A Little about New Jersey

New Jersey is a state that is full of possibilities for its recent college graduates and current college students. There are so many educational institutions available for prospective students. Certain colleges and universities have better programs than others which cater to students with various interests. When these interests align with the major economic drivers of the state of New Jersey, the students are presented with a perfect match between their interests and opportunities.

A Brief History of New Jersey

The state of New Jersey started as part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. In 1664, the territory was claimed by England when the Navy took control of Fort Amsterdam in the New York Harbor and claimed the entire colony. The name New Jersey was given to the state in 1649 after the English Civil War, when King James II granted the land to two friends who were loyal to him; Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley. After the Revolutionary War New Jersey became one of the original thirteen states of the United States of America. It was a largely agricultural state until the Industrial Revolution. During the Industrial Revolution, cities like Paterson and Newark became centers of industry, producing textiles and silk. Thomas Edison was a very important person during these times as he invented the incandescent light and many other inventions.

Current Industries in New Jersey

The state of New Jersey has evolved from its original economic drivers to expand into several new industries. It has, however, still maintained many of its first industries and specialized in certain areas. Here are some of the industries that account for much of New Jersey’s economic prosperity:

• Pharmaceutical industry: New Jersey is quite the scientific state and this presents itself through the overwhelming amount of pharmaceutical firms which are headquartered in the state. These firms include Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Pfizer, Merck, Wyeth, Hoffman-LaRoche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Schering-Plough.
• Telecommunications industry: Another ode to the strong scientific roots of New Jersey is its large telecommunications industry. Firms including Verizon Wireless, Avaya, Alcatel-Lucent, and AT&T Communications call New Jersey their home.
• Agricultural industry: New Jersey retained its roots as a farming state by specializing in the growing and harvest of certain produce. The state ranks second in the United States of America in blueberry production, third in cranberry  and spinach production, and fourth in bell peppers, peaches, and lettuce. The Southern area of New Jersey is known for its cranberries and there are frequent advertisements regarding cranberry farms and the heritage they possess in the region.

Energy industry: The above industries of New Jersey and the nearly nine million residents of the state require energy to function properly. Hence the energy industry is quite potent in New Jersey. It has very low greenhouse gas emissions compared to other states, however, due to the state’s heavy reliance on nuclear power. According to the Energy Information Administration, nuclear power accounts for over half of New Jersey’s electricity generation.