Cumberland County, New Jersey

Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland.

This county is part of the Delaware Valley area as well as the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 677 sqmi, of which 489 sqmi is land and 187 sqmi (27.68%) is water.

Cumberland is a low-lying,generally featureless coastal county, with many salt marshes near the Delaware Bay. The highest elevation is at one of 12 areas in Upper Deerfield Township that exceed 140 feet (42.6 m) above sea level; the lowest elevation is sea level.

Adjacent counties

 * Gloucester County, New Jersey – north
 * Atlantic County, New Jersey – northeast
 * Cape May County, New Jersey – southeast
 * Kent County, Delaware – west1
 * Salem County, New Jersey – northwest

1across Delaware Bay; no land border

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 146,438 people, 49,143 households, and 35,186 families residing in the county. The population density was 299 people per square mile (116/km²). There were 52,863 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.88% White, 20.20% Black or African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 9.08% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. 19.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.4% were of Italian, 9.9% German, 7.9% Irish and 6.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 49,143 households out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 17.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,150, and the median income for a family was $45,403. Males had a median income of $35,387 versus $25,393 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,376. About 11.30% of families and 15.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

The 2005 demography includes the population as 139,968 people, a slight decrease from 2000. The races were 70.1% White, 16.1% Black or African American, 3.3% Native American/Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, no Pacific Islanders, 8.0% Other races, 1.1% multiracial and 22.7% Hispanic. Cumberland County has the largest percentage of Native Americans in New Jersey as of the 2005 census. 

As of 2010 the racial makeup of the county was 50.31% Non-Hispanic whites, 20.23% blacks, 1.11% Native Americans, 1.22% Asians, 0.04% Pacific Islanders, 0.14% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 1.87% Non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 27.06% Hispanic or Latino.

Government
Cumberland County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of seven members. Each Freeholder is assigned responsibility for one of the County's departments. These individuals are elected at large by the citizens of Cumberland County in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year terms in office, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.

, Cumberland County's Freeholders are:
 * Freeholder Director Louis N. Magazzu (term ends December 31, 2009): Chairman of Department of Finance.
 * Deputy Director Bruce T. Peterson (2008): Chairman of Department of Public Property & Personnel.
 * Jane Yetman Christy (2008): Chairman of Department of Health.
 * Joseph Pepitone (2010): TBD
 * Douglas M. Rainear (2010): Chairman of the Department of Public Affairs.
 * Joseph P. Riley (2009): Chairman Department of Public Safety.
 * Jeffrey M. Trout (2008): Chairman of Department of Agriculture and History.

Politics
In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, John Kerry carried the county by a 6.6% margin over George W. Bush, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush.

Municipalities
The following municipalities are located in Cumberland County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are listed under their municipalities.
 * Bridgeton (city)
 * Commercial Township
 * Laurel Lake
 * Port Norris
 * Deerfield Township
 * Rosenhayn
 * Downe Township
 * Fairfield Township
 * Fairton
 * Greenwich Township
 * Hopewell Township
 * Lawrence Township
 * Cedarville
 * Maurice River Township
 * Millville (city)
 * Shiloh (borough)
 * Stow Creek Township
 * Upper Deerfield Township
 * Seabrook Farms
 * Vineland (city)