TRENTON, N.J. — In the mid-1980s, New Jersey unveiled a strange new figure meant to boost its image: a giant, round mascot named Perfy.
Perfy was uncovered again this week by Wake Up NJ on X.
Created as part of the “New Jersey and You, Perfect Together” tourism campaign under then-Gov. Tom Kean, Perfy was designed to represent the state’s brand — though no one could quite explain what it actually was. Shaped like a massive flying disc, Perfy appeared at parades, beaches, and festivals across the state, often drawing puzzled stares.
At its 1985 debut outside the State House in Trenton, one bystander reportedly asked, “What in the world is it?” A state official called it “a walking logo that’s neither male nor female,” according to contemporary reporting in the Courier Post.
Despite the confusion, Perfy wasn’t without fans. During a July 4th parade in Trenton, the mascot was reportedly swarmed by more than 100 children, eager to interact with the oddball figure.
But Perfy’s time in the spotlight was short-lived. As pollution and medical waste began plaguing the Jersey Shore in the late 1980s, the state’s tourism numbers dipped — and Perfy quietly disappeared from public view, never officially retired but rarely, if ever, mentioned again.
The weirdest facts about New Jersey that most people don’t know
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey may be small in size, but it’s packed with bizarre trivia, historical firsts, and claims to fame that set it apart from the rest of the country.
Known as the “Diner Capital of the World,” the Garden State has more diners than any other state, a distinction that underscores its love of late-night meals and 24-hour breakfasts.
Atlantic City, already famous for its casinos and beaches, was also the birthplace of Monopoly — or at least the inspiration for it. The street names on the American version of the board game are based on real streets in the coastal city. The same city is credited as the origin of salt water taffy and is home to the world’s longest boardwalk.
In the realm of American sports history, New Jersey holds two major firsts: the first professional baseball game, played in Hoboken, and the first intercollegiate football game, which took place in New Brunswick.
The state was also pivotal during the Revolutionary War. More battles were fought in New Jersey than in any other colony, solidifying its role as a strategic crossroads of early American conflict.
Other oddities include the legend of the Jersey Devil, said to haunt the Pine Barrens, and a ban on self-service gas stations, making New Jersey one of only two states where it’s illegal to pump your own gas.
More curious milestones: the first successful submarine ride happened on the Passaic River thanks to inventor John P. Holland, and Thomas Edison’s groundbreaking inventions were developed at his Menlo Park lab.
New Jersey is also home to the nation’s first drive-in movie theater (Camden), the oldest seaside resort (Cape May), and the highest number of horses per capita.
Despite its size, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country — and arguably one of the most unusual.
New Jersey’s deep history and strange distinctions make it one of the most unexpectedly unique states in America.
Ten of the strangest and most unusual laws still on the books in New Jersey
TRENTON, N.J. — While New Jersey enforces hundreds of conventional laws, the Garden State also holds a surprising number of peculiar and often overlooked regulations that remain active today.
In the town of Blairstown, there’s a specific ordinance requiring that shade trees planted along streets, highways, or alleys must be positioned in a way that doesn’t obstruct air or light.
If you’re in Trenton on a Sunday, think twice before eating a pickle—doing so violates the city’s quirky “Trenton Pickle Ordinance.” The law also forbids residents from discarding bad pickles into the street.
The state’s gas stations remain off-limits to do-it-yourself fuelers. It is still illegal for anyone who isn’t a licensed attendant to pump gas into a vehicle or container. Violators face fines starting at $50 for a first offense.
Over in Haddon Township, anyone who approaches a stranger of the opposite sex in public for non-business reasons could be violating a local law that bans offending or annoying conduct, particularly if the interaction is deemed unwelcome or indecent.
It’s illegal to wear a bulletproof vest while committing certain violent crimes in New Jersey. This includes robbery, sexual assault, manslaughter, and other felonies—wearing protective gear during the commission of any of these offenses adds a separate criminal charge. In Blairstown’s neighboring towns, that might sound odd, but not as unusual as Trenton’s Sunday pickle rule.
Newark, the state’s largest city, requires that any business selling ice cream and offering outdoor seating for 20 or more customers after 4 p.m. must have a security guard present. This city regulation aims to maintain public safety but is rarely enforced in most other jurisdictions.
Selling cars on Sundays is still against the law in New Jersey. While it’s one of several states that restrict Sunday vehicle sales under so-called “blue laws,” the regulation only applies to automobiles—not motorcycles, unless local rules specify otherwise.
In a more sobering rule, anyone attempting to relocate a poor individual into New Jersey or even from one county to another without the consent of local authorities could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Under state law, it is a disorderly persons offense to sell handcuffs to minors. Police are authorized to confiscate the item if found in the possession of anyone under 18.
If you’ve had a DUI conviction in the past 10 years, you won’t be eligible for personalized license plates. The restriction also applies to drivers with any license suspension in the two years before their application.
These active laws, ranging from the bizarre to the baffling, highlight how New Jersey’s legal code still contains echoes of earlier times.
