All about New Jersey
One of the United States' 13 original colonies, New Jersey has a fascinating history. It’s long been featured on our screens in hit films like the Dark Knight Rises and TV shows such as The Sopranos, and is also the birthplace of many stars.
New Jersey has also recently welcomed football fans from across the world as America co-hosts the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. The final will also be held in the Garden State.
But how well do you know New Jersey? Here, BBC Bitesize has pulled together 10 fun facts for you to test your knowledge.
1. It gets its name from the Isle of Jersey
The United States originally consisted of 13 colonies - one of them being New Jersey.
The other 12 founding states are Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
The original 13 states were former British colonies that declared independence in 1776. And New Jersey was named after the Isle of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel.
The colony was named in 1664 by Sir George Carteret, a Jersey royalist who helped shelter King Charles II while Oliver Cromwell controlled England. Alongside, John, Lord Berkeley, he was gifted the land now known as New Jersey.
2. It is is known as the 'Garden State'
New Jersey is known as the ‘Garden State’ due to its rich agricultural heritage, as well as for its farms and fresh produce it still produces today.
And Abraham Browning, a state attorney general, is widely credited as coining the nickname back in 1876. He famously described New Jersey as an "immense barrel filled with good things to eat," with Pennsylvania and New York grabbing from opposite ends.
The name stuck, and, in 1954, the New Jersey state legislature passed a bill to have "The Garden State" added to licence plates. In 2017, it was signed into law as the official state slogan.
3. It is the 'diner capital' of the world
Whether you’ve visited America or watched one of the many iconic films set there, you’ll likely have come across a diner. These casual restaurants are found across the States and usually serve up classic, affordable food like breakfasts, burgers, milkshakes, pancakes and more.
But out of all the locations in America, New Jersey is widely known as the ‘diner capital of the world.’ Prior to the diner, the ‘lunch wagon,' a horse-pulled wagon selling food, was invented in 1872 by Walter Scott in nearby Rhode Island.
According to BBC Travel, the diner as we know it to be today was invented in 1913 by Jerry O’Mahony of Bayonne, New Jersey, who built the first stationary lunch wagon. His business expanded and he formed a prefabricated diner company, going on to build more than 2000 diners between 1917 and 1956.
Today, New Jersey is estimated to have over 500 diners.
4. It has its own state flower and flag
The flag of the United States of America is known across the world and stands out for its stars and stripes design. But did you know that all 50 U.S. states have their own unique flag?
New Jersey’s state flag was adopted in 1896 and features the state’s official colours – buff, a yellowish tan colour, and dark blue, known as ‘Jersey blue.’ These colours were chosen by George Washington during the Revolutionary War for the flag of New Jersey’s army regiments.
It features two female figures either side of a shield which has three ploughs at the centre, a horse’s head above a knight’s helmet and a blue ribbon displaying the state motto of ‘Liberty and Prosperity.’ New Jersey also has its own state flower.
The official state flower is the Common Meadow Violet (Viola sororia), which is also known as the common blue violet.
5. The original U.S. Monopoly is based on Atlantic City
The Monopoly board game has been loved by generations and sees players roll dice to move around a board, building houses and hotels and buying and trading properties along the way.
The iconic board game was inspired by another board game, The Landlord’s Game, which was created by Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Magie in America in 1903. By the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Charles Darrow was introduced to a version of the board game by Charles Dodd, a childhood friend of his wife Esther Jones.
Prior to the Great Depression, the couple had moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey, so when Darrow came to create his own version of the board game, he named the streets after those in Atlantic City.
Darrow’s Monopoly soared in popularity and by 1935, the Parker Brothers bought the rights to it and released the game nationwide.
6. It's been the home of many sporting firsts
New Jersey is in the spotlight in 2026 as America co-hosts the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. New Jersey is the location of the 2026 final.
But it’s had many sporting firsts through time. America is synonymous with baseball and in 1846 the first officially recorded and organised baseball game took place in Hoboken, New Jersey.
It also has a similar accolade in the world of basketball. In 1896, the first professional basketball game was played in New Jersey’s capital, Trenton.
7. Thomas Edison built his first incandescent lightbulb in New Jersey
The invention of the lightbulb was not the work of one single person. However, Thomas Edison is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful incandescent lightbulb.
Born in Ohio, the inventor, in later life, moved to New Jersey. In 1879, he built his first incandescent lightbulb at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
By 1880, Edison received his U.S. patent for the incandescent electric lamp.
8. It's the birthplace of many stars
New Jersey is famous around the world, but it is also the birthplace of many famous figures across numerous industries.
Perhaps its most widely known and recognised export is Frank Sinatra. Born in Hoboken, the legendary singer and actor won 11 Grammy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and three Oscars - one competitive award and two special honorary awards - in his lifetime.
In the world of music, artists Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Whitney Houston also hail from New Jersey. In film and TV, other stars from the Garden State include John Travolta, Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson, James Gandolfini, and Meryl Streep.
Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, was also born in New Jersey, USA.
9. New Jersey made an incredible dinosaur discovery
We’re going far back in time now – but did you know one of the world's first nearly complete dinosaur skeletons was discovered in New Jersey?
In 1858, the Hadrosaurus foulkii was unearthed by William Parker Foulke in Haddonfield, New Jersey. The skeleton was excavated from a marl pit and is said to have been the first ever to be mounted for public display.
Today, it is permanently housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
10. There's a 'Jersey Devil'
In New Jersey folklore, the story of the legendary creature the Jersey Devil - also known as the Leeds Devil - has been passed down through generations. The creature, often described as having a tail, wings and hooves, is said to inhabit the forests of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
There are several popular stories surrounding the creature, but perhaps the most famous is the story of Mother Leeds, who gave birth to her 13th baby on a stormy night. She is said to have cursed the child in labour and as a result, that night, the Jersey Devil was born and vanished into the Pine Barrens.
Another story goes that a gypsy cursed a young woman who refused to give her food and the curse resulted in her giving birth to the Jersey Devil. There are a number of historic accounts and alleged sightings through time.
But could it be true?
Can you name the United States' original 13 colonies?
As mentioned previously, the United States originally consisted of 13 colonies. But do you remember them?
Don't scroll back! See if you can name the 13 British settlements which became the original colonies of the USA in 60 seconds - good luck!
This article was written in June 2026
