Have a question? Ask an IPL Librarian!

(Use our Contact Us form for questions/suggestions about our site.)

New Jersey

Capital	Trenton
Population	8,414,350 Source: U.S. Census Bureau GCT-PH1-R. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density (geographies ranked by total population): 2000 Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
Governor	Jon Corzine (D, to January 2010)
Entered the Union	December 18, 1787 as the 3rd state
Motto	Liberty and Prosperity
Nickname	Garden state
Flower	Purple Violet
Bird	Eastern Goldfinch
Song	None
Professional Sports Teams (sports listing policy)	New Jersey Nets (Basketball) and New Jersey Devils (Hockey)
Origin of Name	From the Channel Isle of Jersey
Major Industries	Chemicals, Oil Refinery, Pharmaceuticals, Machinery, Electrical Goods, Apparel, Tourism
Historical Sites	The Edison National Historic Site in West Orange
Points of Interest	Delaware Water Gap, Liberty State Park, the New Jersey State Aquarium in Camden, and Atlantic City
Bordering States	New Jersey borders Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Flag

Follow these links to read articles about New Jersey from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

• Encarta Concise Encyclopedia
• Columbia Encyclopedia
• Information Please Almanac

• State of New Jersey: The Official State of New Jersey Web Site
  http://www.state.nj.us/
  This is the official website for the State of New Jersey.
• New Jersey State Library
  http://www.njstatelib.org/
  Here is the homepage for the New Jersey State Library.
• The New Jersey Historical Society
  http://www.jerseyhistory.org/
  Here is the homepage for the New Jersey State Historical Society.
• The New Jersey State Museum
  http://www.state.nj.us/state/museum/
  Here is the homepage for the New Jersey State Museum.
• New Jersey Public Records and Archives
  http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/
  Here is the homepage for the New Jersey State Archives.
• New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/
  Here is the homepage for New Jersey State Parks.
• Visit NJ
  http://www.state.nj.us/travel/
  Here is the official state travel and tourism website for New Jersey.
• Hangout NJ: the Next Generation
  http://www.state.nj.us/hangout_nj/
  Here is the New Jersey state site especially for kids.

• 50states.com: New Jersey
  http://www.50states.com/newjerse.htm
  The site provides a wealth of information about New Jersey. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
• Things To Do in New Jersey
  http://www.thingstodo.com/states/NJ/index.htm
  ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about New Jersey's entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
• Roadside America: New Jersey Attractions
  http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/nj.html
  Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in New Jersey.
• Kids' Guide: New Jersey's Guide to Places and Events for Children & Families
  http://www.kidsguide.com/
  Check this site for family vacation, travel and entertainment ideas in New Jersey.
• JerseyPride.com
  http://www.jerseypride.com/
  Visit this site devoted to LOGS - Lovers of the Garden State. The Jersey Facts and Jersey Links can lead you to lists such as famous people from New Jersey and the official state sport team sites.
• FedStats: MapStat: United States: New Jersey
  http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/34000.html
  Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on "economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more" in New Jersey.

• Modern paleontology, the science of studying dinosaur fossils, began in 1858 with the discovery of the first nearly-complete skeleton of a dinosaur in Haddonfield, New Jersey. The Hadrosaurus is the official New Jersey state dinosaur
• The honey bee, apis mellifera, is the New Jersey state bug.
• The state sea-shell is the knobbed whelk, (Busycon carica gmelin) because it is found on all beaches and bays of New Jersey.

• Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi) musician, was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in 1962.
• Aaron Burr, Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson, was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1756.
• H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Commander in Chief, United States Central Command and recepient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• Frank Sinatra, singer and actor.
• Bruce Springsteen, musician.