New Jersey’s economy is built on a diverse base, with manufacturing, finance, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology industries all contributing to the state’s revenue. Tourism also plays a key role, with Atlantic City – the East Coast’s answer to mega-casino hub Las Vegas – and the rest of the Jersey Shore attracting millions of visitors each year for its sandy beaches and fun attractions.
The state is also home to renowned universities, including Rutgers and Princeton, and top-notch hospitals like Mount Sinai and Jersey City Medical Center. Its prestigious medical schools attract students from around the world. And its thriving arts scene includes the world-renowned New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, home to the NFL’s Giants and Jets.
Located in the northeastern corner of the United States, new jersey is bordered on the north by New York City and New York State, on the east and south by the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, and on the west by Pennsylvania across the Delaware River. The state’s name is derived from the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel, where the first Europeans settled. The territory was originally part of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, then became one of the 13 American colonies during the Revolutionary War.
In the 19th century, the railroad helped connect the state’s booming cities and made New Jersey a major transportation hub. The turn of the 20th century saw the opening of the New Jersey Turnpike, which allows for speedy car travel between New Jersey and New York City and Philadelphia. New Jersey is also a leader in information and technology and is a major producer of pharmaceuticals, with drug giants Merck and Johnson headquartered here.
New Jersey is a densely populated state with some of the most urbanized areas in the nation. The most populous city is Newark, which is also the state’s capital. Other large cities include New Brunswick, Trenton, and Jersey City.
The state’s natural environment is rich in biodiversity and includes the Pine Barrens, a wild forest in the central portion of the state. It is dotted with lakes and streams. New Jersey’s wildlife includes black bears, bobcats, and red foxes. Birds such as red-bellied woodpeckers, northern cardinals, and American goldfinches call the state home. Reptiles and amphibians include spotted turtles, five-lined skinks, and New Jersey chorus frogs. And the state’s flowering trees and shrubs include sugar maple, American chestnut, flowering dogwood, and pitch pine.
The designation of several State symbols began as schoolroom civics lessons, and to date, twenty-one items have been officially selected by the Governor’s Council to represent special elements of life in new jersey. The state flag, state seal, and state nickname all symbolize the unique personality of the Garden State.