New Jersey (NJ) is located on the east coast of the USA, south of New York State. The pharmaceutical and financial services industries are important to New Jersey’s economy, and there are also major ports. The nickname “The Garden State” from the 19th century, when agriculture played an important role in New Jersey, no longer applies. The state’s capital is Trenton, the largest being Newark.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name New Jersey Abbreviation NJ Capital Trenton Largest city Newark (Population: 304 960) Current time 9:52 Time zone EST (UTC-5), state observes Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) Population 9,289,039 (#11 most populous US state) Area 8,722 mi² (#47 largest US state) Admitted to the Union December 18, 1787 (#3 state to join) ⭐ Capital of New Jersey
The capital of New Jersey is Trenton, which briefly served as the capital of the entire United States in 1784. Settlement of the city began in 1719, and it was named after a prominent merchant, William Trent, who bought up most of the land at that time. Trenton became the capital in 1790.
🏙️ Largest City in New Jersey
The largest city in New Jersey is Newark, with a population of 304,960 in 2023. The second most populous city is Jersey City with a population of 291,657 and the third most populous city is Paterson with a population of 156,452.
🕒 Time in New Jersey
The current time in New Jersey is 9:52. Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) is in effect throughout the state for most of the year, with New Jersey switching to Daylight Saving Time (UTC-4) only between March and November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of New Jersey
As of 2023, New Jersey had a population of 9,289,039, ranking it as the 11th most populous state in the United States.
📍 Area of New Jersey
The total area of New Jersey is 8,722 mi², of which 7,354 mi² is land and 1,368 mi² is water. New Jersey is the 47th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About New Jersey
🧩 New Jersey Neighboring States
New Jersey is bordered by three American states. Pennsylvania to the west, New York to the north and Delaware to the south. In addition, the state has a coastline of 130 mi miles along the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
📅 Date of New Jersey Statehood
New Jersey ratified its entry into the Union on December 18, 1787 as the 3rd state in line, its predecessor being the Colony of New Jersey.
📛 Nickname of the State of New Jersey
New Jersey is traditionally nicknamed “The Garden State”, which originated in the late 19th century when the state’s fertile soil and orchards provided food for the entire region. The Garden State is part of the license plates of cars registered in New Jersey.
The New Jersey seal bears the state’s official motto, which is “Liberty and Prosperity”.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in New Jersey
New Jersey’s highest peak is 1,804 ft High Point Mountain, which is part of High Point State Park.
🏞️ Rivers in New Jersey
The longest river in New Jersey is the Hudson River with a total flow length of 315 mi. It is followed by the Delaware River (301 mi), the Raritan River (121 mi), the Wallkill River (88 mi), and the Passaic River (81 mi).
🎓 Universities in New Jersey
The largest university in New Jersey is Rutgers University, which consists of four different campuses with over 65,000 students. The school was founded back in 1766.
The second largest university is Rowan University with approximately 22.5 thousand students, while Montclair State University is in third place with 21 thousand enrolled students.
✉️ New Jersey ZIP Codes
New Jersey has a dedicated zip code range of 070xx-089xx, you can look up a specific one by address on the USPS website. For information on how the system works, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA.
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Weather in New Jersey
The best time of year to visit New Jersey is late spring and early fall, when temperatures are comfortable but at the same time the tourist attractions are not crowded.
Spring in New Jersey is relatively mild, with average temperatures rising from March 37°F to 46°F to May 59°F to 66°F. The weather is variable with frequent rain showers and occasional thunderstorms.
Summers in New Jersey are hot and humid, with temperatures in July and August typically ranging from 73°F to 82°F. Short but strong thunderstorms may occur during the summer months. Areas along the Atlantic coast may be sporadically affected by tropical storms.
Autumn in New Jersey tends to be mild, with temperatures gradually dropping from September’s 66°F to 72°F to November’s 45°F to 50°F. Rainfall tends to be light, with a significant risk of hurricanes.
Winters in New Jersey tend to be cold, with temperatures usually around 27°F to 39°F. Snowfall varies from region to region in the state, with more snow in northern New Jersey.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in New Jersey
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Things to Do in New Jersey
1️⃣ Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park
Six Flags Great Adventure is one of the largest amusement parks on the East Coast, and it’s well worth the drive from nearby New York City. There are about sixty attractions in the park, most of which are thrill rides. Worth mentioning is the Kingda Ka steel roller coaster, on which rides reach speeds of 128 mph and in one section climb to a height of 456 ft.
If I had to personally pick one attraction in New Jersey that I wouldn’t want to miss, it would be the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park.
2️⃣ Atlantic City Boardwalk
The Atlantic City Boardwalk is the oldest boardwalk in the USA It opened in 1870 and is now one of the most iconic places in the state. Casinos, hotels, restaurants and shops line the 4.0 mi long wooden walkway, with street performers providing the atmosphere.
Since 1898, Steel Pier Amusement Park has been the boardwalk’s biggest attraction, with two roller coasters among its more than twenty attractions. Atlantic City’s boardwalk is a great place to stroll with a view of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the summer months, it’s spiced up with numerous cultural events.
3️⃣ Ellis Island
Between 1892 and 1954, Ellis Island served as a gateway for immigrants heading to the USA by boat from around the world. The exact number of immigrants is unknown, but various sources estimate that there were between 8 and 12 million, most of them from Northern Europe.
Visitors can explore an interesting museum that tells the stories of immigrant life through interactive exhibitions. Ellis Island is located on the Hudson River and extends into both New Jersey and New York, accessible by ferry from Liberty State Park. Ellis Island offers a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty, which can be visited on one cruise.
4️⃣ Liberty State Park
Located on the banks of the Hudson River in Jersey City, Liberty State Park offers beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, including the Statue of Liberty. On sunny summer days, the park is a popular destination for picnics or strolls and includes the state-of-the-art Liberty Science Center. Ferries leave from the park to the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and Ellis Island, making it a good starting point for a day trip.
5️⃣ Battleship New Jersey
The USS New Jersey is one of the most important warships in United States history, launched on December 7, 1942 and decommissioned after the Gulf War in February 1991. The ship participated in combat in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After decommissioning, she was towed to a port in Camden, where she now serves as a museum.
Visitors can see various parts of the ship including the cabins, engine room, guns and the bridge. An interesting attraction is the combat deployment simulator.
6️⃣ Cape May
Cape May, at the southern tip of New Jersey, is one of the oldest resort towns in the USA, known for its scenic beaches and Victorian architecture. The area is dominated by the 157 ft tall Cape May Lighthouse, built in 1859, which is open to the public and offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and the Atlantic Ocean.
7️⃣ Princeton Battlefield State Park
Princeton Battlefield State Park is the site of the historic battle that pitted the armies of Great Britain and the Continental Army under George Washington against each other during the American War of Independence in January 1777.
Visitors can learn more about the battle and its role in the fight for independence on interpretive signs or from a guide. The tour includes extensive fields, monuments and the historic Clarke House, built in 1772 and used as a field hospital during the battle.
8️⃣ Adventure Aquarium
The Adventure Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums on the East Coast of the United States, located near the Pennsylvania border, with only the Delaware River separating it from the city of Philadelphia. The aquarium is home to more than 8,500 animals including stingrays, sharks, penguins and sea turtles.
An interesting attraction is the opportunity to pet sharks and rays or the underwater tunnel, where thousands of fish swim past visitors. Camden Sea World is ideal for families with children.
9️⃣ Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
This historic park near the upstate town of Paterson attracts some of the largest waterfalls on the USA East Coast. The 77.0 ft high falls played a key role during the Industrial Revolution, when they powered machinery in local factories. The park includes historic buildings and nature trails that introduce visitors to the history of the town and industry.
🔟 Princeton University
Princeton is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, located in the city of the same name, which is itself an important cultural center of the area. The historic campus, with its beautiful Gothic and Colonial Revival buildings, is open to the public, along with its gardens and library.
Also worth a visit is the Princeton University Art Museum, which displays an extensive collection of works ranging from ancient to modern art.
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Largest Cities in New Jersey
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of New Jersey in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Newark Essex 304,960 Map of Newark 2 Jersey City Hudson 291,657 Map of Jersey City 3 Paterson Passaic 156,452 Map of Paterson 4 Elizabeth Union 135,829 Map of Elizabeth 5 Trenton Mercer 89,620 Map of Trenton 6 Clifton Passaic 88,461 Map of Clifton 7 Camden Camden 71,100 Map of Camden 8 Bayonne Hudson 70,300 Map of Bayonne 9 East Orange Essex 69,556 Map of East Orange 10 Passaic Passaic 68,903 Map of Passaic -
Sports Teams in New Jersey
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
The only team in the NHL is the New Jersey Devils, they belong to the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The Devils play their home games at the Prudential Center in Newark. The club was founded in 1974 and its colors are red, black and white.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
The NFL is an American football league played by two teams from New Jersey, both of which play their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
The New York Giants joined in the 1925 season, and now belong to the Eastern Division in the NFC Conference. The club colors are dark blue, red and white.
The other team is the New York Jets, joined the NFL in the 1970 season and is part of the Eastern Division in the AFC Conference. The team colors were chosen to be green, white and black.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
There is no team from New Jersey in the NBA basketball league.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
There are no teams playing MLB in New Jersey.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
The state of New Jersey in the MLS soccer league is represented by the New York Red Bulls, despite the confusing name, belongs to the Eastern Conference and participated for the first time in the 2015 season. Prior to that, it had been in MLS since the 1996 season under the name New York/New Jersey MetroStars. The club colors of the New York Red Bulls are red, blue, yellow and white, and they play their home games at Red Bull Arena in Harrison.
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New Jersey State Symbols
All of New Jersey’s state symbols are enshrined in local law, and I’ve listed just a few of them in this article.
State Flag of New Jersey
The first flag of New Jersey was adopted on May 11, 1896, and a modified version from 1928 is currently in use. The motif of the flag is the state emblem placed on a buff field. The color, known as buff, was used on the uniforms of New Jersey soldiers in the American War of Independence.
Great Seal of New Jersey
The Great Seal has been used in its current form since 1928. The main motif of the seal is the goddesses Liberty and Ceres, who are accompanied by the plow and helmet as symbols of agriculture and military strength. They are complemented by a horse’s head, the motto of the State of New Jersey and the year of the approval of the Constitution. The seal is used as an endorsement on all official documents.
State Fruit
Since 2004, New Jersey’s fruit symbol has been the blueberry, specifically the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), one of the state’s most important agricultural crops. A successful campaign to declare the blueberry the state symbol was led by fourth-grade students at an elementary school.
State Fish
New Jersey’s symbols also include the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), a 25 cm to 65 cm long fish native to local rivers and lakes.
State Bird
The state bird has been the American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) since 1935. The bright yellow bird commonly nests throughout New Jersey, where it likes to pick sunflower seeds.
State Tree
In 1950, the red oak (Quercus rubra) was named New Jersey’s state tree, and is considered a symbol of strength and resilience. Traditionally used for shipbuilding, oaks have also been important to the state’s economy in the past.
State Flower
The symbol of New Jersey since 1971 has been the common blue violet (Viola sororia), which grows abundantly throughout the state. It was chosen as a symbol of the modesty of its inhabitants.
State Dog
Among the official symbols of New Jersey are all assistance dogs that have been trained by The Seeing Dog. The organization is based in Morristown and has been training assistance dogs for the entire United States and Canada since 1929.
State Reptile
As of 2018, the New Jersey state reptile is the bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii). With a length of about 10 cm, it is one of America’s smallest turtles and is found in swampy areas.
State Mineral
Franklinite is a generally black mineral that is named for its locality near the town of Franklin – and thus in honor of American President Benjamin Franklin. New Jersey’s governor signed a law confirming franklinite as the state mineral in 2023.
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