Elizabeth sits in Union County on Newark Bay, a city where American beginnings stay close. Founded in 1664 as Elizabethtown, it served as the first capital of New Jersey, and Boxwood Hall, a historic house museum, preserves the home of Elias Boudinot, a president of the Continental Congress. As the county seat, Elizabeth carries a proud civic identity, and its waterfront on Newark Bay and the Arthur Kill has shaped trade and travel for centuries. The city mixes historic streets with busy commercial districts, and its neighborhoods reflect generations of newcomers.