The state motto of New Jersey is “Liberty and Prosperity.” Like a number of other states, New Jersey's state motto was not officially adopted. It has gained acceptance as the unofficial state motto because it is a feature of the state seal. The motto is a reflection of the sentiments felt by the colonists after they declared independence from Britain in 1776.

The Garden State.

New Jersey promotes its outstanding agricultural industry through its Jersey Fresh campaign. Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables must pass a grading program to ensure they are the highest quality.

While most people associate agriculture with our nation's heartland, New Jersey is home to more than 9,071 farms covering 715,057 acres of farmland. The state is among the leaders in many forms of agricultural production.  For example, New Jersey ranks: 5^th in blueberry production, 3^rd in cranberry production, 3^rd in spinach, 3^rd in bell peppers, 4^th in peach production.  The state also produces an abundance of tomatoes, corn, apples, strawberries, potatoes, hay, soybeans and nursery stock.  

Abraham Browning of Camden is given credit for giving New Jersey the nickname the Garden State. According to Alfred Heston's 1926 two-volume book Jersey Waggon Jaunts, Browning called New Jersey the Garden State while speaking at the Philadelphia Centennial exhibition on New Jersey Day (August 24, 1876).

Browning said that our Garden State is an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and New Yorkers from the other. The name stuck ever since.

However, Benjamin Franklin is credited with a similar comparison of New Jersey to a barrel tapped at both ends. Some have used that to discredit Browning with naming the Garden State.

In 1954, the state legislature passed a bill to have "The Garden State" added to license plates. Before signing the bill into law, Governor Robert Meyner investigated the origins of the nickname and found "no official recognition of the slogan Garden State as an identification of the state of New Jersey." He added, "I do not believe that the average citizen of New Jersey regards his state as more peculiarly identifiable with gardening for farming than any of its other industries or occupations." Governor Meyner vetoed the bill, but the legislature overrode the veto. The slogan was added to license plates soon after.

New Jersey does not have a state song.

State Flag
The New Jersey State Flag was adopted in 1896. Its official color is buff, which is a yellowish-tan color. The colors of the state flag, buff and dark blue (Jersey blue), were the colors George Washington chose for the flag of New Jersey's army regiments during the Revolutionary War. The state seal is featured on the flag.

State Seal
Pierre Eugene du Simitiere created New Jersey's State Seal in 1777. It contains five symbols, each of which represents something about New Jersey.

• Helmet and Horse Head
The helmet and the horse's head crest represent New Jersey's independence as a state. They also represent New Jersey's status as one of the first states. In 1787 New Jersey was the third state to sign the U.S. Constitution.

• Liberty
The woman holding a staff with a liberty cap on top is Liberty, who represents freedom. In ancient Rome, former Roman slaves saw a liberty cap as a badge of freedom. Liberty caps became popular again during the Revolutionary War.

• Ceres
The woman on the right is the Roman goddess of grain, Ceres. She holds an ice-cream-cone-shaped basket, called a cornucopia, filled with the many fruits and vegetables produced in New Jersey.

• Shield
The three plows on the shield symbolize the agricultural tradition of New Jersey.

• Scroll
The state's motto "Liberty and Prosperity" is written on the scroll. 1776 is the year New Jersey became a state.

Find three- and four-day American Revolution Trip Itineraries, featuring additional ideas for delicious dining and must-see sites along the way:  https://visitnj.org/American-Revolution

Other Resources

• New Smartphone-Based Audio Tour Helps Visitors Access New Jersey’s Revolutionary War History 
• Map of NJ Revolutionary History
• The Skylands Region offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Northeast and gives visitors a unique glimpse into New Jersey's contribution to the American Revolution through the preserved historical sites.
• American Revolution Destinations in Central and Southern New Jersey
• Follow in George Washington’s Footsteps

Yes, view a list of New Jersey's national historic sites.

The New Jersey State Park Service lists the addresses of historical sites that are open to the public along with links to the websites of the historic sites.

New Jersey Travel and Tourism provides information about historical attractions within the different regions of the states.

More Information
NJ National Landmarks & Historic Sites

The Census Bureau breaks down New Jersey's population statistics as recorded in Census 2020.

New Jersey's ZIP codes are listed by the town of the post office. You can also search for a ZIP code by entering the city and state on the U.S. Postal Service's ZIP code lookup.

View the dates of the New Jersey state holidays

• 21 counties and 565 municipalities.
• 2 United States Senators.
• 12 United States Representatives.
• 40 State Senators.
• 80 Members of the General Assembly.
• 9,288,994 residents (as of April 1, 2020)
• 3,231,874 households (2015-2019).
• 234 municipal libraries, 45 association libraries, 14 county libraries, and five joint libraries.
• 1,981 public elementary schools.
• 512 public secondary schools.
• 254 private high schools.
• 48 four-year colleges.
• 19 two-year colleges.
• 33 engineering colleges.
• 5 medical college.
• 7 theological colleges.
• 7,354 square miles of land.
• 1,368 square miles of water.
• 8,723 square miles total area.
• 127 miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.
• more than 800 lakes and ponds.
• more than 100 rivers and creeks.
• 28 state parks.
• 11 state forests.
• 256 historic & memorial sites.
• 43 natural areas.
• 5 recreational areas.
• 6 state marinas.
• 39,000 miles of highways and roads.

1. The first organized baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ  in 1846.
2. New Jersey’s State House is the second oldest still in use. (Maryland has the oldest.)
3. New Jersey was known as the "Pathway of the Revolution." Over 100 battles were fought on New Jersey soil.
4. New Jersey has more horses per square mile than any other state. The United States Equestrian Team is headquartered in Gladstone , NJ.
5. The properties in the United States version of the board game Monopoly are named after the streets of Atlantic City.
6. The first state to sign the Bill of Rights.
7. New Jersey is one of only two states (along with Oregon) where self-service filling of gasoline is prohibited.
8. The first professional basketball game was played in Trenton, NJ in 1896.
9. New Jersey has 127 miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.
10. New Jersey is home to more than 9,800 farms covering 790,000 acres of farmland.