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New Jersey County Map with Cities and Towns [NJ, US]

    New Jersey County Map with Cities and Towns [NJ, US]

    ✅New Jersey County Map

    New Jersey County Map

    New Jersey County Map with Cities and Towns [NJ, US]

    Planning a road trip, a move, or just trying to figure out where Camden is compared to Bergen? A New Jersey county map with cities and towns makes the whole state feel a lot less confusing. Let’s start with the full county list, then zoom into how New Jersey is really organized on the ground.

    County County Seat Region (North / Central / South) Notable Cities & Towns
    Atlantic County Mays Landing South Atlantic City, Hammonton, Pleasantville, Egg Harbor Township
    Bergen County Hackensack North Hackensack, Paramus, Teaneck, Fort Lee, Ridgewood
    Burlington County Mount Holly South Mount Laurel, Evesham (Marlton), Pemberton, Bordentown
    Camden County Camden South Camden, Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Pennsauken
    Cape May County Cape May Court House South (Shore) Cape May, Wildwood, Ocean City, Sea Isle City
    Cumberland County Bridgeton South Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton
    Essex County Newark North Newark, East Orange, Irvington, Bloomfield
    Gloucester County Woodbury South Glassboro, Deptford, Washington Township, Woodbury
    Hudson County Jersey City North Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Union City, North Bergen
    Hunterdon County Flemington Central / Skylands Flemington, Clinton, Lambertville
    Mercer County Trenton Central Trenton, Princeton, Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence Township
    Middlesex County New Brunswick Central Edison, New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway
    Monmouth County Freehold Borough Central / Shore Asbury Park, Long Branch, Red Bank, Freehold, Middletown
    Morris County Morristown North Morristown, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Dover, Rockaway
    Ocean County Toms River Central / Shore Toms River, Lakewood, Brick, Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights
    Passaic County Paterson North Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, Wayne
    Salem County Salem South Salem, Pennsville, Carneys Point, Woodstown
    Somerset County Somerville Central Somerville, Franklin Township, Bridgewater, Hillsborough
    Sussex County Newton North (Skylands) Newton, Vernon, Sparta, Hopatcong
    Union County Elizabeth North / Metro Elizabeth, Union, Plainfield, Linden, Rahway
    Warren County Belvidere Northwest (Skylands) Phillipsburg, Hackettstown, Washington

    Quick snapshot: New Jersey has 21 counties and more than 560 municipalities – cities, towns, boroughs, townships, and a few tiny villages squeezed in between. 

    Most people experience the state as North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey. On a county map, those invisible “local” borders start to make sense.

    How to Read a New Jersey County Map (Without Getting Lost)

    Look at a New Jersey county map with cities and towns and you’ll notice three big things right away:

    • The north is dense, urban and tied tightly to New York City.
    • The south stretches out into farm country, pine forests and quiet bays.
    • The long Atlantic coast is packed with resort towns and boardwalks.

    The counties are the layer sitting right between the state government and local municipalities. They handle things like county roads, parks, jails, elections, courts and some social services. 

    So when you zoom in on the map, don’t just see shapes and colors. Think of each county as its own mini–region with a different vibe, economy and set of cities.

    North Jersey Counties: Urban skylines & commuter hubs

    Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Passaic & Union are the classic North Jersey powerhouses. They sit right next to New York City and are stitched together by major highways, rail lines and river crossings.

    • Essex County – anchored by Newark, the state’s largest city and a major air, rail and port hub. 
    • Hudson County – ultra-dense waterfront county with Jersey City and Hoboken, famous for skyline views and PATH trains.
    • Bergen County – one of the most populous counties, full of suburbs, malls and parkland close to NYC. 
    • Passaic County – home to historic Paterson and its Great Falls, plus a mix of older cities and green suburbs.
    • Union County – includes Elizabeth, Plainfield, and bedroom communities for Manhattan.

    Planning a commute?

    If you work in New York City, a map that shows county lines plus rail stations & major highways is gold. Living in Bergen, Hudson, Essex or Union usually means shorter trains and more transit options.

    Central Jersey Counties: Suburban belt & college towns

    Central Jersey may spark endless arguments at diners, ama but on the map it’s pretty clear: Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Somerset and often Hunterdon & Ocean form the bridge between New York and Philadelphia.

    • Middlesex County – includes Edison, New Brunswick and Woodbridge; big corporate offices, Rutgers University and major rail corridors.
    • Mercer County – home to the state capital Trenton and the university town of Princeton.
    • Monmouth County – where suburbs meet the Jersey Shore; think Asbury Park, Long Branch and Red Bank.
    • Somerset & Hunterdon – greener and more rural toward the west, with small historic towns and rolling countryside.
    • Ocean County (north part) – fast-growing communities like Toms River and Lakewood, plus barrier island beach towns.

    Why this matters on a county map

    • School districts and tax rates often follow municipal lines, but county boundaries still shape transportation, parks and some services.
    • If you’re relocating, comparing counties helps you balance commute time, housing cost and lifestyle.

    South Jersey Counties: Shore towns, farms & pine forests

    Slide down the map and the state opens up. Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Burlington and much of Camden & Ocean form South Jersey, with strong ties to Philadelphia and Delaware.

    • Atlantic County – famous for Atlantic City, plus inland towns like Hammonton.
    • Cape May County – iconic shore county with resorts such as Cape May, Wildwood and Ocean City.
    • Gloucester & Camden – suburbs of Philadelphia mixed with historic river towns and newer developments.
    • Cumberland & Salem – more rural, with farmland, marshes and small riverfront communities.
    • Burlington – the state’s largest county by land area; stretches from Delaware River towns to Pine Barrens forest.

    On a good county map you can literally trace a weekend: drive from Gloucester County through the Pine Barrens in Burlington and end up on the boardwalk in Atlantic County.

    Skylands & Northwest: New Jersey’s green corner

    The Skylands region – mainly Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon and Morris – feels a world away from Hudson’s skyline.

    • Sussex & Warren – lakes, hiking trails, ski areas and historic river towns along the Delaware.
    • Morris & Hunterdon – mix of upscale suburbs, open space and old town centers like Morristown and Flemington.

    When you look at a New Jersey county map, this whole northwest block stands out as a big, green patch – the state’s outdoor playground.

    Counties, Cities, Towns: How New Jersey Is Actually Organized

    New Jersey may be small, but it’s politically complex. The state has 21 counties and more than 560 municipal governments. 

    • Counties – bigger areas like Bergen or Camden, run by elected commissioners and countywide officers.
    • Municipalities – cities, towns, boroughs and townships such as Newark, Hoboken, Cherry Hill, Parsippany-Troy Hills.

    On the map, you’ll see county outlines first, then city and town names layered on top. This is super helpful when you’re asking questions like:

    • “Which county is Edison in?” (That’s Middlesex.)
    • “Is Hoboken part of Jersey City?” (No, it’s its own city, but both are in Hudson County.)
    • “Where does Trenton fit?” (It’s a city in Mercer County and the state capital.)

    Tip for using interactive maps

    • Turn on a county layer to understand the big picture.
    • Then enable city / town labels and roads for navigation and travel planning.
    • For property research, add ZIP codes or school district overlays where available.

    Major New Jersey Cities on the County Map

    Key North Jersey cities

    • Newark – in Essex County, major transportation hub with its own international airport.
    • Jersey City – in Hudson County, across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
    • Paterson – in Passaic County, known for Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.
    • Elizabeth – in Union County, close to Newark Airport and major shipping terminals.

    Central & South Jersey highlights

    • Trenton – in Mercer County, the state capital on the Delaware River.
    • Camden – in Camden County, opposite Philadelphia.
    • Atlantic City – in Atlantic County, casino resort and boardwalk destination.
    • Vineland – in Cumberland County, a major South Jersey city.

    Seeing these cities pinned onto their counties helps you understand commuting patterns, media markets, and even why certain sports fans cluster the way they do.

    Practical Ways to Use a New Jersey County Map

    • Travel planning – connect which shore town sits in which county so you can combine beaches, state parks and historic towns in one trip.
    • Moving or relocating – compare counties for commute, amenities, and proximity to NYC or Philadelphia.
    • Real estate research – many stats (median income, population, age, growth) are published at the county level.
    • School & college searches – looking at counties first makes it easier to narrow down districts, community colleges and universities.
    • Outdoor activities – from Sussex’s ski slopes to Cape May’s birding hotspots, counties group together similar landscapes.

    Ask yourself: “What am I trying to do – commute, study, start a business, or chill by the ocean?” Then read the map through that lens. It sounds simple, but it changes which counties suddenly matter to you.

    Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Counties

    Let’s clear up a few quick questions people usually have when they first look at a New Jersey county map.

    ➤ How many counties does New Jersey have?
    New Jersey has 21 counties. This number hasn’t changed since the creation of Union County in the 19th century. 

    ➤ Which county is the most populous?
    Bergen County is currently the most populous county in the state, followed closely by Essex and Middlesex.

    ➤ Which county is the largest by land area?
    Burlington County is the largest by area, stretching from the Delaware River all the way to the Pinelands and shore-side marshes. Hudson County is the smallest, but also one of the most densely populated.

    ➤ What’s special about New Jersey’s municipal system?
    New Jersey has more than 560 separate municipalities, which means that even inside one county you might cross through several different townships and boroughs in a short drive. Counties help you zoom out and make sense of that patchwork.

    ➤ Is Central Jersey real?
    Look at the map. Then look at Middlesex, Mercer, Somerset and Monmouth. Whether or not the debate ever ends, those counties clearly form a middle belt between north and south – so yes, on most practical maps, Central Jersey definitely exists.

    Using Official Data with Your County Map

    If you want to go beyond just looking at the map and actually analyze New Jersey, official data sources are your best friend.

    • Population & demographics – the U.S. Census Bureau publishes detailed county-level tables and maps, including growth trends and age breakdowns.
    • State-level maps & county history – the State of New Jersey provides historic county-formation maps and tables showing when each county was created and where the county seat is located.
    • Regional planning & research – universities such as Rutgers often publish in-depth reports on population change, housing and regional patterns using county boundaries.

    Combine those datasets with a good New Jersey county map and you’ll see patterns in migration, housing, jobs and transportation that are hard to spot any other way.

    Sources