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Howell Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1801, from portions of Shrewsbury Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Brick Township in the newly created Ocean County (February 15, 1850), Wall Township (March 7, 1851) and Farmingdale (April 8, 1903).[22] The township was named for Richard Howell, who served from 1794 to 1801 as the third Governor of New Jersey.[23][24]

The area of present-day Plainfield was originally formed as Plainfield Township, a township that was created on April 5, 1847, from portions of Westfield Township, while the area was still part of Essex County. On March 19, 1857, Plainfield Township became part of the newly created Union County.[19]

Wayne was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 12, 1847, from portions of Manchester Township. Totowa was formed from portions of Wayne and Manchester Township on March 15, 1898.[21][22] Points of interest include William Paterson University, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Towne Center, High Mountain Park Preserve, and Dey Mansion.

For 2020, New Brunswick had a population of 55,266,[22] representing a 0.2% increase from the 55,181 people enumerated at the 2010 United States Census,[23][24][24][25] which in turn had reflected an increase of 6,608 (+13.6%) from the 48,573 counted in the 2000 Census.[26] The Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program calculated that the city’s population was 55,676 in 2019,[22] ranking the city the 689th-most-populous in the country.[12] Due to the concentration of medical facilities in the area, including Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and medical school, and Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick is known as both the Hub City and the Healthcare City.[27][28] The corporate headquarters and production facilities of several global pharmaceutical companies are situated in the city, including Johnson & Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb. New Brunswick has evolved into a major center for the sciences, arts, and cultural activities.

According to Joshua Coffin, the early settlers included “Captain John Pike, the ancestor of General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who was killed at the battle of Queenstown in 1813; Thomas Bloomfield, the ancestor of Joseph Bloomfield, some years governor of New Jersey, for whom the township of Bloomfield, New Jersey is named; John Bishop, senior and junior; Jonathan Haynes; Henry Jaques; George March; Stephen Kent; Abraham Toppan, junior; Elisha Ilsley; Hugh March; John Bloomfield; Samuel Moore; Nathaniel Webster; John Ilsley; and others.”[31] Woodbridge was the site of the first gristmill in New Jersey.[32][33] The mill was built by Jonathan Singletary Dunham (married to Mary Bloomfield, relative of Joseph Bloomfield).[34][35]

As of the 2020 United States Census, the township had a total population of 95,438,[10] with the township ranking as the eighth-most-populous municipality in the state in 2020 (same place as in 2010)[21] and the second most-populous municipality in Ocean County (behind Lakewood Township, which had a population of 135,158).[22] The 2020 population increased by 4,199 (+4.6%) from the 91,239 counted in the 2010 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,533 (+1.7%) from the 89,706 counted in the 2000 Census, and by 13,335 (+17.5%) from the 76,371 counted in the 1990 Census.[23]

Hamilton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1842, from portions of the now-defunct Nottingham Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chambersburg borough (April 1, 1872, annexed by Trenton in 1888) and Wilbur borough (April 24, 1891, annexed by Trenton in 1898).[25] Hamilton Township derives its name from the village of Hamilton Square, which might have been named for Alexander Hamilton.[26][27]

Trenton dates back at least to June 3, 1719, when mention was made of a constable being appointed for Trenton while the area was still part of Hunterdon County. Boundaries were recorded for Trenton Township as of March 2, 1720.[26] A courthouse and jail were constructed in Trenton around 1720, and the Freeholders of Hunterdon County met annually in Trenton.[27]

Clifton was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1917, replacing Acquackanonk Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.[23] Clifton is listed under five different ZIP codes. 07011, 07012, 07013, 07014, and 07015.[24]

Cherry Hill is a suburb of Philadelphia and is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan statistical area. With the decline of downtown Camden, it has become an edge city and one of the region’s main commercial centers.[20][21]