New Jersey, east of Pennsylvania, west of New York City and north of Delaware, is known as the Garden State because it grows so much food. It’s also a center of industry, a gateway to the rest of the world and home to many famous people who work in media, politics, business, science, government, the military, entertainment and non-profit leadership.
The state’s first inhabitants were Lenape (pronounced LAY-nah-peh) Native Americans who lived in what is now southern New Jersey and western Pennsylvania. They hunted and gathered and practiced maize agriculture. The people were organized into matrilineal clans that were named after animals. The Lenape were friendly with Europeans and traded for furs, but conflicts between the indigenous peoples and colonists led to forced migrations of enslaved people. The resulting diversity has left New Jersey with legacies of faith, gender, ethnicity and a tradition of representative self-government.
In the nineteenth century, immigration from northern and western Europe, along with Africa and Asia, shaped New Jersey’s culture and economy. The rushing water of the Passaic River was used to power the textile mills of Paterson, transforming the town into a leading industrial center. During the Revolutionary War, New Jerseyans fought for independence from Britain at Trenton and Princeton. After the Civil War, many immigrants settled in New Jersey and helped drive advancements in the state’s industrial, commercial and scientific industries.
Today, New Jersey is a diverse state with people of all races and nationalities making their homes here. In addition to a growing Asian American population, the state has seen growth in its Hispanic and Latino/a community. New Jerseyans are proud of the state’s rich heritage and celebrate its diverse culture through an array of festivals, celebrations and events throughout the year.
New Jersey is divided into 21 counties, 13 of which date back to the colonial era. County residents are represented in the state legislature by a bicameral system, with an upper house Senate of 40 members and a lower House of General Assembly of 80 members. Each county elects its senators for a four-year term and its assembly members for two-year terms.
The state is a transportation hub, with the Port of New York and New Jersey the busiest in the nation. The New Jersey Transit commuter rail and light rail systems provide a convenient way to get around the state. The state is rich in minerals, particularly sand and granite, which are important to its construction industry. The state is also a leader in seafood production, especially clams. The state’s most famous celebrities include President Grover Cleveland, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, author Judy Blume and singer Frank Sinatra.