New Jersey (U.S. state): Difference between revisions
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{{Image|New Jersey Assembly 2022-2023 Session.png|right|250px|New Jersey Assembly 2022-2023 Session. Blue areas are represented by Democrats, and red by Republicans.}} | {{Image|New Jersey Assembly 2022-2023 Session.png|right|250px|New Jersey Assembly 2022-2023 Session. Blue areas are represented by Democrats, and red by Republicans.}} | ||
'''New Jersey''' is a small, densely-populated state in the northeast [[United States of America|USA]]. In its middle, the state has an urban corridor running from [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] northwest to [[New York, New York|New York City]]. Broadcast media in the state come from either or both of those markets, and state-wide political campaigns must target both markets. This urban belt (i.e., the corridor running from New York to Philadelphia) tends to vote Democrat, whereas the more suburban and rural areas tend to vote Republican.<ref name=WhichParty /> New Jersey has the highest population density in the nation<ref name=PopDens />, and yet its state motto "The Garden State" is reflected by the presence of numerous farms and wooded lands, despite dense suburban sprawl in some areas. The state capital is [[Wikipedia:Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]], which is close to Philadelphia. There are | '''New Jersey''' is a small, densely-populated state in the northeast [[United States of America|USA]]. In its middle, the state has an urban corridor running from [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] northwest to [[New York, New York|New York City]]. Broadcast media in the state come from either or both of those markets, and state-wide political campaigns must target both markets. This urban belt (i.e., the corridor running from New York to Philadelphia) tends to vote Democrat, whereas the more suburban and rural areas tend to vote Republican.<ref name=WhichParty /> New Jersey has the highest population density in the nation<ref name=PopDens />, and yet its state motto "The Garden State" is reflected by the presence of numerous farms and wooded lands, despite dense suburban sprawl in some areas. The state capital is [[Wikipedia:Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]], which is close to Philadelphia. There are numerous protected parks, including a segment of the [[Wikipedia:Appalachian Trail|Appalachian Trail]] in the northwest corner of the state near the [[Wikipedia:Delaware Water Gap|Delaware Water Gap]], the [[Wikipedia:New Jersey Pine Barrens|New Jersey Pine Barrens]] in the south, and various preserved woods and wetlands throughout the state. | ||
== Surrounded by water == | == Surrounded by water == | ||
Revision as of 12:14, 19 March 2023
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New Jersey is a small, densely-populated state in the northeast USA. In its middle, the state has an urban corridor running from Philadelphia northwest to New York City. Broadcast media in the state come from either or both of those markets, and state-wide political campaigns must target both markets. This urban belt (i.e., the corridor running from New York to Philadelphia) tends to vote Democrat, whereas the more suburban and rural areas tend to vote Republican.[1] New Jersey has the highest population density in the nation[2], and yet its state motto "The Garden State" is reflected by the presence of numerous farms and wooded lands, despite dense suburban sprawl in some areas. The state capital is Trenton, which is close to Philadelphia. There are numerous protected parks, including a segment of the Appalachian Trail in the northwest corner of the state near the Delaware Water Gap, the New Jersey Pine Barrens in the south, and various preserved woods and wetlands throughout the state.
Surrounded by water
New Jersey's northern border with New York state is a straight line across land, but otherwise, New Jersey is surrounded by water on three sides, like a peninsula:
- On the west, its border is the Delaware River, across from Pennsylvania.
- On the south, its border is the Delaware Bay, across from Delaware.
- On the southeast shoulder, its border is the Atlantic Ocean.
- On the northeast shoulder, its border is the Raritan Bay and the Hudson River, across from New York City.
Historic battle ground sites
New Jersey was one of the original thirteen colonies which broke away from Britain in 1776 to form the U.S. It has several important historic battlefield sites preserved since the American Revolution, including the site where George Washing crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack on Trenton on Christmas night of 1776, and sites for the Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Princeton, and the Battle of Monmouth.
Pollution and Superfund sites
Due to past industrial activity, New Jersey has had more Superfund toxic waste sites than any other state in the union--and this despite it's small geographic size. Fewer than a quarter of New Jersey’s Superfund sites--35 out of about 150 that have been on the EPA’s list at various times since the law was passed in 1980--have actually been cleaned up.
Social and economic issues
As of 2022, all aspects of reproductive choice including abortion are protected by law.[3]
There are strict gun registration laws (no open carry).
In 2022, the Sales Tax rate was 6.625%[4], and it is a "progressive" tax because items such as food, clothing, drugs, and manufacturing machinery are exempt.
Residential land is scarce, and property taxes tend to be high relative to other parts of the United States.
Religion
About a third of adults in the state identify as Catholic, another third as Christian, and the remaining third divided between various world religions on the one hand and agnostic/atheistic leanings on the other hand[5].
See also
References
- ↑ The state has recently had governors from both parties (and as of 2023, is a Democrat). The two state senators are typically Democrats. Most (but not all) of the U.S. congressional representatives are Democrats.
- ↑ In 2020, the state had an average of 1,134.5 people per square mile. The sparsest state, Montana, only has an average of just 6.86 people per square mile.
- ↑ Text of the reproductive choice law passed by NJ in 2022, from the state of NJ website, last access 12/9/2022
- ↑ Certain specially designated Urban Enterprise Zones have their sales tax rate cut in half (in 2022, these zones existed in parts of Elizabeth, Bridgeton, Camden, Newark, Trenton, Plainfield, New Brunswick and Gloucester City).
- ↑ Religious Landscape of New Jersey since 2000, by Pew Research.