The Board of County Freeholders is the legislative body for each of the 21 counties in New Jersey. A Freeholder is a legislator on the county level. State nickname: The Garden State Other U.S. States Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Governor Richard Codey (D)Acting Senators Jon Corzine (D) Frank Lautenberg (D) Official languages None defined Area 22,608 km² (47th)  - Land 19,231 km²  - Water 3,378 km² (14. ... Freehold is a term used in real estate or real property law, land held in fee simple, as opposed to leasehold, which is land which is leased. ...

Overview

New Jersey is the only state in the nation where elected county officials are called "freeholders." Most other states elect a county commission or county council. The term is a carryover from colonial days, when only those who owned a freehold were enfranchised, with one or two "chosen" freeholders representing each municipality within a county. Eventually, the number of freeholders in each county was reduced by statute and is now determined by referendum, and cannot exceed nine members. Fee simple, also known as fee simple absolute or allodial, is a term of art in common law. ...

Depending on the county, the executive and legislative functions may be performed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders or split into separate components. In some counties, members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders perform both legislative and executive functions on a commission basis, with each Freeholder assigned responsibility for a department or group of departments. In other counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Mercer), there is a directly-elected County Executive who performs the executive functions while the Board of Chosen Freeholders retains a legislative and oversight role. In counties without an Executive, a County Administrator or County Manager may be hired to perform day-to-day administration of county functions. Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1837 Seat Mays Landing Area  - Total  - Water 1,739 km² (671 mi²) 286 km² (110 mi²) 16. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1683 Seat Hackensack Area  - Total  - Water 606 km² (234 mi²) 33 km² (13 mi²) 5. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1682 Seat Newark Area  - Total  - Water 336 km² (130 mi²) 9 km² (3 mi²) 2. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1840 Seat Jersey City Area  - Total  - Water 162 km² (62 mi²) 41 km² (16 mi²) 25. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1838 Seat Trenton Area  - Total  - Water 585 km² (226 mi²) 8 km² (3 mi²) 1. ... 1) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the county executive committee at primary elections shall perform all duties that relate to the qualification of candidates for primary elections, print ballots for primary elections, appoint the primary election officers, resolve contests in regard to primary elections, and perform all other duties...

Board Structure by County

• Atlantic County: Nine member elected to staggered three-year terms. Five of the freeholders represent equally-populated districts; four are elected from the county at-large. Popularly elected County Executive.
• Bergen County: Seven members elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. Popularly elected County Executive.
• Burlington County: Five members elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. The Freeholder Director is elected annually by the Board.
• Camden County: Seven members elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis.
• Cape May County: Five members elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director elected from Board at annual reorganization meeting in January.
• Cumberland County: Seven members elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director elected from Board at annual reorganization meeting in January. Appointed County Administrator.
• Essex County: Nine members elected to serve concurrent terms. Five of the freeholders represent districts; four are elected from the county at-large. Freeholder President and Vice-President serve one-year terms. Popularly elected County Executive.
• Gloucester County: Seven members. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director.
• Hudson County: Popularly elected County Executive.
• Hunterdon County: Five members elected at large for terms of two to three years on a staggered basis. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director elected from Board at annual reorganization meeting in January.
• Mercer County: Seven members elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. The Board has a Chair and Vice-Chair; these positions are rotated amongst board members each year. Popularly elected County Executive.
• Middlesex County: Seven members elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. In January of each year, the Board reorganizes, selecting one Freeholder to be Freeholder Director and another to be Freeholder Deputy Director. The Freeholder Director appoints Freeholders to serve as Chairpersons and members on the various committees which oversee county departments.
• Monmouth County: Five members elected at-large for three-year terms. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director elected from Board at annual reorganization meeting in January.
• Morris County: Seven members. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director elected from Board at annual reorganization meeting in January.
• Ocean County: Five members elected at-large. Appointed County Administrator.
• Passaic County: Seven members elected at-large for three-year terms. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director elected from Board at annual reorganization meeting in January.
• Salem County: Seven members elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. In January of each year, the Board reorganizes, selecting one Freeholder to be Freeholder Director and another to be Freeholder Deputy Director. Appointed County Administrator.
• Somerset County: Five members elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. Appointed County Administrator.
• Sussex County: Five members.
• Union County: Nine members. Appointed County Manager.
• Warren County: Three members elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis. Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director elected from Board at annual reorganization meeting in January. Appointed County Administrator.

Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1837 Seat Mays Landing Area  - Total  - Water 1,739 km² (671 mi²) 286 km² (110 mi²) 16. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1683 Seat Hackensack Area  - Total  - Water 606 km² (234 mi²) 33 km² (13 mi²) 5. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1694 Seat Mount Holly Area  - Total  - Water 2,122 km² (819 mi²) 38 km² (15 mi²) 1. ... Camden County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Cape May County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Cumberland County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1682 Seat Newark Area  - Total  - Water 336 km² (130 mi²) 9 km² (3 mi²) 2. ... Gloucester County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1840 Seat Jersey City Area  - Total  - Water 162 km² (62 mi²) 41 km² (16 mi²) 25. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1714 Seat Flemington Area  - Total  - Water 1,134 km² (438 mi²) 20 km² (8 mi²) 1. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1838 Seat Trenton Area  - Total  - Water 585 km² (226 mi²) 8 km² (3 mi²) 1. ... Middlesex County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1675 Seat Freehold Borough Area  - Total  - Water 1,723 km² (665 mi²) 500 km² (193 mi²) 29. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed March 15, 1738 Seat Morristown Area  - Total  - Water 1,247 km² (481 mi²) 32 km² (12 mi²) (2. ... Ocean County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Passaic County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Salem County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Somerset County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Location in the state of New Jersey Formed 1753 Seat Newton Area  - Total  - Water 1,388 km² (536 mi²) 38 km² (15 mi²) 2. ... Union County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ... Warren County is a county located in the state of New Jersey. ...

Popular impressions

Due to widespread ignorance about what exactly New Jersey freeholders do, a common witticism is to refer to them as "freeloaders", as in "The Board of Chosen Freeloaders". This is not necessarily kind, but it does reflect a persistent public belief that this particular layer of government is redundant and unnecessary. Freeloader or freeloaders can refer to several things: Someone who attempts to get something, usually a service or employment, for nothing, or as little work as possible, usually implying lazyness. ...