Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of 2000, the population was 297,490. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville. 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.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 305 square miles of which, 305 square miles is land and 0 square miles (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 above sea level; the lowest point is just above sea level on the Raritan at the Middlesex County line.

Somerset County is one of America's oldest counties. The area was first settled in 1681, in the vicinity of Bound Brook, and the county was established by charter on May 22, 1688. Most of the early residents were Dutch. General George Washington and his troops marched through the county on several occasions and slept in many of the homes located throughout the area. Somerset County also played an important part during both World War I and World War II with weapons depots and the manufacturing of the army's woolen blankets.

Somerset County is home to several educational facilities: Raritan Valley Community College (North Branch), Somerset Christian College, Zarephath, (Franklin Township), Somerset County Technology Institute (Bridgewater) and Somerset County Technology Institute. Somerset is also home to Somerset Hills Learning Institute, a state-of-the-art program dedicated to educating children on the autism spectrum by utilizing the principles of ABA.

Somerset County boasts a number of beautiful county parks including: Lord Stirling Park (part of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge), Colonial Park (with a lovely rose garden), Washington Valley Park (with biking and hiking trails), the Sourland Mountain Preserve (hiking and mountain biking trails), and the newest park in development called Raritan River Greenway (which is being developed along the Raritan River in Bridgewater Township).

Somerset County also hosts the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, which provides hiking, biking and boating opportunities. The portion of the park in Somerset County runs along the side of an abandoned canal from Somerset in Franklin Township to the Mercer County line in Princeton at Route 27, also in Franklin Township (Kingston).

What is MLS Guide? MLSGuide.com is a real estate search engine created by Realty Multiple Listing System of New Jersey. It helps you find homes and commercial properties for sale and rent. How? By bringing you up to the minute listings of properties in New Jersey. You can refine your home search in Somerset County, NJ by price, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and property type (including rentals, condo, condominiums, a single family home, a two family home, a three family home, a four family home, multi family buildings, industrial, retail, commercial, investment properties and vacant land). View our Somerset County School Information page to see information for local school districts. Get in contact with Somerset County real estate agent, Somerset County REALTOR and Somerset County real estate brokers. Find your home in New Jersey today!