New Jersey

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The beach at Atlantic City (Wikimedia Commons)

Let’s Visit New Jersey

Highlights

Cape May (Smallbones, Wikimedia CCA 1.0)

Let’s learn more about some fascinating places worth seeing in New Jersey.

  1. Atlantic City Boardwalk (Atlantic City)
    Famous as the oldest boardwalk in the U.S., it is known for its casinos, beachside entertainment, and vibrant nightlife.
  2. Liberty State Park (Jersey City)
    Offers iconic views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and is a popular spot for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
  3. Cape May (Cape May)
    Celebrated for its stunning Victorian architecture, beautiful beaches, and historic charm, making it a popular coastal retreat.
  4. The Adventure Aquarium (Camden)
    One of the largest aquariums on the East Coast, featuring an impressive collection of marine life, including sharks and hippos.
  5. Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson)
    Renowned for its thrilling roller coasters, water rides, and drive-through safari, it is a top destination for amusement park lovers.
  6. Princeton University (Princeton)
    World-famous for its academic prestige, this Ivy League university is also known for its beautiful, historic campus and cultural impact.
  7. Thomas Edison National Historical Park (West Orange)
    Preserves the home and laboratory of inventor Thomas Edison, showcasing many of his pioneering inventions and contributions.
  8. Grounds For Sculpture (Hamilton)
    An outdoor museum featuring modern and contemporary sculptures in a beautifully landscaped park setting.
  9. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (bordering New Jersey and Pennsylvania)
    Known for its stunning natural scenery, hiking trails, and water activities along the Delaware River.
  10. The Stone Pony (Asbury Park)
    A legendary music venue famous for helping launch the careers of musicians like Bruce Springsteen, it remains an iconic rock and roll destination.

Intriguing mysteries and weird facts

Atlantic City Boardwalk (Silveira Neto, Wikimedia CCA 2.0)

Discover these little-known facts about New Jersey.

  1. New Jersey has the most diners in the world.
    Known as the “Diner Capital of the World,” New Jersey has over 500 diners, more than any other place on Earth.
  2. It’s illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey.
    New Jersey is one of only two U.S. states where it’s illegal to pump your own gas, so attendants do it for you.
  3. New Jersey is home to the world’s longest boardwalk.
    The Atlantic City Boardwalk, stretching 5.5 miles, is the longest in the world and packed with entertainment.
  4. The first-ever baseball game was played in New Jersey.
    In 1846, the first official baseball game was played in Hoboken, marking the beginning of America’s favorite pastime.
  5. Saltwater taffy was invented here.
    The famous candy, saltwater taffy, originated in Atlantic City, and it’s still a favorite among tourists.
  6. New Jersey is the birthplace of FM radio.
    Edwin Howard Armstrong invented FM radio in Alpine, New Jersey, changing the way we listen to music and broadcasts.
  7. The Jersey Devil is a famous local legend.
    The Pine Barrens region is known for the legend of the Jersey Devil, a mythical creature said to haunt the forests.
  8. The First Dinosaur Fossil Discovery: In 1858, a Hadrosaurus fossil was found in Haddonfield, New Jersey, marking the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton discovery.
  9. The first drive-in movie theater opened in New Jersey.
    In 1933, the first-ever drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, sparking a cultural phenomenon.
  10. New Jersey has more horses per square mile than any other state.
    With all its small farms, New Jersey boasts more horses per square mile than any other U.S. state.

Notable People

Here are 10 famous men and women from New Jersey.

Famous Men

Bruce Springsteen (Daniel Hinton, Wikimedia Commons)
  1. Frank Sinatra (1915–1998)
    A legendary singer and actor, Sinatra was born in Hoboken and became one of the most influential performers in music history.
  2. Bruce Springsteen (born 1949)
    Known as The Boss, Springsteen is a rock icon from Freehold, New Jersey, famous for hits like Born to Run and Dancing in the Dark.
  3. Buzz Aldrin (born 1930)
    Born in Glen Ridge, Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
  4. Thomas Edison (1847–1931)
    A prolific inventor who spent much of his life in New Jersey, Edison developed the phonograph, the electric light bulb, and many other groundbreaking inventions.
  5. Jack Nicholson (born 1937)
    An acclaimed actor from Neptune City, Nicholson is famous for his roles in films such as The Shining and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Famous Women

Whitney Houston (PH2 Mark Kettenhofen, WIkimedia Commons)
  1. Whitney Houston (1963–2012)
    Born in Newark, Houston was one of the best-selling music artists of all time, known for her powerful voice and hits like I Will Always Love You.
  2. Meryl Streep (born 1949)
    Hailing from Summit, Streep is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood, with multiple Academy Awards and iconic roles.
  3. Queen Latifah (born 1970)
    Born in Newark, Queen Latifah is an actress, rapper, and producer who helped pave the way for women in hip-hop.
  4. Martha Stewart (born 1941)
    A business mogul from Jersey City, Stewart became a household name through her empire built on cooking, home décor, and lifestyle advice.
  5. Dionne Warwick (born 1940)
    Born in East Orange, Warwick is a famous singer with numerous hits, including Walk On By and I Say a Little Prayer, and a long-lasting impact on music.

Date of Ratification of the Articles of Confederation/
Admission to the Union

December 18, 1787 (3rd)

State Capital and Government

New Jersey State House in Trenton (Lowlova, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Area and Total Population

Area: 7,354 square miles Total Population: 8,938,000

Major cities and their population

City Population
Newark 305,000
Jersey City 292,000
Patterson 157,000
Lakewood 140,000
Elizabeth 136,000
Edison 107,000
Trenton 90,000
Atlantic City 39,000
Princeton 30,000

Education

Princeton University (popejon2, Wikimedia CCA 2.0)

Educational Resources

Twinkl. New Jersey

Fairs and festivals

Flag

The state flag of New Jersey was adopted by the state assembly in 1896.

The buff background and dark blue for the shield are the colors chosen by George Washington on September 14, 1779 for the uniforms of the New Jersey regiment.

A horse’s head appears in the center of the flag. A helmet underneath the horse’s head signifies that New Jersey governs itself. Inside the blue shield are three plows referring to the State’s agriculture tradition and giving its nickname “Garden State”. The two Goddesses on either side of the shield represent the State motto, “Liberty and Prosperity“.

The goddess Liberty holding a staff topped by a liberty cap symbolizing freedom is on the left. The word Liberty underneath her. The goddess on the right is Ceres, goddess of agriculture. She is holding a horn-shaped container filled with fruits and vegetables. The word Prosperity appears beneath.

Geography

Location

New Jersey (Tubs, Wikimedia CCA 3.0)

Glimpses Into History

The Battle of Trenton by Charles McBarron (U.S. Army Center of Military History, Wikimedia Commons)

Breathtaking Landscapes

Check out these amazing landscapes and wildlife of New Jersey.

National Landmarks and Historic Sites

National Monuments

  1. Statue of Liberty National Monument (National Park Service)

National and State Parks

Empty Sky Memorial, Liberty State Park (Chris Light, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Sports Sports Teams

Bryce Salvador, New Jersey Devils (Michael Miller, Wikimedia CCA 3.0)

Professional

Newark

NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) Division I Teams

State Motto

“Liberty and prosperity”

State Nickname

  • The Garden State

State Symbols

See: State symbols. New Jersey

Seal

Pierre Eugene du Simitiere created New Jersey’s State Seal in 1777.

Liberty and Ceres are the female figures pictured in the state seal. The Goddess Liberty, on the left, carries the liberty cap on her staff, worn as a symbol of rebellion by patriots in the colonies. Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain, is on the right. She holds a horn of plenty filled with harvested produce, symbolizing abundance. The state’s motto, “Liberty and Prosperity” appears in a blue banner below them.

License Plate

State Animal

Horses (Francois Marchal, Wikimedia CCA 2.5)

State Bird

New Jersey Eastern Goldfinch (MDF, Wikimedia CCA 3.0)

State Flower

Violet (Wikimedia Commons)

Tourism: Enjoy some incredible vacations

Atlantic City Boardwalk (Shinya Suzuki, Wikimedia CCA 2.0)

Watch a video

Spring Lake, Jersey Shore (Nick Harris, Wikimedia CCA 2.5)

Weather

Hurricane Bill waves in New Jersey (tedkerwin, Wikimedia CCA 2.0)

More Resources For The Best Things To Do

Atlantic City

Bally’s Casino, Atlantic City (Bruce Emmerling, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Camden

The USS New Jersey in Camden (Brahmslover, Wikimedia CCA 3.0)

Cape May

Colonial Hotel, Cape May (Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons)

Jackson

Jersey City

Jersey City (Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Newark

Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park, Newark (Siddharth Mallya, Wikimedia CCA 3.0)

Princeton

Lower Pyne, Princeton (Djkeddie, Wikimedia CCA 4.0)

Trenton