New Jersey is one of the most populous states in the nation. Its metropolitan areas are divided into seven, with 16 counties making up the New York City and Philadelphia metro areas. The remaining four counties are independent metro areas. Four of the six largest cities are located in these counties, with Newark, Paterson and Elizabeth serving as the state’s largest urban areas. The Newark-Hudson county-Elizabeth complex often seems like one continuous industrial city.
There are over three hundred miles of lakes in New Jersey, including Lake Hopatcong, which is the state’s largest. The state also shares the Delaware Water Gap with neighboring Pennsylvania. The state has a number of major rivers, including the Passaic and the Hudson. The state is home to the Palisades Interstate Park, which is located in Bergen and Hudson counties.
The land in New Jersey was inhabited by Native Americans more than 10,000 years ago. They lived in small communities and called the land Scheyichbi, which might have meant “land of shell money”. Later, Europeans called the natives “Delaware Indians.” The state was the third to join the union, and became the first state to sign the Bill of Rights.
While the state has a large population, its urban areas are comparatively small. Three of the four largest cities in the state are under twenty square miles. Eight of the top ten largest cities have under 30 square miles of land area, and the top five are all smaller than 78 square miles. As of 2010, only four municipalities had population of one hundred and fifty thousand people.
As a result, New Jersey’s population is becoming more diverse. As a result, it is home to a variety of ethnic groups and religions. The state’s population has the second largest Jewish population per capita after New York. It also has a large Hispanic population, with a significant proportion of Mexicans and African Americans.
The state is geographically divided into four distinct regions. The northern part is composed of the easternmost Appalachian Mountains, while the southern portion is mostly characterized by fertile river valleys. The state’s highest mountain, High Point, is located near the border with New York. It is 1,803 feet above sea level.
The climate in New Jersey is similar to that of the rest of the Northeast. It receives about 43 inches of precipitation a year. Snowfall varies, but generally ranges from ten to fifteen inches in the south to more than thirty inches in the northeast. In addition, it experiences a number of different seasons.
The Governor of New Jersey has one of the most important executive positions in the country. Together with the lieutenant governor, he appoints all members of the executive and legislative branches. He is also responsible for appointing the Supreme Court judges.