New Jersey

New Jersey is a state situated within both the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is the most densely populated of all 50 U.S. states, and is situated at the center of the Northeast megalopolis. New Jersey is bordered on its north and east by New York state; on its east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on its west by the Delaware River and Pennsylvania; and on its southwest by Delaware Bay and Delaware. At 7,354 square miles (19,050 km2), New Jersey is the fifth-smallest state in land area, but with close to 9.3 million residents as of the 2020 United States census, its highest decennial count ever, it ranks 11th in population. The state capital is Trenton, and the state's most populous city is Newark. New Jersey is the only U.S. state in which every county is deemed urban by the U.S. Census Bureau with 13 counties included in the New York metropolitan area, seven counties in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and Warren County, part of the heavily industrialized Lehigh Valley metropolitan area.

Some of the key events about New Jersey

1776
New Jersey became the third state to ratify the United States Constitution
1804
Slavery was gradually abolished in New Jersey, but the process was not completed until 1865
1869
The first intercollegiate American football game was played in New Brunswick
1869
A major train wreck occurred in New Brunswick, killing 23 people
1879
Thomas Edison invented the first commercially successful incandescent light bulb in Menlo Park
1887
The world's first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City
1916
A series of shark attacks along the Jersey Shore killed four people and injured one
1921
The first Miss America pageant was held in Atlantic City
1933
The first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden
1937
The Hindenburg disaster occurred in Lakehurst, killing 36 people
1938
The "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast caused panic among some New Jersey residents
1951
The New Jersey Turnpike, one of the most heavily traveled highways in the U.S., was completed
1951
The New Jersey Turnpike opened, leading to increased urban sprawl and environmental concerns
1967
Newark experienced severe racial riots, resulting in 26 deaths and significant property damage
1969
The Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place in Bethel, attracting over 400,000 attendees
1976
Gambling was legalized in Atlantic City, leading to a boom in casino development
1976
The George Washington Bridge was closed due to severe structural problems, causing major traffic disruptions
1984
A toxic waste fire in Elizabeth released dangerous chemicals into the air, forcing evacuations
2012
New Jersey's recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy demonstrated remarkable resilience and community spirit
2012
Hurricane Sandy devastated the New Jersey coast, causing billions of dollars in damage and displacing thousands

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.