New Jersey is a Northeastern state located in the United States along the Atlantic coast, and across the Hudson River from New York. New Jersey was founded in 1787 and became the first state to sign the Bill of Rights and the third state to ratify the Constitution. Trenton was officially named the capital of New Jersey three years later, in 1790. After The Great Depression in the 1930s, New Jersey’s chemical and electronics industries boomed due to World War II. In 2019, the population of the state of New Jersey was recorded at over 8.8 million. 

Big Cities in NJ

Newark, New Jersey is the largest city in the state with a population of 281,054. A close second is Jersey City, located across the Hudson River from New York, with a population of 261,940. Destination cities for tourists include Atlantic City, Cape May, Hoboken and the ones mentioned above. Clinton, New Jersey was named the Top New Jersey City To Visit for its picturesque downtown, and 200 foot wide waterfall that winds through the town. 

Popular Festivals in NJ

The New Jersey International Film Festival takes place in New Brunswick every year. It’s a place where locals and visitors alike come to see films from animated, to short stories, to documentaries. These films are judged by professionals, and the public gets a chance to ask questions to producers and actors. 

The Cape May Strawberry Festival is an event that takes place each spring, and is put on by the Cape May Business Association. The event takes place at Borough Backyard Park, and offers tons of activities for the whole family. There’s plenty of strawberries to go around, from over 100 vendors selling their treats. 

 The Jersey Shore Music Festival is a three-day festival that features over 150 music artists. These artists range from well-known to brand new. Other events include monster truck rides, networking mixers, kite shows and more. 

The Garden State

Abraham Browning was the first to call New Jersey “The Garden State” at a speech on Jersey Day in 1876. This nickname is now on almost every license plate in the state. To say it stuck is an understatement. The term references the unique agriculture industry in the state. Today popular festivals pay tribute to the nickname such as the Cape May Strawberry Festival. 

While New Jersey is only a little of 7,000 square miles, it overs tons of culture, arts, and history opportunities.