NEW JERSEY FROM A TO Z
A fact about the state of New Jersey for each letter of the alphabet.
Click on highlighted word for more information.
A IS FOR AGRICULTURE, AMISH, & ARCHEOLOGY
Information about AGRICULTURE is provided the
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Agriculture products include nursery stock, horses, vegetable, fruits & nuts, seafood, and dairy products. The
State Soil is
Downer. There is a
State Fair and County Fairs. New Jersey has
4-H Clubs and
Future Farmers of America groups. The
National Agriculture Statistic Service has agriculture information, games, & puzzles.
The
Amish way of life largely revolves around working and socializing together as a family and community. There is an Amish Farmers Market at
Mullica Hill. The Dutch Wagon Amish Market is in
New Bedford
New Jersey celebrates
ARCHEOLOGY Month and has several
archeological sites.. The
National Parks Service has an Archaeology Program.
There are many
BEACHES in New Jersey both along the coast and on rivers and lakes. The State Shell is the
Knobbed whelk. A variety of sand is found at
Sandy Hook a barrier spit and an extension of the Barnegat Peninsula along the Atlantic Ocean. It has been rated on "America's Cleanest Beaches" list. The
Boardwalk in Atlantic City was the first boardwalk in the world and is still the largest.
Many species of
BIRDS are found throughout New Jersey and some are endangered or threatened.
birdwatching is a popular activity. The Eastern Goldfinch is the
State Bird.
New Jersey has many
BRIDGES including suspension bridges and foot bridges. There are also
Raidroad Bridges,
Toll Bridges and 2
Covered Bridges. The George Washington Bridge has one of the heaviest loads of traffic in the world.
Many bridges are on the
National Register of Historic Places. The
Historic Bridge Foundation advocates for the preservation of historic bridges.
C IS FOR CAPITAL, COMMUNICATIONS, & COUNTIES
Trenton is the CAPITAL of New Jersey. After the
Revolutionary War, it was briefly the capital of the United States.
All forms of
COMMUNICATIONS are available throughout New Jersey including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, telephone, and Internet. The state has 9 telephone
area codes and overlays. Area code 201 was the first area code assigned as part of the North American Numbering Plan. There are many
Web Cams , and
Internet service is available throughout the state.
New Jersey has 21
COUNTIES. The largest county is
Ocean and
Hudson is the smallest.
Bergen County has the largest population &
Salem has the smallest. The term
county is the level of
local government below the state itself.
New Jersey has over 500
DAMS. The
United States Society on Dams is involved in the maintenance, construction, operation, and safety of dams. The state has a
Dam Safety and Flood Control Program. Alternate forms of
energy are being investigated including
Solar Power and
Wind Power.
The State Dance is the
Square Dance. There is a Square Dance Festival in
Cherry Hills. The
Square Dance Callers Association of New Jersey promotes interest in square dancing.
The New Jersey State Dinosaur is the
Hadrosarus Foulki or duck-billed dinosaur. A variety of
fossils have been found in the state.
New Jersey has a history of
EARTHQUAKES. The earliest recorded quake occurred in 1737, the largest in 1783, and the most recent in February 2009.
FEMA provides
Information about earthquakes.
The
Department of EDUCATION oversees public education in New Jersey. It is provided free and is mandatory for any child age from 6 thru 16. The State also has
private schools that are required to comply with state standards and regulations. Information about schools is available from
GreatSchools and
SchoolBug.
A variety of
EVENTS and
festivals & celebrations are held throughout New Jersey during the year. There are also
Arts & Crafts Shows. The state observes
State & Federal Holidays.
New Jersey has many species of FISH including
freshwater fish and saltwater fish.
fishing is a popular activity. The State Fish is the
Brook Trout. There is a Fish hachery in
Hacktown and another in
Pequest.
The New Jersey
State FLAG dates back to 1779 and the New Jersey Regiments mustered for the Revolutionary War. There are also
Municipal and County Flags. The
State Seal was originally designed in 1777 and modified slightly in 1928. The
State Motto is "Liberty and Prosperity". The state colors are Buff and Blue. The State Slogan is "Come See For Yourself".
New Jersey has an interesting
FOOD Timeline. The state has
food festivals, events, and shows and 4 edible state symbols - honeybee, brook trout, Jersey tomato, and blackberry. The state is best known for growing tomatoes, cranberries, blueberries, and sweet corn and achieved first place in the manufacture of soups.
Campbell Soup is famous all over the world. New Jersey is home to many diner manufacturers and has more diners than any other place in the world.
Three of the 5 major
FOREST regions in the country are in New Jersey. The
State Tree is the
Northern Red Oak. The State Memorial Tree is the
Dogwood. New Jersey has the largest grove of
Cherry Blossom trees in the country. New Jersey has a
Big Tree Program and celebrates
Arbor Day.
The
GEOLOGY of New Jersey is divided into several regions. The
US Geological Survey has programs in New Jersey and provides information about geology in the state.
Franklin Furnace has the highest quality florescent minerals in the world and the most number of minerals found in any location. Several
minerals and gemstones are
found in New Jersey including Smokey Quartz, Agate, Pearl, and Prehnite.
The
GLOBAL POSITION of New Jersey is approximately 38 degrees north and 673 degrees west. The geographic center is in
Mercer County. The highest place is
High Point and the lowest place is the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA provides information about the
topography of the state.
Geocaching is a popular game using a global positioning finder, and there are many
geocaches in New Jersey.
New Jersey has many
GHOST TOWNS. In
Friendship there are several cellar holes and foundations.
Amatol has sandy street remains, cellers, and brick and mortar foundations.
Pasadena has ruins of the terracota factory.
New Jersey has many
HISTORIC SITES and some are on the
National Register of Historic Places. The
Statue of Liberty is under the jurisdiction of New Jersey and New York. The
National Trust helps protect historic places in the state.
The
HISTORY of New Jersey dates back 7,000 years.
Recorded history began in the 1524 when European settlements were established. The entire region became a territory of
England in 1664. New Jersey was one of the colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution and was the 3rd state to ratify the
United States Constitution. The first
Miss America Pageant was held in New Jersey. The first
drive-in movie was shown in Camden. New Jersey participates in
National History Day.
New Jersey has a variety of
INDUSTRIES. The greatest single industry is chemicals. Tourism is the 2nd largest industry. The state is one of the foremost research centers in the world. Many large oil refineries are located in northern New Jersey. Other important manufactured items are pharmaceuticals, instruments, machinery, electrical goods, and apparel. Trade Shows are held throughout the year. New Jersey is the birthplace of many inventions including FM radio, motion picture camera, light blub, transistors and the electric train. Other New Jersey creations are the drive-in movie, cranberry sauce, the postcard, the boardwalk, the zipper, the phonograph, and saltwater taffy. The
New Jersey Inventor's Hall of Fame was established to honor individuals and corporations in New Jersey for their invention contributions.
New Jersey has many
ISLANDS in the Atlantic ocean, in bays, and on rivers.
Island Beach State Park is the largest reserve of undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States.
JAZZ Festivals are held in several places throughout New Jersey. The
Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival takes place the first weekend in June. The
Cape May Jazz Festival is held twice a year.
Burlington has an annual Jazz Festival.
Jazz Clubs are located throughout the state. Many other
musical events are held each year. Many cities have
Opera Companies and
Bands & Orchestras.
New Jersey has
KARST and is conducting a study of
karst, sinkholes, caves, and springs. The state has 142 known caves. The
National Speleological Society has chapters in New Jersey that provide information about caving. The National Park Service has a
Cave and Karst Program.
Many aspects of life in New Jersey focus on KIDS, and the state has a
Kids Page. NOAA has a
Kids Page about the weather. AG in the Classroom has a
Kids Page about agriculture in the state. The National Agriculture Statistic Service has a
Kids Page about agriculture.
New Jersey has many
LAKES ponds and reservoirs. Tomahawk Lake has a waterpark. The largest lake in the state is
Lake Hopatcong.
New Jersey has college, university, county, and public
LIBRARIES. Most of them have internet access & special programs, and some have bookmobiles. The
State Library is in Trenton.
New Jersey has many
LIGHTHOUSES. The
New Jersey Lighthouse Society is the largest regional lighthouse society in the country. The most important aspect of a
lighthouse is the light that comes from the tower.
New Jersey has
MOUNTAINS and Mountain Ranges. Part of the
Appalachian Mountains are in the state.
MUSEUMS are located throughout New Jersey including
Art Museums and
Historical Museums.
The name New Jersey came from the
Channel Isle of Jersey. Residents of New Jersey are referred to as New Jerseyans or New Jerseyites.
The state is divided into 3 regions -
North Jersey,
Central Jersey, and South Jersey. The properties in the United States version of the board game
Monopoly are named after the streets of Atlantic City.
New Jersey was originally settled by
NATIVE AMERICANS, with the
Lenni-Lenape being dominate at the time European settlements were established in the 1600s. The state does not have any Federally recognized tribes, but there are several tribes, bands, and nations. A
Powwow is held in Maple Shade.
New Jersey has several
OBSERVATORIES and many
planetariums. Most offer classes as well as programs for the general public. New Jersey also has several
astronomical clubs and societies. Many places observe
Astronomy Day.
New Jersey is bordered to the east by the Atlantic
OCEAN. The
Ocean Institute at Sandy Hook has special programs. The USGS provides information about why the ocean is
Salty. NOAA provides Information about
coastal tides and currents.
New Jersey has a
POPULATION of over 8 million people. Many
well-known people have called New Jersey their home including
Frank Sinatra, actor; Jack Nicholson, actor; and
Shaquille O'Neal, professional basketball player.
The
Army Corps of Engineers is involved in the New Jersey/New York Ports. The
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal was the 1st container port in the worls and one of the largest container ports in the world.
A QUARTER was issued by the
U.S. Mint. New Jersey was admitted to the union in 1787
and a quarter was issued in its honor in 1999.
QUILTING is popular in New Jersey and
Quilt Guilds are located throughout the state. There are also Weaving & Spinning Guilds.
Take a QUIZ about New Jersey
1. map quiz
2. Trivia quiz
New Jersey is home to many species of
REPTILES and amphians including turtles, snakes, salamanders, frogs, lizards, and toads. Some of them are
endangered or threatened. Some of the snakes are
poisonous.
New Jersey has hundreds of
RIVERS brooks, and streams. The major rivers include the Hudson, Delaware, Raritan, Passaic, Hackensack, Rahway, Musconetcong, Mullica, Rancocas, Manasquan, Maurice, and Toms.
Maurice is a Wild and Scenic River. There is a
Wild & Scenic Rivers webpage for kids.
American Rivers is an organization that protects and restores river systems in the country.
A variety of Sea Life is found off the coast of New Jersey, including some very
unique species. Six types of
whales migrate off the coast and several types of dolphins. There are several
Whale Watching Cruises. The
Marine Mammal Stranding Center is located in Brigantine. The
Ocean Institute has many special programs.
New Jersey offers a wide variety of SPORTS and has many
sports teams including college, high school, league, & professional. The state has private golf courses & public golf courses. It also has
Race Tracks. The first officially recorded baseball game in history was played in
Hoboken. and the first intercollegiate football game in history was played in
New Brunswick. Many great
sports figures have come from New Jersey.
New Jersey does not have a State Tartan but participates in
National Tartan Day. A Scottish Festival is held in
Holmdel.
New Jersey has many types of
TRAILS including
horse and mule trails. The state celebrates
National Trails Day. The state has many
Scenic Byways and
Roadside Attractions.
New Jersey has many forms of TRANSPORTATION. The
State Department of Transportation maintains highways, bridges, tunnels, and has an
Adopt-A-Highway Program. New Jersey is one of only 2 states where self-service filling gasoline is prohibited.
NewarkLiberty International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country. The
New Jersey Turnpike is one of the best-known and most-trafficed roadway in the country. There are many ferry services in the state and many bus carriers. The Federal Highway Administration provides information on
traffic and road closures in New Jersey. A variety of
special license plates are available.
To celebrates its 50th birthday, Matchbox cars issued a car for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the union. The car for New Jersey was the
Ikarus Coach.
New Jersey has many
UNIVERSITIES and Colleges. It also has
Community and Technical Colleges.
The 1st
USS New Jersey (BB-16) was commissioned in 1906. After trips to various places around the world, the ship was decommissioned in 1920. The 2nd
USS New Jersey BB-62 is is one of the most decorated vessels in the U.S. Navy. It now in Camden and serves as a
Museum and Memorial. The State Ship is the
A. J. Meerwald.
New Jersey has a variety of
VEGETATION The State Flower is the
Common meadow violet. The
Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in New Jersey. The
The state has a wide range of
Plant Zones
New Jersey does not have any volcanoes, but there is evidence of
ancient volcanoes.The
Federal Emergency Management Agency has information about volcanos.
New Jersey has many
WATERFALLS. Both
Buttermilk Falls in Wayne and
Tumble Falls in Frenchtown are very accessible.
Great Falls in Paterson is one of the highest waterfalls in the northeast.
New Jersey experiences a wide variety of
WEATHER.During winter and early spring the state can experience
Nor'easters. The state
Climatoligist provides information about weather in the state. There is a webpage for kids about
climate change.
New Jersey has a great diversity of
WILDLIFE and
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers. Some species of wildlife are
endangered. The
Black Bear is the largest land mammal in the state. The
Nature Conservancy protects lands & water needed for plants & animals to survive. The state has
Wildlife Areas. New Jersey participates in the
Wildlife Protection Program. The New Jersey Environtmental Department has
educational material. New Jersey has more horses per square mile than any other state and the State Animal is Horse.
XMAS
is the common abbreviation for Christmas and it is celebrated in New Jersey much like the rest of the
country and around the
world. The
National Christmas Tree Association has information about Christmas trees.
YMCA organizations are located throughout New Jersey.
There are several
YOUTH HOSTELS in New Jersey. The state also has
Elder Hostels.
The use of
ZIP CODES began in 1963.
Zip codes in New Jersey all start with the number 07 or 08.
The United states has 9
Time Zones. New Jersey is in the
Eastern Time ZONE
New Jersey has a variety of
ZOOS and aquariums. The
Bergen County Zoological Park is home to a wide variety of wild and domestic animals. The
Cape May County Park and Zoo" has a variety of nearly 550 animals. The state also has
petting zoos and pony rides.
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