Union County is named for the Union of the United States.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Essex County
E – Hudson County and Atlantic Ocean
S – Middlesex County
W – Somerset County and Morris County
Created: March 9, 1857 
County Seat:
Elizabeth 1857 – present
County Courthouse – Elizabeth
Location: 2 Broad Street / Elizabeth Avenue
Built: 1903 – 1905
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Ackerman & Ross
Contractor: John H Parker Company.
Description: The building faces east and is a three story gray colored stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Elizabeth. The complex consists of four sections. The first section is the 1905 courthouse. The east front projects from the main building and has a large portico with two high columns and recessed entrance with small pediment above. At the top is a wide pediment at the roof line. On the center of the roof is a wide low dome with large interior rotunda. The second section is seven story annex was constructed in 1925 to 1927 behind the courthouse. The building is “L” shaped and is located at the rear of the complex. The architect was C Godfrey Poggi. The third section is the 1925 to 1931 seventeen story Neo-Classical style tower that was constructed between the courthouse and the annex. On the south side is a large high porch supported by four large Tuscan columns forming the ground story platform. At the 14th story level is a heavy cornice with anthemion cresting; and the next two stories are articulated with plain pilasters and an entablature with parapet. The architect was Oakley and Son. The fourth section is the 8 story Courtroom Building was constructed in 1931 to 1932. The building houses the Superior Court and the Surrogate’s Court.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Mid Town Historic District
County Courthouse Annex – Elizabeth
Location: 21 – 37 Elizabethtown Plaza / Rathway Avenue
Built: 1962 – 1964
Style: Modern
Architect: Joseph Allan
Contractor: Bryan Construction Company, Inc.
Description: The building faces west and a five story conncrete structure. The building is located in the center of Elizabeth on the northwest side of the courthouse. The first story is recessed at the first story and supported by pillars. Vertical concrete pilasters divide the double-set windows. The end walls are buff colored brick. The roof line is flat.
County Family Court Courthouse – Elizabeth
Location: 2 Cherry Street / Rathway Avenue
Built: 2013 – 2017
Style: Modern
Architect: Netta Architects of Mountainside
Contractor: Perini Management Services Inc. of Framingham, Massachusetts
Description: The building faces south and is a four story glass, steel and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Elizabeth to the west of the courthouse. The building has limestone façade. The roof line is flat. The interior has terrazzo floors and a large cantilevered curved staircase surrounded by glass and curtainwall. There are 6 courtrooms. The building houses thr Family Court.
Note: The original contractor was removed from the project due to deficient work, including the complete removal and replacement of the exterior limestone facade half way to completion and a new contractor was hired.
County Administration Building – Elizabeth
Location: 21 – 37 Elizabethtown Plaza / Rathway Avenue
Built: 1962 – 1964
Style: Modern
Architect: Joseph Allan
Contractor: Bryan Construction Company, Inc.
Description: The building faces east and is an eight story concrete, steel and glass structure. The building is located in the center of Elizabeth on the west side of the courthouse complex. The main entrance on the east side has a wide semi-circular glass canopy. The windows are vertical and the roof line is flat.
History: The county was created in 1857 and Elizabeth was selected as the county seat. As early as 1668, the Elizabethtown Meeting House at Broad Street and Rathway Avenue was used as the courthouse. The building was destroyed in 1780 and rebuilt in 1797, and destroyed by fire in 1808. The first courthouse was built in 1810. When the county was created, an addition was built in 1857. The courthouse was torn down in 1903. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1903 to 1905. The Courthouse Annex was constructed in 1925 at a cost of $600,000, Courthouse Tower constructed in 1925 to 1931 at a cost of $1,200,000 and the Courtroom Building was constructed in 1931 to 1932. An Annex was constructed in 1962 to 1964 and the Administration Building was constructed in 1976 to 1979. The Family Court Courthouse was constructed in 2013 to 2017 at a cost of $38,600.000.
County Courthouse – Elizabeth
County Courthouse Annex – Elizabeth
County Administration Building – Elizabeth
Photos taken 2017