New Jersey’s nickname is the Garden State

New Jersey

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the United States. That means it has more people for every square mile of space than any other state. But even with so many people and cities, New Jersey also has great natural beauty. It has a beautiful countryside, with scenic hills, lakes, rivers, and farms. New Jersey’s nickname is the Garden State. Its ocean shore is a popular place to go for vacation.

Facts About New Jersey
Capital	Trenton
Population	8,690,000 people
Rank among states in population	11th
Major cities	Newark, Jersey City, Paterson
Area	8,720 square miles 22,600 square kilometers
Rank among states in area	46th
Statehood	December 18, 1787, the 3rd state
State nickname	The Garden State
Name for residents	New Jerseyans or New Jerseyites
State bird	American Goldfinch
State flower	Violet
State tree	Red Oak
Abbreviation	NJ

THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY

The majority of New Jersey’s people live in cities or towns. It’s only the 46th biggest state in area, but it’s the 9th most populated with about 8.7 million people.

Newark is the largest city in New Jersey. Other big cities include Jersey City, Paterson, Passaic, and Trenton. Trenton is the state’s capital. Philadelphia and New York City border on New Jersey. Many people who live in New Jersey work in New York or Philadelphia.

New Jersey sits in the middle of the Atlantic coast of the United States. New York City lies just on the other side of the state’s northeastern border, and Philadelphia lies just across its western border.

THE GARDEN STATE

New Jersey’s nickname is the Garden State. It got this nickname because it has lots of farms and orchards to supply nearby cities with fresh vegetables and fruits. Much of the southern half of New Jersey is used for farming.

The Appalachian Mountains cut across the northwestern corner of New Jersey. The Pine Barrens in southern New Jersey is a wilderness area that is mostly forested. It’s the home of the Pinelands National Reserve, a protected wilderness area.

THE JERSEY SHORE

New Jersey is famous for its Jersey Shore. That’s a name used to describe New Jersey’s coast on the Atlantic Ocean. The Jersey Shore is especially popular in the summer. Places like Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Ocean City, and Wildwood attract many beachgoers. Several cities have wooden boardwalks that run along parts of the shore. The boardwalks have beaches on one side and shops and hotels on the other.

Another big attraction on the Jersey Shore is Atlantic City. Atlantic City has the only gambling casinos in the state. It’s also famous for its 6-mile (10-kilometer) boardwalk.

BATTLES AND WINTER QUARTERS

New Jersey played a major role in the American Revolution (1775-1783). George Washington and his troops made a famous crossing of the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey on Christmas night, 1776. They won important battles against the British at Trenton and Princeton. Washington then settled his men in Morristown, New Jersey, for the rest of that cold winter and others that followed. You can see where the troops stayed and General Washington’s headquarters at the Morristown National Historical Park.

THOMAS EDISON

Many people consider Thomas Edison the greatest inventor who ever lived. He is often referred to as the Wizard of Menlo Park. Menlo Park is in New Jersey, a few miles south of Newark.

In 1876, Edison set up a laboratory in Menlo Park. There, he improved the telephone so that it could work over almost unlimited distances. He invented the first electric light bulb that was good to use in people’s homes. He also made the first phonograph (record player) at his Menlo Park laboratory.

In 1886, Edison moved to a huge home called Glenmont in West Orange, New Jersey. He set up a new laboratory in West Orange. He invented the movie camera there. Today, West Orange is the home of the Edison National Historic Site.