New Jersey Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.nj.us/

Income

The population of New Jersey in 2002 was 8,575,252. Its rank was 9th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 New Jersey had a per capita personal income of $39,461. This per capita personal income ranked 3rd in the United States and was 128 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 1.0 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of New Jersey was $26,382 and ranked 3rd in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.1 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 New Jersey had a total personal income of $338,387,600. This total personal income ranked 7th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of New Jersey was $207,903,745 and ranked 8th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 1.8 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of New Jersey. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 70.9 percent of total personal income (compared with 69.7 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 16.6 percent (compared with 18.0 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 12.5 percent (compared with 12.3 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 0.8 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.9 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 9.7 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.2 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.1 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 5.1 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in New Jersey increased from $238,660,046 in 2001 to $244,326,404 in 2002, an increase of 2.4 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $150,420,926 to the 2002 estimate was 5.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - New Jersey's oblong-shaped area encompasses 21,277 sq km (8215 sq mi), including 821 sq km (317 sq mi) of inland water and 1101 sq km (425 sq mi) of coastal waters over which it has jurisdiction. At its longest point, New Jersey measures 270 km (168 mi) from north to south, including Cape May Peninsula. At its narrowest the distance from east to west is 58 km (36 mi). Toward the south, where the state's width is greatest, the distance is 92 km (57 mi). The mean elevation of the state is about 75 m (about 250 ft). New Jersey has about 210 km (about 130 mi) of coastline.

Climate - The climate of New Jersey is extremely variable. During the summer the state is invaded by moist tropical air that brings hot, humid conditions. Cold continental air dominates the state for much of the winter and brings frequent heavy snowfalls. Total precipitation over most of the state averages about 1140 mm (about 45 in) per year, with slightly less in the southwest than elsewhere. New Jersey's average temperature is 1° C (33° F) in January and 23° C (74° F) in July. The highest temperature ever recorded was 43° C (110° F) at Runyon, and the lowest was -37° C (-34° F) at River Vale. Length of the growing season varies from less than four months in northwestern New Jersey to almost eight months in the southernmost counties. The state's record single snowfall, 890 mm (35 in), was recorded at Whitehouse in January 1996.

State Flag

State Flower - Violet

State Capitol - Trenton
New Jersey's constitution, the third in its history, was adopted in 1947. It grants considerable power to the governor, who may serve two consecutive four-year terms and be elected to a third after a lapse of four years. Constitutional amendments may be initiated either by the senate or the assembly. The final adoption of an amendment requires the approval of the voters in a general election.

Famous People

Aaron Burr political leader, Newark
Albert Payson Terhune journalist, author, Newark
Alfred C. Kinsey zoologist, Hoboken
Alfred Joyce Kilmer poet, New Brunswick
Alfred Stieglitz photographer, Hoboken
Allen Ginsberg poet, Newark
Amos Alonzo Stagg football coach, West Orange
Anne Morrow Lindbergh author, Englewood
Antonin Scalia jurist,Trenton
Bruce Springsteen musician, Freehold
Bud Abbott comedian, Asbury Park
Charles Addams cartoonist, Westfield
Dave Thomas restaurateur, Atlantic City
David Copperfield magician, Metuchen
Dionne Warwick actress, singer, East Orange
Donald Fletcher Holmes inventor, Woodbury
Dorothea Lange photographer, Hoboken
Dorothy Parker author, West Bend
Edmund Wilson literary critic, author, Red Bank
Edward J. Rosinski inventor, Gloucester County
Edwin Aldrin astronaut, Montclair
Eger V. Murphree inventor, Bayonne
Ernie Kovacs comedian, Trenton
Frank Sinatra singer, actor, Hoboken
Helen Gahagan Douglas representative, Boonton
Ice-T rapper, Newark
Jack Nicholson actor, Neptune City
James Fenimore Cooper author, Burlington
James W. Marshall discovered gold in California, Hunterdon
Jerry Lewis comedian, film director, Newark
Joan Bennett actress, Palisades
Joe Piscopo comedian, actor, Passaic
Jon Bon Jovi musician, Sayreville
Judy Blume author, Elizabeth
Kevin Spacey actor, South Orange
Lauryn Hill rapper, South Orange
Lloyd H. Conover inventor, Orange
Lou Costello comedian, Paterson
Meryl Streep actress, Summit
Norman Mailer author, Long Branch
Norman Schwarzkopf army general, Trenton
Patricia McBride ballerina, Teanick
Paul Robeson singer, actor, Princeton
Philip Milton Roth author, Newark
Ruth St. Denis dancer, choreographer, Newark
Sarah Vaughan singer, Newark
Savron Glover choreographer, Newark
Stephen Crane writer, Newark
Whitney Houston entertainer, Newark
William Carlos Williams physician, poet, Rutherford
William Count Basie band leader, Red Bank
William Frederick Halsey, Jr. admiral, Elizabeth
William Henry Vanderbilt financier, New Brunswick
William J. Brennan jurist, Newark
Zebulon Mongomery Pike explorer, soldier, Lamberton