Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your New Jersey shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the New Jersey offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of New Jersey at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a New Jersey? Wrong! If the New Jersey is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about New Jersey then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling New Jersey? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about New Jersey and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your New Jersey wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your New Jersey then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the New Jersey site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about New Jersey, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your New Jersey, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox U.S. state |Name = New Jersey | Fullname = State of New Jersey | Flag = Flag of New Jersey.svg | Flaglink = [Flag of New Jersey | Seal = New_Jersey_state_seal.svg | Map = Map of USA NJ.svg | Nickname = Garden Statehttp://www.state.nj.us/njfacts/garden.htm The Garden State and Other New Jersey State Nicknames, Robert Lupp, New Jersey Reference Services, New Jersey State Library, Oct. 12, 1994| Motto = Liberty and prosperity| Capital = [Trenton, New Jersey | LargestCity = [Newark, New Jersey | Governor = [Jon Corzine (D)| Senators = [Frank Lautenberg (D)[Bob Menendez (D) | PostalAbbreviation = NJ | TradAbbreviation = N.J. | OfficialLang = [English language ''de facto''| AreaRank = 47th | TotalAreaUS = 8,729 | TotalArea = 22,608 | LandAreaUS = 7,425| LandArea = 19,231 | WaterAreaUS = 1,304| WaterArea = 3,378 | PCWater = 14.9 | PopRank = 11th (as of 2006)| 2000Pop = 8,414,350 (8,724,560 as of 2006)| DensityRank = 1st | 2000DensityUS = 1,134| 2000Density = 438 | MedianHouseholdIncome = $56,772 | IncomeRank = 2nd | AdmittanceOrder = 3rd | AdmittanceDate = December 18, [ | TimeZone = [Eastern Standard Time Zone: [UTC-5/[Daylight saving time | Latitude = 38° 56′ N to 41° 21′ N | Longitude = 73° 54′ W to 75° 34′ W | WidthUS = 70 | Width = 110 | LengthUS = 150| Length = 240 | HighestPoint = High Point (New Jersey){{cite web| year =[29 April [ | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate=November 6| accessyear = 2006--> | HighestElevUS = 1,803| HighestElev = 550 | MeanElevUS = 246| MeanElev = 75 | LowestPoint = [Atlantic Ocean | LowestElevUS = 0| LowestElev = 0 | ISOCode = US-NJ | Website = www.state.nj.us -->New Jersey (IPA: /IPA chart for English/) is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States. The state is named after the island of Jersey in the English Channel. It is bordered on the north by New York, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the southwest by Delaware, and on the west by Pennsylvania. Parts of New Jersey lie within the metropolitan areas of New York metropolitan area and Delaware Valley.

Inhabited by Native Americans in the United States for more than 2,800 years, the first European settlements in the area were established by the Sweden and Netherlands in the early 1600s.http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nj/state/NJ-History.htm The State's name was taken from the largest of the English Channel Islands, Jersey. The English later seized control of the region, which was granted to Sir George Carteret and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton as the colony of New Jersey. New Jersey was an important site during the American Revolutionary War; several decisive battles were fought there. The winter quarters of the revolutionary army were established twice by George Washington in Morristown, New Jersey, which was called the military capital of the revolution. The New Jersey Journal, a newspaper published by Shepard Kollock, who established his press in Chatham Borough, New Jersey during 1779, became a catalyst in the revolution. News of events came directly to Kollock from Washington's headquarters in nearby Morristown, which he published to boost the morale of the troops and their families, and he conducted lively debates about the efforts for independence with those who opposed and supported the cause he championed. Later, working-class cities such as Paterson, New Jersey and Trenton, New Jersey helped to drive the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century. New Jersey's position at the center of the BosWash megalopolis, between Boston, Massachusetts, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., fueled its rapid growth through the suburban boom of the 1950s and beyond.

Geography New Jersey is bordered on the north and northeast by New York; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south and southwest by Delaware across Delaware Bay; and on the west by Pennsylvania across the Delaware River.

; counties shaded in blue hues are in the New York City metro; counties shaded in green hues are in the Philadelphia metro. It should be noted that Mercer County and Warren County are located in the 'Greater' New York Metropolitan Area and that Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties are in the 'Greater' Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

New Jersey can be thought of as five regions, based on natural geography and population. Northeastern New Jersey, the Gateway Region, lies within the New York metropolitan area, and some residents commute to the city to work. Northwestern New Jersey, or the "Skylands", is, compared to the northeast, more wooded, rural, and mountainous, but still a popular place to live. The "Shore" along the Atlantic Coast in the southeast has its own residence and lifestyle characteristics owing to the ocean. The southwest is within Metropolitan Philadelphia, and is included in the Delaware Valley. The fifth region is the Pine Barrens in the interior of the southern part and is covered rather extensively by mixed pine and oak forest, and as such has a much lower population density than much of the rest of the state.

New Jersey can also be broadly divided into three geographic regions: North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey. However, some people do not consider Central Jersey to exist at all, but still many believe it is a separate geographic and cultural area from the North and South.

The federal Office of Management and Budget divides New Jersey's counties into seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas, including sixteen counties in the New York City or Philadelphia metro areas. Four counties have independent metro areas, and Warren County joins another Pennsylvania-based metro area. (See Metropolitan Statistical Areas of New Jersey for details.)

It is also at the center of the BosWash.

Additionally, the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth, & Tourism Commission divides the state into six distinct regions to facilitate the state's tourism industry. The regions are:

High Point, in Montague Township, New Jersey, Sussex County, New Jersey, is the highest elevation, at 1,803 foot (unit of length) (550 metre). The New Jersey Palisades are a line of steep cliffs on the lower west side of the Hudson River.

Major List of New Jersey rivers include the Hudson River, Delaware River, Raritan River, Passaic River, Hackensack River, Rahway River, Musconetcong River, Mullica River, Rancocas River, Manasquan River, Maurice River, and Toms River rivers.

Sandy Hook (New Jersey), along the eastern coast, is a popular recreational beach. It is a barrier spit (landform) and an extension of the Barnegat Peninsula along the state's Atlantic Ocean coast.

Areas managed by the National Park Service include:

Prominent geographic features include:

Climate New Jersey has a temperate climate, with hot humid summers and cold winters. During the hurricane season, tropical cyclones can hit New Jersey, though it is uncommon for one to remain at hurricane strength so far to the north. During the winter months, Nor'easters can dump heavy amounts of precipitation across the state. Because of its dense population and because most communities of northern New Jersey do not have the widespread reservoir system of neighboring Greater New York City, the slightest dry season leads to drought warnings; but because there are many streams and rivers close to these communities, the slightest above average rainfall causes frequent flooding as many parts of Northern New Jersey are part of a flood plain.

The temperatures vary greatly from the northernmost part of New Jersey to the southernmost part of New Jersey. For example, these are the average high and low temperatures for Cape May, New Jersey, near the state's southernmost ocean-facing point, and Sussex, New Jersey, in the mountainous northwest:

{| border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" style="float:right; margin: 1em;border-collapse:collapse;font-size: 85%" width="499"|-!! colspan=2 | Sussex! colspan=2 | Cape May|-|! High || Low || High || Low|-! January| 34 (1)|| 14 (-10)|| 42 (6)|| 27 (-3)|-! February| 38 (3)|| 16 (-9)|| 43 (6)|| 28 (-2)|-! March| 47 (8)|| 25 (-4)|| 51 (11)|| 35 (2)|-! April| 59 (15)|| 35 (2)|| 60 (16)|| 43 (6)|-! May| 70 (21)|| 45 (7)|| 69 (21)|| 53 (12)|-! June| 78 (26)|| 54 (12)|| 78 (26)|| 62 (17)|-! July| 83 (28)|| 59 (15)|| 84 (29)|| 67 (19)|-! August| 82 (28)|| 57 (14)|| 83 (28)|| 66 (19)|-! September| 74 (23)|| 49 (9)|| 77 (25)|| 60 (16)|-! October| 63 (17)|| 37 (3)|| 66 (19)|| 49 (9)|-! November| 51 (11)|| 30 (-1)|| 56 (13)|| 40 (4)|-! December| 39 (4)|| 21 (-6)|| 47 (8)|| 31 (-1)|}

History Around 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, New Jersey bordered North Africa. The pressure of the collision between North America and Africa gave rise to the Appalachian Mountains. During this period, Pangaea broke apart into Laurasia and Gondwana, and the North American continent became separated from the North African continent. Around 18,000 years ago, the Ice Age resulted in glaciers that reached New Jersey. As the glaciers retreated, they left behind Glacial Lake Passaic, as well as many rivers, swamps, and gorges. Geological History by Great Swamp Watershed Association, retrieved December 22, 2005.

New Jersey was originally settled by Native Americans in the United States, primarily the Lenape. The Lenape were loosely organized groups that practiced small-scale agriculture (mainly based on maize) in order to increase their largely mobile hunter-gatherer society in the region surrounding the Delaware River, the lower Hudson River, and western Long Island Sound. The Lenape society was divided into matrilinear clans that were based upon common female ancestors. These clans were organized into three distinct Phratry identified by their animal sign: Turtle, Turkey (bird), and Wolf. They first encountered the Dutch in the early 1600s, and their primary relationship with the Europeans was through fur trade.

Colonial era Since the state's inception, New Jersey has been characterized by ethnic and religious diversity. In East Jersey, New England Congregationalists settled alongside Scottish Presbyterians and Dutch Reformed migrants from New York. While the majority of residents lived in towns with individual landholdings of , a few rich proprietors owned vast estates. West Jersey had fewer people than East Jersey, and both English Quakers and Anglicans owned large landholdings. Both Jerseys remained agrarian and rural throughout the colonial era, and commercial farming only developed sporadically. Some townships, though, like Burlington and Perth Amboy, emerged as important ports for shipping to New York and Philadelphia. The colony's fertile lands and tolerant religious policy drew more settlers, and New Jersey boasted a population of 120,000 by 1775.

Much of New Jersey was claimed by the Netherlands. The Dutch colony of New Netherland consisted of parts of modern New York (New Amsterdam) and New Jersey. Although the European principle of land ownership was not recognized by the Lenape, Dutch policy required formal purchase of all land settled upon, and the first such purchase was of Manhattan, by Peter Minuit.

The entire region became a territory of Kingdom of England in 1664, when an English fleet under the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls sailed into what is today New York Harbor and took over the colony, against extremely low resistance.

During the English Civil War the Channel Islands of Jersey remained loyal to the Crown and gave sanctuary to the King. It was from the Royal Square in St. Helier that Charles II of England was first proclaimed King in 1649, following the execution of his father, Charles I of England. The North American lands were divided by Charles II of England, who gave his brother, the Duke of York (later James II of England) the region between New England and Maryland as a proprietary colony (as opposed to a royal colony). James then granted the land between the Hudson River and the Delaware River (the land that would become New Jersey) to two friends who had remained loyal through the English Civil War: George Carteret and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton.

Settlement for the first 10 years of English rule was in the Hudson River region and came primarily from New England. On March 18, 1673, Berkeley sold his half of the colony to Religious Society of Friends in England (with William Penn acting as trustee for a time), who settled the Delaware Valley region as a Quaker colony. New Jersey was governed as two distinct provinces, West Jersey and East Jersey, for the 28 years between 1674 and 1702. In 1702, the two provinces were united under a royal, rather than a proprietary, governor.

Revolutionary War era was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766, and possesses a variety of architectural styles.

New Jersey was one of the 13 colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. The wikisource:New Jersey Constitution of 1776 was passed July 2, 1776, just two days before the Second Continental Congress declared American Independence from Kingdom of Great Britain.

New Jersey representatives Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, and Abraham Clark were among the men who signed the United States Declaration of Independence. These men, just like all the others, took tremendous risks in order to fight for independence and all went on to serve their newly founded country for the rest of their lives. Distinguished lawyer Richard Stockton, New Jersey-born and Princeton University graduate, sacrificed his royal judicial title and his considerable international economic interest in order to be an elected delegate for New Jersey at the General Congress. John Witherspoon was a Scottish immigrant. He came to New Jersey to serve as the sixth president of the College of New Jersey. He was a world renowned Presbyterian minister and became a leading member of the Continental Congress. Witherspoon went on to become one of the leaders of the new national Presbyterian church. Francis Hopkinson was somewhat of a polymath for his time. He was articulate in several fields of the arts and a very impressive scientist. Perhaps the capstone of his career was his appointment by President George Washington to the federal bench. John Hart was a prominent landowner and judge of the Hunterdon County court. Like Stockton, he sacrificed his high standing with the royal court and dedicated his life to the New Jersey Assembly. After signing the Declaration of Independence, he went on to become the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly. The last of the men, Abraham Clark, was native to Elizabethtown. He was slightly different from his fellow New Jersey representatives as he jumped from job to job working as a farmer, surveyor, transporter, legal adviser, and finally politician. He was well liked in all these fields and had become a prominent member of society, but he found his home in government. He held numerous political positions at all the various levels of government.

It was an act of the Provincial Congress, which made itself into the state Legislature. To reassure neutrals, it provided that it would become void if New Jersey reached a reconciliation with Great Britain.

During the American Revolutionary War, British and American armies crossed New Jersey numerous times and several pivotal battles took place in the state. Because of this, New Jersey today is often referred to as "The Crossroads of the Revolution."

On December 25, 1776, the Continental Army under George Washington crossed the Delaware River and engaged the unprepared Hessian troops in the Battle of Trenton. Slightly more than a week after victory at Trenton, New Jersey, on January 3, 1777, the American forces gained an important victory by stopping Cornwallis's charges at the Second Battle of Trenton. By evading Cornwallis's army, Washington made a surprise attack on Princeton, New Jersey, and successfully defeated the British forces there.

Later, American forces under Washington met the forces under General Henry Clinton (American War of Independence) at the Battle of Monmouth in an indecisive engagement. Washington attempted to take the British column by surprise; when the British army attempted to flank the Americans, the Americans retreated in disorder. The ranks were later reorganized and withstood the British charges.

In the summer of 1783, the Continental Congress met in Nassau Hall at Princeton University, making Princeton, New Jersey the nation's capital for four months. It was there that the Continental Congress learned of the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the war.

New Jersey was the third state to ratify the United States Constitution, which was overwhelmingly popular in New Jersey, as it prevented New York and Pennsylvania from charging and keeping tariffs on goods imported from Europe. In November 20, 1789, the state became the first in the newly-formed Union to ratify the United States Bill of Rights.

The 1776 New Jersey State Constitution gave the vote to "all inhabitants" who had a certain level of wealth. This included both women and blacks; although not married women, who could not own property. Both sides, in several elections, claimed that the other side had had unqualified women vote, and mocked them for use of "petticoat electors" (entitled to vote or not); on the other hand, both parties passed Voting Rights Acts. In 1807, the legislature passed a bill interpreting the constitution to mean universal white male suffrage, excluding paupers. (This was less revolutionary than it sounds: the "constitution" was itself only an act of the legislature.)Klinghoffer and Elkis ("The Petticoat Electors: Women’s Suffrage in New Jersey, 1776–1807." Journal of the Early Republic 12, no. 2 (1992): 159–193.)

Nineteenth century On February 15, 1804, New Jersey became the last northern state to abolish slavery by enacting legislation that slowly phased out slavery. However, by the close of the American Civil War, about a dozen African-Americans in New Jersey were still apprenticed freedmen. New Jersey initially refused to ratify the Constitutional Amendments banning slavery and granting rights to America's Black population.

Unlike the Revolutionary War, no Civil War battles took place within the state. However, throughout the course of the Civil War, over 80,000 enlisted in the Northern army to defeat the Southern rebels. In total, soldiers from New Jersey formed 4 militia regiments, 33 infantry regiments, 3 cavalry regiments, and 5 batteries of light artillery.

New Jersey was one of the few states to reject President Abraham Lincoln twice in national elections, and sided with Stephen Douglas and George B. McClellan during their campaigns. McClellan later became governor. During the war, the state was led first by Republican Governor Charles Smith Olden, then by Democrat Joel Parker.

In 1844, the second New Jersey State Constitution was ratified and brought into effect. Counties thereby became districts for the State Senate, and some realignment of boundaries (including the creation of Mercer County, New Jersey) immediately followed. This provision was retained in the 1947 Constitution, but was overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1962 by the decision Baker v. Carr.

While the Governorship was stronger than under the 1776 constitution (it could hardly be weaker), the constitution of 1844 created many offices that were not responsible to him, or to the people, and gave him a three-year term, but he could not succeed himself.

In the Industrial Revolution, cities like Paterson, New Jersey grew and prospered. Previously, the economy had been largely agrarian, which was problematically subject to crop failures and poor soil. This caused a shift to a more industrialized economy, one based on manufactured commodities such as textiles and silk. List of inventors Thomas Edison also became an important figure of the Industrial Revolution, having been granted 1,093 patents, many of which for inventions he developed while working in New Jersey. Transportation was greatly improved as locomotion and steamboats were introduced to New Jersey.

Iron ore mining was also a prevalent industry during the middle to late 1800s. Mining such as Mt. Hope, Mine Hill and the Rockaway Valley Mines created a thriving industry, which spawned new towns and was one of the driving forces behind the need for the Morris Canal.

Twentieth century Through both World Wars, New Jersey was a center for war production, especially in naval construction. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers were all made in this state. In addition, Fort Dix, New Jersey (1917)(originally called "Camp Dix"), Camp Merritt (New Jersey)(1917) and Camp Kilmer(1941),were all constructed to help American soldiers through both World Wars. New Jersey also became a principal location for defense in the Cold War. Fourteen Project Nike stations were constructed, especially for the defense of New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PT-109, commanded by Lt.(jg) John F. Kennedy, was built at the Elco Boatworks in Bayonne, and the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) was briefly docked at the Military Ocean Terminal in Bayonne in the 1950s before she was sent to Japan to be scrapped. In 1962, the world's first nuclear powered cargo ship, the NS Savannah was launched at Camden.

New Jersey became a prosperous state through the Roaring Twenties but fell from prosperity under the Great Depression. Begging licenses were even offered to the unemployed by the state government in order to provide money for those who could not be helped by the exhausted state funds.Gerdes, Louise I. The 1930s, Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2000. During this time period, the zeppelin Hindenburg disaster infamously went up in flames over Lakehurst, New Jersey, and the SS Morro Castle beached itself on the Jersey Shore after going up in flames while at sea.

In the 1960s, several race riots sprang up in New Jersey, the first of which occurred in Jersey City, New Jersey on August 2, 1964. Several other riots ensued in 1967, in the cities of 1967 Newark riots and 1967 Plainfield riots. Camden, New Jersey also dealt with race riots in 1971.

Throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, New Jersey was afflicted by nor'easters that caused blizzards and flooding. Those are rather common storms in New Jersey and elsewhere on the east coast of the US, although hurricanes and tropical storms occasionally come to visit, such as Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Demographics {{USCensusPop|1790=184139|1800=211149|1810=245562|1820=277575|1830=320823|1840=373306|1850=489555|1860=672035|1870=906096|1880=1131116|1890=1444933|1900=1883669|1910=2537167|1920=3155900|1930=4041334|1940=4160165|1950=4835329|1960=6066782|1970=7168164|1980=7364823|1990=7730188|2000=8414350|estimate=8717925|estyear=2005|estref={{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34000.html |title=QuickFacts: New Jersey |publisher=[U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-02-28--> --> State population Residents of New Jersey are most commonly referred to as "New Jerseyans" or "New Jerseyites." The United States Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2006, estimated New Jersey's population at 8,724,560, which represents an increase of 310,213, or 3.7%, since the last census in 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 254,766 people (that is 705,812 births minus 451,046 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 79,211 people into the state.ibid. Immigration to the United States from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 357,111 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 277,900 people.ibid. There are 1.6 million foreign-born living in the state (accounting for 19.2% of the population).

As of 2006, New Jersey is the eleventh-most populous state, but the most densely populated, at 1,174 residents per square mile (453 per km²), although the density varies widely across the state. It is also the 2nd wealthiest state per capita in the United States (behind only Connecticut) as per the United States Census Bureau. United States — States; and Puerto Rico GCT-P14. Income and Poverty in 1999: 2000

The center of population for New Jersey is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the town of Milltown, New Jersey, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike (see map of location). Population and Population Centers by State: 2000, accessed November 16, 2006

Race, ethnicity, and ancestry New Jersey is one of the most religiously and ethnically Multiculturalism states in the country. It has the second largest Jewish American population by percentage after New York; the second largest Islam in the United States population by percent (after Michigan); the third highest Asian people population by percent, the third highest Italian-American population by percent of any state according to the United States 2000 Census; and a large percentage of the population is African-Americans, White American, Hispanics in the United States, Arab American, and Asian American. It has the second highest Indian American population of any state by absolute numbers. The Foreign Born from India in the United States, dated December 1, 2003 Mapping Census 2000: The Geography of U.S. Diversity (Microsoft Excel)

The five largest ancestry groups are: Italian-American (17.9%), Irish-American (15.9%), African-American (13.6%), German-American (12.6%), Polish-American (6.9%).

Newark, New Jersey and Camden, New Jersey are two of the poorest cities in America, but New Jersey as a whole has the second highest median household income among the states. Md. is ranked as richest state This is largely because so much of New Jersey consists of suburbs, most of them affluent, of New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. New Jersey is also the most densely populated state in the nation, and the only state that has had every one of its counties deemed "urban" as defined by the United States Census Bureau's Combined Statistical Area. Metropolitan Areas and Components, 1999, with FIPS codes

The state has very sizable enclaves of different language speaking communities. Some of these include (by ranking)



The dominant race, ethnicity, or ancestry by county, according to the 2000 Census, are the following:

6.7% of its population were reported as under 5, 24.8% under 18, and 13.2% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51.5% of the population.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 12.31% of the population aged 5 and over speak Spanish language at home, while 1.48% speak Italian language .

Religion {| class="wikitable sortable"|+Distributions of Religions in New Jersey (2001) |-! Religious group!width="20%"|%|-|Catholic|align="right"|37|-|None|align="right"|15|-|Baptist|align="right"|8|-|Methodist|align="right"|6|-|Refused to identify|align="right"|5|-|Christian
(no denomination stated)|align="right"|4|-|Jewish
(by religion only)|align="right"|4|-|Other|align="right"|4|-|Presbyterian|align="right"|4|-|Lutheran|align="right"|3|-|Episcopalian/Anglican|align="right"|2|-|Protestant|align="right"|2|-|Jehovah's Witness|align="right"|1|-|Mormon/LDS|align="right"|1|-|Muslim/Islamic|align="right"|1|-|Non-denominational|align="right"|1|-|Pentecostal|align="right"|1|-|Assemblies of God|align="right"|*|-|Buddhist|align="right"|*|-|Church of Christ|align="right"|*|-|Church of God|align="right"|*|-|Congregational/UCC|align="right"|*|-|Evangelical|align="right"|*|-|Seventh Day Adventist|align="right"|*|} *Less than 0.5%

Economy The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that New Jersey's total state product in 2004 was $416 billion. Its per capita personal income in 2004 was $41,636, 2nd in the U.S. and 126% of the national average of $33,041. Bureau of Economic Analysis Its median household income is the highest in the nation with $55,146. It is ranked 2nd in the nation by the number of places with per capita incomes above national average with 76.4%. Nine of New Jersey's counties are in the wealthiest 100 of the country.

New Jersey has seven tax brackets for determining income tax rates. The rates range from 1.4 to 8.97%. The standard sales tax rate is 7%, applicable to all retail sales unless specifically exempt by law. Exemptions include most food items for at-home preparation, medicines, clothing (except fur items), footwear, and disposable paper products for use in the home. Approximately 30 New Jersey municipalities are designated as Urban Enterprise Zones and shoppers are charged a 3½% tax rate, half of the rate charged outside the UEZs. Sections of Elizabeth, New Jersey and Jersey City, New Jersey are examples of communities that are subject to the lower sales tax rate.All real property located in the state is subject to property tax unless specifically exempted by statute. New Jersey does not assess an intangible personal property tax, but it does impose an inheritance tax.

Federal taxation disparity New Jersey has the highest imbalance of any state in the United States between what it gives to the federal government and what it receives. In fiscal year 2004, New Jersey taxpayers gave the federal government $77 billion dollars but only received $55 billion dollars back. This difference is higher than any other state and means that for every dollar New Jersey sends, the state only receives 71 cents back. This calculation is applied correctly after making the federal government deficit neutral as sometimes the federal government spends more than it takes in. link Chart of State to Federal government spend/receive ratios, Tax Foundation As of 2004, New Jersey has never been above 48th in rank for per capita federal spending (with a rank of 50th for the majority of that time) since 1982 while being 2nd or 3rd in the per capita federal taxes paid to Washington.

As a result, New Jersey runs into deficits frequently and has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation. link Tax Burdens in New Jersey Factors for this include the large federal tax liability which is not adjusted for New Jersey's higher cost of living and Medicaid funding formulas.

Natural resources from the Staten Island Ferry, with views of Jersey City, New Jersey (in North Jersey) and its Gold Coast, New Jersey featuring the 781-foot (238 m) Goldman Sachs Tower.

New Jersey's greatest natural resource is its location, which has made the state a crossroads of commerce and an ideal area for manufacturing. Other commercial advantages include its extensive transportation system, which puts one quarter of all United States consumers within overnight delivery range. Lake and seaside resorts have contributed to New Jersey's rank of fifth among the states in revenues from tourism.

Despite more than three centuries of development almost half of New Jersey is still wooded. The chief tree of the northern forests is the oak. A large part of the southern section is in pine. Jersey oak has been used extensively in shipbuilding.

The mineral resources in New Jersey are small. The state, however, does rank high in smelting and refining minerals from other states.

New Jersey's chief conservation agency is the Department of Environmental Protection, which was formed in 1970 by the merger of parts of the Department of Conservation and Economic Development with parts of the Department of Health. The department has an extensive range of responsibilities that include acquiring and preserving land for recreation, wildlife protection, and curbing pollution. The department also regulates activities on public waters, oversees hunting and fishing, and has jurisdiction over some state-owned land. In addition, the conservation agency is responsible for maintaining an adequate high-quality water supply for industry, recreation, and aquatic life. New Jersey launched a long-range conservation and development program under the terms of its 1958 Water Supply Law

Industry The Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal was the world's first container port and is one of the world's largest container ports. Newark Liberty International Airport is ranked seventh among the nation's busiest airports and among the top 20 busiest airports in the world.

Its agricultural outputs are nursery stock, horses, vegetables, fruits and nuts, seafood, and dairy products. In particular, cranberry, peach, tomato and eggplant are some of the state's largest crops. The local entities that support agricultural efforts are the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and Rutgers University. Hammonton, New Jersey in the southern part of the state is known as the blueberry capital of the world. Its industrial outputs are pharmaceutical and chemical products, food processing, electric equipment, printing and publishing, and tourism. New Jersey's economy has a large base of heavy industry and chemical manufacturing. Additionally, New Jersey is home to the largest petroleum containment system outside of the Middle East.

New Jersey hosts several business headquarters, including twenty-four Fortune 500 companies. Paramus, New Jersey is noted for having one of the highest retail sales per person ratios in the nation. Several New Jersey counties such as Somerset (#7), Morris (10), Hunterdon (13), Bergen (21), Monmouth (42) counties have been ranked among the highest-income counties in the United States. Four others are also in the top 100.

New Jersey is infamous for its abundance of oil refineries. The smell given off by the refineries is common to motorists who travel the New Jersey Turnpike which runs through the central industrial corridor of the state. This is a list of the major oil refineries in the state:



While home to many chemical plants New Jersey also is home to major pharmaceutical firms Merck & Co., Wyeth, Johnson and Johnson, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Pfizer, Hoffman-LaRoche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Schering-Plough. It draws upon its large and well-educated labor pool which also supports the myriad of industries that exist today.

Transportation

Roadways The New Jersey Turnpike is one of the best-known and most-trafficked roadways in the United States. This toll road carries interstate traffic between Delaware and New York, and the East Coast in general. Commonly referred to as simply "the Turnpike," it is known for its numerous rest-areas named after prominent New Jerseyans as diverse as inventor Thomas Edison; United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton; Presidents of the United States Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson; writers James Fenimore Cooper, Joyce Kilmer, and Walt Whitman; patriot Molly Pitcher; Red Cross advocate Clara Barton; and football coach Vince Lombardi.

The Garden State Parkway, or simply "the Parkway," carries more in-state traffic and runs from the town of Montvale, New Jersey along New Jersey's northern border to its southernmost tip at Cape May, New Jersey for 172.4 miles. It is the trunk that connects the New York metropolitan area to Atlantic City.

as seen from New JerseyOther expressways in New Jersey include the Atlantic City Expressway, the Palisades Interstate Parkway, Interstate 76 (east), Interstate 78 in New Jersey, Interstate 80 in New Jersey, Interstate 195 (New Jersey), Interstate 280 (New Jersey), Interstate 287, and Interstate 295 (Delaware-New Jersey-Pennsylvania). Other major roadways include U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey, U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey, U.S. Route 1/9.

New Jersey has interstate compacts with all three neighboring states. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Delaware River Port Authority (with Pennsylvania), and the Delaware River and Bay Authority (with Delaware) operate most of the major transportation routes into and out of New Jersey. Bridge tolls are collected in one direction only — it is free to cross into New Jersey, but motorists must pay when exiting the state. Exceptions to this are the Dingman's Ferry Bridge and the Delaware River-Turnpike Toll Bridge where tolls are charged both ways. The Washington Crossing and Scudders Falls Bridge bridges near Trenton, as well as Trenton's Calhoun Street Bridge and Lower Trenton Bridge bridges, are toll-free.

Airports Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States. Operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the other two major airports in the New York City region (John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport), it is one of the main airports serving the New York City area. Continental Airlines is the facility's largest tenant, operating an entire terminal at Newark, which it uses as one of its primary Airline hub. United Airlines and FedEx operate cargo hubs. The adjacent Newark Liberty International Airport (NJT station) provides access to the trains of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit along the Northeast Corridor Line.

Two smaller commercial airports, Atlantic City International Airport and Trenton-Mercer Airport, also operate in other parts of New Jersey. Teterboro Airport, in Bergen County, New Jersey, is a general aviation airport popular with private and corporate aircraft, due to its proximity to New York City.

Rail and bus The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) operates extensive rail and bus service throughout the state. NJ Transit is a state-run corporation that began with the consolidation of several private bus companies in North Jersey. In the early 1980s, it acquired the commuter train operations of Conrail that connect towns in northern and central New Jersey to New York City. NJ Transit has eleven lines that run throughout different parts of the state. Most of the trains start at various points in the state and most end at either Pennsylvania Station (New York City), in New York City, or Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey. NJ Transit began service between Atlantic City and Lindenwold, New Jersey in 1989 and extended it to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, in the 1990s.

NJ Transit also operates three light rail systems in the state. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail connects Bayonne, New Jersey to North Bergen, New Jersey, with planned expansion into Bergen County, New Jersey communities. The Newark City Subway is the only Rapid transit system in the state. Its Main Line connects Pennsylvania Station (Newark) with Grove Street station in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The Broad Street Line of the subway, the first component of the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link, opened in the summer of 2006. The last of the three light rail lines is the River Line (New Jersey Transit) which connects Trenton, New Jersey and Camden, New Jersey.

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson links North Jersey and New York City. The PATH operates four lines that connect various points in North Jersey and New York. The lines all start in either Hudson County, New Jersey or Essex County, New Jersey and end either at the World Trade Center (PATH station) station or at 33rd Street (PATH station) in Midtown Manhattan.

The Port Authority Transit Corporation High Speedline links Camden County, New Jersey and Philadelphia. PATCO operates a single elevated and subway line that runs from Lindenwold, New Jersey to Center City Philadelphia. PATCO operates stations in Lindenwold, Voorhees, New Jersey, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Haddonfield, New Jersey, Haddon Township, New Jersey, Collingswood, New Jersey, and Camden, New Jersey, along with four stations in Philadelphia.

Amtrak also operates numerous long-distance passenger trains in New Jersey to and from neighboring states and around the country. In addition to the Newark Airport connection, other major Amtrak railway stations include (Amtrak station)|Trenton Rail Station {{Infobox U.S. state |Name = New Jersey | Fullname = State of New Jersey | Flag = Flag of New Jersey.svg | Flaglink = [Flag of New Jersey | Seal = New_Jersey_state_seal.svg | Map = Map of USA NJ.svg | Nickname = Garden Statehttp://www.state.nj.us/njfacts/garden.htm The Garden State and Other New Jersey State Nicknames, Robert Lupp, New Jersey Reference Services, New Jersey State Library, Oct. 12, 1994| Motto = Liberty and prosperity| Capital = [Trenton, New Jersey | LargestCity = [Newark, New Jersey | Governor = [Jon Corzine (D)| Senators = [Frank Lautenberg (D)[Bob Menendez (D) | PostalAbbreviation = NJ | TradAbbreviation = N.J. | OfficialLang = [English language ''de facto''| AreaRank = 47th | TotalAreaUS = 8,729 | TotalArea = 22,608 | LandAreaUS = 7,425| LandArea = 19,231 | WaterAreaUS = 1,304| WaterArea = 3,378 | PCWater = 14.9 | PopRank = 11th (as of 2006)| 2000Pop = 8,414,350 (8,724,560 as of 2006)| DensityRank = 1st | 2000DensityUS = 1,134| 2000Density = 438 | MedianHouseholdIncome = $56,772 | IncomeRank = 2nd | AdmittanceOrder = 3rd | AdmittanceDate = December 18, [ | TimeZone = [Eastern Standard Time Zone: [UTC-5/[Daylight saving time | Latitude = 38° 56′ N to 41° 21′ N | Longitude = 73° 54′ W to 75° 34′ W | WidthUS = 70 | Width = 110 | LengthUS = 150| Length = 240 | HighestPoint = High Point (New Jersey){{cite web| year =[29 April [ | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate=November 6| accessyear = 2006--> | HighestElevUS = 1,803| HighestElev = 550 | MeanElevUS = 246| MeanElev = 75 | LowestPoint = [Atlantic Ocean | LowestElevUS = 0| LowestElev = 0 | ISOCode = US-NJ | Website = www.state.nj.us -->New Jersey (IPA: /IPA chart for English/) is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States. The state is named after the island of Jersey in the English Channel. It is bordered on the north by New York, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the southwest by Delaware, and on the west by Pennsylvania. Parts of New Jersey lie within the metropolitan areas of New York metropolitan area and Delaware Valley.

Inhabited by Native Americans in the United States for more than 2,800 years, the first European settlements in the area were established by the Sweden and Netherlands in the early 1600s.http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nj/state/NJ-History.htm The State's name was taken from the largest of the English Channel Islands, Jersey. The English later seized control of the region, which was granted to Sir George Carteret and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton as the colony of New Jersey. New Jersey was an important site during the American Revolutionary War; several decisive battles were fought there. The winter quarters of the revolutionary army were established twice by George Washington in Morristown, New Jersey, which was called the military capital of the revolution. The New Jersey Journal, a newspaper published by Shepard Kollock, who established his press in Chatham Borough, New Jersey during 1779, became a catalyst in the revolution. News of events came directly to Kollock from Washington's headquarters in nearby Morristown, which he published to boost the morale of the troops and their families, and he conducted lively debates about the efforts for independence with those who opposed and supported the cause he championed. Later, working-class cities such as Paterson, New Jersey and Trenton, New Jersey helped to drive the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century. New Jersey's position at the center of the BosWash megalopolis, between Boston, Massachusetts, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., fueled its rapid growth through the suburban boom of the 1950s and beyond.

Geography New Jersey is bordered on the north and northeast by New York; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south and southwest by Delaware across Delaware Bay; and on the west by Pennsylvania across the Delaware River.

; counties shaded in blue hues are in the New York City metro; counties shaded in green hues are in the Philadelphia metro. It should be noted that Mercer County and Warren County are located in the 'Greater' New York Metropolitan Area and that Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties are in the 'Greater' Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

New Jersey can be thought of as five regions, based on natural geography and population. Northeastern New Jersey, the Gateway Region, lies within the New York metropolitan area, and some residents commute to the city to work. Northwestern New Jersey, or the "Skylands", is, compared to the northeast, more wooded, rural, and mountainous, but still a popular place to live. The "Shore" along the Atlantic Coast in the southeast has its own residence and lifestyle characteristics owing to the ocean. The southwest is within Metropolitan Philadelphia, and is included in the Delaware Valley. The fifth region is the Pine Barrens in the interior of the southern part and is covered rather extensively by mixed pine and oak forest, and as such has a much lower population density than much of the rest of the state.

New Jersey can also be broadly divided into three geographic regions: North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey. However, some people do not consider Central Jersey to exist at all, but still many believe it is a separate geographic and cultural area from the North and South.

The federal Office of Management and Budget divides New Jersey's counties into seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas, including sixteen counties in the New York City or Philadelphia metro areas. Four counties have independent metro areas, and Warren County joins another Pennsylvania-based metro area. (See Metropolitan Statistical Areas of New Jersey for details.)

It is also at the center of the BosWash.

Additionally, the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth, & Tourism Commission divides the state into six distinct regions to facilitate the state's tourism industry. The regions are:

High Point, in Montague Township, New Jersey, Sussex County, New Jersey, is the highest elevation, at 1,803 foot (unit of length) (550 metre). The New Jersey Palisades are a line of steep cliffs on the lower west side of the Hudson River.

Major List of New Jersey rivers include the Hudson River, Delaware River, Raritan River, Passaic River, Hackensack River, Rahway River, Musconetcong River, Mullica River, Rancocas River, Manasquan River, Maurice River, and Toms River rivers.

Sandy Hook (New Jersey), along the eastern coast, is a popular recreational beach. It is a barrier spit (landform) and an extension of the Barnegat Peninsula along the state's Atlantic Ocean coast.

Areas managed by the National Park Service include:

Prominent geographic features include:

Climate New Jersey has a temperate climate, with hot humid summers and cold winters. During the hurricane season, tropical cyclones can hit New Jersey, though it is uncommon for one to remain at hurricane strength so far to the north. During the winter months, Nor'easters can dump heavy amounts of precipitation across the state. Because of its dense population and because most communities of northern New Jersey do not have the widespread reservoir system of neighboring Greater New York City, the slightest dry season leads to drought warnings; but because there are many streams and rivers close to these communities, the slightest above average rainfall causes frequent flooding as many parts of Northern New Jersey are part of a flood plain.

The temperatures vary greatly from the northernmost part of New Jersey to the southernmost part of New Jersey. For example, these are the average high and low temperatures for Cape May, New Jersey, near the state's southernmost ocean-facing point, and Sussex, New Jersey, in the mountainous northwest:

{| border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" style="float:right; margin: 1em;border-collapse:collapse;font-size: 85%" width="499"|-!! colspan=2 | Sussex! colspan=2 | Cape May|-|! High || Low || High || Low|-! January| 34 (1)|| 14 (-10)|| 42 (6)|| 27 (-3)|-! February| 38 (3)|| 16 (-9)|| 43 (6)|| 28 (-2)|-! March| 47 (8)|| 25 (-4)|| 51 (11)|| 35 (2)|-! April| 59 (15)|| 35 (2)|| 60 (16)|| 43 (6)|-! May| 70 (21)|| 45 (7)|| 69 (21)|| 53 (12)|-! June| 78 (26)|| 54 (12)|| 78 (26)|| 62 (17)|-! July| 83 (28)|| 59 (15)|| 84 (29)|| 67 (19)|-! August| 82 (28)|| 57 (14)|| 83 (28)|| 66 (19)|-! September| 74 (23)|| 49 (9)|| 77 (25)|| 60 (16)|-! October| 63 (17)|| 37 (3)|| 66 (19)|| 49 (9)|-! November| 51 (11)|| 30 (-1)|| 56 (13)|| 40 (4)|-! December| 39 (4)|| 21 (-6)|| 47 (8)|| 31 (-1)|}

History Around 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, New Jersey bordered North Africa. The pressure of the collision between North America and Africa gave rise to the Appalachian Mountains. During this period, Pangaea broke apart into Laurasia and Gondwana, and the North American continent became separated from the North African continent. Around 18,000 years ago, the Ice Age resulted in glaciers that reached New Jersey. As the glaciers retreated, they left behind Glacial Lake Passaic, as well as many rivers, swamps, and gorges. Geological History by Great Swamp Watershed Association, retrieved December 22, 2005.

New Jersey was originally settled by Native Americans in the United States, primarily the Lenape. The Lenape were loosely organized groups that practiced small-scale agriculture (mainly based on maize) in order to increase their largely mobile hunter-gatherer society in the region surrounding the Delaware River, the lower Hudson River, and western Long Island Sound. The Lenape society was divided into matrilinear clans that were based upon common female ancestors. These clans were organized into three distinct Phratry identified by their animal sign: Turtle, Turkey (bird), and Wolf. They first encountered the Dutch in the early 1600s, and their primary relationship with the Europeans was through fur trade.

Colonial era Since the state's inception, New Jersey has been characterized by ethnic and religious diversity. In East Jersey, New England Congregationalists settled alongside Scottish Presbyterians and Dutch Reformed migrants from New York. While the majority of residents lived in towns with individual landholdings of , a few rich proprietors owned vast estates. West Jersey had fewer people than East Jersey, and both English Quakers and Anglicans owned large landholdings. Both Jerseys remained agrarian and rural throughout the colonial era, and commercial farming only developed sporadically. Some townships, though, like Burlington and Perth Amboy, emerged as important ports for shipping to New York and Philadelphia. The colony's fertile lands and tolerant religious policy drew more settlers, and New Jersey boasted a population of 120,000 by 1775.

Much of New Jersey was claimed by the Netherlands. The Dutch colony of New Netherland consisted of parts of modern New York (New Amsterdam) and New Jersey. Although the European principle of land ownership was not recognized by the Lenape, Dutch policy required formal purchase of all land settled upon, and the first such purchase was of Manhattan, by Peter Minuit.

The entire region became a territory of Kingdom of England in 1664, when an English fleet under the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls sailed into what is today New York Harbor and took over the colony, against extremely low resistance.

During the English Civil War the Channel Islands of Jersey remained loyal to the Crown and gave sanctuary to the King. It was from the Royal Square in St. Helier that Charles II of England was first proclaimed King in 1649, following the execution of his father, Charles I of England. The North American lands were divided by Charles II of England, who gave his brother, the Duke of York (later James II of England) the region between New England and Maryland as a proprietary colony (as opposed to a royal colony). James then granted the land between the Hudson River and the Delaware River (the land that would become New Jersey) to two friends who had remained loyal through the English Civil War: George Carteret and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton.

Settlement for the first 10 years of English rule was in the Hudson River region and came primarily from New England. On March 18, 1673, Berkeley sold his half of the colony to Religious Society of Friends in England (with William Penn acting as trustee for a time), who settled the Delaware Valley region as a Quaker colony. New Jersey was governed as two distinct provinces, West Jersey and East Jersey, for the 28 years between 1674 and 1702. In 1702, the two provinces were united under a royal, rather than a proprietary, governor.

Revolutionary War era was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766, and possesses a variety of architectural styles.

New Jersey was one of the 13 colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. The wikisource:New Jersey Constitution of 1776 was passed July 2, 1776, just two days before the Second Continental Congress declared American Independence from Kingdom of Great Britain.

New Jersey representatives Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, and Abraham Clark were among the men who signed the United States Declaration of Independence. These men, just like all the others, took tremendous risks in order to fight for independence and all went on to serve their newly founded country for the rest of their lives. Distinguished lawyer Richard Stockton, New Jersey-born and Princeton University graduate, sacrificed his royal judicial title and his considerable international economic interest in order to be an elected delegate for New Jersey at the General Congress. John Witherspoon was a Scottish immigrant. He came to New Jersey to serve as the sixth president of the College of New Jersey. He was a world renowned Presbyterian minister and became a leading member of the Continental Congress. Witherspoon went on to become one of the leaders of the new national Presbyterian church. Francis Hopkinson was somewhat of a polymath for his time. He was articulate in several fields of the arts and a very impressive scientist. Perhaps the capstone of his career was his appointment by President George Washington to the federal bench. John Hart was a prominent landowner and judge of the Hunterdon County court. Like Stockton, he sacrificed his high standing with the royal court and dedicated his life to the New Jersey Assembly. After signing the Declaration of Independence, he went on to become the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly. The last of the men, Abraham Clark, was native to Elizabethtown. He was slightly different from his fellow New Jersey representatives as he jumped from job to job working as a farmer, surveyor, transporter, legal adviser, and finally politician. He was well liked in all these fields and had become a prominent member of society, but he found his home in government. He held numerous political positions at all the various levels of government.

It was an act of the Provincial Congress, which made itself into the state Legislature. To reassure neutrals, it provided that it would become void if New Jersey reached a reconciliation with Great Britain.

During the American Revolutionary War, British and American armies crossed New Jersey numerous times and several pivotal battles took place in the state. Because of this, New Jersey today is often referred to as "The Crossroads of the Revolution."

On December 25, 1776, the Continental Army under George Washington crossed the Delaware River and engaged the unprepared Hessian troops in the Battle of Trenton. Slightly more than a week after victory at Trenton, New Jersey, on January 3, 1777, the American forces gained an important victory by stopping Cornwallis's charges at the Second Battle of Trenton. By evading Cornwallis's army, Washington made a surprise attack on Princeton, New Jersey, and successfully defeated the British forces there.

Later, American forces under Washington met the forces under General Henry Clinton (American War of Independence) at the Battle of Monmouth in an indecisive engagement. Washington attempted to take the British column by surprise; when the British army attempted to flank the Americans, the Americans retreated in disorder. The ranks were later reorganized and withstood the British charges.

In the summer of 1783, the Continental Congress met in Nassau Hall at Princeton University, making Princeton, New Jersey the nation's capital for four months. It was there that the Continental Congress learned of the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the war.

New Jersey was the third state to ratify the United States Constitution, which was overwhelmingly popular in New Jersey, as it prevented New York and Pennsylvania from charging and keeping tariffs on goods imported from Europe. In November 20, 1789, the state became the first in the newly-formed Union to ratify the United States Bill of Rights.

The 1776 New Jersey State Constitution gave the vote to "all inhabitants" who had a certain level of wealth. This included both women and blacks; although not married women, who could not own property. Both sides, in several elections, claimed that the other side had had unqualified women vote, and mocked them for use of "petticoat electors" (entitled to vote or not); on the other hand, both parties passed Voting Rights Acts. In 1807, the legislature passed a bill interpreting the constitution to mean universal white male suffrage, excluding paupers. (This was less revolutionary than it sounds: the "constitution" was itself only an act of the legislature.)Klinghoffer and Elkis ("The Petticoat Electors: Women’s Suffrage in New Jersey, 1776–1807." Journal of the Early Republic 12, no. 2 (1992): 159–193.)

Nineteenth century On February 15, 1804, New Jersey became the last northern state to abolish slavery by enacting legislation that slowly phased out slavery. However, by the close of the American Civil War, about a dozen African-Americans in New Jersey were still apprenticed freedmen. New Jersey initially refused to ratify the Constitutional Amendments banning slavery and granting rights to America's Black population.

Unlike the Revolutionary War, no Civil War battles took place within the state. However, throughout the course of the Civil War, over 80,000 enlisted in the Northern army to defeat the Southern rebels. In total, soldiers from New Jersey formed 4 militia regiments, 33 infantry regiments, 3 cavalry regiments, and 5 batteries of light artillery.

New Jersey was one of the few states to reject President Abraham Lincoln twice in national elections, and sided with Stephen Douglas and George B. McClellan during their campaigns. McClellan later became governor. During the war, the state was led first by Republican Governor Charles Smith Olden, then by Democrat Joel Parker.

In 1844, the second New Jersey State Constitution was ratified and brought into effect. Counties thereby became districts for the State Senate, and some realignment of boundaries (including the creation of Mercer County, New Jersey) immediately followed. This provision was retained in the 1947 Constitution, but was overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1962 by the decision Baker v. Carr.

While the Governorship was stronger than under the 1776 constitution (it could hardly be weaker), the constitution of 1844 created many offices that were not responsible to him, or to the people, and gave him a three-year term, but he could not succeed himself.

In the Industrial Revolution, cities like Paterson, New Jersey grew and prospered. Previously, the economy had been largely agrarian, which was problematically subject to crop failures and poor soil. This caused a shift to a more industrialized economy, one based on manufactured commodities such as textiles and silk. List of inventors Thomas Edison also became an important figure of the Industrial Revolution, having been granted 1,093 patents, many of which for inventions he developed while working in New Jersey. Transportation was greatly improved as locomotion and steamboats were introduced to New Jersey.

Iron ore mining was also a prevalent industry during the middle to late 1800s. Mining such as Mt. Hope, Mine Hill and the Rockaway Valley Mines created a thriving industry, which spawned new towns and was one of the driving forces behind the need for the Morris Canal.

Twentieth century Through both World Wars, New Jersey was a center for war production, especially in naval construction. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers were all made in this state. In addition, Fort Dix, New Jersey (1917)(originally called "Camp Dix"), Camp Merritt (New Jersey)(1917) and Camp Kilmer(1941),were all constructed to help American soldiers through both World Wars. New Jersey also became a principal location for defense in the Cold War. Fourteen Project Nike stations were constructed, especially for the defense of New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PT-109, commanded by Lt.(jg) John F. Kennedy, was built at the Elco Boatworks in Bayonne, and the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) was briefly docked at the Military Ocean Terminal in Bayonne in the 1950s before she was sent to Japan to be scrapped. In 1962, the world's first nuclear powered cargo ship, the NS Savannah was launched at Camden.

New Jersey became a prosperous state through the Roaring Twenties but fell from prosperity under the Great Depression. Begging licenses were even offered to the unemployed by the state government in order to provide money for those who could not be helped by the exhausted state funds.Gerdes, Louise I. The 1930s, Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2000. During this time period, the zeppelin Hindenburg disaster infamously went up in flames over Lakehurst, New Jersey, and the SS Morro Castle beached itself on the Jersey Shore after going up in flames while at sea.

In the 1960s, several race riots sprang up in New Jersey, the first of which occurred in Jersey City, New Jersey on August 2, 1964. Several other riots ensued in 1967, in the cities of 1967 Newark riots and 1967 Plainfield riots. Camden, New Jersey also dealt with race riots in 1971.

Throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, New Jersey was afflicted by nor'easters that caused blizzards and flooding. Those are rather common storms in New Jersey and elsewhere on the east coast of the US, although hurricanes and tropical storms occasionally come to visit, such as Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Demographics {{USCensusPop|1790=184139|1800=211149|1810=245562|1820=277575|1830=320823|1840=373306|1850=489555|1860=672035|1870=906096|1880=1131116|1890=1444933|1900=1883669|1910=2537167|1920=3155900|1930=4041334|1940=4160165|1950=4835329|1960=6066782|1970=7168164|1980=7364823|1990=7730188|2000=8414350|estimate=8717925|estyear=2005|estref={{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34000.html |title=QuickFacts: New Jersey |publisher=[U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-02-28--> --> State population Residents of New Jersey are most commonly referred to as "New Jerseyans" or "New Jerseyites." The United States Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2006, estimated New Jersey's population at 8,724,560, which represents an increase of 310,213, or 3.7%, since the last census in 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 254,766 people (that is 705,812 births minus 451,046 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 79,211 people into the state.ibid. Immigration to the United States from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 357,111 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 277,900 people.ibid. There are 1.6 million foreign-born living in the state (accounting for 19.2% of the population).

As of 2006, New Jersey is the eleventh-most populous state, but the most densely populated, at 1,174 residents per square mile (453 per km²), although the density varies widely across the state. It is also the 2nd wealthiest state per capita in the United States (behind only Connecticut) as per the United States Census Bureau. United States — States; and Puerto Rico GCT-P14. Income and Poverty in 1999: 2000

The center of population for New Jersey is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the town of Milltown, New Jersey, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike (see map of location). Population and Population Centers by State: 2000, accessed November 16, 2006

Race, ethnicity, and ancestry New Jersey is one of the most religiously and ethnically Multiculturalism states in the country. It has the second largest Jewish American population by percentage after New York; the second largest Islam in the United States population by percent (after Michigan); the third highest Asian people population by percent, the third highest Italian-American population by percent of any state according to the United States 2000 Census; and a large percentage of the population is African-Americans, White American, Hispanics in the United States, Arab American, and Asian American. It has the second highest Indian American population of any state by absolute numbers. The Foreign Born from India in the United States, dated December 1, 2003 Mapping Census 2000: The Geography of U.S. Diversity (Microsoft Excel)

The five largest ancestry groups are: Italian-American (17.9%), Irish-American (15.9%), African-American (13.6%), German-American (12.6%), Polish-American (6.9%).

Newark, New Jersey and Camden, New Jersey are two of the poorest cities in America, but New Jersey as a whole has the second highest median household income among the states. Md. is ranked as richest state This is largely because so much of New Jersey consists of suburbs, most of them affluent, of New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. New Jersey is also the most densely populated state in the nation, and the only state that has had every one of its counties deemed "urban" as defined by the United States Census Bureau's Combined Statistical Area. Metropolitan Areas and Components, 1999, with FIPS codes

The state has very sizable enclaves of different language speaking communities. Some of these include (by ranking)



The dominant race, ethnicity, or ancestry by county, according to the 2000 Census, are the following:

6.7% of its population were reported as under 5, 24.8% under 18, and 13.2% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51.5% of the population.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 12.31% of the population aged 5 and over speak Spanish language at home, while 1.48% speak Italian language .

Religion {| class="wikitable sortable"|+Distributions of Religions in New Jersey (2001) |-! Religious group!width="20%"|%|-|Catholic|align="right"|37|-|None|align="right"|15|-|Baptist|align="right"|8|-|Methodist|align="right"|6|-|Refused to identify|align="right"|5|-|Christian
(no denomination stated)|align="right"|4|-|Jewish
(by religion only)|align="right"|4|-|Other|align="right"|4|-|Presbyterian|align="right"|4|-|Lutheran|align="right"|3|-|Episcopalian/Anglican|align="right"|2|-|Protestant|align="right"|2|-|Jehovah's Witness|align="right"|1|-|Mormon/LDS|align="right"|1|-|Muslim/Islamic|align="right"|1|-|Non-denominational|align="right"|1|-|Pentecostal|align="right"|1|-|Assemblies of God|align="right"|*|-|Buddhist|align="right"|*|-|Church of Christ|align="right"|*|-|Church of God|align="right"|*|-|Congregational/UCC|align="right"|*|-|Evangelical|align="right"|*|-|Seventh Day Adventist|align="right"|*|} *Less than 0.5%

Economy The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that New Jersey's total state product in 2004 was $416 billion. Its per capita personal income in 2004 was $41,636, 2nd in the U.S. and 126% of the national average of $33,041. Bureau of Economic Analysis Its median household income is the highest in the nation with $55,146. It is ranked 2nd in the nation by the number of places with per capita incomes above national average with 76.4%. Nine of New Jersey's counties are in the wealthiest 100 of the country.

New Jersey has seven tax brackets for determining income tax rates. The rates range from 1.4 to 8.97%. The standard sales tax rate is 7%, applicable to all retail sales unless specifically exempt by law. Exemptions include most food items for at-home preparation, medicines, clothing (except fur items), footwear, and disposable paper products for use in the home. Approximately 30 New Jersey municipalities are designated as Urban Enterprise Zones and shoppers are charged a 3½% tax rate, half of the rate charged outside the UEZs. Sections of Elizabeth, New Jersey and Jersey City, New Jersey are examples of communities that are subject to the lower sales tax rate.All real property located in the state is subject to property tax unless specifically exempted by statute. New Jersey does not assess an intangible personal property tax, but it does impose an inheritance tax.

Federal taxation disparity New Jersey has the highest imbalance of any state in the United States between what it gives to the federal government and what it receives. In fiscal year 2004, New Jersey taxpayers gave the federal government $77 billion dollars but only received $55 billion dollars back. This difference is higher than any other state and means that for every dollar New Jersey sends, the state only receives 71 cents back. This calculation is applied correctly after making the federal government deficit neutral as sometimes the federal government spends more than it takes in. link Chart of State to Federal government spend/receive ratios, Tax Foundation As of 2004, New Jersey has never been above 48th in rank for per capita federal spending (with a rank of 50th for the majority of that time) since 1982 while being 2nd or 3rd in the per capita federal taxes paid to Washington.

As a result, New Jersey runs into deficits frequently and has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation. link Tax Burdens in New Jersey Factors for this include the large federal tax liability which is not adjusted for New Jersey's higher cost of living and Medicaid funding formulas.

Natural resources from the Staten Island Ferry, with views of Jersey City, New Jersey (in North Jersey) and its Gold Coast, New Jersey featuring the 781-foot (238 m) Goldman Sachs Tower.

New Jersey's greatest natural resource is its location, which has made the state a crossroads of commerce and an ideal area for manufacturing. Other commercial advantages include its extensive transportation system, which puts one quarter of all United States consumers within overnight delivery range. Lake and seaside resorts have contributed to New Jersey's rank of fifth among the states in revenues from tourism.

Despite more than three centuries of development almost half of New Jersey is still wooded. The chief tree of the northern forests is the oak. A large part of the southern section is in pine. Jersey oak has been used extensively in shipbuilding.

The mineral resources in New Jersey are small. The state, however, does rank high in smelting and refining minerals from other states.

New Jersey's chief conservation agency is the Department of Environmental Protection, which was formed in 1970 by the merger of parts of the Department of Conservation and Economic Development with parts of the Department of Health. The department has an extensive range of responsibilities that include acquiring and preserving land for recreation, wildlife protection, and curbing pollution. The department also regulates activities on public waters, oversees hunting and fishing, and has jurisdiction over some state-owned land. In addition, the conservation agency is responsible for maintaining an adequate high-quality water supply for industry, recreation, and aquatic life. New Jersey launched a long-range conservation and development program under the terms of its 1958 Water Supply Law

Industry The Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal was the world's first container port and is one of the world's largest container ports. Newark Liberty International Airport is ranked seventh among the nation's busiest airports and among the top 20 busiest airports in the world.

Its agricultural outputs are nursery stock, horses, vegetables, fruits and nuts, seafood, and dairy products. In particular, cranberry, peach, tomato and eggplant are some of the state's largest crops. The local entities that support agricultural efforts are the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and Rutgers University. Hammonton, New Jersey in the southern part of the state is known as the blueberry capital of the world. Its industrial outputs are pharmaceutical and chemical products, food processing, electric equipment, printing and publishing, and tourism. New Jersey's economy has a large base of heavy industry and chemical manufacturing. Additionally, New Jersey is home to the largest petroleum containment system outside of the Middle East.

New Jersey hosts several business headquarters, including twenty-four Fortune 500 companies. Paramus, New Jersey is noted for having one of the highest retail sales per person ratios in the nation. Several New Jersey counties such as Somerset (#7), Morris (10), Hunterdon (13), Bergen (21), Monmouth (42) counties have been ranked among the highest-income counties in the United States. Four others are also in the top 100.

New Jersey is infamous for its abundance of oil refineries. The smell given off by the refineries is common to motorists who travel the New Jersey Turnpike which runs through the central industrial corridor of the state. This is a list of the major oil refineries in the state:



While home to many chemical plants New Jersey also is home to major pharmaceutical firms Merck & Co., Wyeth, Johnson and Johnson, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Pfizer, Hoffman-LaRoche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Schering-Plough. It draws upon its large and well-educated labor pool which also supports the myriad of industries that exist today.

Transportation

Roadways The New Jersey Turnpike is one of the best-known and most-trafficked roadways in the United States. This toll road carries interstate traffic between Delaware and New York, and the East Coast in general. Commonly referred to as simply "the Turnpike," it is known for its numerous rest-areas named after prominent New Jerseyans as diverse as inventor Thomas Edison; United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton; Presidents of the United States Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson; writers James Fenimore Cooper, Joyce Kilmer, and Walt Whitman; patriot Molly Pitcher; Red Cross advocate Clara Barton; and football coach Vince Lombardi.

The Garden State Parkway, or simply "the Parkway," carries more in-state traffic and runs from the town of Montvale, New Jersey along New Jersey's northern border to its southernmost tip at Cape May, New Jersey for 172.4 miles. It is the trunk that connects the New York metropolitan area to Atlantic City.

as seen from New JerseyOther expressways in New Jersey include the Atlantic City Expressway, the Palisades Interstate Parkway, Interstate 76 (east), Interstate 78 in New Jersey, Interstate 80 in New Jersey, Interstate 195 (New Jersey), Interstate 280 (New Jersey), Interstate 287, and Interstate 295 (Delaware-New Jersey-Pennsylvania). Other major roadways include U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey, U.S. Route 9 in New Jersey, U.S. Route 1/9.

New Jersey has interstate compacts with all three neighboring states. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Delaware River Port Authority (with Pennsylvania), and the Delaware River and Bay Authority (with Delaware) operate most of the major transportation routes into and out of New Jersey. Bridge tolls are collected in one direction only — it is free to cross into New Jersey, but motorists must pay when exiting the state. Exceptions to this are the Dingman's Ferry Bridge and the Delaware River-Turnpike Toll Bridge where tolls are charged both ways. The Washington Crossing and Scudders Falls Bridge bridges near Trenton, as well as Trenton's Calhoun Street Bridge and Lower Trenton Bridge bridges, are toll-free.

Airports Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States. Operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the other two major airports in the New York City region (John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport), it is one of the main airports serving the New York City area. Continental Airlines is the facility's largest tenant, operating an entire terminal at Newark, which it uses as one of its primary Airline hub. United Airlines and FedEx operate cargo hubs. The adjacent Newark Liberty International Airport (NJT station) provides access to the trains of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit along the Northeast Corridor Line.

Two smaller commercial airports, Atlantic City International Airport and Trenton-Mercer Airport, also operate in other parts of New Jersey. Teterboro Airport, in Bergen County, New Jersey, is a general aviation airport popular with private and corporate aircraft, due to its proximity to New York City.

Rail and bus The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) operates extensive rail and bus service throughout the state. NJ Transit is a state-run corporation that began with the consolidation of several private bus companies in North Jersey. In the early 1980s, it acquired the commuter train operations of Conrail that connect towns in northern and central New Jersey to New York City. NJ Transit has eleven lines that run throughout different parts of the state. Most of the trains start at various points in the state and most end at either Pennsylvania Station (New York City), in New York City, or Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey. NJ Transit began service between Atlantic City and Lindenwold, New Jersey in 1989 and extended it to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, in the 1990s.

NJ Transit also operates three light rail systems in the state. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail connects Bayonne, New Jersey to North Bergen, New Jersey, with planned expansion into Bergen County, New Jersey communities. The Newark City Subway is the only Rapid transit system in the state. Its Main Line connects Pennsylvania Station (Newark) with Grove Street station in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The Broad Street Line of the subway, the first component of the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link, opened in the summer of 2006. The last of the three light rail lines is the River Line (New Jersey Transit) which connects Trenton, New Jersey and Camden, New Jersey.

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson links North Jersey and New York City. The PATH operates four lines that connect various points in North Jersey and New York. The lines all start in either Hudson County, New Jersey or Essex County, New Jersey and end either at the World Trade Center (PATH station) station or at 33rd Street (PATH station) in Midtown Manhattan.

The Port Authority Transit Corporation High Speedline links Camden County, New Jersey and Philadelphia. PATCO operates a single elevated and subway line that runs from Lindenwold, New Jersey to Center City Philadelphia. PATCO operates stations in Lindenwold, Voorhees, New Jersey, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Haddonfield, New Jersey, Haddon Township, New Jersey, Collingswood, New Jersey, and Camden, New Jersey, along with four stations in Philadelphia.

Amtrak also operates numerous long-distance passenger trains in New Jersey to and from neighboring states and around the country. In addition to the Newark Airport connection, other major Amtrak railway stations include (Amtrak station)|Trenton Rail Station

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