The state of New Jersey is a densely populated area wedged between two major metropolises. Taking things slowly is frowned upon by residents here, but it can be done. A slower pace is found in coastal towns and in the southern end of the state. Whether you’re traveling with the family or alone, consider the many ways to get out and about in New Jersey. Listed below are some of the best ways to find the perfect one.
In the early seventeenth century, the state of New Jersey was settled by Dutch and Swedish settlers. The towns of Hoboken and Jersey City emerged as trading communities. Later, settlers from Sweden and Finland moved to Bergen, which became the first permanent European settlement in New Jersey. The state is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on three sides, and has four distinct seasons. Its capital is Trenton. Its landscape is beautiful and diverse, but despite its small size, the state’s many scenic views make for a memorable vacation.
The state’s diversity is evident in its population. In 2011, over two-thirds of the population was white. The state was an important refuge for African Americans fleeing the South after World War II. Today, more than one-tenth of New Jersey’s population is made up of African Americans. New Jersey also has a significant Hispanic population, with large proportions of Latin American groups, including Cubans and Puerto Ricans.
While Benjamin Franklin might have made an analogy to the state’s beautiful gardens, there was little evidence that the phrase “The Garden State” was first used in the 18th century. In the 1950s, the New Jersey state legislature passed a bill that would have placed the phrase on license plates. Former governor Bob Meyner vetoed the bill, but the legislature overrode his veto, and the slogan was added to license plates in the 1960s.
The state is divided into four separate regions, referred to as “regions”. The northwest part of the state is dominated by the Appalachian Mountains, while the south-central part of the state contains the Pine Barrens. The state’s largest mountain, High Point in Sussex County, is 1,803 feet tall (550 m). The southern half is dominated by the Atlantic Plain and Pine Barrens. Along the coastline, the state is divided into inner and outer Coastal Plains. The Jersey Shore is made up of long barrier islands.
The land in New Jersey was first inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape tribes about 10,000 years ago. The Lenape called the area “Scheyichbi,” which means “land of the shell money”. The Lenape were divided into three distinct phratries, and their first encounter with Europeans was in 1524. The Lenape’s first contact with Europeans came during the fur trade.
Throughout the state, NJ Transit operates bus and rail services. The system began as a state-run corporation in 1979 and later acquired the operations of the former Conrail commuter train line, which connected suburban towns with New York City. NJ Transit now operates eleven commuter rail lines, most of which end at Penn Station in New York City. Some lines extend to the Hoboken Terminal, while others serve the Newark suburb. Additionally, one line extends service from Philadelphia to Atlantic City.