Geography of New Jersey

Capital City: Trenton
Population & Density: As per 2004 census estimate, the population is above 8.5 million and its growing everyday. Population density is 1,134.4 persons per sq mi.
Largest cities: Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Edison Township, Woodbridge Township.
Neighbor States: Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania.

State Facts:

New Jersey Motto: Liberty and Prosperity.
State Symbols: Bird - Eastern Goldfinch, Animal - Horse, Fish - Brook Trout, Flower - Purple Violet, Tree - Red Oak.

Economy of New Jersey

Personal income per Capita - $27,006 (Recent census - 1999)
Agriculture - Nursery Stock, Horses, Vegetables, Fruits and Nuts, Seafood, Dairy Products.
Industry - Chemical Products, Food Processing, Electric Equipment, Printing and Publishing, Tourism.

History of New Jersey

New Jersey became a massive industrial center during the early 1800s. Trenton, Camden, Passaic, Jersey City and Newark all became major manufacturing cities. In 1969, a state lottery was approved to raise money for education. Several schools were built or expanded. Gambling casinos were also allowed in 1977, to raise money for the disabled and the elderly. Recently New Jersey is attracting new industries. Several computer companies have created thousands of jobs.

The State flag of New Jersey is buff colored. The state coat of arms is emblazoned in the center. The shield has three plows with a horse's head above it. Two women represent the goddesses of Liberty and Agriculture. A ribbon at the bottom includes the year of independence in 1776 and reads: Liberty and Prosperity. The New Jersey state flag was formally adopted in 1896.

Famous people of New Jersey

Charles Addams (1912-1988) Cartoonist that created The Addams Family, was born in Westfield.
Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin (1930-) First astronaut to leave a spacecraft and walk in space, he later became the second person to walk on the moon,was born in Montclair.
Judy Blume (1938-) Fiction writer for youth with well-known books such as Superfudge and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,was born in Elizabeth.
Joseph Campbell (1817-1900) Founder of the Campbell Soup Company, was born in Camden County.

Interesting Facts about New Jersey

• New Jersey firsts include the first professional basketball games in 1896 and the first college football game in 1869.
• The first drive-in movie theater opened in 1933 outside of Camden.
• The first dinosaur skeleton discovered in North America was found in Haddonfield, New Jersey in 1858.
• About one-sixth of all drugs manufactured in the United States come from New Jersey.
• No other state has as dense a system of highways and railroads as New Jersey.