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The city had the 13th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.598% in 2020, compared to 3.089% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[22]

The township calls itself “New Jersey’s Largest Municipality” on its stationery and its website. At 110.90 square miles (287.2 km2), Hamilton Township has the largest land area of any municipality in New Jersey.[1] However, with a total area (land and water combined) of 112.94 square miles (292.5 km2) it is the second-largest municipality in New Jersey, behind neighboring Galloway Township, which has a total area of 114.49 square miles (296.5 km2).[1][22]

Pemberton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 10, 1846, from portions of New Hanover Township, Northampton Township (now known as Mount Holly Township) and Southampton Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Woodland Township on March 7, 1866.[24] The township is named for James Pemberton, a property owner in the area.[25] Geographically, the township is part of the South Jersey region.

As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough’s population was 26,342,[20][21][21][22] reflecting an increase of 605 (+2.4%) from the 25,737 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 670 (+2.7%) from the 25,067 counted in the 1990 Census.[23]

Both East Windsor and West Windsor were formed when Windsor Township was split on February 9, 1797, while the area was still part of Middlesex County. It was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey’s initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Hightstown borough (March 5, 1853, within East Windsor; became independent c. 1894) and Washington Township (March 11, 1860, and known as Robbinsville Township since 2007).[21] The township was named for Windsor Township, which was named for Windsor, England.[22]

What is now Nutley was originally incorporated as Franklin Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 18, 1874, from portions of Belleville Township. Nutley was incorporated as a town on March 5, 1902, replacing Franklin Township.[23][24] In 1981, the town was one of seven Essex County municipalities to pass a referendum to become a township, joining four municipalities that had already made the change, of what would ultimately be more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships in order take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid to municipalities on a per capita basis.[25][26][27][28]

In March 2018, Bloomberg ranked Westfield as the 99th highest-income place in the United States, and the 18th highest-income location in New Jersey.[20] According to a 2014 nationwide survey, Westfield was ranked as the 30th-safest city to live in the United States.[21]

Voorhees Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1899, from portions of Waterford Township. Portions of the township were taken on March 8, 1924, to form Gibbsboro.[21][22]

Livingston was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township (now Fairfield Township) and Springfield Township (now in Union County). Portions of the original township were later taken to form Fairmount (March 11, 1862, now part of West Orange) and Roseland (March 10, 1908).[20]

Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township. Long Branch was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1903, based on the results of a referendum, replacing the Long Branch Commission.[21]