Date Posted: 02/25/25
NCP Blog: Spotlight on Panel Members in New Jersey
Up next in our Spotlight on States series: New Jersey!
New Jersey is one of the original 13 colonies and became a state on December 18, 1787. It is one of the smallest states in land area, but has one of the highest population densities. The estimated population in 2024 was 9,500,851. It is bordered by New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the Atlantic Ocean. New Jersey was named for the island of Jersey in the English Channel.
New Jersey’s transportation system is one of the most extensive in the world, and many of the state’s residents commute to New York and Pennsylvania for work. The state is called the Garden State after becoming famous for its fertile land in the 18th century. The capital city of New Jersey is Trenton.
Official New Jersey State Symbols
Every state has their own unique symbols, from birds to flowers to songs and more! Here are some of New Jersey’s official state symbols:
– Dog: Seeing-eye dog
– Reptile: Bog turtle
– Fish: Brook trout
– Animal: Horse
– Flower: Violet
– Shell: Knobbed whelk
– Fruit: Blueberry
– Bird: Eastern goldfinch
Find more information about New Jersey’s state symbols here.
Fun Facts about New Jersey
The first organized baseball game was played in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1846.
New Jersey’s State House is the third oldest still in use. (Maryland and Virginia are older.)
New Jersey has the most horses per capita, with nearly 10 horses per 1000 people. The United States Equestrian Team is headquartered in Gladstone, NJ.
The properties in the United States version of the board game Monopoly are named after the streets of Atlantic City.
New Jersey is the last state in the country where self-service filling of gasoline is prohibited. (Note: Originally we thought Oregon still banned self-service gasoline, however a savvy panel member pointed out that starting in 2023, Oregon allows it.)
The first professional basketball game was played in Trenton, NJ in 1896.
New Jersey is home to more than 9,900 farms covering 750,000 acres of farmland.
Famous people from New Jersey include John Travolta, Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Martha Stewart, and Meryl Streep.
NCP Panel Members in New Jersey
Want to learn more about your fellow panel members in another state? Here’s how our New Jersey panel members answered some of our survey questions!
Previous Post:
NCP Blog: Mocktails on the Rise
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!