Middlesex County, the Greatest County in the Land

The County consists of 25 unique communities including historic Cranbury Township.

Located minutes from Port Elizabeth and halfway between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, and world-class healthcare and research facilities and has long been the place where innovation and productivity have thrived.

Early on, it was the Raritan River, the second-longest river in the state, which brought about trade and commerce. Now, nearly every major north/south rail and roadway on the East Coast passes through Middlesex County. The New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 287, and U.S. Routes 1 and 9 intersect within its borders, easing commutes and facilitating rapid commerce travel. Middlesex County is serviced by Newark Liberty International Airport, which accommodates travelers from throughout the world.

Once here, it’s easy to recognize that Middlesex County is so much more than its location.

It is a dynamic county of over 825,015 residents and growing, making Middlesex the second most populated county in the state. Thousands of residents from a diverse array of cultures are attracted each year to our 25 unique municipalities, a mix of small towns, urban centers, and rural communities. Young – the median age is just 36.9 – our residents are highly educated and skilled.

The County is known for its award-winning schools, including Middlesex College and the Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies, which is ranked among the best in the nation and is part of the Middlesex County Magnet Schools, the first vocational-technical and specialized school system in the nation, started in 1914.

Middlesex is home to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and the Plainsboro campus of Princeton University. In 1869, Rutgers and Princeton played the first intercollegiate football game in the United States in New Brunswick. The college football experience lives on today at the newly expanded Rutgers Stadium, which attracts more than 50,000 fans each game day.

Residents and visitors benefit from the first-class medical facilities within the County, including nationally recognized Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saint Peter’s University Hospital, The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and the PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital, all located in New Brunswick, and J.F.K. Medical Center in Edison, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy and Old Bridge, and the Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro bring first-rate acute care and ancillary businesses to the County.

The world headquarters for healthcare giant Johnson and Johnson has been located in New Brunswick since 1886, and the company remains one of Middlesex County’s greatest corporate partners. Its complex sits right in the middle of downtown New Brunswick, the County seat and cultural hub, to which thousands of patrons each year are drawn to award-winning productions at the State Theatre, George Street Playhouse, and the Tony Award-winning Crossroads Theater.

A vibrant restaurant scene has grown around the theater district and includes some of the most diverse and praiseworthy cuisines in the region. French, Cajun, New American, Ethiopian, Japanese, Middle-Eastern, and Italian hotspots line New Brunswick’s downtown streets.

Once visitors leave the city, they discover Middlesex County’s other gems. The Raritan River winds its way from the Raritan Bay up into and out of New Brunswick. Bedroom communities, marinas, parkland, and cultural pursuits line the riverbank, offering beautiful waterfront views and access to countless tributaries and of course, the Raritan Bay.

The County’s 19-strong Parks System boasts some of the best maintained and diverse recreational opportunities in the region. Encompassing more than 6,300 acres, the County’s parks and conservation areas offer ball fields, playgrounds, jogging paths, hiking trails, a family skating rink, and an outdoor amphitheater, which draws 50,000 people every summer to its Broadway-caliber Plays-in-the-Park series.

A popular summer concert series and numerous historic and cultural programs are offered every year. Perhaps one of the most unique offerings is East Jersey Old Town Village, a collection of renovated, reconstructed, and replica buildings that illustrate what life was like in Middlesex County in the 18th century and which offer a glimpse into the County’s rich agricultural and manufacturing past.

Located within the heart of New Jersey, Middlesex County has set itself apart as the best place to live and to work in the region. It’s the place that more than 831,300 people call home. It’s one of the few counties in the nation to hold a AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s. And it is the birthplace of college football, the incandescent light bulb, and duct tape. There’s no wonder why it has been said that Middlesex County is The Greatest County in the Land!