New Jersey is a densely populated state, with millions of residents and many more who live, work, and visit here. It is a leader in the production of pharmaceuticals, electronics, and chemical products, as well as food and tourism. The state’s diverse population is enriched by its long history of immigration and its enduring tradition of representative self-government. The state is home to many famous people, including President Grover Cleveland, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, author Judy Blume, and singer Frank Sinatra. The state’s landscape is also rich in natural resources, including granite, sand and gravel for mining and seafood harvesting.
Located along the Atlantic coast, New Jersey is bordered by Pennsylvania and New York in the north, Delaware and Delaware Bay in the west, and Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean in the south. New Jersey’s diverse geographic regions include the rugged mountains of the
Northern Jersey, sandy beaches in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and savannahs of the Central Jersey. The state’s many rivers and waterways have made it a major hub for shipping, manufacturing, and transportation.
The first people to live in the region that is now New Jersey were the Delaware Indians. They lived here at least 10,000 years ago and spoke an Algonquian dialect. They were farmers, hunters, and gatherers who traded European goods for Native American furs.
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, European colonists settled New Jersey. They established farming communities and developed fishing, salt making, and trade in the area’s abundant natural resources. They also fought to preserve the freedoms and traditions of the Native Lenape people. Colonial society became more diverse as enslaved Africans and free blacks were brought to the region.
As the American Revolution unleashed notions of equality and freedom, the state passed laws that gradually abolished slavery. However, enslavement remained an important economic force in the state until the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, ending slavery in the United States. New Jersey was one of the most diverse places in the United States during this time, with a large population of enslaved and free blacks.
After World War II, the state experienced unprecedented prosperity for some of its residents. Affordable housing developments and federally backed mortgages helped to fuel the rapid expansion of suburbs throughout the state. However, discriminatory practices such as restrictive covenants and redlining exacerbated inequality among different groups of New Jerseyans.
Today, New Jersey is a center for pharmaceutical and technological research. The state’s universities and colleges offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Its residents are known for their strong work ethic, commitment to education, and sense of community. The state is also home to several national parks and historic districts, and is a popular tourist destination. In addition, the state has more registered voters than any other U.S. state, and its politicians are often renowned for their ability to get things done. Despite the state’s reputation for corruption, its citizens are proud of the legacy of New Jersey’s political leaders and of its many accomplishments.