Our History
In 1664, a group of Englishmen formed the Elizabethtown Associates and purchased a land area west of Newark Bay, including the area of current day Elizabeth.
Elizabethtown, named in honor of the wife of Sir George Carteret, was established on the banks of the Elizabeth River. Elizabethtown thrived with a population of 700 and the City became the first capital of New Jersey.
Famous People from the City of Elizabeth
From the days of Elizabeth's founding, great men have walked the City's streets. Alexander Hamilton called Elizabeth home for a time during his youth and George Washington came here en route to New York to be sworn in as the first President of the United States in 1789. Elizabeth's proud history can be seen in the numerous memorials, historic sites, and statues that dot the City's landscape.
The following people were also known to be born in Elizabeth!
- Elizabeth Peña
- Judy Blume
- William F. Halsey
- Debralee Scott
- Valerie Cruz
- Thomas Mitchell
- Daniel Hugh Kelly
- Kate Jennings Grant
- Luis Da Silva Jr.
- Marisa Petroro
- Malinda Williams
- Wesley Taylor
- R. Marcus Taylor
- Joan Carroll
- Ron Karabatsos
- Beth McCarthy-Miller
- Kim Yates
- Margaret Josephs
- Tom Colicchio
- Jon Rua
- John Morris
- JIm Gordon
- Mark Bailey
- Mark Nistico
- Robert Tisdale
- Marsha P. Johnson
- William Nunez
- Alex Koba
- James Cusumano
- Camille Becerra
- Eric Christie