New Jersey

Capital: Trenton

State abbreviation/Postal code: N.J./NJ

Governor: Chris Christie, R (to Jan. 2014)

Senators: Frank R. Lautenberg, D (to Jan. 2015); Robert Menendez, D (to Jan. 2013)

U.S. Representatives: 13

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Nina Mitchell Wells, D (to Jan. 2010)

Treasurer: Bradley Abelow (to Jan. 2010)

Atty. General: Stuart Rabner, D (to Jan. 2010)

Entered Union (rank): Dec. 18, 1787 (3)

Present constitution adopted: 1947

Motto: Liberty and prosperity

State symbols:

flower	purple violet (1913)
bird	eastern goldfinch (1935)
insect	honeybee (1974)
tree	red oak (1950)
animal	horse (1977)
colors	buff and blue (1965)
folk dance	square dance
dinosaur	hadrosaurus foulkii
fish	brook trout
shell	knobbed whelk
fruit	blueberry (2004)

Nickname: Garden State

Origin of name: From the Channel Isle of Jersey

10 largest cities (2010 est.): Newark, 277,140; Jersey City, 247,597; Paterson, 146,199; Elizabeth, 124,969; Edison, 99,967; Woodbridge, 99,585; Lakewood, 92,843; Toms River, 91,239; Hamilton, 88,464; Trenton, 84,913

Land area: 7,417 sq mi. (19,210 sq km)

Geographic center: In Mercer Co., 5 mi. SE of Trenton

Number of counties: 21

Largest county by population and area: Bergen, 905,116 (2010); Burlington, 805 sq mi.

State forests: 11

State parks: 42

Residents: New Jerseyite, New Jerseyan

2010 resident population est.: 8,791,894

2010 resident census population (rank): 8,791,894 (11). Male: 4,279,600 (48.7%); Female: 4,512,294 (51.3%). White: 6,029,248 (68.6%); Black: 1,204,826 (13.7%); American Indian: 29,026 (0.3%); Asian: 725,726 (8.3%); Other race: 559,722 (6.4%); Two or more races: 240,303 (2.7%); Hispanic/Latino: 1,555,144 (17.7%). 2010 percent population 18 and over: 76.5; 65 and over: 13.5; median age: 39.

See additional census data

Area codes

Tourism office

Map of New Jersey

New Jersey's early colonial history was involved with that of New York (New Netherlands), of which it was a part. One year after the Dutch surrender to England in 1664, New Jersey was organized as an English colony under Gov. Philip Carteret.

In 1676 the colony was divided between Carteret and a company of English Quakers who had obtained the rights belonging to John, Lord Berkeley. New Jersey became a united crown colony in 1702, administered by the royal governor of New York. Finally, in 1738, New Jersey was separated from New York under its own royal governor, Lewis Morris. Because of its key location between New York City and Philadelphia, New Jersey saw much fighting during the American Revolution.

Today, New Jersey, an area of wide industrial diversification, is known as the Crossroads of the East. Products from over 20,000 manufacturers can be delivered overnight to 100 million people. The greatest single industry is chemicals; New Jersey is one of the foremost research centers in the world. Many large oil refineries are located in northern New Jersey. Other important manufactured items are pharmaceuticals, instruments, machinery, electrical goods, and apparel.

Productive farmland covers about 790,000 acres, 16.7% of New Jersey's land area. The state ranks high in the production of almost all garden vegetables, as well as blueberries, cranberries, and peaches. Poultry, dairy products, and seafood are also top commodities.

Tourism is the second-largest industry in New Jersey. The state has numerous resort areas on 127 mi of Atlantic coastline. In 1977, New Jersey voters approved legislation allowing legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City. Points of interest include the Delaware Water Gap, the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange, Princeton University, Liberty State Park, Jersey City, and the N.J. State Aquarium in Camden.

The coast of New Jersey, Atlantic City to Hoboken, was battered by 2012's Hurricane Sandy in late October. About 2.4 million people lost power, 34 people were killed, and some 72,000 homes or businesses were damaged or destroyed. The storm caused nearly $38 billion in damage.

See more on New Jersey:
Encyclopedia: New Jersey
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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