New Jersey
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Andy Kim (D) |
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New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware River and Pennsylvania; and on the southwest by Delaware Bay and the state of 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, the state ranks 11th in population and first in population density. New Jersey's state capital is Trenton. Its most populous city is Newark. With the sole exception of Warren County, all 21 counties in the state lie within the combined statistical areas of New York City or Philadelphia. The state's largest metropolitan area falls within the New York metropolitan area.
New Jersey was first inhabited by Native Americans for at least 2,800 years, with the Lenape being the dominant group when Europeans arrived in the early 17th century. Dutch and Swedish colonists founded the first European settlements in the state. The British later seized control of the region and established the Province of New Jersey, named after the largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey. The colony's fertile lands and relative religious tolerance drew a large and diverse population. New Jersey was among the Thirteen Colonies that opposed Great Britain, hosting numerous pivotal battles and military commands in the American Revolutionary War. The state remained in the Union during the American Civil War, and thereafter became a major center of manufacturing and immigration; it helped drive the nation's Industrial Revolution, and became the site of numerous technological and commercial innovations into the mid 20th century.
New Jersey's central location in the Northeast megalopolis helped fuel its rapid growth and suburbanization in the second half of the 20th century. At the turn of the 21st century, its economy increasingly diversified with major sectors including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, specialized agriculture, and informational technology. New Jersey remains a major destination for immigrants with one of the most multicultural populations in the U.S. Echoing historical trends, the state has increasingly re-urbanized, with growth in the cities outpacing the suburbs since 2008. New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states in the U.S. with the third highest median household income as of 2019. Almost one-tenth of all households, or over 323,000 of 3.3 million, are millionaires, the highest per capita rate of millionaires of any state in the country. New Jersey's public school system consistently ranks at or among the top of all U.S. states.
Entymology
The Province of New Jersey was named after the largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey.
Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in New Jersey
Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in New Jersey are generally supportive, reflecting progressive public opinion and robust legal protections. However, challenges persist, particularly in educational settings and local governance.
- Public Opinion
Recent surveys indicate strong support among New Jersey residents for LGBTQ+ rights:
- Same-Sex Marriage: As of 2023, 76% of New Jersey residents support same-sex marriage, with 22% opposed and 2% unsure.
- Nondiscrimination Protections: A 2022 survey found that 86% of New Jersey residents support laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Legal Protections and Policies
New Jersey ranks among the top states for LGBTQ+ equality, with comprehensive laws safeguarding the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals:
- Policy Tally: The state scores 41.75 out of 49 in overall LGBTQ+ policy tally, reflecting strong legal protections.
- LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights: Enacted in 2021, this law prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ elders in long-term care facilities, ensuring respectful and inclusive treatment.
- Education and Youth Experiences
Despite supportive public opinion and legal frameworks, LGBTQ+ youth in New Jersey face challenges:
- School Climate: A 2019 GLSEN survey reported that many LGBTQ+ students in New Jersey felt unsafe at school due to their sexual orientation or gender identity and lacked access to inclusive curricula and supportive policies.
- Parental Notification Policies: In 2023, some school districts proposed policies requiring educators to inform parents if a student identifies as transgender or nonbinary. A poll indicated that a majority of New Jersey voters opposed such policies, favoring student privacy and autonomy.
New Jersey Education Association
- Local Governance and Community Responses
While state-level policies are progressive, local actions sometimes reflect contention:
- Pride Flag Controversy: In 2024, the mayor of Sayreville, NJ, ordered the relocation of a Pride flag from the front of the municipal building to a less visible location, citing neutrality. This move sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates who viewed it as exclusionary.
- Summary
New Jersey demonstrates strong support for LGBTQ+ rights through public opinion and comprehensive legal protections. However, challenges remain, particularly in educational environments and certain local jurisdictions. Continued advocacy and policy enforcement are essential to address these issues and ensure inclusivity across all communities.
History of the New Jersey Flag
The New Jersey State Flag features a pale yellow ("buff") background with the state's coat of arms placed prominently in the center. The coat of arms consists of a light blue shield with three plows in the center, paying homage to the state's agricultural industry. Underneath the shield is a blue banner with silver text that reads, "Liberty and Prosperity," which is the state's motto, and "1776," which is the year New Jersey became a state. Two women stand supporting the shield, one on the right side and one on the left. The woman on the left holds a staff with a liberty cap and is designed to represent liberty, while the woman on the right holds a cornucopia filled with produce and is designed to represent Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, fertility, and motherly relationships. The two women are symbolic representations of the state's motto, "Liberty and Prosperity." A forward-facing helmet and a horse's head are positioned above the shield. The helmet represents sovereignty, while the horse's head stands for speed and strength. The horse is also the state animal of New Jersey. The New Jersey State Flag is the only state flag with a "buff" colored background. The buff and dark blue colors used on the New Jersey flag pay homage to the colors of the uniforms worn by New Jersey's Army regiments during the Revolutionary War, which were chosen by George Washington. The New Jersey Flag was originally designed by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere in 1777; however, there were slight modifications made to the design in 1896, and the current version of the flag was adopted on March 26th, 1896.
New Jersey is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and shares borders with New York, the Atlantic Ocean, the Delaware River, Pennsylvania, and the Delaware Bay. The capital city is Trenton, and the largest city in the state is Newark. New Jersey is also known as "The Garden State," a nickname coined by Abraham Browning of Camden, NJ.
The first residents were Native Americans known as the Lenni-Lenape (also called Delaware Indians or the Delaware Nation). The first European to explore the area was the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. In 1609, the Dutch explorer Henry Hudson claimed the land for the Dutch, referring to it as New Netherlands. Both Dutch and Swedish settlers moved here, eventually leading to an English majority in the population. In 1664, the English Navy seized control of the area. The Duke of York granted the territory now known as New Jersey to long-time friends and supporters, Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, who intended to use the land for business purposes by recruiting settlers from England to lease land.
During this period, the land was divided into two sections – East Jersey and West Jersey. West Jersey was occupied by Quakers, while East Jersey was occupied by Puritans until the two sections were united in 1702. In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, New Jersey served as a battleground, situated between New York and Philadelphia. Following the Revolutionary War, New Jersey officially became the third state on December 18th, 1787.
External links
- Wikipedia article: New Jersey
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