Focus on Elizabeth
Elizabeth Mayor’s message
Mayor Chris Bollwage
Welcome to Elizabeth, New Jersey, a City with a proud history dating back to the founding of our Country, and an even more exciting future.
With a population of 124,755, the City of Elizabeth is New Jersey’s fourth largest City. As the Union County Seat, Elizabeth contains most major governmental offices and courts servicing the County.
Over the past years the City has experienced remarkable revitalization and development efforts boasting the area’s most exciting retail and entertainment opportunities. Last year more than 15 million people visited Elizabeth’s Jersey Gardens Mall, the largest mall on the East Coast. Elizabeth is also home to the nation’s top performing IKEA store and the largest Toys-R-Us Kids World.
Elizabeth is a City easily accessible by land, sea, rail, and air, located in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Nation. It is a great American City that many are proud to call home and many more love to visit.
Elizabeth, NJ residents can email photos or comments about Elizabeth to njspotlight@menendez.senate.gov, so that all New Jerseyans can get to know this wonderful town.
Resident Stories
Louis DiPaola - Elizabeth, the Quintessential American City
Elizabeth has a long history of opening its gates to people looking for freedom and a better life. Residents of this city have ranged from Alexander Hamilton to my very own grandfather who have come to Elizabeth in pursuit of the storied American dream. This receptiveness is exactly why Elizabeth is the embodiment of the American melting pot. Walking around the city is like a trip around the globe. One can see the influence of cultures from South America to Europe to Africa. However the true beauty in Elizabeth lies in its ability to welcome all of these different cultures and meld them into one heterogeneous yet happy community. I firmly believe that there is no other place quiet like this city which is why I am proud to call Elizabeth my home.
Louis DiPaola, A junior at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and proud Elizabeth native
Kelly Vence
My family has lived in Elizabeth for over 85 years. Generations to generations were born and raised here. The quality of life, the community spirit, vibrant and diversified neighborhoods is what makes me proud to call Elizabeth home. This city brings something for everyone, from the tasty restaurants, to the new recreation or senior centers, the renovated playgrounds and Jersey Gardens Mall. Elizabeth is truly a wonderful city. I think everyone should visit Elizabeth, they will be pleased.
William Reyes, Jr.
As a Colombian-American, born and raised in Elizabeth, I love how much the Colombian population has grown in the City of Elizabeth. According to Census, Colombians are the fastest growing and second largest Hispanic group in the City. The contribution to business, culture, and development is evident by the ever growing and booming "little Colombia" located on Morris Avenue. But Colombians are not the only ones thriving in our City. There are 35 different languages spoken in our City, you can find people from all over the world that now call the City of Elizabeth home. Diversity is our strength and appeal. I invite everyone to come experience our wonderful City. For more information about the City of Elizabeth, events, and attractions please visit: www.elizabethnj.org
Manuel & Annie Colina
I love Elizabeth because of its history, after all it was the first city of New Jersey and there are a lot of historic landmarks allover the city. Besides, my husband and I have raised our family here, reason enough to make it a very special place for us.
Linda Flores-Tober
Elizabeth has everything for everyone- you can shop, play in the parks, eat around the world and dwell at the waterfront. This city gets better and better.
Location
Facts About Elizabeth
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