The northeastern U.S. state of New Jersey is a popular destination for tourists. This Northeastern U.S. state is home to 130 miles of Atlantic coastline and a variety of popular attractions. Lower Manhattan is a short drive away, and you can see the Statue of Liberty and the historic Immigration Museum from Liberty State Park, located just across the Hudson River. Along the scenic Jersey Shore, you can visit some of the state’s most well-known resort towns, including Asbury Park, which has Victorian architecture.
The area’s history is rich in history. Native Americans inhabited the area as early as 2800 B.C., and they were known as the Lenape. Dutch and Swedish colonists founded the first European settlements in the region. In 1524, the English took control of the region and established the Province of New Jersey. They named the state after the largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey, which attracted a large population of settlers. In the 17th century, New England became one of Great Britain’s Thirteen Colonies, and New Jersey hosted some of the key battles of the American Revolutionary War.
The province of New Jersey is comprised of 21 counties. The oldest of these counties dates back to the colonial era, and was divided into separate counties by 1692. The other 21 New Jersey counties were formed when existing counties were merged into one. The first new county was created in 1857, and it is also the only state in the nation where elected county officials are known as “Freeholders.” These elected officials serve as part of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Each county must elect three, five, or nine members to have a functioning Board of Freeholders.
There are four distinct regions in New Jersey. The Atlantic Coastal Plain features low hills, pine forests, and salt marshes, and Barrier Islands. At the other end of the state is the Pacific Coastal Plain. In this region, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean meet, creating the state’s most unique geographic features. A combination of both these areas results in a diverse landscape that’s ideal for tourism. For tourists who prefer the ocean to the land, the Garden State provides some of the best scenery.
The first Europeans to arrive in New Jersey were from the Channel Islands. They had landed on the island before Columbus and were the first to settle in the area. The state is home to several European colonies, including Bergen. These towns were the first permanent settlements of Europeans in New Jersey. The city of Hoboken, which is the capital of the province, is the oldest European settlement in the state. The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey remained loyal to the British Crown during the English Civil War in the 1600s.
The first peoples to live in the state of New Jersey were Native Americans. They lived in small communities and had a large impact on the landscape of the region. The Lenape were the dominant group in the area, and they named the land Scheyichbi, meaning “land of shell money.” The natives were referred to as Delaware Indians by Europeans. The first European to explore the area was Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer. He then followed by French, Finnish, and Dutch colonists. Eventually, the British ruled New Jersey, and claimed the region as a British colony.