Union County is New Jersey’s seventh largest county in population, and is highly regarded as a diverse region with some of the nation’s best suburbs and significant urban centers. It is also known for its powerful transportation hub which quick access to major markets all within the heart of the New York-New Jersey market. These hubs include one of the world’s busiest airports, Liberty International Airport, NJ Transit, and many of the nation’s most traveled roadways including the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Routes 1&9, 78 and 22. Union County is also directly connected to New York via the Goethal’s Bridge. The area is also home to home to one of the nation’s largest container ports/Maritime facilities operated by the Port of New York/New Jersey and also, Port Linden. Union County is also steeped in history, having played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War and the founding of America. The City of Elizabeth, New Jersey’s fourth-largest municipality, is the County seat, contains most major governmental offices and courts servicing the County. Over the past 20 years, the County has realized considerable economic growth in the retail, medical, educational, transportation, shipping and commercial industries. The Jersey Gardens Mall and Route 22 shopping corridor are among the busiest in the nation. Its largest employers include Merck, Philips 66 (refinery) and the Wakefern Corporation. Its educational institutions include Kean University in Union Township, and Union County College, which has campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield and Scotch Plains. The Union County Vocational Technical Schools system also ranks high in national polls. While Union County is New Jersey’s third most densely populated County, it is also well known for its County park areas and open space, which include several Olmstead parks and the expansive Watchung Reservation, which is home to various wildlife, plants and trees.