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109-603: North Jersey is characterized by its position, both geographically and culturally, within the greater New York City metropolitan area , as well as its high economic output, including its regional economic engines of Paramus in Bergen County , which had $ 6 billion in annual retail sales as of 2018 and Jersey City , whose financial district has been nicknamed " Wall Street West ", Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark , and Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal . Bergen County

218-476: A gross metropolitan product of over US$ 2.5 trillion. Greater New York is the hub of multiple industries, including finance, health care , pharmaceuticals , and scientific output in life sciences , international trade , publishing, real estate, education, fashion, entertainment , tourism, law, and manufacturing; and if the New York metropolitan area were an independent sovereign state , it would constitute

327-604: A "playground for the rich and famous", with some of the wealthiest communities in the United States. In 2015, according to Business Insider , the 11962 zip code encompassing Sagaponack , within Southampton , was listed as the most expensive in the U.S. by real estate-listings site Property Shark, with a median home sale price of $ 5,125,000. During the summer season, many celebrities and the wealthy visit or reside in mansions and waterfront homes, while others spend weekends enjoying

436-647: A county line along much of that length. Its mouth is adjacent to that of the Hackensack River , which rises in Rockland County, New York . Along with tributaries such as the Pequannock and Ramapo , the combined Passaic/Hackensack watershed covers most of northeastern New Jersey as well as parts of Orange and Rockland counties in New York. Central Jersey is mostly drained by the Raritan River , whose main stem

545-481: A high degree of economic interconnection. The New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area had an estimated population of 23.7 million as of 2014. About one out of every fifteen Americans resides in this region, which includes eight additional counties in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. This area, less the Pennsylvania portion, is often referred to as the tri-state area and less commonly

654-399: A land area of just 305 square miles (790 km ), New York is the most densely populated major city in the United States. A global power city , New York City exerts a significant impact upon commerce, finance, health care and life sciences , media, dining, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment, its fast pace defining the term New York minute . Home to

763-456: A massive office complex in New York's Financial District whose iconic, 110-story Twin Towers for a short time stood as the world's tallest buildings. In the 1980s, the city's economy was booming, particularly in the financial sector. Wall Street was fueling an economic surge in the real estate market, and later the dot-com bubble . Despite this, crime was still an issue. This was exacerbated by

872-683: A mix of rain and snow. Although prevailing winds in winter are offshore, and temper the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic and the partial shielding by the Appalachians from colder air keep the New York area warmer in the winter than inland North American metropolitan areas located at similar or lesser latitudes including Pittsburgh , Cincinnati , and Indianapolis . Warm periods with 50 °F (10 °C)+ temperatures may occasionally occur during winter as well. The hardiness zone in

981-734: A number of creeks where students and enthusiasts can gain real field exposure to cretaceous geology and paleontology. (Always check with the park service staff regarding permissibility before entering any field site.) 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 outer coastal plain consists of unconsolidated Tertiary deposits of sands, silt, and gravels. The soils are sandy with less clay than

1090-425: A population of under 700 while occupying 104.81 square miles (271.46 km^2) The State of New Jersey is divided into 21 counties , which combined, contain a total of 566 municipalities . New Jersey municipalities have a strong tradition of independent home rule . Rural municipalities tend to lean more conservative, while suburban and urban municipalities lean more liberal, similar to the national trend. New Jersey

1199-635: A single city in 1898. The newly unified New York City encouraged both more physical connections between the boroughs and the growth of bedroom communities . The New York City Subway began operating in 1904 as the Interborough Rapid Transit Company , one of three systems (the other two being the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation and the Independent Subway System ) that were later taken over by

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1308-594: A small hill in Burlington County 's Springfield Township , at approximately 240 feet (73 m). A series of barrier islands run the length of the Jersey Shore . They include Long Beach Island and Absecon Island . Many are popular tourist destinations. Between the barrier islands and the coast there are many smaller islands, largely uninhabited. New Jersey has no offshore islands, nor any significant river or lake islands. Around 250 million years ago, during

1417-520: Is 5,571 inhabitants per square mile (2,151/km ). If Long Island geographically constituted an independent metropolitan statistical area, it would rank fourth most populous in the United States; while if it were a U.S. state, Long Island would rank 13th in population and first in population density . Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world. The Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, with an estimated population of 770,367 in 2016,

1526-421: Is a globally recognized symbol of the United States and its democracy . Large-scale immigration into New York was a result of a large demand for manpower. A cosmopolitan attitude in the city created tolerance for various cultures and ethnic groups. German, Irish, and Italian immigrants were among the largest ethnic groups. Today, many of their descendants continue to live in the region. Cultural buildings such as

1635-556: Is a suburban and rural region of New York , much of the Gateway Region is highly urbanized. The entirety of Hudson County, eastern Essex County, southern Passaic County as well as Elizabeth in Union County are all densely populated areas. Central Jersey is the middle portion of New Jersey . It generally comprises the following counties: Notable municipalities in the region include Trenton (the state capital of New Jersey and

1744-611: Is at the heart of the metropolitan area, the New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT Urbanized Area , which had a land area of 3,450 square miles in 2010 according to the 2010 census. The New York State portion of the metropolitan area, which includes the five boroughs of New York City, the lower Hudson Valley, and Long Island, accounts for over 65 percent of the state's population. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ–PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (19,043,386) Combined statistical areas (CSAs) group together adjacent core-based statistical areas with

1853-662: Is bounded on the southeast by an unconformity between Cambrian and Precambrian formations. 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

1962-497: Is commonly divided into the cultural regions of North Jersey , Central Jersey and South Jersey . Many residents debate about whether Central Jersey actually exists or not, but this debate was resolved by Governor Phil Murphy's signing of a law that declared Central Jersey to be made up of Middlesex , Union , Mercer , Somerset , and Hunterdon counties. North Jersey comprises Bergen , Essex , Hudson , Passaic , Morris , Sussex , and Warren Counties, while Central Jersey

2071-695: Is east of the state, and many of the state's famed beaches are located along Atlantic County, Cape May County, and Ocean County. New Jersey is separated from New York by the Hudson River , which separates it from the boroughs of The Bronx and Manhattan . The Kill van Kull and Arthur Kill tidal straits separate the state from Staten Island. Liberty Island is an exclave of the State of New York in New Jersey waters in Upper New York Bay . Ellis Island , also in

2180-541: Is formed west of Somerville . From there it flows east to Raritan Bay , just south of Staten Island . The Musconetcong , New Jersey's longest river that does not drain into the Atlantic directly, flows out of Lake Hopatcong southwest to the Delaware . Along its course it forms the boundary between Warren County on its west and Morris and Hunterdon counties to the east. At Lake Mohawk near Sparta in Sussex County ,

2289-580: Is further subdivided into four metropolitan divisions. The 23-county MSA includes 10 counties in New York State (coextensive with the five boroughs of New York, the two remaining counties of Long Island , and three counties in the Lower Hudson Valley ); 12 counties in Northern and Central New Jersey ; and one county in northeastern Pennsylvania . The largest urbanized area in the United States

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2398-517: Is located in the Town of Poughkeepsie and runs from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Northern New Jersey , also known colloquially as North Jersey, is typically defined as comprising the following counties: The New Jersey State Department of Tourism splits North Jersey into the urban Gateway Region and the more rural Skylands Region . Northern New Jersey is home to four of

2507-509: Is made up of Middlesex , Union , Mercer , Somerset , and Hunterdon Counties. South Jersey is composed of Camden , Burlington , Gloucester , Cumberland , and Salem Counties. The Jersey Shore is typically associated with Ocean , Monmouth , Atlantic , and Cape May Counties. The New Jersey State Department of Tourism distinguishes six distinct tourist regions: the Gateway , Greater Atlantic City (consisting of all of Atlantic County),

2616-745: Is not. Large swaths of South Jersey are occupied by the Pinelands National Reserve , over 1.1 million acres (4,500 km ) in size, located in Atlantic County, Burlington County, and Ocean County. Northwestern and southern New Jersey are also extremely rural due to the mountainous and hilly terrain of the Ridge and Valley region. For example, Walpack Township in Sussex County has a population of 7 and an area of 26 square miles (67 km ), and Washington Township in Burlington County has

2725-464: Is relatively evenly spread throughout the year, and many areas receive upwards of 50 in (1,270 mm). Average winter snowfall for 1981 to 2010 ranges from just under 25 inches (64 cm) along the coast of Long Island to more than 50 in (127 cm) in some inland areas, but this usually varies considerably from year to year. Hurricanes and tropical storms have impacted the Tri-State area in

2834-687: Is shared with New York. Other prominent waterbodies in New Jersey include Sunfish Pond in Warren County, the southernmost glacial tarn along the Appalachian Trail . New Jersey's mountains are also located primarily in the northwest. High Point , the state's highest peak at 1,803 feet (550 m), is in Sussex County near its northern corner. The highest point in South Jersey is Arneys Mount,

2943-439: Is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass , encompassing 4,669.0 sq mi (12,093 km ). The New York metropolitan area is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world, the largest metropolitan area in the U.S., and the only U.S. metropolitan area home to more than 20 million residents as of the 2020 United States census . The vast metropolitan area includes New York City ,

3052-720: Is the most populous county in both North Jersey and the state and serves as the western terminus for the George Washington Bridge , the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge, which connects Fort Lee, New Jersey to Upper Manhattan in New York City . Newark , located in Essex County , is New Jersey's most populous city. Jersey City, Paterson , and Elizabeth , located in Hudson , Passaic , and Union counties in North Jersey are

3161-401: Is the most populous municipality in the New York metropolitan area outside of New York City. Long Island is also the 17th most populous island in the world , but is more prominently known for recreation, boating, and miles of public beaches, including numerous town, county, and state parks, as well as Fire Island National Seashore and wealthy and expensive coastal residential enclaves. Along

3270-468: The 2020 U.S. Census , constituting nearly 40% of New York State's population, the majority of New York City residents, 58.4% as of 2020, live on Long Island, namely the estimated 4,896,398 residents living in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens . Long Island is the most populated island in any U.S. state or territory, and the 17th-most populous island in the world (ahead of Ireland , Jamaica , and Hokkaidō ). Its population density

3379-551: The Atlantic coastal plain . North Jersey has a Humid Continental Climate (Dfb) by Köppen . One particular definition of North Jersey includes all points in New Jersey north of I-295 in the western part of the state and all points north of I-195 in the eastern part of the state. Another definition uses the old 1956-era 201 telephone area code , not the modern 201 area code, and all its additions, as this area code loosely included all of New Jersey north of Trenton . Some residents of

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3488-503: The Battle of New York were fought in the region to secure it. New York was captured by the British early in the war, becoming a haven for Loyalist refugees from other parts of the country, and remained in the hands of the British until the war ended in 1783. New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790, after which the capital moved to Philadelphia. New York has been

3597-648: The Continental Army , maintained his headquarters at Ford Mansion in Morristown for part of the Revolutionary War, from December 1779 to June 1780. In the northwestern part of the state, iron mines and foundries supplied raw material for the Continental Army's guns and ammunition. The American Industrial Revolution started by the founding of the North Jersey town of Paterson . Today, the United States and

3706-579: The Dfb (warm summer subtype) regime is only found inland at a higher elevation, and receives greater snowfall than the Dfa region. Much of Monroe and most of Pike County in Pennsylvania also have a fully humid continental climate. Summers in the area are typically hot and humid. Nighttime conditions in and around the five boroughs of New York are often exacerbated by the urban heat island phenomenon, and temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) on average of 7–8 days (on

3815-699: The East End . The Hudson Valley and Connecticut are sometimes grouped together and referred to as the Northern Suburbs, largely because of the shared usage of the Metro-North Railroad system. Under the Köppen climate classification , New York City, western (and parts of eastern) Long Island, and the Jersey Shore experience a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ), and New York is thus the northernmost major city on

3924-459: The Lehigh Valley , Bucks County , and Poconos regions in eastern Pennsylvania, making the metropolitan area span across four states. The New York metropolitan area is the geographic and demographic hub of the larger Northeast megalopolis . The New York metropolitan area is the most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States with 20.1 million residents, or slightly over 6% of

4033-491: The MTA Metro-North Railroad serve the region's rail commuters. Southern Westchester County contains more densely populated areas and includes the cities of Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and White Plains. Many of the suburban communities of Westchester are known for their affluence and expense (some examples: Bronxville, Scarsdale, Chappaqua, Armonk, Katonah, and Briarcliff Manor). Rockland's river towns along

4142-664: The Massachusetts border. Most of the largest cities in the state are in New Haven County (home to Yale University ) and Fairfield County. Candlewood Lake is the largest recreational lake in the New York metropolitan area. The lake is located within the Greater Danbury region, and is home to many second homes of New York City residents. Pike County, Pennsylvania is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania . As of

4251-685: The Metropolitan Museum of Art , the Metropolitan Opera , and the American Museum of Natural History were built. New York newspapers were read around the country as media moguls James Gordon Bennett, Sr. , Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst battled for readership. In 1884, over 70% of exports passed through ports in New York or in one of the surrounding towns. The five boroughs of New York — The Bronx , Brooklyn , Manhattan , Queens , and Staten Island — were consolidated into

4360-689: The New Jersey Turnpike , the Garden State Parkway , and the Northeast Corridor , which bisect Central Jersey. Fairfield, New Haven, and Litchfield counties in western Connecticut (like the state in general) are known for affluence. Large businesses are scattered throughout the area, mostly in Fairfield County. The land is flat along the coast with low hills eventually giving way to larger hills such as The Berkshires further inland, to

4469-721: The New York Rangers in hockey, the New York Red Bulls or New York City FC in soccer, and the New York Giants or the New York Jets in football. 40°47′29″N 74°15′45″W  /  40.7915°N 74.2624°W  / 40.7915; -74.2624 New York City metropolitan area The New York metropolitan area , broadly referred to as the Tri-State area and often also called Greater New York ,

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4578-675: The New York metropolitan area that are sometimes differentiated as or considered " Central Jersey ", including Middlesex County , Union County , Monmouth County , Somerset County , Hunterdon County , Mercer County , and even the northern portion of Ocean County . Geologically, North Jersey is largely in the Piedmont Province, the Highlands Province, and the Ridge and Valley Province. Depending on definitions, some are counted as being in

4687-518: The New York metropolitan area under the definition of North Jersey. The state is also sometimes described as having North Jersey and South Jersey separated from each other by Central Jersey. In 2008, the New Jersey State Department of Tourism divided the state into six tourist regions with the Gateway and Skylands regions included in North Jersey. The following counties are most consistently considered North Jersey: North Jersey

4796-693: The Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, the area that is today New Jersey bordered northern Africa as part of the supercontinent of Pangea . The pressure of the collision between North America and Africa gave rise to the Appalachian Mountains . Around 200 million years ago, Pangea began to break apart, separating the North American continent from the African continent. Around 18,000 years ago, the most recent ice age resulted in glaciers that reached New Jersey. As

4905-663: 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

5014-464: The Southern Shore Region , the Delaware River Region , the Shore Region and the Skylands Region . New Jersey is largely delineated by rivers. The lower Delaware forms the state's border with Pennsylvania, and on the northeast side of the state the Hudson separates it from New York. New Jersey's longest river located entirely within its borders, the 80-mile (130 km) Passaic , rises in Mendham Township and flows to Newark Bay , serving as

5123-485: 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 ), there is a small amount of Delaware territory in contiguous New Jersey, west of Pennsville Township . Finns Point , piers at Penns Grove, New Jersey and Pennsville , and Artificial Island , the tip of a small peninsula at Lower Alloways Creek are connected to Salem County . A coal pier in Logan Township also extends into

5232-463: The Wallkill , the longest river to rise in New Jersey, begins its 88-mile (142 km) journey to Rondout Creek shortly before that stream flows into the Hudson at Kingston, New York . South Jersey 's rivers are generally shorter. The longest in that region, the 51-mile (82 km) Mullica , rises outside Berlin and flows across the Pine Barrens to the Atlantic at Little Egg Harbor . Most of New Jersey's significant lakes are concentrated in

5341-404: The Wisconsinan glaciation , the region was situated at the edge of a large ice sheet over 1,000 feet in depth. The ice sheet scraped away large amounts of soil, leaving the bedrock that serves as the geologic foundation for much of the New York metropolitan region today. Later on, the ice sheet would help split apart what are now Long Island and Staten Island. At the time of European contact

5450-453: The crack epidemic , with the New York City area being one of the major ports of entry for narcotics entering the United States. Neighborhoods such as the South Bronx became prime examples of late 20th century urban decay . Beginning in the 1990s, however, crime dropped substantially due to tough-on-crime policies. Crime in New York City has continued to decline through the 21st century. The September 11th attacks in 2001 were pivotal in

5559-426: The eighth-largest economy in the world. It is the most prominent financial, diplomatic , and media hub in the world. According to Forbes , in 2014, the New York metropolitan area was home to eight of the top ten ZIP Codes in the United States by median housing price, with six in Manhattan alone. The New York metropolitan area is known for its varied landscape and natural beauty, and contains five of

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5668-415: The headquarters of the United Nations , New York is an important center for international diplomacy . New York is a global city and has been described as the cultural , financial , entertainment , and media capital of the world, as well as the world's most economically powerful city. Long Island , the most populous island in the United States, is located just off the northeast coast of

5777-627: The tri-state region . The New York City television designated market area (DMA) includes Pike County, Pennsylvania , which is also included in the CSA. In addition to the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ–PA metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), the following core-based statistical areas are also included in the New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA CSA: The area is frequently divided into the following subregions: All eight subregions are often further subdivided. For instance, Long Island can be divided into its South and North Shores (usually when speaking about Nassau County and western Suffolk County) and

5886-401: The 1957 season. Crime affected the city severely. Urban renewal projects alleviated decay in poorer neighborhoods to a certain extent, but many of these later proved to be failures and caused unanticipated consequences like ghettoization, informal racial segregation in housing, and disruption of the organic urban fabric that made the city's neighborhoods cohesive and healthy places to live. There

5995-469: The 2010 Census, the population was 57,369. Its county seat is Milford . Part of the Pocono Mountains region lies within Pike County, which has ranked among the fastest-growing counties of Pennsylvania. The following is a list of "principal cities" and their respective population estimates from the 2020 U.S. Census . Principal cities include those with populations over 100,000 or major job, cultural, educational, and economic centers. census During

6104-424: The Hudson, including Nyack and Piermont , are known for their vibrant dining and art scenes. 30% of Rockland's land area is designated parkland with impressive scenery, which attracts many visitors from the tristate area. In recent years, the high cost of housing in the Lower Hudson Valley, plus increased remote working opportunities, has caused some to move further north into the Mid Hudson Valley. Historically,

6213-467: The Lower Hudson Valley is centered around the Hudson River north of New York City and lies within New York State. Westchester and Putnam counties are located on the eastern side of the river, and Rockland and Orange counties are located on the western side of the river. Westchester and Rockland counties are connected by the heavily trafficked New Tappan Zee Bridge , as well as by the Bear Mountain Bridge near their northern ends. Several branches of

6322-480: The New York metropolitan area varies over a wide range from 5a in the highest areas of Dutchess, Monroe, and Ulster Counties to 7b in most of NYC as well as Hudson County from Bayonne up the east side of the Palisades to Route 495, the majority of Nassau County, the north coast of Monmouth County, and Copiague Harbor, Lindenhurst, and Montauk in Suffolk County. Almost all of the metropolitan area receives at least 42 inches (1,070 mm) of precipitation annually, which

6431-418: The North American continent with this climate type. Much of the remainder of the metropolitan area lies in the transition zone from a humid subtropical ( Cfa ) to a humid continental climate ( Dfa ), and it is only the inland, more exurban areas far to the north and west such as Sussex County, New Jersey, that have a January daily average of −3 °C (26.6 °F) or below and are fully humid continental;

6540-405: The Outer Coastal Plain. The Appalachian Valley and Ridge lies in the northwestern corner of the state 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 (550 m). Most of the state's section of the Appalachian Trail runs through this area. The province

6649-417: The United States and is a region wholly included within both the U.S. state of New York and the New York metropolitan area. Extending 118 miles east-northeast of Roosevelt Island, Manhattan from New York Harbor into the Atlantic Ocean , the island comprises four counties: Kings and Queens (these form the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens , respectively) to the west; then Nassau and Suffolk to

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6758-459: The Upper Bay, and Shooter's Island , in Newark Bay , each have sections belonging to either of the two states. Though Liberty Island, Shooters Island and Ellis Island all geographically belong to New Jersey, it is a part of New York due to symbolism, tourism and economic reasons. 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

6867-571: The area and built a settlement on Lower Manhattan Island that was eventually renamed New Amsterdam by Dutch colonists in 1626. In 1664, the area went under English control, and was later renamed New York after King Charles II of England granted the lands to his brother, the Duke of York . As the fur trade expanded further north, New York became a trading hub , which brought in a diverse set of ethnic groups including Africans , Jews , and Portuguese . The island of Manhattan had an extraordinary natural harbor formed by New York Bay (actually

6976-406: The beaches, gardens, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Long Island is served by a network of parkways and expressways , with the Long Island Expressway , Northern State Parkway , and Southern State Parkway being major east–west routes across significant portions of the island. Commuter rail access is provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road , one of

7085-424: The beginning of the Walkway over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie. The area is home to the Wappingers Central School District , which the second-largest school district in the state of New York . The Newburgh Waterfront in the City of Newburgh is home to many high-end restaurants. U.S. Route 9 , I-84 , and the Taconic State Parkway all run through Dutchess County. Metro-North Railroad train station, New Hamburg ,

7194-412: 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

7303-430: The city economy was hurt by blockades of German U-boats , which limited shipping with Europe. After its population peaked in 1950, a significant portion of the city's population left for the suburbs of New York over the following decades. The effects were a result of white flight . Industry and commerce also declined in this era, with businesses relocating to the suburbs or other regions. The era also saw an increase in

7412-413: The city suffered no looting. Geography of New Jersey#Tourist regions New Jersey is a state within the United States of America that lies on the north eastern edge of the North American continent. It shares a land border with the state of New York along the north, ratified by both states after the New York – New Jersey Line War , which is its only straight line border. The Atlantic Ocean

7521-564: The city. Railroad stations such as Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station helped fuel suburban growth. During the era of the Prohibition , when alcohol was banned nationwide, organized crime grew to supply the high demand for bootleg alcohol. The Broadway Theater District began to develop with the opening of the New York Subway in 1904 and, by the early part of the twentieth century, had been made world-famous as New York's theatrical and entertainment center through popular musical productions like Ziegfeld Follies and Show Boat and

7630-437: The coast, sandy beaches attract a recreation industry, and the offshore barrier islands are popular vacation destinations. New Jersey's natural environment preserves a range of habitats ranging from the Atlantic shore to the Appalachian Mountains. The sandy uplands of South Jersey are home to the Atlantic coastal pine barrens . Surrounding the Pine Barrens, along the coast and covering the Inner Coastal Plain and Piedmont, are

7739-412: The combined statistical area is 13,318 sq mi (34,493 km ), encompassing an ethnically and geographically diverse region. The New York metropolitan area's population is larger than that of the state of New York, and the metropolitan airspace accommodated over 130 million passengers in 2016. As of 2022 , the New York metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan economy in the world , with

7848-509: The construction of housing projects for the city's low-income population under the New York City Housing Authority , coinciding with the destruction of communities to construct interstate highways to link the city with its suburbs. The city, particularly Brooklyn, was dealt a psychological as well as an economic blow with the loss of the iconic Brooklyn Dodgers major-league baseball team, which moved to Los Angeles after

7957-485: The counties of Dutchess , Ulster , and Sullivan , as well as the northern portions of Orange County , with the region's main cities being Poughkeepsie , Newburgh , Kingston , and Beacon . The Walkway over the Hudson , is the second longest pedestrian footbridge in the world. It crosses the Hudson River connecting Poughkeepsie and Highland . The 13 mile-long Dutchess Rail Trail stretches from Hopewell Junction to

8066-660: The country's largest city since 1790. In 1792, the Buttonwood Agreement , made by a group of merchants, created what is now the New York Stock Exchange in Lower Manhattan. Today, many people in the metropolitan area work in this important stock exchange. The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America by ship in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and

8175-418: The demographics of all the seven main counties combined are 66.8% White , 18.5% Hispanic or Latino , 15.4% African American , 6.6% Asian , 0.2% Native American , and 0.1% Pacific Islander . 2017 2010 Type (606 km) (326 km) (122 km) (479 km) (1,215 km) (1,349 km) (927 km) Sports allegiances are often divided between the northern and southern portions of

8284-585: The drowned lower river valley of the Hudson River, enclosed by glacial moraines ), the East River , which is a tidal strait , and the Hudson River , all of which merge at the southern tip, from which all later development spread. During the American Revolution , the strategic waterways made New York vitally important as a wartime base for the British navy. Many battles such as the Battle of Long Island and

8393-487: The east. However, most people in the New York metropolitan area (even those living in Queens and Brooklyn) colloquially use the term "Long Island" (or "The Island") exclusively to refer to Nassau County and Suffolk County collectively, which are mainly suburban in character. North of the island is Long Island Sound , across which are the U.S. states of Connecticut and Rhode Island . With a population of 8,063,232 enumerated at

8502-420: The first technical research and development facility with his invention factory . Electric light, improved motion pictures, and sound recording, were among the hundreds of inventions produced here. The seven counties that are most commonly included in North Jersey have an estimated total population of 3,787,937 as of 2022; this rises to 4,357,752 with the inclusion of Union County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census ,

8611-408: The flagship campuses of the largest public universities systems at SUNY Stony Brook and Rutgers ; and globally-ranked New York University , Rockefeller University , and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory . The counties and county groupings constituting the New York metropolitan area are listed below, with 2010 census figures: The U.S. Office of Management and Budget utilizes two definitions of

8720-469: The glaciers retreated, they left behind Lake Passaic , as well as many rivers, swamps, and gorges. 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

8829-452: The immediate Long Island Sound and Atlantic coasts), up to in excess of 27 days (inland suburbs in New Jersey) each summer and may exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Normally, warm to hot temperatures begin in mid-May, and last through early October. Summers also feature passing thundershowers which build in the heat of the day and then drop brief, but intense, rainfall. Winters are cold with

8938-402: 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. Along

9047-461: The largest cities of that state: Newark , Jersey City , Paterson , and Elizabeth . The region is geographically diverse with wetlands , mountains, and valleys throughout the area. It has a large network of expressways and public transportation rail services, mostly operated by New Jersey Transit . Northern New Jersey also contains the second busiest airport in the New York metropolitan area, Newark Liberty International Airport . Although it

9156-731: The largest commuter railroads in the United States. Air travel needs are served by several airports. Within Queens, the island is home to John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport , two of the three major airline hubs serving the New York area (with Newark Liberty International Airport being the third; all three major airports are operated by The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey). Long Island MacArthur Airport (serving commercial airlines) and Farmingdale/Republic Airport (private and commuter flights) are both located in Suffolk County. Known for its hilly terrain , picturesque settings, and quaint small towns and villages ,

9265-524: The metropolitan area is New York City, the most populous city in the United States and has been described as the capital of the world . The city consists of five boroughs , each of which is coterminous with a county of New York State . The five boroughs – Brooklyn , Queens , Manhattan , the Bronx , and Staten Island – were consolidated into a single city in 1898. With a Census-estimated population of 8,335,897 in 2022 (8,467,513 in 2021 ), distributed over

9374-457: The mills and produced a large concentration of creative and able people. During the mid-nineteenth century, many of the engines and materials that would be used to colonize a continent were made here. Thomas Edison installed one of the first hydroelectric power plants in the world, which still provides electricity today, using the Great Falls as an energy source. In West Orange , Edison created

9483-488: The nation's most populous city, Long Island , the mid and lower Hudson Valley in New York state , fourteen counties, eleven of the largest cities in New Jersey , and six of the seven largest cities in Connecticut . The phrase Tri-State area is usually used to refer to New York , New Jersey , and Connecticut , although an increasing number of people who work in New York City commute from Pennsylvania , particularly from

9592-474: The nation's total population, as of 2020. The combined statistical area includes 23.6 million residents as of 2020. It is one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. The New York metropolitan area continues to be the premier gateway for legal immigration to the United States , having the largest foreign-born population of any metropolitan region in the world. The metropolitan statistical area covers 6,720 sq mi (17,405 km ) while

9701-724: The north shore, the Gold Coast of Long Island , featured in the film The Great Gatsby , is an upscale section of Nassau and western Suffolk counties that once featured many lavish mansions built and inhabited by wealthy business tycoons in the earlier years of the 20th century, of which only a few remain preserved as historic sites. The East End of Long Island (known as the "Twin Forks" because of its physical shape) boasts open spaces for farmland and wineries . The South Fork, in particular, comprises numerous towns and villages known collectively as " The Hamptons " and has an international reputation as

9810-552: The northern tier of counties use a narrower definition, counting only that area north of the mouth of the Raritan River . Conversely, people in South Jersey and within the Philadelphia metropolitan area , when using a two-portion approach that excludes Central Jersey as a separate category, may define North Jersey as consisting of Ocean County and every county north of it, essentially placing all New Jersey counties that are within

9919-556: The only U.S. state capital within the New York metropolitan area), Princeton (home to the Ivy League Princeton University ), and New Brunswick (home of Rutgers University 's main New Brunswick campus, the largest university in New Jersey). The region also encompasses a significant portion of the Jersey Shore , including the cities of Red Bank , Long Branch , and Asbury Park . Major transportation links include

10028-407: The opening of multiple large, extravagantly decorated theatres in the area spanning Broadway from 47th to 42nd Streets. The Great Depression suspended the region's fortunes as a period of widespread unemployment and poverty began. City planner Robert Moses began his automobile-centered career of building bridges, parkways , and later expressways across the tri-state area. During World War II,

10137-534: The past, though a direct hit is rare. Several areas on Long Island, New Jersey, and the Connecticut coast have been impacted by serious storm surges in the past. Inland areas have been impacted by heavy rain and flooding from tropical cyclones. The New York metropolitan area averages 234 days with at least some sunshine and 59% of possible sunlight annually, accumulating 2,400 to 2,800 hours of sunshine per annum. The geographical, cultural, and economic center of

10246-424: The region and nation's history. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people as two planes crashed into the former World Trade Center and caused the towers to collapse. Businesses led an exodus from Lower Manhattan because of this but were replaced by an increased number of high-rise residences and a building boom in New York continues to this day. In 2003, another blackout occurred, the 2003 North America blackout , but

10355-599: The region became part of the Province of New Jersey . During the American Revolutionary War , New Jersey was a strategic location between New York City , and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia . Important materials necessary to the war effort were sometimes produced in North Jersey, and the Continental Army made its home in North Jersey for part of the war. George Washington , commanding general of

10464-514: The region was inhabited by Native Americans , predominantly the Lenape , and others. The Native Americans used the abundant waterways in the area for many purposes, such as fishing and trade routes. Sailing for France in 1524, Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to enter the local waters and encounter the residents, but he did not make landfall. Henry Hudson , sailing for the Dutch in 1609, visited

10573-505: 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 . The Newark Basin is a region in northern New Jersey defined by

10682-531: 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 left...... For the geological history of the region, see Newark Basin . The Inner Coastal Plain province consists of lowlands and rolling hills underlain by Cretaceous deposits. Surficial geology in this region contains a number of fossils. The Monmouth County Park system, for example, includes

10791-441: The river. New Jersey's natural regions were formed by glaciers. The state of New Jersey is ranked as the fourth smallest state in the United States of America. Its total area of the state is 8,729 square miles (22,610 km ), of which 1,304 square miles (3,380 km ) is water, and 7,425 square miles (19,230 km ) is land. New Jersey spans 70 miles (110 km) at its widest, and 166 miles (267 km) in length. Much of

10900-423: The second, third, and fourth most populous cities in the state after Newark. The exact definition of which counties constitute North Jersey is a subject of debate. Definitions of the North Jersey region of the state most consistently include Bergen , Essex , Hudson , Morris , Passaic , Sussex , and Warren counties, though definitions of North Jersey frequently vary and may include other New Jersey counties in

11009-474: The state's mountainous northwest. The largest lake within the state, 4-square-mile (10 km ) Lake Hopatcong , straddles the Morris-Sussex county line. It has been expanded in the past, like the state's next largest lakes, Round Valley Reservoir and Wanaque Reservoir , both of which supply drinking water and recreational opportunities for many nearby communities. The 7-mile-long (11 km) Greenwood Lake

11118-429: The state's population live within 50 miles of New York City or Philadelphia due to the size and shape of the state. New Jersey, which ranks eleventh in the nation in terms of population with 8,791,894 people, making it the most densely populated state in the United States , with 1,189 inhabitants per square mile (459/km ). However, while this may offer the impression that New Jersey is entirely urban or suburban, it

11227-767: The state. The 2009 World Series divided the people of New Jersey, because South Jersey residents generally root for the Philadelphia Phillies , while North Jersey residents usually root for the New York Yankees or the New York Mets . A similar trend exists for most other major sports, with North Jersey residents supporting the Brooklyn Nets or the New York Knicks in basketball, the New Jersey Devils , or

11336-520: The top ten richest places in America, according to Bloomberg . These are Scarsdale, New York ; Short Hills, New Jersey ; Old Greenwich, Connecticut ; Bronxville, New York ; and Darien, Connecticut . The New York metropolitan region's higher education network comprises hundreds of colleges and universities, including campuses of four Ivy League universities : Columbia , Princeton , Yale , and Cornell (at Cornell Tech and Weill Cornell Medicine );

11445-484: The urbanized area: the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and the combined statistical area (CSA). The MSA definition is titled the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area , and includes a population of 20.3 million people by 2017 Census estimates, roughly 1 in 16 Americans and nearly 7 million more than the second-place Los Angeles metropolitan area in the United States. The MSA

11554-531: The valley was home to many factories, including paper mills, but a significant number have closed. After years of lingering pollution, cleanup efforts to improve the Hudson River water quality are currently planned and will be supervised by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Mid-Hudson Valley region of the State of New York is midway between New York City and the state capital of Albany . The area includes

11663-781: The world enjoy the fruit born of seeds planted in North Jersey during the Industrial Revolution. Alexander Hamilton , Secretary for the Treasury and President of the Bank of New York during the end of the eighteenth century, selected the Great Falls area, also known as the Passaic Falls, for an ambitious experiment. He promoted the natural power of the Great Falls as an excellent location for textile mills and other manufacturers. Paterson attracted skilled craftsmen and engineers from Europe to run

11772-524: Was little reported social unrest during the Northeast Blackout of 1965 , but the New York City Blackout of 1977 led to massive rioting, looting, and arson in some parts of the city. In addition, the 1970s recession crippled traditional industries such as manufacturing in the New York City region. A rare positive highlight of the period was the completion of the original World Trade Center ,

11881-590: Was the site of some of the earliest European settlements in what would become the United States of America . Its colonial history started after Henry Hudson sailed through Newark Bay in 1609. Although Hudson was British, he worked for the Netherlands , so he claimed the land for the Dutch as part of the provincial colony of New Netherland , with original settlements centered in Bergen in today's Hudson County. In 1664,

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