Welcome to the Garden State

The State of New Jersey boasts a rich history as one of the original 13 colonies, and has an interesting and diverse culture due to the influx of immigrants who settled here during the early and mid 1900’s. New Jersey is still a popular place for modern day immigrants because of the employment opportunities the state has to offer. New Jersey is home to one of the busiest merchant sea ports in the world, which has helped to facilitate successful industrialization and technological advances, resulting in the prospering of its people. New Jersey is unofficially divided into 3 distinct regions. They are known as North Jersey, Central Jersey and South Jersey.

To most residents of New Jersey, the division of the 3 regions is based on physical landmarks. North Jersey begins north of The Oranges exit on the Garden State Parkway. South Jersey, also known as “Down the Shore,” begins south of the Perth Amboy Bridge. Central Jersey is the region between the two aforementioned landmarks.

An estimated 8,707,739 people live in the 8,729 square miles that make up New Jersey, making it the most densely populated state in the country. Despite its small size, each region is home to distinct cultures, probably most apparent in North Jersey, where the stereotypical New Jerseyan is represented in radio, television and film. Television programs like The Soprano’s and The Real Housewives of New Jersey take place here. North Jersey is also home to numerous ski slopes in the winter and a variety of lakes to enjoy in the summer.

Central Jersey houses the expansive Newark/Elizabeth Seaport and one of the busiest international airports in the world, Newark Liberty International Airport. Among the culturally diverse population of Central Jersey there are 2 notable communities of residents. One is made up of Portuguese immigrants and the other of Cubans. In fact, New Jersey is home to the second most populous community of Cubans in the United States.

South Jersey offers an estimated 127 miles of shore line. The pace in South Jersey is more laid back, and the milieu is less industrial than its northern counterparts. Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are from South Jersey, where WaWa convenience stores abound and boardwalks were invented. Atlantic City, a popular casino town, and Cape May, a historic Victorian town, are both in South Jersey.

New Jersey’s culturally diverse population and its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean give it a distinct, modern personality, while its roots continue to run deep in the history of the United States.