New Jersey

Middlesex

863,162

2020 population

1790

first census record

census records

About Middlesex

Middlesex, New Jersey, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 15,956. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 863,162.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of New Brunswick, Battle of Metuchen Meeting House, Battle of Punk Hill, and 75 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	863,162
2010	809,858
2000	750,162
1990	671,780
1980	595,893
1970	583,813
1960	433,856
1950	264,872
1940	217,077
1930	212,208
1920	162,334
1910	114,426
1900	79,762
1890	61,754
1880	52,286
1870	45,029
1860	34,812
1850	28,635
1840	21,893
1830	23,157
1820	21,470
1810	20,381
1800	17,890
1790	15,956

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Middlesex

Military engagements that took place in Middlesex, New Jersey.

Battle of New Brunswick

1776

Battle of Metuchen Meeting House

Skirmish at Ash Swamp

1777

Battle of Metuchen Meeting House (Short Hills)

1777

Battle of Monmouth Court House

1778

Historic places in Middlesex

National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex, New Jersey.

Road Up Raritan Historic District

Livingston Avenue Historic District

St. Peter's Episcopal Church

Perth Amboy

Metlar House

Piscataway

Middlesex Avenue-Woodwild Park Historic District

Borough of Metuchen

Saint Peter the Apostle Church

New Brunswick

National Musical String Company

New Brunswick

Old Queen's

New Brunswick

Laing House of Plainfield Plantation

Edison

Rutgers Preparatory School

New Brunswick

Queen's Campus, Rutgers University

New Brunswick

Ensley-Mount-Buckalew House

Jamesburg

Kearny, Lawrence, House

Perth Amboy

Dutch Reformed Church

New Brunswick

Christ Episcopal Church

New Brunswick

Bishop, James, House

New Brunswick

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Other counties in New Jersey

Explore census history and historic records for more New Jersey counties.

Cumberland Essex Gloucester Hudson Hunterdon Mercer Monmouth Morris Ocean Passaic Salem Somerset Sussex Union Warren Atlantic Bergen Burlington Camden Cape May

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Everything a full report reveals about Middlesex County, New Jersey

This page charts the census history of Middlesex County, New Jersey. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Middlesex

When does Middlesex first appear in the US census?

Middlesex, New Jersey first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 15,956.

What is the population of Middlesex?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Middlesex had a recorded population of 863,162.

Were any battles fought in Middlesex?

8 documented military engagements took place in Middlesex, including Battle of New Brunswick, Battle of Metuchen Meeting House, Battle of Punk Hill.

How many historic places are in Middlesex?

75 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex, New Jersey.

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