Elizabeth, NJ

Elizabeth, the first capital of New Jersey, is located in Union County and has a population of 126,000 residents. The town has seen a dramatic real-estate boom in the 1990's and early 2000's, though home prices have leveled off in recent years due to the economic climate. Home to the largest industrial seaport in North America, Elizabeth is a thriving commercial and transportation hub with convenient access to nearby New York City.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Elizabeth is a place of firsts for industry. The Singer Sewing Machine Company was the first major industry in this area. In 1895, one of the first car companies, Electric Carriage and Wagon Company, set up shop here. The Electric Boat Company, which built submarines for the navy, also called Elizabeth home. Today, major employers include:

• Newark Liberty International Airport is located in both Elizabeth and neighboring Newark. Newark Liberty expands over 2,027 acres and has three runways, hosting both national and international flights. Continental Airlines has a large presence here, as Newark is the second-largest hub for this airline. This airport also has a large Fed Ex presence.
• Bayway Refinery produces an average of 269,000 oil barrels per day. Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as heating oil, are transported from the refinery by pipeline, barges, railcar, and tank trucks. In the 1960s, this plant was unionized by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
• The Elizabeth Seaport: Covering 350 acres on the Hudson Bay, the Elizabeth/Newark port processes container shipments for the northeastern United States. The nearby Elizabeth Seaport Business Park offers over one million square feet of office and warehouse space, and the Water's Edge development, featuring luxury homes and a shopping/dining district, is under construction in the area.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Residential neighborhoods in Elizabeth include:

• Elizabethport: The city's oldest neighborhood runs east of Routes 1 and 9 to the water.
• Elmora: A residential neighborhood also including some office development and higher end shops along Elmora Avenue.
• Peterstown: South of Elizabeth Avenue, a traditionally Italian neighborhood and location of Union Square, with produce stands and meat markets.
• Frog Hollow: West of the port and south of Elizabeth Avenue, this working class community is near the Veteran's Memorial Waterfront Park.
• North Elizabeth: Many commuters live in this area convenient to a New Jersey Transit Train Station, Routes 1 and 9 and the New Jersey Turnpike.
• Westminster: The largest houses in town are in this neighborhood, with the Elizabeth River cutting through the area ending in green hills off North Avenue.
• Bayway: On the west side of town, an older residential neighborhood with ethnic restaurants along Bayway Avenue.
• Keighry Head: A residential area close to shopping in Midtown as well as transportation.

FOR VISITORS

• Historic Midtown is the location of many historic buildings in Elizabeth, including the Elizabeth Public Library and the Union County Courthouse. This is also the home of the Hersh Tower, which was the tallest building in Union County during the Great Depression.
• The Ritz Theater, one of the oldest and most storied theaters in New Jersey, has been restored and is fully operational in Historic Midtown.
• Belcher Ogden Mansion was the home of Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher and is the last remaining home of its kind in the United States.
• Boxwood Hall, one time home to Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress, is located on East Jersey Street. Though the addition of two modern stories to the building have tarnished some of the mansion's historical significance, the first floor remains in its original condition.

EVENTS

Elizabeth's residents love to celebrate the town's diversity and do so with flag raisings and festivals of the various cultures, among them the Elizabeth Latin Carnival, Portugal Day, Pride Day in the Port, Julyfest, and Unity Day.

The Tour de Elizabeth is an annual bike tour of the city, held the Sunday before Memorial Day.

FAMILY FUN

• Warinanco Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the architect of New York's Central Park. It includes walking trails, flower gardens, a running track, a fitness course, tennis courts, and football, soccer, and baseball fields. In winter, the park also features an ice-skating rink.
• Veteran's Memorial Waterfront Park is located on the Kill Van Kull waterway and offers a fishing pier, chess tables, bike racks, and a marina with boat slips and dry docks.
• Mattano Park is a family-friendly park with ball fields and playgrounds. In the summer, kids can cool off at the water spray.

SHOPPING

• Jersey Garden Outlet Mall includes high-class shopping at outlet prices, along with a 20-screen movie theater.
• The Market on Elizabeth Avenue in Historic Midtown is a cornucopia of stores and ethnic restaurants.

EDUCATION

There are a number of colleges located in and around Elizabeth, including:

• Kean University: Founded in 1855, this four-year university offers 48 undergraduate and 28 graduate degrees to over 13,000 students annually.
• Union County College: The oldest community college in New Jersey, UCC was established in 1933 and offers associate degrees and distance learning to nearly 12,000 students.
• Drake College of Business: Housed in historic Hersh Tower, Drake offers professional training in business, healthcare, and technology.

LOCAL MEDIA

• The Elizabeth Reporter is a local newspaper covering news and events from around the world.
• La Voz New Jersey is a free Spanish-language newspaper published twice a month, featuring cultural news and events.

• WMCA 570 AMReligious
• WABC 770 AMNews
• WNYC 820 AMPublic
• WEPN 1050 AMSports
• WADO 1280 AMSpanish
• WQEW 1560 AMChildren's

• WXRK 92.3 FMRock
• WPAT 93.1 FMSpanish
• WQXR 96.3 FMClassical
• WQHT 97.1 FMHip Hop
• WHTZ 100.3 FMTop-40
• WNEW 102.7 FMAdult Contemporary