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New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern 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 and Philadelphia.
Inhabited by Native Americans for more than 11,000 years, the first European settlements in the area were the Swedes and Dutch in the early 1600s. The British 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, 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 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 helped to drive the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century. New Jersey’s position at the center of the BosWash megalopolis, between Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore 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; and on the west by Pennsylvania. The western border of New Jersey is largely defined by the Delaware River. 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. It is also at the center of the Boston to Washington megalopolis.
New Jersey is broadly divided into three geographic regions: North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey. North Jersey lies within New York City’s general sphere of influence (i.e. largely within the New York metropolitan area), and some residents commute to the city to work. Central Jersey is a largely suburban area. South Jersey is within Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s general sphere of influence, and most of it is included in the Delaware Valley. Such geographic definitions are loosely defined, however, and there is often dispute over where one region begins and another ends. Some people do not consider Central Jersey to exist at all, but most believe it is a separate geographic and cultural area from the North and South.
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:
* Gateway Region, encompassing Hudson County, Essex County, Union County, Middlesex County, Bergen County, and Passaic County.
* Skylands Region, encompassing Sussex County, Morris County, Warren County, Hunterdon County, and Somerset County.
* Shore Region, encompassing Monmouth County and Ocean County.
* Delaware River Region, encompassing Mercer County, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, and Salem County.
* Greater Atlantic City Region, encompassing Atlantic County.
* Southern Shore Region, encompassing Cumberland County and Cape May County.
High Point, in Montague Township, Sussex County, is the highest elevation, at n National Scenic Trail
* Delaware National Scenic River
* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
* Edison National Historic Site in West Orange
* Ellis Island National Monument
* Gateway National Recreation Area in Monmouth County
* Great Egg Harbor River
* Morristown National Historical Park in Morristown
* New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route
* New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
Prominent geographic features include:
* Delaware Water Gap
* Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
* The Highlands
* New Jersey Meadowlands
* Pine Barrens
* South Mountain
Climate
New Jersey has a temperate climate, with warm/hot humid summers and cool/cold winters. During the hurricane season, tropical cyclones can hit New Jersey, though it is uncommon for it to remain at hurricane strength this far to the north. During the winter months, Nor’easters can dump up to two feet of snow at once.
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, near the state’s southernmost ocean-facing point, and Sussex, in the mountainous northwest.
