Location of New Jersey in the world

Location of New Jersey in the U.S.A.

New Jersey is a state within the United States of America that lies on the eastern edge of the North American continent. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_NJ.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): New Jersey ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_NJ.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): New Jersey ...

The State of New Jersey shares a land border with the state of State of New York along the north. Along the east, New Jersey is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean, and is separated from New York, in particular the boroughs of the Bronx and Manhattan in New York City by the Hudson River, and from Staten Island by the Kill van Kull and the Arthur Kill. On its west, New Jersey is flanked by the Delaware River that forms its border with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Delaware Bay which separates New Jersey from the State of Delaware. However, due to a fluke in a colonial land grant for the city of New Castle, Delaware (called The Twelve-Mile Circle), the state of Delaware possesses a small amount of land in New Jersey at Finns Point and a pier near Penns Grove, both adjacent to Salem County. This article is about the state. ... For other uses, see Bronx (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk in Mahican or as the Lenape Native Americans called it in Unami, Muhheakantuck, is a river that runs through the eastern portion of New York State and, along its southern terminus, demarcates the border between the states of New York and... This article is about the borough in New York City. ... The Kill Van Kull is a tidal strait approximately 3 miles long and 1000 feet wide separating Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey, USA. The name kill comes from an old Dutch word for water channel It connects Newark Bay with Upper New York Bay. ... The Arthur Kill, seen from Staten Island, with Carteret, New Jersey in the background. ... For the Delaware River in Kansas, see Delaware River (Kansas) The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Delaware Bay Delaware Bay is a large esturarial inlet of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Delaware River along the coast of the United States. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Delaware. ... Old New Castle Courthouse. ... The Twelve-Mile Circle The Twelve-Mile Circle is an arc that makes up most of the north-south boundary between the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware in the United States. ... Finns Point is a small strategic promontory at the southwest corner of New Jersey, on the east bank of the Delaware River near its mouth on Delaware Bay. ... Penns Grove Borough highlighted in Salem County. ... Salem County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ...

New Jersey's geography has contributed largely to its development, its economy and its rich history.

Area

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the U.S.

New Jersey is ranked 47th of the fifty states that comprise the United States of America in terms of area. The total area of the state is 8,729 square miles, of which 14.9% or 1,304 square miles is water, and 85.1%, or 7,425 square miles, is land. New Jersey spans 70 miles (110 km) at its widest, and 130 miles (240 km) in length. Image File history File links New_Jersey_Population_Map. ... Image File history File links New_Jersey_Population_Map. ...

Due to its small size, New Jersey, which ranks tenth in the nation in terms of population with 8,414,350 people, ranks first in population density, with 1,134 people per square mile. However, while this offers the impression that New Jersey is entirely urban or suburban, it is not. Large swaths of northwestern and southern New Jersey are extremely rural. For example, Walpack Township in Sussex County, has a population of only 39 and an area of 26 square miles. Walpack Township is a township located in Sussex County, New Jersey. ... The County of Sussex (also known as Sussex County) is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. ...

Political geography

New Jersey Counties

Main article: Politics of New Jersey

The State of New Jersey is divided into 21 counties, which contain a total of 566 municipalities. Like many New England states, all land in New Jersey is incorporated. New Jersey municipalities have a strong tradition of independent home rule which, as a result, means that county government is comparatively weaker than in other states and more open to criticisms of waste and ineffectiveness.^[1] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A county is generally a sub-unit of regional self-government within a sovereign jurisdiction. ... A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly referring to a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. ... The system of local government in use in New England is very different from that found throughout the rest of the United States. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ...

Climate

New Jersey has a humid continental climate, vastly affected by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The humid continental climate is a climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between polar and tropical air masses. ...

Average daily low temperature in January

• Winter is typically cold. The lows usually hover in the 10s and 20s °F (down to -10 °C) and can frequently dip below 0 °F in the northwestern sections of the state. New Jersey winters often feature snowstorms known as Nor'easters that can paralyze the area with over a foot of snow. However, a variation in the climate also occasionally renders winter mild and almost snowless in sections of South Jersey near the Atlantic coastline.

• Springs are mild, averaging in the 50s °F (10 to 15 °C) in late March to the lower 80s °F (25-30 °C) in early June. The weather is unpredictable and brings relatively cool summers as an occasional surprise, and huge snowstorms arriving as late as the second week in April (significant snow after mid-March is fairly rare though). Thunderstorms are common in spring.

Average daily high temperature in July

• Summers in New Jersey tend to be hot and humid, with temperatures often exceeding 90 °F (32 °C), although high temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are about as rare as subzero (F) lows in winter. Humidity levels are usually quite high in July and August. Thunderstorms are common in summer. Hurricanes are considered to be a major threat to the area (and especially the Jersey Shoreline communities in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties). While relatively infrequent compared to areas south and east, a direct hit could cause large loss of life and billions of dollars in damage due to the high population in coastal areas.

• Autumns are comfortable in New Jersey and similar to spring in temperature. However, the weather is notably unpredictable and travelers are advised to check forecasts and bring several layers of clothing in late fall and in the early spring months (e.g., November, March, April) as temperatures do fluctuate quickly at these times of year.

The temperatures vary greatly from the northernmost part of New Jersey to the southernmost part of New Jersey. For example, these are the average high and low temperatures for Cape May, near the state's southernmost ocean-facing point, Sussex, in the mountainous northwest, and Trenton, the state capital located roughly midway between the two: Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Satellite image of the intense noreaster responsible for the North American blizzard of 2006. ... A rolling thundercloud over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... A rolling thundercloud over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. ... Ocean County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... Atlantic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... Cape May County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... Cape May City highlighted in Cape May County. ... Sussex is a borough located in Sussex County, New Jersey. ...

Rivers

Main article: List of New Jersey rivers

New Jersey rivers includes streams formally designated as rivers. There are also smaller streams (i.e., branches, creeks, drains, forks, licks, runs, etc.) in the state. Major rivers include the Manasquan, Maurice, Mullica, Passaic, Rahway, Raritan, Musconetcong, and Delaware rivers. Historically, the Delaware and Raritan rivers have provided transportation of goods and people inland from the Atlantic Ocean, and were once connected by the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Today, these rivers, and the streams that feed them, provide sport and recreation for many people. This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... For other uses, see River (disambiguation). ... The Manasquan River is a major waterway in central New Jersey. ... The Maurice River is a river, approximately 50 mi (80 km) long, in southern New Jersey in the United States. ... The Mullica River is a river, approximately 55 mi (90 km) long, in southern New Jersey in the United States. ... The Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey The Passaic River is a tributary of Newark Bay, approximately 80 mi (129 km long), in northern New Jersey in the United States. ... Looking northwest at City of Rahway water works, September 22, 2005 The Rahway River is a river, approximately 30 mi (48 km) long, in northeastern New Jersey in the United States. ... The Raritan River is a major river of central New Jersey in the United States. ... The Musconetcong River is a tributary of the Delaware River, approximately 44 mi (71 km) long, in northwestern New Jersey in the United States. ... For the Delaware River in Kansas, see Delaware River (Kansas) The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... The Delaware and Raritan Canal (D&R Canal) was a canal in central New Jersey that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. ...

Physiographic Provinces

Main article: Geology of New Jersey

Physiographic Provinces of New Jersey

New Jersey is a region with a high variety of geographical features in a small area. The area can be broken into five regions, corresponding roughly to geological zones. These regions from north to south are the Appalachian Valley and Ridge, Highlands, Newark Basin Piedmont, Inner Coastal Plain, and the Outer Coastal Plain. Physiographic Provinces of New Jersey The Geology of New Jersey consists of four distinct physiographic provinces. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 238 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (278 × 699 pixel, file size: 47 KB, MIME type: image/png) Original work 2007 by Jim Irwin. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 238 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (278 × 699 pixel, file size: 47 KB, MIME type: image/png) Original work 2007 by Jim Irwin. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Appalachian Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province

Main article: Ridge-and-valley Appalachians

The Delaware Water Gap from Knowlton Township in New Jersey.

Shaded relief map

The Appalachian Valley and Ridge lies in the northeastern corner of the valley and includes the Kittatinny Mountains, several smaller valleys and the popular Delaware Water Gap. The state's highest point, the aptly named High Point is within this area, at 1,803 feet. Most of the state's section of the Appalachian Trail runs through this area. The province is bounded on the southeast by an unconformity between Cambrian and Precambrian formations. The Ridge-and-valley Appalachians are a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from northern New Jersey westward into Pennsylvania and southward into Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3264x2448, 1503 KB) Delaware Water Gap from Linaberry Road, Knowlton Township, NJ, Nov 24, 2006 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3264x2448, 1503 KB) Delaware Water Gap from Linaberry Road, Knowlton Township, NJ, Nov 24, 2006 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 376 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1130 × 1800 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 376 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1130 × 1800 pixel, file size: 2. ... The Kittatinny Mountains are a long ridge across northwestern New Jersey. ... The Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River traverses a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. ... For other uses, see High Point (disambiguation). ... The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. ... There is a billion year gap in the geologic record where this 500 million year old dolomite unconformably overlays 1. ... For other uses, see Cambrian (disambiguation). ... The Precambrian (Pre-Cambrian) is an informal name for the supereon comprising the eons of the geologic timescale that came before the current Phanerozoic eon. ...

Highlands Physiographic Province

Main article: New York-New Jersey Highlands

The Highlands Physiographic Province is a geological formation composed primarily of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock running from the Delaware River near Musconetcong Mountain, northeast through the Skylands Region of New Jersey along the Bearfort Ridge and the Ramapo Mountains. Numerous abandoned mines dot the region, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries when iron, copper, zinc and other minerals were extracted from the formations. The glaciated northern half of the province has an abundance of lakes and reservoirs which serve as water supplies for the urban areas to the east. The region's watershed is protected by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. map highlighting the region The New York - New Jersey Highlands is a geological formation composed primarily of precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock running from the Delaware River near Musconetcong Mountain, northeast through the Skylands Region of New Jersey along the Bearfort Ridge and the Ramapo Mountains, Sterling Forest, Harriman and... Interstate road cut through limestone and shale strata in eastern Tennessee In geology and related fields, a stratum (plural: strata) is a layer of rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguishes it from contiguous layers. ... The Precambrian (Pre-Cambrian) is an informal name for the supereon comprising the eons of the geologic timescale that came before the current Phanerozoic eon. ... Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. ... Quartzite, a form of metamorphic rock, from the Museum of Geology at University of Tartu collection. ... For the Delaware River in Kansas, see Delaware River (Kansas) The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... The Skylands Region refers to an area in Northwest New Jersey that is part of the New York - New Jersey Highlands, near the borders with New York and Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Ramapo Torne in Harriman State Park, part of the Ramapo Mountains The Ramapo Mountains are a forested chain of the Appalachian mountains in northeastern New Jersey and southeastern New York in the United States. ... The Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act is a 2004 New Jersey law aimed at protecting the development of the Highlands region of northwest New Jersey under the supervision of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. ...

Newark Basin Piedmont

USGS map of the Newark Basin showing major highways

The Newark Basin is a region in northern New Jersey defined by the boundaries of a sediment-filled rift basin. This basin was formed when the supercontinent Pangaea began to split approximately 220 million years ago, causing several large depressions to form due to extension, which then filled with sediment. The basin itself extends from Rockland County in the southern tip of New York to south-eastern Pennsylvania. It lies within the broader region known as the Piedmont, a crescent-shaped area characterized by smooth topography and large volumes of sediments. Like the Piedmont, the Newark Basin has gentle topography consisting of red bed clastic sediments with occasional igneous rock formations, such as the Palisades Sill and the Watchung basalt flows; these igneous features are responsible for the dramatic elevation changes observed in the region, such as The Palisades and the Watchung Mountains, respectively. The boundaries of the Newark Basin, as well as major highways, are shown on the map at right. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... In geology, a rift is a place where the Earths lithosphere is expanding. ... In geology, a supercontinent is a land mass comprising more than one continental core, or craton. ... For other uses, see Pangaea (disambiguation). ... The Tappan Zee Bridge, in a view looking toward Rockland. ... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... The James River winds its way among piedmont hills in central Virginia. ... For discussion of land surfaces themselves, see Terrain. ... Red beds are strata of sedimentary rock that are red due to the presence of iron oxides. ... In geology, the term clastic refers to sediments formed from fragments of pre-existing rock. ... Volcanic rock on North America Plutonic rock on North America Igneous rocks (etymology from latin ignis, fire) are rocks formed by solidification of cooled magma (molten rock), with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. ... The Palisades Sill as seen from the Palisades Intersate Parkway. ... For the cities, see Basalt, Colorado and Basalt, Idaho. ... Palisades is also a general term for steep cliffs next to a river. ... The Watchung Mountains are a pair of two long low ridge lateral morraines formed by glaciers in the most recent ice age, between 400 ft. ...

For the geological history of the region, see Newark Basin. The Newark Basin is a sediment-filled rift basin located mainly in northern New Jersey but also stretching into south-eastern Pennsylvania and southern New York. ...

Inner Coastal Plain

The Inner Coastal Plain province consists of lowlands and rolling hills underlain by Cretaceous deposits. The region's northwest border lies along the Piedmont fall line. Fertile, loamy soil makes the land ideal for agriculture and is responsible for New Jersey's nickname of the "Garden State". Its deposits of Greensand marl containing potash were used since colonial days by farmers to fertilize their fields. // The Cretaceous Period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... The fall line has meanings in both geographical features and the sport of alpine skiing. ...

Beach at Avalon.

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 36 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I am the photographer (Joe L) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 36 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I am the photographer (Joe L) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to...

Outer Coastal Plain

The outer coastal plain consists of unconsolidated Tertiary deposits of sands, silt, and gravels. The soils are sandy with less clay than the inner coastal plain, and are more acidic and dry. The lack of fertility makes much of the region unsuitable for agriculture and large areas remain undeveloped. The sandy Pine Barrens, an area that is agriculturally poor but species rich, occupy the center of the province. Blueberries and cranberries have been cultivated in lowland bogs that have accumulated depths of organic matter. For other Pine Barrens, see List of pine barrens; for a discussion of the ecotype, see pine barrens Lake Atsion in the Pine Barrens Map of the Pine Barrens The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, are a heavily forested area covering 1. ...

Along the coast, sandy beaches attract a recreation industry, and the offshore barrier islands are popular vacation destinations. In geography, a bar is a linear shoaling landform feature within a body of water. ...

Cultural regions

Historical emigrations

New Jersey's ethnic communities today

New Jersey has one of the fastest growing Asian American communities in the United States. Immigrants from China, Taiwan, South Korea, and India, as well as their native-born children, have transformed towns like Fort Lee, Edison, Iselin, East Brunswick, Palisades Park, and West Windsor^{[citation needed]}. An Asian American is a person of Asian ancestry or origin who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States. ... Map highlighting Fort Lees location within Bergen County. ... Map of Edison Township in Middlesex County Coordinates: , Country State County Middlesex County Settled 1651 Incorporated March 17, 1870 (as Raritan Township) Government  - Type Faulkner Act Mayor-Council  - Mayor Jun Choi Area  - Township  30. ... Map of Iselin CDP in Middlesex County Iselin (pronounced IZ-lin) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. ... East Brunswick is an suburban township located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. ... Map highlighting Palisades Parks location within Bergen County. ... West Windsor Township highlighted in Mercer County. ...

Regional cultural divisions

Although it is a small state, New Jersey has significant regional cultural divisions. South Jersey culture is influenced by its proximity to Philadelphia as well as its extensive shore and beaches. North Jersey culture (particularly northeastern New Jersey) is influenced by its proximity to New York City. Sandwiched in between are the towns of Central Jersey, which are more suburban than their northern counterparts but much less rural than towns in the south. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... Jersey Shore can also refer to Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. ... Metropolitan statistical areas and divisions of New Jersey; counties shaded in blue hues are in the New York City metro; counties shaded in green hues are in the Philadelphia metro. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Metropolitan statistical areas and divisions of New Jersey; counties shaded in blue hues are in the New York City metro; counties shaded in green hues are in the Philadelphia metro. ...

See also

• Geography of the United States
• History of New Jersey
• List of New Jersey rivers
• New Jersey

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The United States is a nation in the Western Hemisphere. ... The written history of New Jersey began with the exploration of the Jersey Coast by Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524, though the region had been settled for millennia by Native Americans. ... This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

References

Citations

1. ^ N.J. County Governments Coming Under Fire, Associated Press, Oct. 31, 2005
2. ^ Climatography of the U.S. No. 84: Daily Station Normals, National Climate Data Center, NOAA
   Daily/Monthly Station Normals for SUSSEX 2 NE and CAPE MAY 2 NW

The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ...

Books and background references

External links

• State of New Jersey