New Jersey – The Garden State
Located in the northeast of the U.S., New Jersey offers 130 miles of Atlantic coastline. Lower Manhattan is just across the Hudson River, and the state capital, Liberty City, is located nearby. The state is also home to the iconic Statue of Liberty and the historic Immigration Museum. Along the Jersey Shore, there are numerous notable resort towns, including Asbury Park, which is home to Victorian-era buildings. While in the area, be sure to visit a historic church in Asbury Park, NJ.
The state is divided into 21 counties, with the oldest being the state of Middlesex. Of these, 13 are from the colonial era and were fully incorporated by 1692. The remaining five were formed by merging existing counties and creating a new one, Union County. Freeholders are the only elected officials in New Jersey, and are members of a Board of Chosen Freeholders. The number of freeholders in each county is determined by referendum and must be three, five, or nine members.
In addition to the New Jersey river, the state is surrounded by a variety of natural features. The Delaware River is the longest, and its natural terrain allows it to become a popular tourist destination. The Atlantic Ocean is the second-longest coastline in the continental United States. The Atlantic Ocean is the largest lake in the state. In addition to its freshwater bodies, the state also has a wealth of wildlife, including migratory birds.
As part of the U.S., New Jersey is one of the oldest colonies in the country. The state’s history dates back to the 16th century, when Native Americans settled the area along the Hudson River. The region became famous as the “Garden State” and it was named for the author of the book of that name, Abraham Browning. A politician and lawyer, he first uttered the phrase at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.
The island of Delaware was home to many Native Americans 10,000 years ago. The Lenni-Lenape tribe was the dominant group. These Native Americans referred to the area as “scheyichbi” and used the name for the island. In later centuries, Europeans referred to the natives as “Delaware Indians” to keep the indigenous population in the state. By 1524, the island had grown to be the second-largest colony in the United States, and the two countries shared the governorship.
Among the state’s many diverse communities, the Delaware Indians were the first people to settle the land. The state’s population was estimated to be as high as 8,000 in the 17th century, but it was no more than a dozen when Europeans arrived in the area. Today, Delaware Indians live in the area, and they speak an Algonquian language. Historically, this group lived in small villages and extended families.