Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

Union County, New Jersey is a highly urbanized and densely populated County in the New York City Metropolitan area, lying at the heart of the Northeast Corridor, one of the largest population and industrial areas in the nation. The population, estimated at 497,300 in 1996, is concentrated in a land area of 103.3 square miles, has a population density of 4,828 persons per square mile, four times the State average. Elizabeth, the County seat, is the fourth largest city in the state.

The County has twenty-one municipalities, including five cities, eight townships, seven boroughs and one town.

Union County includes several distinct features stretching from the deep-water port at Elizabeth in the east to the Watchung Mountains in the west. The Port of Elizabeth can accommodate container vessels drawing up to thirty-five feet of water, and at one time the area to the south along the Arthur Kill was the scene barge and shallow draft vessel activity related to the petroleum refining operations that developed there. This area includes a tidal marsh area along the Arthur Kill and Newark Bay. These marshes do pose development problems because of the mud and marsh vegetation in them, but they are only a small portion of the area of Union County. In general terms Union County is divided into two distinct geographic or topographic areas. The first is an area of gently rolling topography that runs from sea level along the Arthur Kill and Newark Bay to the base of the Watchung Mountains in Springfield, Scotch Plains and Mountainside. This area comprises about 2/3 of the County’s land area.

The other 1/3 of the County lies in the steep slopes of geologists refer to as the First and Second Watchung ridges. The mountains run parallel to the northwestern boundary of the County, and consist of hard basalt ridges that have resisted erosion and the influence of glaciers.

The economy of the County centered upon its strengths in transportation, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, telecommunications and manufacturing. The County is served by eight railroad lines and major highways such as the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, Interstate Highways 78 and 278, and US Routes 1 & 9. In addition Newark International Airport, one of the fastest growing airports in the nation, and Port Elizabeth, a major container-ship facility, are located partially within the County’s boundaries. Many of the world’s leading corporations, includinf Exxon, General Motors, Lucent Technologies, Novartis, Wakefern Food Corp., Schering Plough, and The Merck Company are located in Union County.

The county is served by numerous transportation modes including rail, air, highways and ports. Major highways which traverse the county include the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Interstate 78, Interstate 278, U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 9, U.S. Route 22 and the Goethals Bridge. Passenger rail service is provide by New Jersey Transit via the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Raritan Valley Line, the Morristown Line and the Gladstone Branch. Freight service is provided by on Conrail's Lehigh Line and Chemical Coast Branch.

The Elizabeth Marine Terminal is part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The southern portion of Newark Liberty International Airport is located in Elizabeth, within Union County.

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 Union 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 Union County School Information page to see information for local school districts. Get in contact with Union County real estate agent, Union County REALTOR and Union County real estate brokers. Find your home in New Jersey today!