A Historic Look into Elizabeth, NJ

The personal injury attorneys in Elizabeth, NJ, at Garden State Justice Group, encourage you to dig into the area's history.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a city in Union County. It is located along Newark Bay and includes a portion of the Newark Liberty International Airport. The city is just 12 miles from the Statue of Liberty in New York. The Elizabeth River runs through the town emptying into Arthur Kill. 

History

The area was founded in 1664 by English settlers and was originally called Elizabethtown. It was named after the wife of Sir George Carteret, a royal statesman and one of the area's original owners. Elizabeth Carteret was the daughter of Anne Dowse and knight Philippe de Carteret II, 3rd Seigneur de Sark. The town would be the first capital of the state of New Jersey. 

During the Revolutionary War, the area was under constant attack by the British. In the Battle of Springfield, the British were defeated, preventing them from taking control of New Jersey. Many monuments in the area were erected in honor of George Washington's embankment from this area to his 1789 inauguration in Manhattan. 

Neighborhood

This coastal city spans over 8,742.4 acres, of which 9.78% is water. It is New Jersey's fourth-largest community. Of the residents, approximately 13.5% possess a bachelor's degree or higher, and 39.27% work in blue-collar careers. The residents' occupational breakdown is the following:

• 11.92% office and administrative support
• 8.76% sales and service 
• 7.38% maintenance

A portion of the city is designated under the Urban Enterprise Zone program. This program cuts taxes for both businesses and consumers and reduces regulations in an effort to promote economic growth. The city was chosen in 1983, and it is set to expire in 2023. 

The Singer Sewing Machine Company opened its first factory in Elizabeth in 1862. Some other notable companies in the area were:

• 1895 - Electric Carriage and Wagon Company
• 1897 - Electric Boat Company
• 1927 - Ritz Theatre

Historic Landmarks

The Elizabeth Public Library was originally a Carnegie library and has four locations:

• Main Branch - 11 South Broad Street
• LaCorte Branch - 408 Palmer Street
• Elmora Branch - 730 West Grand Street
• Elizabethport Branch - 102 Third Street

The Belcher-Ogden Mansion is located in the historic district of downtown Elizabeth. It was built in 1742 and is the oldest house in Elizabeth. 

Demographics

As many as 41,596 households and 29,325 families make up the area's 124,969 population as of 2010. As many as 46.62% of Elizabeth's population was born outside of the United States. Many speak Spanish or Portuguese in addition to English. The racial breakdown of the area is as follows:

• 54.65% white
• 21.08% African American
• 59.5% Hispanic or Latino
• 0.04% Asian
• 0.04% Pacific Islander
• 0.83% Native American
• 16.72% other races
• 4.59% two or more races

See More: Uncovering the History of Union Square, NJ

Our Local Office

Let the experienced Elizabeth, NJ personal injury attorneys at Garden State Justice Group work for you. Call our office for a free consultation.

Garden State Justice Group
1114 Elizabeth Ave #6
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
(908) 442-8395