New Jersey
Garden State · Capital: Trenton · Northeast (Mid Atlantic)
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Bordering states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware.
About New Jersey
New Jersey sits in the Northeast between New York and Philadelphia and is almost surrounded by water: the Hudson River, the Atlantic, Delaware Bay and the Delaware River. Its only land boundary is a 48-mile line with New York. Within 8,723 square miles, 47th in area, the ground crosses four geological provinces, from the Kittatinny Ridge, where High Point reaches 1,803 feet, to the Atlantic Coastal Plain, which covers about three fifths of the state. In the south, the Pinelands spread over about 1.1 million acres of pine and oak forest above an aquifer holding some 17 trillion gallons of fresh water, and about 130 miles of barrier islands line the shore.
The Lenape lived along the Delaware, Raritan, Passaic and Hackensack rivers. The Dutch chartered Bergen in 1660, and in 1664 the Duke of York granted the land to Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley, naming it for Carteret's island of Jersey. Close to 300 military engagements of the Revolution were fought here, including Washington's victories at Trenton on 26 December 1776 and Princeton on 3 January 1777. New Jersey ratified the Constitution on 18 December 1787 as the third state. In 1876 Thomas Edison opened his laboratory at Menlo Park, where he produced the phonograph and a workable incandescent lamp.
The 2020 census counted 9,288,994 residents, up 5.7 percent from 8,791,894 in 2010, at about 1,263 people per square mile, the highest density of any state. That population gives New Jersey 12 House seats, and every one of its counties lies inside a metropolitan area. Trenton is the capital and Newark the largest city. The Garden State nickname reflects real farm output, and the cultivated highbush blueberry was bred at Whitesbog in 1916. The transistor was first demonstrated at Bell Labs in Murray Hill in 1947. Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, and Bruce Springsteen grew up in Freehold.
4 fun facts about New Jersey
- New Jersey is the most densely populated US state, with about 1,260 people per square mile.
- New Jersey is often called the diner capital of the world.
- At Menlo Park, Thomas Edison's lab produced the phonograph and a practical light bulb; his later West Orange lab developed the motion picture camera.
- Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Frank Sinatra were all born in New Jersey.
More about New Jersey
New Jersey geography and climate
More fun facts about New Jersey
Frequently asked questions about New Jersey
Is New Jersey a US state?
Yes, New Jersey is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1787, making it the 3rd state. Its capital is Trenton and its largest city is Newark.
What is the capital of New Jersey?
The capital of New Jersey is Trenton. Note that the largest city in New Jersey is Newark, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did New Jersey become a state?
New Jersey became a US state in 1787. It is the 3rd state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for New Jersey?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for New Jersey is NJ.
How big is New Jersey?
New Jersey ranks #47 of 50 US states by area. With 1263.0 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the most densely populated state.
What is the population of New Jersey?
New Jersey had 9,288,994 residents at the 2020 census, the 11th largest population of the 50 states, up 5.7% since 2010. That count gives it 12 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is New Jersey in?
New Jersey is in the Northeast region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is New Jersey in?
New Jersey observes Eastern Time.
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How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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