States from A-Z: New Jersey & New York

New Jersey is the Garden State

After Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut, New Jersey is the fourth smallest state of the United States of America, yet at the same time the one with the highest population density. It was named after Jersey, one of the British Channel Islands. It is among the most important centres of industry in the US. The Eastern part of the state, that has the Hudson River and lies within the metropolitan area of New York, which is the biggest city in the US, is very densely populated. The four biggest cities, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth are all within that area. The capital is Trenton, which is important as a centre for trade and industry. Most important to its industry is food, printing and publishing, ceramics, rubber, plastic and metal goods. Among many other historical buildings, the town house with the golden dome (built in 1792) and William Trent’s old house, built in 1719, are particularly worth seeing. (The town of Trenton was named after William Trent.) Trenton became the capital of New Jersey in 1790. By the middle of the 19th century, the town had become one of the most progressive centres of industry throughout the US. The iron and steel industry that had come to Trenton in the middle of the 18th century experienced a further significant boom in 1849 with the production of steel cable. Today, the capital has a population of approximately 92,000 people.

The first settlers came to the area that is today New Jersey in 1609. In the beginning, New Jersey, together with what today is the state of New York, formed the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which was conquered by the British in 1664. About 100 battles were fought in New Jersey during the War of Independence, among them Trenton in 1776, Princeton in 1777 and Monmouth in 1778. For a short time, the first government of the US organized by the Continental Congress was located in New Jersey, in 1783 it was in Princeton and in 1784 in Trenton. One of the original 13 colonies, New Jersey was the third state to ratify the United States Constitution.

From an agricultural to an industrial state

Industry in New Jersey makes up more than 18% of the annual GNP. The state is among the leading producers of chemicals. This includes petrochemical products, pharmaceuticals and basic substances like sulphuric acid. Further products include printing and publishing products, industrial machinery, precision instruments, electronic devices, food stuffs, clothing and fabrics, stone ware products and china, glass and paper products. Until the 1820s, New Jersey was a mostly agricultural state. Industry started becoming important in 1840, when Paterson, which already was a centre of the textile industry, started producing armaments and locomotives. The American Civil War gave the next impetus for industrialization. By 1900 the population had increased to more than 900,000. Paterson became a symbol for bitter labor disputes at the beginning of the 20th century, as factory workers fought for better working conditions and wages.

After World War II New Jersey’s economy grew and population increased. Around 1960, it was one of the eight most populous states. During the 1970s and 1980s, the construction of a new containerization centre in the port of Newark, the expansion of Newark International Airport, the construction of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford and the establishment of casinos in Atlantic City created new jobs for New Jersey. In the 1990s, New Jersey also became known for its seaside resorts, its efficient farming and its emerging service sector. Real GDP per capita was at $ 44,885 in 2006, which puts New Jersey in place five in the national ranking (national real GDP average of the 50 states: $ 37,714). Former US president Grover Cleveland was born in New Jersey, former president Woodrow Wilson spent most of his childhood there. The service sector is gradually becoming the most vital part of New Jersey’s economy. The biggest challenges the state is facing today are environmental protection, redevelopment of the cities and reform of the school system.

 

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New York is the Empire State

The state is located in the Northeast of the United States. Together with New Jersey and Pennsylvania, New York is part of the Mid-Atlantic States and covers 54,556 square miles. With a population of 19.3 million (2007) it is the third largest state in population after California and Texas. It is also referred to as the Empire State. That name probably goes back to a quote by George Washington from a time he traveled through the state and was impressed with its economic power and wealth. The capital of New York is Albany, but the largest city is the metropolis New York City.

With a population of 8 million, New York is the most populous city in the US – more than twice the size of runner-up Los Angeles (CA). Its total area of 304.8 square miles, however, only makes it to place 26 in the ranking – since in New York, as is generally known, buildings tend to be more high than wide. The impressive Manhattan skyline is the best example for that. For many visitors, Manhattan is a synonym for New York. Over 90% of New York’s tourist attractions are located there, e.g. Broadway, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Wall Street, and the Guggenheim Museum.

The state of New York has many scenic and interesting areas. In addition, there are a number of historic sights, such as the Fort Stanwix National Monument near Rome and the Saratoga National Historical Park near Stillwater; both are locations where battles were fought in 1777 between American and British troops during the War of Independence. Another historical sight is the Castle Clinton National Monument at the southern tip of Manhattan, where the main entry facilities for about eight million immigrants were located between 1855 and 1892. And finally there is the Statue of Liberty National Monument on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the central part of which is the Statue of Liberty. The American Museum of Immigration is located in the base of it.

New York ratified the United States Constitution on July 26, 1788, it was the eleventh state of the original thirteen colonies to do so. For a long time, the state set the tone concerning politics, culture and economics within the US. Despite economic trouble in the seventies and eighties that especially hit New York City and other urban regions, the state is still leading in areas like production, trade, foreign trade, communication and finance. New York was named in the 1760s after the Duke of York, future James II of England.

Numerous rivers and lakes can be found in the state of New York. The Great Lakes are in the western part of the state, as is the St. Lawrence River that flows right through the center past the Finger Lakes, the Tug-Hill Plateau and parts of the Adirondacks, as well as the far north of the state. Other well-known rivers are the Genesee, Black, Niagara, Oswego, Hudson, Mohawk, Allegheny, Susquehanna and Delaware. Of the many waterfalls, the Niagara Falls are the best known.

New York City is the cultural capital of the US and is the location of world-famous museums, opera houses, concert halls, orchestras, theater and dance companies, libraries and many more. Between 1825 and the start of the American Civil War, New York City became the production center of the American textile industry, the center of trade for cotton, and a center for banks, insurance, the stock market and import. Economic growth attracted more and more immigrants from Ireland, Germany and Canada. When the Civil War broke out, however, fewer immigrants came and business opportunities improved. Since New York had close ties with the cotton market, the population was not in favor of starting a war with the South. Military conscription in July 1863 led to draft riots in New York City.

 Until the 1960s New York was the most populous state in the US. The seventies and eighties, however, were a period of economic decline. New York City especially was suffering from high unemployment, constant financial difficulties, run-down districts and a decline in population. Despite all that, New York City remained the center of the US stock market, the center of advertising, banking and finance and the headquarters of many national and international enterprises. Despite high-grade industrialization and urbanization, New York is still important as an agricultural region. Until the late 19th century New York had been the leading state in butter and corn production.