Interesting Facts About New Jersey

New Jersey became the third state to join the Union on December 18, 1787, thus making it one of the original Thirteen Colonies (thirteen original states). Being in the proximity to the state of New York, New Jersey may be one of the top ten smallest states but one of the most populous. Once the site of numerous critical battles during the heat of the American Revolution, New Jersey is one of the most industrial cities but with some of the nation’s famous parks (the Asbury Park’s for one). Buzz Aldrin, Bruce Springteen, Jon Bon Jovi and the “Ol’ Blue Eyes” Frank Sinatra are just among the few famous people who have hailed from The Garden State. One of the prestigious Ivy League universities, Princeton, is also located in this state. The capital is Trenton and the largest city is Newark.

There is something more about New Jersey that teachers never taught you or heard often in the news. Learn about some of them in this wonderful gallery!

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is a light rail system in Hudson County, New Jersey. Operating since 2000, it has continually expanded over the years. The line runs in alingnment with the Hudson River and the Upper New York Bay. The rail is owned and operated by New Jersey Transit, the third biggest provider of bus, rail and light rail transit in the country. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s termini are Tonnelle Avenue, Hoboken Terminal, 8th Street and West Side Avenue. It services over 54,000 riders daily.

Rutgers University was established in 1766, making it one of the oldest colleges in the United States. The university has three campuses — New Brunswick and nearby Piscataway, Newark and Camden. The public university offers a wide range of programs, from arts to business to sciences. One of the interesting activities at Rutgers is that they hold the annual Cockroach Derby. There, they pit the two Madagascar cockroaches to stand in for Democratic and Republican presidential nominees and race them on a track (measuring three feet long).

The Cleveland Tower is a tower located in the Princeton University campus, New Jersey. Although designed in the older Gothic architectural style, it was otherwise built in 1913. The tower was named in honor of President Grover Cleveland; it also houses a group of carillon (heavy bells).

One of the most famous and prestigious universities in the United States and the entire world, Princeton University is one of the renowned group of Ivy League private universities. Founded in 1746 in the borough of Princeton, New Jersey, it is one of the institutions of higher education established when New Jersey was still a colony.

Princeton has one of the biggest endowments the country, amounting to $21 billion. The university has produced notable alumni and alumnae, including several Nobel laureates, two US Presidents, and several billionaire businessmen.

The Delaware Water Gap is located on the borders of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River flows through the Appalachian Mountain range. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area is a protected area located in the middle section of the water gap. The area offers activities such as camping, hiking, boating, swimming, cycling and many others.

The Ellis Island is an island in New Jersey, located in Upper New York Bay and the Port of New York and New Jersey. The island is one of the monuments of the Statue of Liberty National Monument (and the other is of course the Liberty Island in New York state, where famed sculpture stands). Ellis Island used to be the center of immigration activity until the early 1950s.

The flag of New Jersey was formally adopted in 1896. The field is buff-colored, with the state’s coat of arms in the center.

In the coat of arms itself, the shield has three plows. Above the shield is a horse’s head, and flanking the shield are the two women, who represent Liberty and Agriculture. Finally, below the shield is a blue ribbon which includes “1776” (the year of New Jersey’s independence from the British rule) and “Liberty and Prosperity.”

Apart from the famous Las Vegas in Nevada, Atlantic City in New Jersey is also a haven for gamblers. During the mid-1970s, New Jerseyites OK’d the legislation, making casino gambling legal in Atlantic City.

Apart from casino gambling in Atlantic City, there are several forms of gambling that are legal in New Jersey: horse-racing, sports betting, charity gambling, lottery, amusement games, and even online gambling.

The Great Egg Harbor River is river located in the south of New Jersey. One of major rivers in the state, it is named after the eggs laid by the waterfowls that used to proliferate the meadows by the river. Now the area is a popular spot for birdwatching.

The High Point Monument is a 220-foot obelisk rising above New Jersey’s highest point, named (obviously) the High Point (at 1,803 feet). They are located in the township of Montague, New Jersey.

The Palisades Interstate Park Commission is a national and historic landmark located towards the north of the Palisades, in New Jersey. The park was established in 1900 by Theodore Roosevelt (who was then governor of New York) and New Jersey governor Foster M. Voorhees. They wanted to restore the natural beauty of the Palisades after the quarry operators destroyed much of the area. Over the decades the park has extended and flourished. In 1965 it was designated as a National Historical Landmark.

As the introductory section of this gallery implies, New Jersey once staged the scene of the most decisive battles during the American Revolutionary War. As you may have guessed it, New Jersey is one of the original thirteen states that once revolted against the British rule. Some of these critical battles, including the Battle of Princeton, were led by George Washington.

The Sterling Hill Mine was a former iron and zinc mine located in Ogdensburg, a borough in New Jersey. Established in the 1600s, it became one of the last operating mines in New Jersey until it closed in 1986; three years later it was converted into a museum called Sterling Hill Mining Museum

Known simply as “The Shore” to many New Jerseyites, the Jersey Shore is a famous coastal area bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. The home of many upscale towns and  the Jersey Shore’s boardwalks are filled with activity due to the numerous arcades and other attractions. Needless to say, it is a popular tourist spot for people in nearby states, even in Canada.

So why New Jersey is exactly dubbed as “The Garden State” whilst in reality it is mostly a industrial and manufacturing state? During the 19th century a New Jersey lawyer named Abraham Browning bestowed the state with the nickname “The Garden State.” He compared New Jersey to a big barrel which was open on both ends plentiful of good things to eat, from which Pennsylvanians and New Yorkers taking up much of New Jersey’s agricultural abundance. The moniker has stuck since.

The Great Falls of the Passaic River is located in the city of Patterson, in Passaic County, New Jersey. The prominent falls are measured 77 feet high, making it one of the biggest falls in the country. Formed by the last years of the ice age tens of thousands of years ago, The Great Falls is now considered one of the most important historical landmarks.

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