New Jersey’s rich heritage spans more than 12,000 years of human habitation. Native American tribes including the Lenape and Munsee lived on the land for millennia before European explorers arrived. The state was settled by Dutch and Swedish colonists, who developed a diverse agricultural economy.
In the seventeenth century, ideas about inalienable rights gave momentum to the movement for independence from Britain. New Jersey’s citizens supported the revolutionary cause with a strong sense of community and self-reliance, as evidenced by their participation in spinning bees to produce thread for homespun cloth.
During the war for independence, the state’s strategic location made it a crossroads of battles. The British held a stronghold in nearby New York, and rebel forces gathered in Philadelphia. Over 600 battles and skirmishes took place in New Jersey, more than anywhere else in the colonies. New Jerseyans defended their freedom with courage and compassion. They served in the armed forces, established the first free black church, and founded an influential school of political thought.
After the Revolution, the state embraced industrialization. The Passaic River’s rushing water powered New Jersey’s first textile factories. New Jerseyans also developed a reputation for smuggling goods and services across the American frontier. During the nineteenth century, the state became a leader in transportation, with railroads, canals, and seaports that linked New York City with the rest of America. New Jerseyans were innovators in the production of consumer goods, as well – such as Thomas Edison’s early light bulbs and phonographs, and chemists such as John Roebling who developed wire rope used to build the Brooklyn Bridge and other major infrastructure projects.
As the state grew, so did its population. In addition to new residents who were born in the United States, the state welcomed many immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These arrivals strengthened the cultural diversity that characterizes the state today, as evidenced by the fact that nearly 20% of the residents are people of color.
New Jersey’s government was reformed in 1947. A new constitution strengthened the office of the governor and streamlined the convoluted judicial system. The state also ordered desegregation in schools and in the National Guard – progressive steps taken before the civil rights revolution in the nation.
Today, New Jersey is a vibrant, diverse, and highly-educated state. It is home to a world-class research university, numerous professional and scientific organizations, and one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the country. Its state parks and historic sites are popular with tourists and locals alike. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is the lead agency for the conservation of the state’s natural resources. New Jersey Transit, a public transportation system, has 12 rail lines and 165 stations statewide. The system includes bus service, as well as commuter trains from suburban towns to New York City.