / 1.63 / 1.64
Median year structure was built / 1975 / 1962 / 1971
Median year householder moved in / 1992 / 1989 / 1991
Median value ($) / 222,400 / 167,900 / 111,800
Number / Pct / Pct / Pct
With mortgage or contract to purchase / 57,353 / 68.2 / 60.5 / 55.4
With second mortgage, equity loan / 13,111 / 15.6 / 15.4 / 12.7
Number / Number / Number
Median price asked for vacant housing ($) / 191,300 / 128,000 / 89,600
Monthly cost, with mortgage ($) / 1,832 / 1,560 / 1,088
Monthly cost, without mortgage ($) / 620 / 567 / 295
Description of existing Transit Service in the County and Web sources for transit information
SOMERSET COUNTY, N.J.[6]
Public Transportation
NEW JERSEY TRANSIT
Somerset County is served primarily by NJ Transit bus and rail lines.
www.njtransit.com
1-800-772-2222
NJ Transit Rail Service
The Raritan Valley Line offers service east to Hoboken, Newark/NYC Penn Stations, from stops in the central part of the county, west to High Bridge, NJ.
The Gladstone Branch of the Morris and Essex Line provides service to Hoboken, NJ, and Penn Station, NY, through the Midtown Direct rail connection. Service is provided from stops in the northern part of the county directly to Penn Station, NY, and ferry or PATH service to various points in Manhattan from Hoboken
NJ Transit Bus Service
· New Jersey Transit 117 Express provides service from Somerville to the Port Authority in NYC.
· New Jersey Transit 65/66 bus from Bridgewater Commons to Newark has stops through the eastern/central part of the county.
· New Jersey Transit 114 bus runs from Bridgewater Commons to the Port Authority in NYC through eastern portions of the county.
· New Jersey Transit 605 bus serves Orchard Road in Montgomery Twp. to Quakerbridge Mall in Lawrence Twp.
· Plainfield Transit 822 bus runs from North Plainfield to Plainfield, with stops at major regional facilities and the Watchung Square Mall.
· New Jersey Transit 884 Wheels bus serves Somerville Borough west to Clinton, with stops at Raritan Valley Community College, the Bridgewater Commons Mall, industrial parks, Whitehouse Rail Station and the Clinton Park/Ride.
· New Jersey Transit 986 Wheels bus runs from the Summit rail station to the Plainfield rail station, serving major employment sites in New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Summit.
OTHER REGIONAL BUS SERVICE
Lakeland Buslines
operates service from the northern part of the county to the Port Authority in NYC.
www.lakelandbus.com
1-973-366-0600
Trans Bridge Lines
goes east to the Port Authority in New York and Kennedy International Airport, from Branchburg Township and west to Bethlehem, Pa.
1-800-962-9135
Susquehanna Trailways Bus Lines
from central Pennsylvania to NYC, with stops in Somerset County.
www.susquehannabus.com
1-800-692-6314
Suburban Transit New York Express.
Service from Princeton through southeastern Somerset County to the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal via Route 27.
www.suburbantransit.com
732-249-1100
OTHER LOCAL BUS SERVICE
Suburban Transit Local Service.
Service to Princeton from southeastern portions of Somerset County along Rt. 27. Also stops at Middlesex Mall in South Plainfield and the Dunellen rail station.
www.suburbantransit.com
732-249-1100
Martz Trailways.
Service east to the Port Authority in NYC, and west to central/eastern portions of Pennsylvania.
www.martztrailways.com
1-800-692-6314
DASH (Davidson Avenue Shuttle).
Serves businesses along the Davidson Avenue corridor in the Somerset section of Franklin Twp. Travels through Bridgewater, Bound Brook, South Bound Brook and Somerset with stops at the Bridgewater Promenade and Commerce Ballpark, Bound Brook and New Brunswick rail stations and at businesses including National Telephone Directory, Holiday Inn, Phillips Lighting, Merrill Lynch, ATT, Merck and hotels located along Davidson Avenue.
www.ridewise.org
908-704-1011
SCOOT Bus Service.
Somerset County's SCOOT buses provide transportation to and from Hillsborough, Manville, Somerville, Bridgewater, Bedminster and Bound Brook for only $1.50 per trip. The commuter shuttle connects the residential areas of Hillsborough, Manville, Somerville and Bridgewater with popular work destinations, including the County complex in Somerville, Bridgewater Commons Mall, Somerset Corporate Center, Aventis and AT&T in Bridgewater and Bedminster. The commuter shuttle operates from 6 to 9:30 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Connections to other buses can be made in downtown Somerville. The commuter shuttle stops at the Somerville Rail Station (Raritan Valley Line) on both its north and south routes. The midday shuttle runs a loop from Bridgewater, Somerville, Hillsborough, Manville and Bound Brook between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Popular destinations and pick-up points along the route include Bridgewater Commons Mall, senior housing at Centerbridge I and II and One Mountain Avenue, Hillsborough Promenade, Wal-Mart, and Bridgewater Promenade.
www.ridewise.org
908-704-1011
RIDESHARING
Ridewise of Raritan Valley,
the local Transportation Management Association (TMA), provides local ridesharing information.
www.ridewise.com 908-704-1011
HIGHWAYS
Interstate Highways include I-78 and I-287
providing regional access to Newark, New York City and eastern Pennsylvania.
State Highways 22, 27, 28, 202 and 206
provide access to points within and outside Somerset County.
AIRPORTS
The County has three general aviation airports located in the north, central and southern portions of Somerset County.
Central Jersey Regional Airport.
Manville. Rentals, rides, instruction.
www.centraljerseyairport.com
908-526-2822
Princeton Airport.
US Hwy. 206, Montgomery Twp. Air taxi service, rentals, sightseeing rides, instruction.
www.princetonairport.com
1-609-921-3100
Somerset Airport
Airport Rd., Bedminster. Charters, corporate contracts, instruction.
www.somersetairport.com
908-722-2444
A fourth airport is located in neighboring Hunterdon County:
Solberg Airport
Thor Solberg Rd., Readington Twp. Authorized Cessna Pilot Center and Service Center. Instruction, maintenance, rentals and Discovery Flights. Annual Balloon Festival in July.
www.solbergairport.com
908-534-4000
SOMERSET COUNTY / NJ / US
TRANSPORTATION TO WORK
Number / Number / Number
Workers 16 and over / 151,284
Number / Pct / Pct / Pct
Public transportation / 6,178 / 4.1 / 9.6 / 4.7
Car, truck, van or motorcycle / 135,732 / 89.7 / 83.6 / 88
Walk / 2,409 / 1.6 / 3.1 / 2.9
Work at home / 5,438 / 3.6 / 2.7 / 3.3
COMMUTING TIME
Number / Number / Number
Average travel time to work (minutes) / 30 / 30 / 26
Average travel time to work using public transportation / 83 / 57 / 48
Average travel time to work using other transportation / 28 / 27 / 24
Means of transportation to work[8]
· Drove a car alone: 123,557 (82%)
· Carpooled: 12,107 (8%)
· Bus or trolley bus: 1,565 (1%)
· Streetcar or trolley car: 18 (0%)
· Subway or elevated: 288 (0%)
· Railroad: 4,167 (3%)
· Ferryboat: 6 (0%)
· Taxi: 134 (0%)
· Motorcycle: 68 (0%)
· Bicycle: 334 (0%)
· Walked: 2,409 (2%)
· Other means: 1,193 (1%)
· Worked at home: 5,438 (4%)
see website in footnote for working links:
A
Click to draw/clear county borders
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:[9]
Notable locations in Somerset County: Stone House (A), Falcon Camp (B), Finderne Station (C), Hillsborough Country Club (D), Spooky Brook Golf Course (E), Roycefield Station (F), Bedens Brook Country Club (G), Belle Mead Station (H), Penn Brook Golf Course (I), Bunker Hill Golf Course (J), Camp Agnes DeWitt (K), Camp Sunshine (L), Northover Camp (M), Green Knoll Golf Course (N), Washington Camp Ground (O), Warren Township Municipal Building Complex (P), Raritan Valley Country Club (Q), Pine Brook Country Club (R), Ralph Reeve Cultural Center (S), United States Equestrian Team Training Center (T). Display/hide their locations on the map