Facts nobody tells you: Fun Facts About Elizabeth
Think you really know Elizabeth? It's a city with port cranes that could arm wrestle the Turnpike, Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall that you'll have to shop to believe, and Portuguese bakeries that are sugar dusted time machines with accents. Let's run through the facts, stats, and container couture that showcase what makes Elizabeth's port meet runway sparkle.
Diane, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Diane has been rooted in New Jersey since day one and has lived everywhere from Hillside to Elizabeth to Springfield before landing in Fanwood. When she and her family moved into their current place, she was very pregnant and still refused to stop lifting boxes or scrubbing things because she wanted it done right. She is the kind of New Jerseyan who can talk about Revolutionary War history, walk you through Duke Gardens, or recommend the best apple picking without checking a map. Her food loyalties are fierce, especially when it comes to pork roll on a hard roll with melted cheese, though she will happily join any naming debate. She is a lifelong reader who once tried to leave the library with more books than her card allowed. She even crossed paths with Sinatra during an honorary degree event at Stevens. At Snappy Scout she brings sharp local insight with a Jersey wink.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes Elizabeth Elizabeth?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Elizabeth
E-town, E-Port, The Port, Elizabethtown
Local Reality Check
Smokestacks and outlet mall vs. 350 year old city with ornate rowhouses and Dominican bakeries.
You're most likely moving from
Brooklyn, Jersey City, Queens, and pricier Union County suburbs.
Strangely large concentration of
pupuserias along Elizabeth Avenue and Morris Avenue.
Music scene
Salsa and bachata on Morris Ave, DIY shows, the Ritz Theatre revival.
You'll have to see it to believe it
Airplanes look like they'll land on the Turnpike while container ships glide past.
Unique Geography
Port on Arthur Kill, bisected by Elizabeth River, neighbor to Newark Airport and Staten Island.
Elizabeth is home to
The Mills at Jersey Gardens, NJ's largest outlet mall. Historic spots over 300 years old. Part of Newark airport is actually in Elizabeth.
Well known for its
port skyline, outlet marathon shopping, and Dominican, Salvadoran, Portuguese eats.
Fun history fact
Founded 1664 as Elizabethtown, New Jersey’s first capital.
Celebrity sightings
Judy Blume hometown drop-ins, Tom Colicchio family visits, random pros at The Mills.
Noteworthy Census stat
Nearly 70 percent Hispanic or Latino, per 2020 Census.
Most interesting sub-culture within Elizabeth
plane spotters at IKEA lot timing touchdowns over Port Newark Elizabeth.
Population
4th largest city in NJ, top 200 largest nationwide
Elizabeth is roughly the same geographic size as
Alexandria, Virginia
A Local Event Worth Experiencing Once
Peek back over 300 years at the annual historical reenactment and search out the unique pieces of history in the city. Boxwood Hall, Belcher-Ogden Hall and the historic train station are just of few of the landmarks that showcase Elizabeth's long history.
— Diane Briante
New Jersey Local Expert
Ready to See If Elizabeth Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Elizabeth guide for the bigger picture.