Although New Jersey ranks 46th in size among the states, it has the ninth largest population and most people per unit of land. Nearly 90 percent of the state's total population lives in cities and towns -- the highest percentage of any state. New Jersey is an excellent
moving destination with a high urban population mainly because of the weight the state has placed on manufacturing and industry. The state has been successful largely due to its advantageous location between
Philadelphia and
New York City, two of the largest commercial and population centers in the U.S.
Origin of State's Name: New Jersey was named for the Channel Island of Jersey in honor of Sir George Carteret, one of the two men to whom the land was originally given.
Capital City: Rich in colonial and industrial history,
Trenton, the second oldest capital in the U.S., lies on the east bank of the Delaware River north of Philadelphia. Known as the site of George Washington's first victory over the Redcoats in the War for Independence, Trenton, New Jersey, still maintains some of its colonial charm. Today, Trenton is known for being an historic city that is proud of its past and that looks ahead to a bright future.
Population: New Jersey has a population of approximately 8.6 million.
Driving: Driver's license information, applications, testing requirements, driver's manuals and testing locations can be found on the
New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website.
Agriculture and Industry: Major agriculture includes nursery stock, horses, vegetables, fruits and nuts, seafood and dairy products. Chemical products, food processing, electric equipment, printing and publishing, tourism are the state's leading industries.
State Bird: New Jersey designated the American Goldfinch as the official state bird in 1935.
State Tree: New Jersey designated the red oak as the official state tree in 1950. New Jersey also recognizes a state memorial tree.
State Flower: New Jersey designated the common violet as official state flower in 1913.
State Song: Written by red Mascara, "I'm From New Jersey" is the official state song.