New Jersey is a state of the United States located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. It borders New York to the north, the Delaware Bay to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Pennsylvania to the west. As of 2026, New Jersey has a population of 9.5 million people. The capital of New Jersey is Trenton and the largest city is Newark. Other major cities in the state include Jersey City, Camden, Atlantic City, and Hoboken. A highly urbanized state, New Jersey has the highest population density of all U.S. states.
Originally claimed by Dutch and Swedish colonists, New Jersey was seized by English colonists in 1664. They named New Jersey after Jersey, which is an island off the northern coast of France that is now owned by the British king. Following American independence, New Jersey began to industrialize. Thomas Edison, a famous inventor, was a resident of Menlo Park in Northern New Jersey. Today, New Jersey is now at the center of the Northeast Megalopolis, which is a chain of urban areas that stretches from Boston in the north to Washington, D.C. in the south. New Jersey itself is divided between the metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia.
Politically, New Jersey leans to left. It is one of the most liberal states within the United States. Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Richard Rakoto has both resided in the state during their respective presidencies. Additionally, President Grover Cleveland was born in New Jersey, but had lived in New York by the time of his presidency.