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Table of Contents
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by New York State, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania, and on the southwest by Delaware.
See the fact file below for more information on New Jersey, or you can download our 11-page New Jersey worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Introducing New Jersey
- New Jersey is one of the 50 states of the United States of America, located in the northeastern mainland. It is bordered on the north by the state of New York, on the west by the state of Pennsylvania, on the southwest by the state of Delaware, and on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean. It has an area of 7,354 square miles (19,050 km2), is the fifth-smallest state in land area, and is divided into 21 counties and 564 municipalities.
New Jersey Facts
- New Jersey became a State on December 18, 1787
- New Jersey’s capital is Trenton.
- New Jersey’s nickname is The Garden State.
- New Jersey’s state bird is the Eastern Goldfinch, the state flower is the common violet/purple violet, the state tree is the Red Oak, the state animal is the Horse, and the state insect is the Honeybee.
- New Jersey’s Major Waterways
- The Delaware River flows for 282 miles (454 km) along the borders of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
- The Hudson River forms the 21-mile (34 km) boundary between New York and New Jersey.
- The Jersey Shore along the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 141 miles (227 km) of oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
- New Jersey’s major cities
- Trenton was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784, and is now the capital city of New Jersey.
- Newark is the most populous city in the state of New Jersey.
- Paterson is New Jersey’s largest city.
- Jersey City is the second-most populous city in New Jersey.
New Jersey History
- New Jersey was first inhabited by Native Americans, and New Jersey recognizes three tribal nations, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, the Ramapough Lenape, and the Powhatan Renape.
- Europeans started arriving in the early 17th century, and Henry Hudson claimed the region for Holland and renamed it New Netherlands.Β
- The Dutch West India Trade Company gave out land grants to encourage settlement, attracting many migrants from both Holland and Sweden.
- The first permanent European settlement was established by the Dutch at Bergen, which is now Jersey City) in 1660.
- The English seized the colony of New Netherlands from the Dutch in 1664 and renamed it the Province of New Jersey.
- The Township of Woodbridge, settled in the autumn of 1664, is the oldest township in the state of New Jersey. It was granted a charter on June 1, 1669, by King Charles II of England.
- In 1787, New Jersey became the third state to consent to the U.S. Constitution and the first state to sign the Bill of Rights.Β
- Trenton officially became the capital of New Jersey in 1790, and William Livingston became New Jersey’s first state governor.
- New Jersey became one of the Thirteen Colonies which broke away from Britain in the American Revolution, adopting the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
- On February 15, 1804, New Jersey became the last northern state to abolish slavery.
Geography, Climate, and Farming
- New Jersey is divided into three geographic regions with two climatic regions.
- The south, central, and northeast parts of the state have subtropical climates.
- The northwest has much cooler temperatures due to its higher elevation.Β
- Summers are typically hot and humid, while spring and autumn have wide temperature variations with lower humidity, and winters are usually cold.
- New Jersey has more than 9,000 farms covering over 715,000 acres, with farms covering about one-sixth of the state’s land area.Β
- Greenhouse products, dairy products, and fruit production account for the vast majority of the state’s farm income.
- Farmers produce more than 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables, which are either consumed fresh or processed.
- New Jersey is one of the top 10 producers of cranberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, squash, asparagus, and eggplant.
Famous New Jersey CitizensΒ Β
- Aaron Burr was a lawyer and politician who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805.
- Grover Cleveland was president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897.
- Singers/Musicians/Songwriters Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi
- Actors Jerry Lewis and Jack NicholsonΒ
- Poets/Authors Joyce Kilmer, Judy Blume, James Fenmore CooperΒ
Tourism and Cuisine
Tourism
- Tourism attracts over 110 million tourists to New Jersey annually, creating many job opportunities and huge revenue for the state.
- With over 130 miles (200 km) of the Atlantic coast, New Jersey is known for its numerous beautiful beaches, entertaining boardwalks, and untouched nature.
- The Jersey Shore includes the historic resort towns of Asbury Park and Cape May, with many preserved Victorian buildings.
- Over 20 casinos attract tourists who prefer entertainment to sunning themselves on a beach.
Food/CuisineΒ
- New Jersey is also famous for its diverse variety of foods originating from the region. Favorites include “disco fries”, which are slightly overcooked french fries covered with brown gravy and melted mozzarella cheese, the infamous pork roll, a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich, and for dessert, salt water taffy.
Other Facts
- New Jersey is one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse states in the United States, with nearly one-fourth of residents being foreign-born.
- New Jersey has, by percentageΒ
- the largest Muslim populationΒ
- the second-largest Jewish population
- the second-highest Italian population
- the third-highest Asian population
- the third-largest Korean population
- the fourth-largest Filipino population,Β
- fourth-largest Chinese population
- It is claimed that New Jersey has the largest number of millionaires in the U.S.
- It is also claimed that New Jersey has more engineers and scientists per square mile than anywhere else in the world.
Flora and Fauna
- Many rare plant species grow in the marshes and pinelands in New Jersey, including some insect-ingesting plants.Β
- Pine, oak, and white cedar grow in The Pine Barrens, while common trees elsewhere include oaks, sugar maples, birches, sweet gums, and other deciduous species.Β
- Common plants in New Jersey are rhododendrons, honeysuckles, wild azaleas, mountain laurels, and cardinal flowers, while common wildflowers include black-eyed Susan, meadow rue, butterflyweed, and dandelion.Β
- Among New Jersey’s rare plants are Candy’s lobelia, floating heart, and pennywort.Β
- Mammals indigenous to New Jersey include white-tailed deer, black bear, gray and red foxes, and raccoons.
- The sandpiper and little green and night herons are common shore birds, while the red-eyed vireo, hermit thrush, English sparrow, and Baltimore oriole are frequently seen inland.Β
- Anglers enjoy fishing for northern pike, chain pickerel, and species of perch, bass, and trout.Β
New Jersey FlagΒ
- The New Jersey flag was adopted on March 26, 1896. It is a yellowish-tan color, but the color is officially labeled buff. It is the only U.S. flag to have a background color of buff. A shield with three plows is representative of New Jersey’s agricultural tradition, and the two Goddesses on either side of the shield represent the state motto, “Liberty and Prosperity”.Β
New JerseyΒ Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about New Jersey across in-depth pages. These ready-to-use New Jersey worksheets are perfect for teaching students about New Jersey, a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by New York State, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania, and on the southwest by Delaware.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
- New Jersey Facts
- The Old New Jersey
- Pictures Speak
- New Jersey Word Building
- New Jersey Mapping
- Famous Citizens
- Beautiful New Jersey
- Send a Postcard
- Professional Sports Teams
- Active Athletes
- Hadrosaurus Foulkii
- State Symbols
Frequently Asked Questions
What is New Jersey famous for?
New Jersey played a crucial role in American history and, with its distinctive culture, offers much for visitors/tourists. New Jersey is well known for its beautiful beaches, entertaining boardwalks, nature reserves, and wildlife areas, as well as its many casinos and authentic food.
Why is New Jersey nick-named the Garden State?
New Jersey is sometimes referred to as the Garden State because of the fertility of its land. New Jersey has long produced an abundance of fruits and vegetables on its many farms.
What is an interesting building in New Jersey?
New Jersey has 11 majestic lighthouses, and The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse still operating in the United States. It was built in the 18th century.
Who were the first inhabitants of New Jersey?
The Lenape people, sometimes called the Delaware, had lived in New Jersey for more than 500 years before the Europeans arrived. They lived in small tribes along rivers and creeks, hunting and farming produce to sustain themselves.
Were there ever dinosaurs in New Jersey?
William Parker Foulke, an archaeologist, unearthed a dinosaur skeleton in Haddonfield, New Jersey, in 1858. The Hadrosaurus foulkii was the first almost-complete dinosaur skeleton excavated in North America and proved that dinosaurs really did exist.
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Link will appear as New Jersey Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 22, 2017
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