"Liberty and prosperity"
Adopted 1776.
New Jersey, famously celebrated as the "Garden State," serves as a vital economic engine driven by its prominent global pharmaceutical hub. This densely populated state effectively blends bustling metropolitan centers with flourishing agricultural traditions and scenic coastal regions. It remains a critical crossroads of innovation, diverse commerce, and rich transportation networks that connect the entire Northeastern corridor today.
New Jersey officially joined the United States on December 18, 1787, as the 3rd state to ratify the federal Constitution. Known as the "Crossroads of the Revolution," it hosted pivotal battles that fundamentally shaped the struggle for American independence. This early statehood cemented its enduring influence on national governance, industrial development, and the burgeoning democratic identity during the colonial era.
Newark
Population: ~310,000The largest city in New Jersey, a major global hub for air travel, shipping, and insurance.
Jersey City
Population: ~292,000Known as "Wall Street West," a major center for financial services located directly across from Manhattan.
Paterson
Population: ~160,000The "Silk City," influential in the early industrial development of the nation with its dramatic Great Falls.
Elizabeth
Population: ~135,000A major transportation and manufacturing hub, home to one of the world's busiest container ports.
Trenton
Population: ~91,000The state capital, the site of George Washington's pivotal victory during the American Revolution.
Region: Northeast
- New Jersey has more racehorses per square mile than any other state in America today.
- The first professional baseball game was famously played in Hoboken during the year eighteen forty-six.
- Atlantic City inspired the properties found on the original version of the legendary Monopoly board.