Elizabeth

Elizabeth is the county seat of Union County in northern New Jersey, sitting directly on the shore of New York Bay. The city lies on flat land about 5 meters (16 feet) above sea level and borders the Elizabeth River, which winds through its territory.

English settlers founded the colony in 1664 and made it the first capital of the newly formed province of New Jersey. The settlement grew as a port town and developed into a major industrial center for sewing machines and other manufacturing during the 19th century.

The city carries the name Elizabeth, honoring Elizabeth Carteret, whose husband held ownership of this territory in the 1600s. English families founded the settlement and built homes along the river that later bore its name.

Several major roads and train connections cross through the city and provide direct access to Manhattan and surrounding towns. Visitors can reach central New York by regional trains in less than half an hour.

In April 1789, a future president boarded a boat from the shore of this city to travel to Manhattan for his inauguration. Residents followed the vessel from the shore and watched as it disappeared toward the north.

Location: Union County

Inception: 1665

Elevation above the sea: 5 m

Shares border with: Staten Island, Union Township, Linden, Roselle Park, Roselle, Newark, Bayonne, Hillside

Website: https://elizabethnj.org

GPS coordinates: 40.66222,-74.20917

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:02