40A:6-1. For legislative purposes, counties are classified as follows based upon their population as ascertained by the most recent federal decennial census:

   a.   First class--counties having a population of more than 550,000 and a population density of more than 3,000 persons per square mile;

   b.   Second class-- all other counties having a population of more than 200,000 except such counties bordering on the Atlantic ocean;

   c.   Third class--counties having a population of not less than 50,000 but not more than 200,000 except such counties bordering on the Atlantic ocean;

   d.   Fourth class--counties having a population of less than 50,000 except such counties bordering on the Atlantic ocean;

   e.   Fifth class--counties bordering on the Atlantic ocean having a population of more than 125,000;

   f.   Sixth class--counties bordering on the Atlantic ocean having a population of not more than 125,000.

   L.1979, c.181, s.1; amended 1981, c.462, s.44; 2001,c.336.