Middlesex County

Administrative district of southern Connecticut; 966 sq km/373 sq mi, population (1990) 143,200. Middlesex County lies on Long Island Sound and is bisected by the Connecticut River. Its seat is at Middletown.

The county's diversified economy includes agriculture, fishing, tourism, manufacturing, and quarrying. The area around Middletown is the centre of population and commercial activity.

Middlesex County

Administrative district of northeastern Massachusetts; area 2,129 sq km/822 sq mi, population (1997 est) 1,417,900. The most populous county in the state, its joint seats are located at Cambridge and Lowell.

Middlesex County contains several residential and industrial suburbs of Boston, the historic towns of Lexington and Concord, most of the high-technology business park development along Route 128, and the industrial area around Lowell.

Middlesex County

Administrative district of central New Jersey; area 818 sq km/316 sq mi, population (1990) 671,800. Middlesex County lies on Raritan Bay and is crossed by the Raritan River. The county seat is at New Brunswick.

The northern half of the county contains both residential and industrial suburbs, and is the site of such municipalities as Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Metuchen, and Sayreville. The remainder is largely agricultural, with numerous farms cultivating fruit, market-garden produce and dairy goods. However, suburban development is rapidly consuming arable land.