New Jersey was originally home to Delaware Indians who fished, hunted, and grew crops. In 1618, the Dutch established a settlement and named the area New Netherland. They gave the land to the English in 1664, when it was renamed New Jersey after the Isle of Jersey, which sits in the English Channel.
Fun Facts
- New Jersey is one of the smallest states geographically in the United States, but it is the most densely populated. In other words, New Jersey is a crowded place. 90 percent of people live in urban areas.
- New Jersey is also the car theft capital of the world. More cars are stolen in Newark than even in New York City or Los Angeles.
- New Jersey played a major role in the Revolutionary War. More than 90 battles took place here.
- New Jersey was the first state to sign the Bill of Rights.
- Most people in New Jersey live in suburban neighborhoods and commute to cities, especially New York City.
- The state is a leading grower of fruits and vegetables in the Northeast. Over 10,000 farms provide produce to nearby states.
- Charles Darrow created the game Monopoly in 1936, naming many of the game’s streets after those found in Atlantic City.
- The first dinosaur discovered in America was found in Haddonfield, New Jersey in 1858.
- The town of Meadowlands sits on what was once a landfill.
- Cape May is the oldest beach resort in the U.S.
- New Jersey has more diners than anywhere in the world; northern New Jersey has the world’s most malls.
- Hoboken was home to the first baseball game.
- New Jersey is the site of the first Indian reservation.
New Jersey Quick Stats:
Population: 8,791,894
State Capital: Trenton (population 84,913)
Largest City: Newark (population 277,140)
Largest Metro: Greater New York
State Bird: American goldfinch
State Flower: violet
Admission to Union: December 18, 1787
Questions and Answers
Question: Is the state of New Jersey recognized for its role in the Revolutionary War?
Answer: New Jersey is home to many historical sites and museums, recognizing not only its role in the Revolutionary War, but its place in American history in general. The entire borough of Roosevelt is a National Historic Site.
Learn More
Watch a video about New Jersey.