History of New Jersey in Timeline
New Jersey, a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the U.S., is situated within the Northeast megalopolis. Bordered by New York, the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, it is the fifth-smallest state by land area but the 11th-most populous, with over 9.5 million residents. Trenton is the capital, while Newark is the most populous city. Notably, New Jersey is the only U.S. state where every county is classified as urban and is the most densely populated state in the country.
4 hours ago : Lifeguard Impaled by Beach Umbrella in Asbury Park: A Harrowing Accident
A lifeguard in Asbury Park, New Jersey, was critically injured after being impaled by a rogue beach umbrella. The incident highlights the potential dangers of beach equipment and the need for increased safety measures.
January 5, 1904: Record Low Temperature
On January 5, 1904, the all-time record low temperature in New Jersey was recorded in River Vale, Bergen County, at -34 °F (-37 °C).
1907: First Motion Picture Industry
In 1907, America's first motion picture industry started in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
1909: First Studio Constructed
In 1909, the first studio was constructed in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
1911: Walsh Act Enacted in 1911
In 1911, the New Jersey Legislature enacted the Walsh Act, which provided for a three- or five-member commission elected on a non-partisan basis, marking the beginning of modern forms of government.
1917: Camp Dix and Camp Merritt Construction
In 1917, Camp Dix (later Fort Dix) and Camp Merritt were constructed to house and train American soldiers during World War I.
1921: First Miss America Pageant
In 1921, the first Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City.
1923: Municipal Manager Law Passed in 1923
In 1923, the Municipal Manager Law was passed, introducing a Council-manager government structure with an appointed manager responsible for the day-to-day administration of municipal affairs.
1927: Holland Tunnel Opens
In 1927, the Holland Tunnel, connecting Jersey City to Manhattan, was opened.
1933: First Drive-in Movie
In 1933, the first drive-in movie was shown in Camden.
July 10, 1936: Record High Temperature
On July 10, 1936, the all-time record high temperature in New Jersey was recorded in Runyon, Middlesex County, at 110 °F (43 °C).
1941: Camp Kilmer Construction
In 1941, Camp Kilmer was constructed to house and train American soldiers during World War II.
1947: New Jersey State Constitution Adopted in 1947
In 1947, the current version of the New Jersey State Constitution was adopted, establishing a bicameral legislature with a Senate and General Assembly.
1947: Constitution Provision Retained
In 1947, the provision of the second state constitution was retained, but was later overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States.
1950: Faulkner Act Enacted in 1950
In 1950, the Faulkner Act was originally enacted, providing four basic plans for municipal government in New Jersey.
1951: New Jersey Turnpike Opened
In 1951, the New Jersey Turnpike opened, facilitating travel between North Jersey/New York and South Jersey/Philadelphia.
1957: Garden State Parkway Completed
In 1957, the Garden State Parkway was completed, opening up highway travel along New Jersey's coastal flank.
1959: CIM-10 Bomarc Missile Deployment
In 1959, the CIM-10 Bomarc surface-to-air missile was deployed to McGuire Air Force Base.
June 7, 1960: CIM-10 Bomarc Missile Accident
On June 7, 1960, an explosion in a CIM-10 Bomarc missile fuel tank caused an accident and subsequent plutonium contamination.
1960: New Jersey a Crucial Swing State in 1960
New Jersey was a crucial swing state in the 1960 election.
1962: Baker v. Carr Decision
In 1962, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the constitution provision by the decision Baker v. Carr.
1962: NS Savannah Launched
In 1962, the world's first nuclear-powered cargo ship, the NS Savannah, was launched at Camden.
August 2, 1964: First Race Riots in Jersey City
On August 2, 1964, the first race riots in New Jersey occurred in Jersey City.
1965: Death Penalty Eliminated in 1965
1967: Race Riots in Newark and Plainfield
In 1967, race riots ensued in Newark and Plainfield.
April 1968: Riots Following Martin Luther King Jr.'s Assassination
In April 1968, riots occurred following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
1968: New Jersey a Crucial Swing State in 1968
New Jersey was a crucial swing state in the 1968 election.
1976: Team Plays as Colorado Rockies
From 1976, the team played in Denver, Colorado, as the Colorado Rockies.
1976: Casino Gambling Approved
In 1976, Jersey voters approved casino gambling in Atlantic City.
1976: Income Tax Bill Passed
In 1976, the New Jersey legislature passed an income tax bill as a result of a New Jersey Supreme Court order to fund schools equitably; prior to this, the state had no income tax.
1977: New Jersey Nets
From 1977, New Jersey had a National Basketball Association team, the New Jersey Nets.
1978: First Legalized Casino Opened
In 1978, the first legalized casino opened in Atlantic City, making it only the second casino resort in the country after Las Vegas.
1978: Motion Picture and Television Commission
Since 1978, New Jersey has maintained a Motion Picture and Television Commission to encourage filming in-state.
1979: NJ Transit Begins
In 1979, NJ Transit, a state-run corporation, began with the consolidation of several private bus companies in North Jersey.
1979: Last Republican Senator in 1979
The last elected Republican to hold a Senate seat from New Jersey was Clifford P. Case in 1979.
1980: Football Hiatus
In 1980, Rutgers and Princeton last met on the football field, though they continue to play each other annually in other sports.
1980: Superfund Law Passed
In 1980, the Superfund law was passed. Since then, only 35 of New Jersey's Superfund sites (out of about 150) have been cleaned up by 2024.
1980: Population Growth Slowdown
Until 1980, New Jersey experienced double-digit population growth almost every decade, after which growth slowed.
1981: Faulkner Act Amended in 1981
In 1981, the Faulkner Act, originally enacted in 1950, was substantially amended, offering further flexibility in selecting government characteristics.
1982: Team Moved to New Jersey
In the spring of 1982, the franchise was purchased, renamed, and moved to Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford's Meadowlands Sports Complex.
1987: Playoff Drought
From 1974 to 1987, the team qualified for the playoffs once.
1988: Last Republican Presidential Vote in 1988
The last time New Jersey voted for a Republican for president was in 1988.
1992: New Jersey a Crucial Swing State in 1992
New Jersey was a crucial swing state in the 1992 election.
1993: Christine Todd Whitman Wins Election in 1993
Christine Todd Whitman won election as governor in 1993, marking a Republican victory in New Jersey.
1994: FIFA World Cup Matches
New Jersey hosted matches during the 1994 FIFA World Cup at Giants Stadium.
1995: Stanley Cup Win
In 1995, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup.
1996: State Song Suggestions
In 1996, the New Jersey Arts Council submitted state song suggestions to the New Jersey Legislature; however, the state still does not have a state song as of 2021.
1997: Christine Todd Whitman Wins Election in 1997
Christine Todd Whitman won election as governor in 1997.
1999: Tropical Storm Floyd Impact
In 1999, New Jersey was impacted by Tropical Storm Floyd.
2000: Population Increase in Newark
Between 2000 and 2010 Newark experienced its first population increase since the 1950s.
2000: Stanley Cup Win
In 2000, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup.
2000: Center of Population
Since the 2000 census, the United States Census Bureau calculated that New Jersey's center of population was located in East Brunswick.
2003: Stanley Cup Win
In 2003, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup.
2005: Constitutional Amendment for Lieutenant Governor Passed in 2005
In 2005, New Jersey voters passed a Constitutional amendment that led to the creation of the position of lieutenant governor.
December 17, 2007: Death Penalty Eliminated on December 17, 2007
On December 17, 2007, Governor Jon Corzine signed into law a bill that would eliminate the death penalty in New Jersey.
2007: Breeders' Cup Hosted at Monmouth Park
Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2007, and its turf course was renovated in preparation.
2007: National Final Appearance
Rutgers' women's basketball programs, appeared in a National Final in 2007.
2007: Mars Wrigley US Headquarters
Since 2007, Mars Wrigley Confectionery's US headquarters has been based in Hackettstown and Newark.
2008: Governor Corzine Proposes Cutting State Aid in 2008
In 2008, Governor Jon Corzine proposed cutting state aid to all towns with populations under 10,000 to encourage mergers and reduce administrative costs.
2008: Rutgers Stadium Expansion
In 2008, Rutgers expanded their football home, Rutgers Stadium, now called SHI Stadium, on the Busch Campus.
2008: Re-urbanization
Since 2008, New Jersey has experienced increasing re-urbanization, with city growth outpacing suburban growth.
May 2009: Local Unit Alignment Reorganization and Consolidation Commission Study Begins in May 2009
In May 2009, the Local Unit Alignment Reorganization and Consolidation Commission initiated a study of approximately 40 small communities in South Jersey to identify potential candidates for consolidation.
2009: 125th Season of Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks Lacrosse
2009 marked the 125th season of the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks men's lacrosse program, the longest continuously running collegiate program in the country.
2009: Chris Christie Wins Election in 2009
Chris Christie won election as governor in 2009, marking a Republican victory in New Jersey.
2009: Rutgers Stadium Expansion
In 2009, Rutgers expanded their football home, Rutgers Stadium, now called SHI Stadium, on the Busch Campus.
2009: Plurality Supports Same-Sex Marriage in 2009
In 2009, a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll indicated that a plurality of New Jersey residents supported same-sex marriage.
January 19, 2010: Kim Guadagno Takes Office
On January 19, 2010, Kim Guadagno, a Republican, was elected and took office as the first lieutenant governor of New Jersey, serving with Governor Chris Christie.
2010: U.S. Census Count
According to the 2010 U.S. census, New Jersey had a population of 8,791,894 residents.
2010: Atlantic City Contraction
After 2010, Atlantic City experienced a dramatic contraction in its stature as a gambling destination.
2010: United States census
As of the 2010 United States census, only four municipalities had over 100,000 residents.
2010: Tax Credits Suspended
In 2010, Governor Chris Christie suspended tax credits for television producers in New Jersey.
July 27, 2011: MLS All-Star Game Hosted
On July 27, 2011, Red Bull Arena hosted the 2011 MLS All-Star Game.
2011: New York Liberty Played in New Jersey
From 2011, the WNBA's New York Liberty played in New Jersey while their primary home arena, Madison Square Garden was undergoing renovations.
2011: Tax Credits Restored and Expanded
In 2011, the New Jersey State Legislature approved the restoration and expansion of the tax credit program, offering 20 percent tax credits (22% in urban enterprise zones) to television and film productions meeting specific standards.
2012: Hurricane Sandy Landfall
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, with top winds of 90 mph (145 km/h).
2012: End of New Jersey Nets
In 2012, New Jersey no longer had a National Basketball Association team, the New Jersey Nets.
2012: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
In 2012, the New Jersey Devils last appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals.
February 26, 2013: Online Gambling Legalized
On February 26, 2013, Governor Chris Christie signed online gambling into law in New Jersey.
October 2013: Cory Booker Elected to U.S. Senate in October 2013
In October 2013, Newark Mayor Cory Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate, joining Robert Menendez and making New Jersey the first state with concurrently serving black and Latino U.S. senators.
October 18, 2013: New Jersey Supreme Court Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage on October 18, 2013
On October 18, 2013, the New Jersey Supreme Court rendered a provisional order authorizing same-sex marriage in the state, pending a legal appeal.
2013: Chris Christie Wins Election in 2013
Chris Christie won election as governor in 2013.
2013: End of New York Liberty Played in New Jersey
In 2013, WNBA's New York Liberty no longer played in New Jersey as their primary home arena, Madison Square Garden was renovated.
February 2, 2014: Super Bowl XLVIII Hosted at MetLife Stadium
On February 2, 2014, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford hosted Super Bowl XLVIII.
2014: Forbes Moves Headquarters to Jersey City
In 2014, Forbes magazine moved its headquarters to Jersey City after being awarded a $27 million tax grant in exchange for bringing 350 jobs to the city over a ten-year period.
2014: Jersey City Population Increase
In 2014, Jersey City's Census-estimated population was 262,146, marking the largest population increase of any municipality in New Jersey since 2010.
2014: WMGM-TV Loses NBC Affiliation
In 2014, WMGM-TV (Wildwood) lost its affiliation with NBC.
2014: Casino Closures
Since 2014, multiple casinos in Atlantic City have closed, spurred by competition from legalized gambling in other northeastern U.S. states.
2015: WalletHub Ranks New Jersey
In 2015, WalletHub ranked New Jersey as the state least dependent on federal government aid overall and with the fourth-lowest return on taxpayer investment from the federal government, receiving 48 cents per dollar.
2016: Full-Service Gasoline
In 2016, New Jersey became the last remaining U.S. state where all gas stations are required to sell full-service gasoline to customers at all times, after Oregon's introduction of restricted self-service gasoline availability took effect.
2016: 76ers Training Complex Opened
In 2016, the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA opened their new headquarters and training facility, the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex, in Camden.
2017: Jersey City's Tax Base Growth
In 2017, Jersey City's tax base grew by US$136 million, giving it the largest municipal tax base in New Jersey.
May 14, 2018: Sports Betting Legalized Nationally
On May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized sports betting across the nation, leading to its growth in New Jersey.
2018: NJ Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program Instated
In 2018, Governor Phil Murphy instated the New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program.
2018: Tourism Revenue
In 2018, New Jersey saw 111 million tourist visits, generating US$44.7 billion in tourism revenue, directly supporting 333,860 jobs, sustaining more than 531,000 jobs overall, and generating US$5 billion in state and local tax revenue.
2018: Flyers Training Facility Renovated
In 2018, the Philadelphia Flyers renovated and expanded their training facility, the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone, in Voorhees Township.
2018: Top Countries of Origin for Immigrants
In 2018, the top countries of origin for New Jersey's immigrants were India, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, and the Philippines.
April 2020: U.S. Census Count
As of April 2020, the state had a population of 9,288,994 according to the U.S. census.
August 8, 2020: Elected County Officials Now Called County Commissioners
On August 8, 2020, Governor Murphy signed bill S855, changing the title of elected county officials in New Jersey from freeholders to county commissioners.
2020: United States census
At the 2020 census, Bergen County had 955,732 residents.
2020: Population Rebound in Newark
By 2020, Newark's population had rebounded to 311,549.
2020: Marijuana Legalization Approved in 2020
In 2020, New Jersey's voting population passed a public question amending the state constitution to legalize marijuana and erase past legal convictions for possession.
2020: NJ Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program Expanded
In 2020, the New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program was expanded by Governor Phil Murphy. The benefits include a 30% tax credit on film projects and a 40% subsidy for studio developments.
2021: State Without a State Song
As of 2021, New Jersey is one of only two states (the other being Maryland) that are currently without a state song.
January 1, 2022: Pine Valley Merged into Pine Hill on January 1, 2022
On January 1, 2022, the municipality of Pine Valley dissolved and merged into Pine Hill, marking the most recent dissolution of a municipality in New Jersey.
September 2022: Online Casino Revenue Surpasses $5 Billion
In September 2022, the lifetime revenue from online casinos operating in New Jersey since the industry's launch had surpassed $5 billion.
2022: Homeless Population Estimate
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 8,752 homeless people in New Jersey.
2022: Reproductive Choice Protected by Law as of 2022
As of 2022, all aspects of reproductive choice, including abortion, are protected by law in New Jersey.
2022: Population Decrease
In 2022, the Census Bureau estimated there were 6,262 fewer residents than in 2020, a decline of 0.3% from 2020.
2023: Median Household Income
As of 2023, New Jersey had a median household income of $99,781, ranking as the second-highest among all U.S. states.
2023: Postseason Appearances
As of 2023, the New Jersey Devils have appeared in 23 postseasons in 40 seasons in New Jersey.
2023: Population growth in Northeast
In 2023, New Jersey lead the Northeast with a 1.3% growth rate or 121,209 residents.
2023: Sports Betting Revenue
In 2023, sports betting became a growing source of gambling revenue in New Jersey, with sportsbooks bringing in almost $12 billion in bets, making over $1 billion in revenue.
2023: PFAs in Water Supplies
In late 2023, a concern became public about PFAs (so-called "forever chemicals") existing in the state's water supplies.
2024: Regulation of Marijuana Businesses Ongoing as of 2024
As of 2024, local governments and municipalities in New Jersey are still in the process of regulating marijuana-related businesses within their jurisdictions.
2024: Superfund Site Cleanups
By 2024, only 35 of New Jersey's Superfund sites (out of about 150) have been cleaned up since the Superfund law was passed in 1980.
2024: Healthiest Population Ranking
In 2024, New Jersey was ranked as having the second-healthiest population overall in the United States.
2024: Population Rebound
In 2024, the Census Bureau reported that the state population rebounded by 2.3% or 211,837 residents from April 2020.
2026: 2026 FIFA World Cup
New Jersey will be one of 16 cities to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium, which will also host the tournament final.
2026: Garden State Hardwood Classic Planned Through 2026
The annual inter-conference rivalry game between Seton Hall and Rutgers, known as the Garden State Hardwood Classic, is scheduled to continue through 2026.
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