Five Sites for Learning About Where You Live

There's a wealth of information available online these days, some of it of great importance. Here are a few links that just may prove lifesaving, or at least, interesting.

You Need To Know About Pollution Nearby: Whether it's near your home or a favorite vacation spot, it's not always easy to tell where toxic wastes have been dumped. It's you just want to double check check out the EPA's Superfund Sites list, where you can check on any sites listed, and what's been done about it. 

You Need To Know About Bad Neighbors: You may have checked when you moved in, or maybe didn't have a chance, but it can't hurt to take a periodic look at the New Jersey State Police sex offender registry. 

You Need To Know Property Assessments: There are lots of websites with this information, but our favorite is at Homes.com, with its satellite-view of neighborhoods, complete with pop-up bubbles with last sale prices and estimated market assessments. It's a bit addictive ...  

You Need To Know About History: Somerset County was first settled by Europeans in the 17th Century, but few places or buildings exist from those earliest years. The Somerset County places on the National Registry of Historical Places still makes for interesting reading (and includes two locations in Warren).

You Need To Know About Flood Waters: Living in the hilly terrain of Central Jersey means roads can often be flooded when you least expect it. Keep an eye on water levels in nearby streams and rivers on the U.S. Geological Survey WaterWatch site.