Middlesex County occupies a central position in New Jersey and is organized around the Raritan River, with New Brunswick serving as the county seat. The county includes major municipalities such as Edison, Woodbridge, Piscataway, Old Bridge, and East Brunswick, along with smaller boroughs and historic communities. Rutgers University, healthcare institutions, research facilities, industrial parks, and regional shopping areas are important parts of the local economy. The New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Interstate 287, Route 1, Route 9, and several rail lines connect Middlesex County with New York, Philadelphia, and the wider state. Development ranges from dense urban neighborhoods and older town centers to suburban subdivisions, corporate campuses, warehouses, and waterfront areas along Raritan Bay and the Arthur Kill. Its combination of education, transportation, industry, and residential growth makes the county one of New Jersey’s most diverse regions.