Middlesex County A visitor to Thompson Park, Jamesburg/Monroe, enjoys a picnic lunch by the lake. Middlesex County boasts a rich history and bright future as an economic, medical and cultural center. The county, which has 25 municipalities, is considered an ideal location for business due in part to its transportation systems, including Amtrak, Conrail, the Garden State Parkway, the N.J. Turnpike, I-287, NJ Transit and several major state roads. The county is home to Rutgers, the State University, which includes Cook College of Agriculture in North Brunswick. Gen. George Washington encamped on the grounds that are now the historic Queens campus of Rutgers in New Brunswick. Residents and visitors alike enjoy excellent shopping, fine dining and cultural events, including performances at the State Theatre in New Brunswick and several well-respected community theaters. Ethnic diversity is celebrated in many of the towns which sponsor festivals such as Heritage Day in South River, the Carnevale Italiano in North Brunswick, and East Brunswick's Our Community Is Fair. The pace is quick in Middlesex County, but open spaces are being preserved by every municipality. The county itself maintains 18 parks. Two state parks, Cheesequake State Park, part of which is in Middlesex County, and the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, are popular family destinations. There are several public and private golf courses, including Tamarack in East Brunswick, which is operated by the county, and Forsgate Country Club in Monroe. Population: 750,162 Area: 318 square miles County Seat: New Brunswick General Information: 745-3000 Info Line of Middlesex County: (888) 908-INFO Adult Corrections: 297-3636 Board of Chosen Freeholders : 745-3080  David B. Crabiel (D), director  Stephen J. Dalina (D), deputy director  John Pulomena (D)  Jane Brady (D)  H. James Polos (D)  Christopher Rafano (D)  Camille Fernicola (D) Board of Elections: 745-3471 Board of Social Services: 745-3511 Board of Taxation: 745-3350 Commission for Persons With Disabilities : 745-4013 Courts  Civil: 981-3056  Criminal: 981-3162  Family: 981-3000 Consumer Affairs: 745-3875 Cultural Commission: 745-4489 Emergency Management 24-Hour Line: 745-4400 Environmental Health: 745-8480 Health Department: 745-3100 Human Services: 745-4186 Housing & Community Development: 745-3025 Improvement Authority: (Recycling) Cranbury: (609) 655-5141 Industrial & Economic Development: 745-3434 Medical Transportation: 745-3763 Parks & Recreation: 745-3900 Passports: 745-3404 Road Department: 940-3800 Solid Waste Management: 745-4170 Superintendent of Schools: 390-6000 Vocational-Technical Schools: 257-3300