Gloucester County was the first county in America established by its inhabitants. The first page of the first Court book contains the following:

GLOUCESTER YE 28TH MAY, 1686
Imprimis --That a Court be held for the Jurisdiction and limits of the aforesaid Tenths or County one Tyme at Axnamus alias Gloucester and another tyme at Red Bank..."

Gloucester County began with a meeting of the proprietors, freeholders and inhabitants who formally decided to organize a government and to establish a "Constitution of Gloucester Couny." The colonial legislature which had been meeting at Burlington was not in session at the time and did nothing either to authorize the creation of the County or to interfere with its existence after it was organized. In 1692 the legislature recognized formally the existence of Gloucester County as a separate entity.

The County seat was at the City of Gloucester until moved to Woodbury during or about the time of the Revolutionary War. The first court was held in Hugg's Tavern in Gloucester. [Betsy Ross was later married in that tavern; the building no longer exists].

When a new courthouse was to be built, Isaac Mickle of Mickleton and James Hinchman were the two commissioners appointed to erect it.

Gloucester County for many years extended entirely across the State and included all of Atlantic County and all of Camden County. The territory now in Atlantic County was not separated from Gloucester County until 1837. Camden County was not created until 1844.

Gloucester County USGenWeb - MORE HISTORY of Gloucester County HERE!

Current Statistics on Gloucester County [from the U.S. Census]
Size: 328 square miles
Population 2000: 254,673
Percent considered a minority: 14.
Median household income: $54,273
Median home value: $120,100
Poverty rate: 4.3%
Population with bachelor's degree: 22%

Official Gloucester County web site