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Jersey Facts & Worksheets

Jersey, in the United Kingdom, is the Channel Islands' largest and southernmost island.

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Jersey, or the Bailiwick of Jersey, is the Channel Islands’ largest and southernmost island. It is an island nation and a self-governing British Crown Dependency well-known for its beaches, walking trails, and rich history, which can be seen in its ancient ruins and castles.

See the fact file below for more information on Jersey, UK, or you can download our 28-page Jersey worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOGRAPHY

  • Jersey is approximately 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers; 14 miles) from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France, and about 87 nautical miles (161 kilometers; 100 miles) from the south of Great Britain.
  • Jersey is a 46 square mile (118.2 square kilometers) island in the English Channel that is almost 0.7 times as large as Washington, D.C., in the United States.
  • The island is composed of a flat plateau coated with wind-blown silt. The island’s highest point is 143 meters above sea level.
  • Jersey experiences pleasant, breezy summers, long, very cold, windy winters, partly cloudy skies all year round, and a mean annual temperature of 52°F (11°C).
  • The island is divided into twelve parishes (which have civil and religious functions). These are named after their respective parish churches. The parishes are St Helier, the capital of Jersey, St Clement, St Saviour, St Brelade, Grouville, Trinity, St Peter, St Lawrence, St Martin, St Mary,  St John, and St Ouen.

HISTORY

  • The earliest trace of human activity on the island stretches back around 250,000 years. Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) human remains were discovered in La Cotte de St. Brelade, as well as the remains of the Neolithic Period (New Stone Age) and also the Bronze Age.
  • During the Britons’ journey from Britain to Brittany, Christianity was introduced to the island. St  Helier, the patron saint, lived on a small rocky isle (now Elizabeth Castle). According to legend, Helier was murdered by raiders.
  • Vikings raided the island in the 9th century. For nearly three centuries, Jersey was ruled by Normandy until the island pledged allegiance to King John of England.
  • Jersey’s self-government is believed to have originated with King John’s Constitution; however, this is disputed. The island kept its Norman customs and laws.
  • The Hundred Years’ War between England and France began in 1212. The island was heavily guarded, acting as the first line of defense as being close to the French mainland. To protect the island’s east shore, Mont Orgueil Castle was built.
  • During the Tudor period, the division between the Church of England and the Vatican resulted in the islands adopting the Protestant religion. During Elizabeth I‘s reign, French refugees brought Calvinism to the island. It remained the prevalent religion until 1617.
  • A French army attacked and invaded St Helier in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War but was defeated by Major Peirson’s army at the Battle of Jersey.
  • In the 19th century, General Don improved the road system; two railroad lines were built, transportation to England was improved, and new piers and harbors were built in St Helier. As a result, tourism increased and thousands of English immigrants migrated to the country, which caused the local culture to become more anglicized.
  • During WWII, some residents were evacuated to the United Kingdom, but most remained. Germany invaded Jersey from July 1, 1940, until May 9, 1945, when Germany surrendered. During this time, the Germans built several fortifications using Soviet slave labor.
  • One of the last regions of Europe to be liberated was the Channel Islands. After liberation, the states underwent reform and adopted universal suffrage and fully democratic elections. Ever since liberation, the island’s population has increased, and new sectors, particularly the finance sector, have been adopted.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

  • The entire population of the island was estimated to be 107,800 in the 2019 census, with 34% living in Saint Helier. Only half of the island’s residents were natives. People from Jersey are often referred to as Islanders or individuals as Jersey Men or Jersey Women.
  • Jersey has a long history of religious diversity. In 2015, a survey revealed that 54% of the island’s residents are religious. Christianity is the dominant religion, with over half the population identifying as Christians. Most of the island’s residents are Anglicans, representing 23% of the total population.
  • Jersey’s official languages are English and French. Other languages include Jèrriais (the Jersey language), Portuguese, and Polish. Jersey’s cuisine traditionally features seafood such as mussels (called moules on the island), oysters, lobsters, and crabs, particularly spider crabs, ormers, and conger.
  • Cabbage bread, bourdélots an apple dumpling, Jersey wonders (les mèrvelles),  nettle (ortchie) soup, bean crock (les pais au fou), fliottes, and vraic buns are among the other traditional dishes of Jersey.
  • Apples are a substantial crop used in many dishes. The most famous delicacy on the island is black butter (lé nièr beurre), a dark spicy spread made from apples, cider, and spices.
  • Jersey competes in the Commonwealth Games in its own right, and shooting is a popular sport on the island, as well as golf. 
  • An independent organization, Jersey Sport, was established in 2017 to promote sports and support local clubs.
  • Regarding celebrations, the most famous festival is the Battle of Flowers, an annual festival hosted on the island since 1902. Other celebrations are La Faîs’sie d’Cidre (cider making festival), La Fête dé Noué (Christmas festival), Weekender Music Festival, parish events, and food festivals.
  • Little is known about the islands’ musical history. However, practical research has collected folk music from the Channel Islands, mainly French. 
  • Jersey has various music groups, choirs, and bands that welcome new members, volunteers, and performers.

GOVERNMENT

  • Jersey has its flag that the Sovereign decreed for use as the Island’s official flag. The Union Flag can also be raised, but the Jersey flag takes precedence.
  • Jersey’s politics occur within the context of a parliamentary representative democratic British crown dependency. Jersey’s government consists of the King of the United Kingdom, the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, the bailiff, the assembly of states, and the Chief Minister of Jersey and his cabinet. The monarch appoints the lieutenant governor and bailiff.
  • Its legal system is founded on Norman customary law (particularly the Clameur de Haro), statute, and English law. The Royal Court, comprised of the bailiff as chief magistrate and 12 jurats chosen by an electoral college, administers justice.
  • The constable (Connétable) is the leader of each parish, chosen for a three-year term in a public election to manage the parish and represent the municipality at every assembly.
  • Despite the Crown’s exclusive authority to diplomatic representation, Jersey engages in direct negotiations with foreign governments on concerns that fall under its jurisdiction. Jersey is a part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the British-Irish Council, and the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie.

ECONOMY

  • Agriculture, tourism, and international financial services are the three main pillars of Jersey’s economy. Tourism is a significant economic contributor to the island. One-fourth of the GDP comes from tourism.
  • Jersey did not have a value-added tax (VAT) before 2008. Income tax is charged at a standard rate of 20%, while goods and services are charged at a standard rate of 5%. The default corporate tax rate on the island is 0%; however, financial services, power providers, and big business merchants are subject to higher rates. Jersey is considered a tax haven.

TRANSPORTATION

  • The motor vehicle is the primary form of transportation on the island. Jersey has a road network of 346 miles (557 km). In 2016, there were 124,737 motor vehicles registered on the island. 
  • A taxi service and electronic bike scheme are available (EVie) on the island. They also have a public bus system the government regulates.
  • Jersey has an airport and several ports managed by Ports of Jersey.

TOP ATTRACTIONS

  • Mont Orgueil Castle – One of Jersey’s most famous structures built in the early 13th century.
  • Elizabeth Castle – A fascinating and eye-catching castle named after Queen Elizabeth I of England with a long history.
  • Grosnez Castle – Located near Saint Ouen in Grosnez, the north-western part of the island of Jersey, Grosnez Castle is a ruined castle from the 14th century.
  • Jersey War Tunnels – A location on the island where people can learn about the German occupation of Jersey.
  • La Hougue Bie – This historic landmark in the Jersey parish of Grouville has a museum. It was a passage grave built by some of Jersey’s early human settlers as a tomb and a location for the living to perform rites and ceremonies.
  • Saint Brelade’s Bay – Known for its golden sand and as a safe swimming spot, this beach in St Brelade is one of the most visited on the island.
  • Plemont Bay – In the north-western part of the island, Plemont is among Jersey’s wildest and most spectacular beaches’ surrounded by towering cliffs.
  • La Corbiere Lighthouse – Sits close to St Brelade’s Bay and is historically significant as Britain’s first concrete lighthouse.

Jersey Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Jersey across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Jersey, which is the Channel Islands’ largest and southernmost island.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Jersey Facts 
  2. Fill the Webpage
  3. Name it!
  4. Just One Lie
  5. What Word Is It?
  6. Fortress Mix-up
  7. Get to Know More
  8. Let’s Eat!
  9. Postcard from Jersey
  10. On Expedition
  11. PMI Method

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Link will appear as Jersey Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 20, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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