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35 Great Facts About New Jersey


 

New Jersey, also known as the Garden State, is a small but densely populated state. Despite its size, New Jersey is rich in history and culture. There are many fascinating facts to discover about this state.

From its pivotal role in the American Revolution to its thriving industries, famous landmarks, and beloved sports teams, New Jersey has something to offer everyone. In this article, we’ll explore 35 great facts about New Jersey that will give you a deeper appreciation for all that this state has to offer.

1. New Jersey is the fourth-smallest state in the United States

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While New Jersey is one of the smallest states, it is also the most densely populated state. At 7,354 square miles (19,050 km2), New Jersey is the fifth-smallest state in land area. With close to 9.3 million residents as of the 2020 United States census it ranks 11th in population.

2. The state’s official nickname is the “Garden State”

Abraham Browning of Camden is given credit for giving New Jersey the nickname the Garden State. According to Alfred Heston’s 1926 two-volume book Jersey Waggon Jaunts, Browning called New Jersey the Garden State while speaking at the Philadelphia Centennial exhibition on New Jersey Day (August 24, 1876).

3. The state’s capital is Trenton and it is largest city is Newark

Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84, 913. 

4. There is a New Jersey State House in Trenton

Photo by Marion Touvel. .

It is the capitol building for the U.S. state of New Jersey. Built in 1792, it is the third-oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the United States.

5. The state’s population is about 9 million people

In 2022, about 9.26 million people lived in New Jersey. This was a slight decrease from the previous year, when about 9.27 million people lived in the state. However, from the numbers, the population of New Jersey ranges at around 9 million.

6. New Jersey is home to the largest number of scientists and engineers

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New Jersey leads the world in number of scientists and engineers per square mile. The state is home to 29.88 scientists and engineers per square mile.

7. The state has a long and rich history

Native American tribes inhabiting the area for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The first people to live on the land now known as New Jersey were the Delaware Indians. They lived here starting at least 10,000 years ago. Around 8,000 to 20,000 Delaware Indians lived in the area when the first Europeans arrived.

8. The first recorded European landing in New Jersey was made by the Dutch explorer

Photo by Johannes Vingboons. .

In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman in the employ of the Dutch East India Company seeking an ice-free passage to the Pacific, explored the Delaware Bay, and then continued north along the New Jersey coast until he reached the mouth of the Hudson River in September. This was the first European presence.

9. New Jersey was one of the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain

On 2 July 1776, New Jersey became the fourth American colony to adopt a constitution declaring independence from Great Britain. The constitution was composed in five days. Although the delegates considered it a temporary charter, it remained New Jersey’s state constitution for sixty-eight years.

10. The state played a crucial role in the American Revolution

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New Jersey is known as the “Crossroads of the American Revolution.” Major Revolutionary War battles were fought here and Washington and his main army spent more time in New Jersey than any other place.

11. New Jersey was the site of the first official baseball game

On June 19, 1846, Hoboken’s Elysian Fields hosted the first recorded baseball match played by recognizably modern rules. The New York Nine defeated Alexander Cartwright’s Knickerbocker squad in a game reported in New York newspapers. According to many baseball historians, this event marked the birth of modern baseball.

Find out more about these 10 most talented fashion designers from New York.

12. The state is home to the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk

Photo by Tim Emerich. .

First opened in 1870 and now spanning 5.5 miles, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is both the oldest in America and the longest in the world. Millions of people have visited New Jersey just to experience the goodness of this boardwalk.

13. New Jersey has more than 130 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean

The New Jersey Atlantic Ocean coastline is roughly 130 miles in length. New Jersey bounded by New York to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, and Delaware and Pennsylvania to the west. This is what makes the coastline so long.

14. The state is known for its beautiful beaches and ocean views

Photo by Dan Mall. .

New Jersey has over 15 lively beach towns. Some of these beaches include: Avalon, Ocean Groove, Sandy Hook, The Wildwoods and Seaside Heights. Cape May’s Diamond Beach is the cleanest beach in New Jersey, though Sea Girt and President’s Beach are close contenders.

15. New Jersey is also home to the famous Pine Barrens

This is a vast wilderness area that covers over one million acres. The 鈥淧ine Barrens鈥 is the special ecosystem that is marked by acidic, low-nutrient water and soils. The species of plants and wildlife in this area are adapted to these challenging conditions. 

16. The Pine Barrens is the largest body of open space on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard between Richmond and Boston

Photo by andrew leahey. .

The largest natural area on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard, the New Jersey Pine Barrens is a heavily forested area covering 1.1 million acres and its underground aquifers contain 17 trillion gallons of the purest drinking water in the country.

17. The state is home to several major sports teams

This includes the New York Giants and Jets, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the New Jersey Devils. Aside from Hockey, Major League Soccer is the most popular sport in the state, thanks in part to the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls are a New Jersey based New York team that was created in 1994.

18. New Jersey is known for its excellent food

Photo by Ryan Darin. .

Pork rolls might be New Jersey鈥檚 most iconic food. They were created by John Taylor back in 1856. This pork-based meat product is typically sliced and pan-fried or grilled, then used in a breakfast sandwich with eggs and cheese. On the other hand, hoagies are piled high with meats such as capicola, prosciutto and soppressata, as well cheeses, tomatoes, onions, peppers, herbs, oils and more.

19. The state is also famous for its diners,

New Jersey has a number of dining options. These restaurants can be found in nearly every town. The restaurants range from those offering fine dining options to those that offer a romantic day experience. 

20. The Meadowlands Sports Complex is the only sports complex in the United States that is home to two NFL teams

Photo by Jeffrey F Lin. .

The Meadowlands Sports Complex is a sports complex located in East Rutherford, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The facility is owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA).

21. The state’s official bird is the Eastern Goldfinch

The state of New Jersey chose the American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) as the state bird in 1935. It is also known as the eastern goldfinch. The tiny yellow canary bird with a short forked tail helps control ragweed growth in the Garden State of New Jersey. It does this by munching the weed’s seeds. The state’s official tree is the Northern Red Oak.

22. New Jersey has a diverse economy

Some of the state’s major industries include pharmaceuticals, financial services, and tourism. While the technology industry in New Jersey is shrinking, the healthcare and life sciences industry continues to grow due to the concentration of institutions and demand driven by an older population.

Check out the top 10 famous people from New Jersey.

23. The state is home to many Fortune 500 companies

Photo by Mohammad Shahhosseini. .

The term Fortune 500 refers to a list of 500 of the largest companies in the United States compiled by Fortune magazine every year. Companies are ranked by their annual revenues for their respective fiscal years. Some of these companies in New Jersey include Johnson & Johnson, Prudential Financial, and Merck.

24. New Jersey is a leader in solar energy

New Jersey is a national leader with regards to installed solar PV capacity, with more than 4.2 gigawatts (GW) from over 169,000 individual solar PV installations. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), New Jersey is ranked 8th in the United States for totaled installed solar PV capacity, behind California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia.

25. The state is also a major producer of cranberries, blueberries, and tomatoes

Photo by Joanna Kosinska. .

The Official State Fruit of New Jersey is the New Jersey grown blueberry. While New Jersey blueberries are loved for their taste and freshness, they are also sought after to make delicious pancakes and cobblers. Cranberries and tomatoes are also grown and sought after in New Jersey.

26. The Garden State Parkway is one of the most iconic highways in the country

The Garden State Parkway is a controlled-access toll road. It stretches the north鈥搒outh length of eastern New Jersey from the state’s southernmost tip near Cape May. It stretches over 170 miles.

27. New Jersey is home to several famous musicians

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These include Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, and Count Basie. Punk rock and hardcore have played an important role in the music of New Jersey

28. The state is also known for its many historic landmarks

New Jersey is known for its many historic landmarks. Most of these landmarks relate to the Revolutionary War. Other famous landmarks in New Jersey include Thomas Edison’s laboratory, Ellis Island, Albert Einstein’s home, and the Ivy League Princeton University. 

29. New Jersey has a strong tradition of higher education

Photo by Khurt Williams. .

There are at least 83 schools offering degrees in New Jersey. Out of which 51 are four-year private colleges or universities. About 54,601 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2021, a total of 22,087 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities. Some of the major universities include Rutgers, Princeton, and Seton Hall.

Click to read more about these 10 Beautiful places to visit in New Jersey.

30. The state has a rich cultural heritage

New Jersey has many museums and art galleries showcasing the works of local artists. The loud ethnic Italian heritage is certainly one major facet of this multicultural state. There are also large pockets of Quakers, Irish, Germans, and African Americans. Due to this rich diversity, each corner of New Jersey seems to have its own charm.

31. New Jersey is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts

Photo by Toomas Tartes. .

It has very many parks and nature preserves offering hiking, camping, and other recreational activities.

32. The state is also home to several world-class golf courses

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This includes Pine Valley and Baltusrol. A way to judge a design is by the quality of the course鈥檚 property, its hazards and greens. Pine Valley excels at all three. Many have contented that it has the most formidable hazards and sophisticated green complexes in golf.

33. The New Jersey State Police is one of the oldest statewide law enforcement agencies

Established in April 1857, the Newark Police Department (NPD) is the primary law enforcement agency serving Newark, New Jersey. It is the largest municipal law enforcement agency in New Jersey. As of December 2017 the force had 1,146 officers.

Check out these places to eat the best tacos in Newark, New Jersey.

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