New Jersey History Guide

When first Europeans came to visit the land known today as New Jersey, they encountered Native Americans from the Delaware tribe (also known as Lenni-Lenape). They were living in peace, hunting and planting various crops like corn and beans. The first explorer to reach this region was Giovanni de Verazano, sailing for France in 1524. In 1609, Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River and claimed New Jersey and New York for the Dutch. Captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, a Dutch explorer, also explored the New Jersey and Delaware Bay area. Cape May was named after Mey, as were the town and county of the same name. By 1630, Dutch settlement of New Jersey began along the Hudson River. Due to Indian attacks, the first permanent town, Bergen, wasn't established until 1660. Swedish fur traders began settling southern New Jersey in 1638, but were quickly forced out of the area by the Dutch.

However, the Dutch colony of New Netherland was seized by the English in 1664 and New Jersey was organized as an English colony under Gov. Philip Carteret. This new English colony was named New Jersey after the (Isle of Jersey) and eventually divided into two provinces. As different as day and night, East Jersey (controlled by the Puritans) and West Jersey (governed by the Quakers) were united as one in 1702, administered by the royal governor of New York. Finally, in 1738, New Jersey was separated from New York under its own royal governor, Lewis Morris.

During the 1760s, colonists began protesting high taxation and trade restrictions by England. In 1774, colonists from New Jersey burned a supply of tea from a British ship in what became known as the Greenwich Tea Burning. As the Revolutionary War began in 1775, New Jersey's loyalties were split; many fought for independence while others fought for Britain. While the thirteen colonies struggled for their freedom, British and American armies crossed New Jersey many times and several crucial battles took place here. Subsequently, New Jersey is historically referred to as "The Crossroads of the Revolution." In fact, General George Washington (and his Continental Army spent most of their time here, engaged in constant battles with the British during the Revolutionary War. Their famous crossing of the Delaware and defeat of the British forces at Trenton was crucial to moral, and overall victory for the colonies. New Jersey also was home to two temporary national capitals in Princeton and Trenton.

In 1776, New Jersey claimed independence from Great Britain. Two years later it adopted the Articles of Confederation. Finally, on Dec. 18, 1787, New Jersey became the 3rd state of the Union as it ratified the U.S. Constitution. Trenton became the capital in 1790.

In the early 1800's New Jersey sprang into economic prominence as an industrial center. Manufacturing plants produced iron, steel and textiles, and good-paying new jobs attracted European immigrants by the thousands. Although many sympathized with the South, New Jersey soldiers fought for the Union during the Civil War (1861-1865). After the war, several large corporations moved to New Jersey. The state then passed several laws that restricted business monopolies and provided workers' compensation and a public utilities commission.

Through World Wars I and II, New Jersey was the epicenter of military production; battleships, destroyers and hundreds of other products were built here to support those war efforts.

After the war, New Jersey's population shifted away from the cities to rural areas. The New Jersey Turnpike was completed in 1952, linking the state to New York City and Philadelphia. The Garden State Parkway soon followed in 1955, running along the New Jersey coastline. Poverty stricken and overcrowded cities led to riots during the 1960s. New Jersey's state government started rebuilding inner cities. Several bonds were issued to provide money for better government programs. The Pinelands National Reserve was established to protect plants, animals, land, and water.

Today, New Jersey, an area of wide industrial diversification, is known as the Crossroads of the East. Products from over 15,000 factories can be delivered overnight to almost 60 million people, representing 12 states and the District of Columbia. The greatest single industry is chemicals; New Jersey is one of the foremost research centers in the world. Many large oil refineries are located in northern New Jersey. Other important manufactured items are pharmaceuticals, instruments, machinery, electrical goods, and apparel.

Productive farmland covers nearly one million acres, about 20% of New Jersey's land area. The state ranks high in the production of almost all garden vegetables, as well as cranberries, blueberries, and peaches. Poultry, dairy products, and seafood are also top commodities.

New Jersey Famous People

• William (Bud) Abbott (1895 - 1974) Comedian made famous in the popular team Abbott and Costello with routines such as "Who's on First;" born in Asbury Park.
• Charles Addams (1912 - 1988) Cartoonist that created The Addams Family; born in Westfield.
• Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin (1930 - ) First astronaut to leave a spacecraft and walk in space, he later became the second person to walk on the moon; born in Montclair.
• Judy Blume (1938 - ) Fiction writer for youth with well-known books such as Superfudge and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; born in Elizabeth.
• Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi) (1962 - ) Musician, born in Perth Amboy.
• Aaron Burr (1756 - 1836) Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson, born in Newark.
• Joseph Campbell (1817 - 1900) Founder of the Campbell Soup Company; born in Camden County.
• Grover Cleveland (1837 - 1908) The 22^nd and 24^th President of the United States; born in Caldwell.
• Lou Costello (1906 - 1959) Comedian made famous in the popular team Abbott and Costello with routines such as ?Who's on First;? born in Paterson.
• Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900) Author most famous for The Red Badge of Courage; born in Newark.
• Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) Famous Physicist, lived in Princeton.
• Whitney Houston (1963 - ) Popular singer and actor that was the first to sell 10 million copies of her first two albums; born in Newark.
• Jerry Lewis (1926 - ) Popular comedian during the 1950s and 1960s famous for The Nutty Professor and hosting the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy; born in Newark.
• Jack Nicholson (1937 - ) Actor and Academy Award winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest made famous in Chinatown and The Shining; born in Neptune.
• Paul Robeson (1898 - 1976) The first black all-American football player, famous singer and actor; born in Princeton.
• Paul Simon (1941 - ) Popular singer in the 1960s made famous with songs like ?Mrs. Robinson;? born in Newark.
• Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998) Actor and Singer starting in the 1940s; born in Hoboken.
• Bruce Springsteen (1949 - ) Singer made famous with album Born in the U.S.A.; born in Freehold.
• John Travolta (1954 - ) Actor made famous in Grease and Saturday Night Fever; born in Englewood.