Despite being the smallest state by population, new jersey is a major social, economic, and political force in its own right. One of the original 13 states, it is bounded by New York to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, and Delaware and Pennsylvania to the west. New Jersey has four distinct geographic regions: the flat Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Pine Barrens of the interior, the Delaware Water Gap in the northwest, and the southwestern Highlands. The state’s population density is among the highest in the nation. Its roads, train lines, and airports are all heavily utilized as it serves a large portion of the Northeast.
In the early 19th century, New Jersey’s economy boomed as it became a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution and served as an important base during both World Wars. In the 20th century, it became a hub of high-tech industry. Many information and technology companies, as well as pharmaceutical giants such as Merck and Johnson & Johnson, have headquarters in the state. New Jersey also has world-class universities and leading biological science firms.
Until Europeans arrived in the 16th century, the land that is now New Jersey was inhabited by the Lenape Indians, who were nomads, hunters, and farmers. When Dutch explorer Henry Hudson came to the region in the 1630s, people flocked to the area, and towns quickly popped up along the Hudson River. The first settlements were Bergen (Jersey City), Trenton, and Burlington. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch consolidated their control of the territory. It was formally incorporated as a colony in 1792. The colony was named after the island of Jersey in the English Channel, where Governors Charles Berkeley and George Carteret had once served. The land was granted to settlers at low prices, and they were given freedom of religion.
As the American colonies fought for independence from England, New Jersey sided with them, and in 1776, it was one of the first battlegrounds in the Revolutionary War when George Washington crossed the Delaware River into Trenton to defeat British forces in a pivotal victory.
Today, New Jersey has a reputation as the birthplace of popular music, with native musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Frank Sinatra, and Whitney Houston having honed their craft here. The state’s cultural and artistic scene is rich as well, with theaters, museums, and galleries aplenty.
The state’s economy continues to thrive, as its diversified industries provide jobs to hundreds of thousands of residents. Its transportation system is one of the busiest in the world, as it funnels goods and people to New York City and other points north and Philadelphia and other cities south. The newest additions to the infrastructure are the New Jersey Turnpike and two light rail systems. These additions have contributed to the state’s revitalization and its growing popularity as a business and tourist destination. The state’s residents are well-educated, with a high literacy rate and top-ranked public schools.