50 States: New Jersey

NEW JERSEY

The Garden State is our nation's third state.  It was granted statehood on December 18, 1787.  The postal abbreviation is NJ, and the capital is Trenton.  This capital city was named after one of the wealthy landowners in the area, William Trent.  This is the place where George Washington crossed the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, during the Revolutionary War.  Trenton also served as the nation's capital for a brief time.

New Jersey is the 47th largest state by area and has nearly 9 million people living within it.  Those who live in this state call themselves New Jerseyites or New Jerseyans.  Some famous people born here include the team of Abbott and Costello, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Virginia Apgar who is responsible for the Apgar Scoring System for newborns, jazz musician Count Basie, country singer Clint Black, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, President Grover Cleveland, author James Fenimore Cooper, illusionist David Copperfield, boxer Marvin Hagler, Whitney Houston, Jon Bon Jovi, photographer Dorothea Lange, Norman Mailer, Shaquille O'Neal, Queen Latifah, patriot Molly Pitcher, engineer Washington Roebling, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Frank Sinatra, and Wendy's founder Dave Thomas.  There have been more than 150 famous people born in New Jersey, including many actors, singers, sports stars, activists, and politicians.

Visitors to New Jersey can visit the birthplace of Grover Cleveland in Caldwell for free.  Other points of interest include Ellis Island which can be reached by ferry at Liberty State Park in Jersey City; Liberty Science Center also in Jersey City; amusement parks like Six Flags, Land of Make Believe, Clementon, and Storybook Land; the USS New Jersey in Camden; famous beaches like Ocean City and Cape May; Field Station: Dinosaurs in Secaucus; Atlantic City; and Thomas Edison National Historic Park in West Orange.

New Jersey's economy is sustained agriculturally by the growing of roses, orchids, and poinsettias, the raising of horses and mules, and the production of dairy products; the manufacturing sector produces pharmaceuticals and health & beauty items like shampoo and perfume; the fishing industry brings in large catches of clams.  Tourism is also a major contributor to the economy with locales such as Atlantic City, Cape May, Asbury Park, etc.

New Jersey's state symbols are:

Bird...Eastern goldfinch

Mammal...Horse

Insect...Honeybee

Shell...Knobbed whelk

Fish...Brook trout

Flower...Purple violet (is this redundant?)

Tree...Northern red oak

Fruit...Blueberry

Dance...Folk dance

There have been a number of dinosaur fossils found in New Jersey including Hadrosaurus foulkii, which is the state dinosaur.

The state motto is "Liberty and Prosperity" and is displayed on the state flag, which was adopted on March 26, 1896.

The flag displays the goddess of liberty and the goddess of agriculture.

New Jersey has the highest population density of any state.  More than 90% of its people live in the city.  There are more diners in New Jersey than anywhere else in the world.  Edison's Menlo Park is located in New Jersey.  The Miss America Pageant is held in Atlantic City every year, and this city's road are the inspiration for the game Monopoly.  The first drive-in theater was in Camden.

Play some online games and learn more about New Jersey here.

The following items are available at Christianbook.com.  If you purchase through my blog, I will receive a commission, as I am an affiliate.

New Jersey Pocket Guide, Grades 3-8 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International The perfect reference guide. This handy, 4" x 6", easy-to-use guide is divided into seven color-coded sections which include basics, history, geography, people, places, nature, and more! Riddles, recipes, and surprising facts make this guide a delight! Available for all 50 states! Grades 3-8; ages 8-14.

Hidden New Jersey By Linda J. Barth / Charlesbridge Publishing Discover the hidden facts about New Jersey. Each two-page spread presents interesting information, from famous inventors to locations to history. But along the bottom is a list of images to find---turn the pages every which way in order to find what you're looking for! Softcover.

A Primary Source History of the Colony of New Jersey - Unabridged Audiobook on CD By Tamra Orr & Jay Snyder / Brilliance Audio Learn all about the colony of New Jersey, an important player in the American Revolution and the third state admitted into the Union, through primary source documents. Throughout its history it was a densely forested rural territory, celebrated for its abundant natural resources and rich farm land. Characterized by religious tolerance and a "live and let live" attitude, New Jersey became a haven for people who desired to only work hard and build a peaceful and prosperous life for themselves and their families. Unabridged audio CD; approximately 1 hour 10 minutes; 1 CD.

New Jersey My First Book, Grades K-8 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International An "early bird" intro to basic state facts. Covers state basics such as state nickname, seal, song, bird, motto, flag, regions, industries, neighbors, and weather, plus an intro to state history, people, and more. Includes drawing, mazes, matching, coloring, and more! Reproducible. Available for all 50 states. Grades K-5; ages 5-10.

Let's Discover New Jersey CD-ROM, Grades 2-8 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International Interactive CD-ROM with lots of fun facts for kids to learn about their state. Includes government, state symbols, a timeline, geography, civics, nickname, landmarks, parks, schools, historical places, and more. Each of four sections is completed with a quizzing game and rewards. Also includes a FREE printed reproducible quiz. Grades 2-8

13 Colonies: New Jersey By Roberta Wiener & James Arnold / Heinemann Raintree When was Princeton University founded? For whom was the Delaware River and Bay named? What was name of the original Dutch town at the site of Jersey City? Find the answers to these and many other questions in New Jersey, a book about one of the original thirteen colonies. It details the history of the colony beginning with the decisions made in Europe to explore and settle the Americas followed by a description of the land and its inhabitants as they appeared to the first European arrivals. The story continues through the growth of the colony and the events leading to the American Revolution and concludes with a brief description of the modern-day state. Each book in these series includes maps, contemporary art and primary resources, timeline, glossary, index, and sources for further research. Softcover, 64 pages. Ages 9-12.

Drive Thru History: New York, New Jersey, and Washington's Warriors By Tyndale House In a fast style all his own, Dave Stotts explores the rich history of New York and New Jersey. We learn about New York's "Freedom Trail," the place of George Washington's inauguration, and much more! This jam-packed series also includes stories on Saratoga, West Point, and the Revolutionary War battles of Trenton and Princeton. As always, Dave includes the Christian influences that have shaped history.

Independence Now: The American Revolution 1763-1783 By Daniel Rosen / Simon & Schuster By 1763, the people of England's American colonies were shaping their own lives apart from their royal rulers. Ties between the British and the colonists were becoming weak, and a new sense of being "American" was developing. Independence Now takes the reader from the colonial period when young men like George Washington were becoming leaders and the British oppression was growing, to the days of the fiery Revolutionary War. Topics covered in this book include the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Declaration of Independence, and the issues surrounding these events. The book discusses the reasons for the war from the American and British perspectives, the involvement of African-Americans and women in the revolution, and our long, hard path to victory. The book also features a "Points of View" section that shows the debate over whether or not America should be independent through the words of Benjamin Franklin and his son, the royal governor of New Jersey, William Franklin. Comparisons are also made between the strengths and weaknesses of England and America at the time to help readers understand both sides of the fight. Independence Now ends with a "Legacy," telling a short bit of follow-up history to the events covered in the text. Like the other titles in the Crossroads America series, this book is illustrated with period paintings, drawings, and photographs. Also included are a glossary and an index.

One Giant Leap By Robert Burleigh / Philomel To commemorate the 40th anniversary of this extraordinary moment in human history, Robert Burleigh and Mike Wimmer have created a breathtakingly beautiful tribute that transports readers to the stars, where they will experience the moon landing just as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did.

A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts By Andrew Chaikin / Penguin Putnam Inc. On the night of July 20, 1969, our world changed forever when two Americans, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, walked on the moon. Now the greatest event of the twentieth century is magnificently retold through the eyes and ears of the people who were there. Based on the interviews with twenty-three moon voyagers, as well as those whose struggles got the program moving, journalist Andrew Chaikin conveys every aspect of the missions with breathtaking immediacy: from the liftoff to the heart-stopping lunary touchdown to the final hurdle of reentry.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - eBook By Judy Blume / Delacorte Press

Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr By Nancy Isenberg / Penguin Putnam Inc.

Forgotten Conservative: The Life of Grover Cleveland By John Pafford / Regnery Publishing

16 Extraordinary Americans with Disabilities, 2nd Edition - PDF Download [Download] By Walch Education A new kind of reader, students will be engaged by short profiles on 16 amazing people, each of which includes background notes, vocabulary lists, answers, and a bibliography. While reading, students will also come to understand the profound impact each person has had on America's past and present. 16 Extraordinary Americans with Disabilities will introduce students to 16 key figures who have made a difference despite their disabilities. 148 reproducible pages, softcover. Grades 6-12, readability 4+. Revised edition. Mini-biographies feature: Laura Bridgman, Teacher John Wesley Powell, Explorer Washington Roebling, Engineer Walt Disney, Cartoonist Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States Ray Charles, Musician Katharine Hathaway, Writer Glenn Cunningham, Runner Roy Campanella, Baseball Catcher Cher, Singer and Actress Temple Grandin, Scientist and Inventor Whoopi Goldberg, Comedian and Actress Mark Wellman, Mountain Climber