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.
