New Jersey is one of the smallest states in the nation, 47th to be exact. It is, however, the 11th most populous state. This, of course, makes it the most densely populated state in the country. It is also, debatably, one of the most mocked states. Between the corruption, the stereotypical "attitude", and shows like the infamous
Jersey Shore, it's not hard to see why. Many people, when flying into Newark Airport on their way to New York see the industrial Meadowlands and think of New Jersey as a "dirty" state, a garbage dump, "America's armpit".
But there is another side of New Jersey.
Behind the cameras of
Jersey Shore is almost 220 miles of coastline with over 40 different communities that range from small Victorian villages like Cape May to casino resorts like Atlantic City, from family-friendly beaches like Ocean City and Point Pleasant to, yes, the party capital of the shore, Seaside Heights.
Past the endless shopping malls and suburban towns are vast expanses of untouched wilderness, one so large and unknown it led to the urban legend of the Jersey Devil. Almost half of the state remains forest.
New Jersey is the birthplace of many inventions, such as FM Radio, the movie camera, and the light bulb. It is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra, Queen Latifah, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, John Travolta, Jack Nicholson, Anne Hathaway, and of course, Bruce Springsteen, along with many others.
I hope to keep this as a type of repository of future pictures I take, along with various pictures I've taken over the years, sometimes coupled with a description or a bit of history.
I hope you all enjoy!
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PHOTO POSTS:
Atlantic City Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
Rutgers Stadium
Sterling Hill Mine
Northlandz Model Railroad
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To start off, just a mix of different stray pictures from the last few years:
The diner in an American icon. The stainless steel and neon buildings are instantly recognizable. Many of the 600 diner in New Jersey are open 24 hours, serving a wide range of American and international cuisine, along with breakfast all day. One of the most popular Jersey foods, a Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich (often on a bagel), can be found at most diners in the state. (Photo: The Park West Diner, Little Falls, NJ)
Bowling Alleys could once be found in various locations across the state. In recent years, some have closed, but the ones that remain can be found crowded with teens and families on weekend nights, especially during Disco Bowling nights. (Photo: Holiday Bowl in Oakland, NJ)
Many of the former industrial towns in North Jersey still have the abandoned shells of the factories that once supported the towns. Some have converted them into offices or found other uses. Many are long gone, with stores, houses, or wilderness now in their place. The railways that used to service these factories remain, however, slowly being taken over by nature. (Photo: Abandoned railway, Pompton Lakes, NJ)
The completion of Interstate 287, a bypass of Interstate 95 through NYC, in 1994 led to the widening of various state highways in North Jersey to allow for the increased traffic. This, in turn, led to the rapid development along those state highways, as various strip malls and big box stores popped up along them. (Photo: Stores and parking lots along State Rt 23, Wayne, NJ)
High school football in New Jersey, like many other states, is extremely popular. Perhaps one of the biggest public school games in the state each year is the game between Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley in North Jersey. Surrounded by much festivity, this year's included a visit by the Super Bowl Huddle Shuttle tour. (Photo: Wayne Hills High School field, Wayne, NJ)
May and June is thunderstorm season in New Jersey, as collapsing squall lines come over the Appalachians, sometimes multiple times a week. Some of the storms can get quite strong, and a few even drop weak tornados. (Photo: State Rt 23, Pequannock, NJ)
The Garden State Plaza is the largest mall in a state full of them. It is also one of the most profitable mall in the country, contributing to Paramus' highest retail sales in the country. The mall is a moderately upscale shopping center, with stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. It's extremely hard to get a picture of the mall with no people in it.
Many downtowns in New Jersey were hit hard by the rise of malls in the 60s and 70s. Some still haven't recovered, or are in the process of adapting. Others, like Montclair and Morristown, have instead thrived, with a multitude of restaurants and shops lining their bustling main streets. This one, Pompton Lakes, has not done as well, and is still struggling to grow.
The Turtle Back Zoo is a moderate-sized zoo in Essex County. Opened in 1963 as a showcase for New Jersey wildlife, it fell into disrepair by the 90s and almost shut down in 1995. At this point the zoo created a master plan and made it a goal to become accredited. It now contains species from every continent except Antarctica and was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2006.
The Lincoln Park Airport is a public use airport in Lincoln Park, NJ. It offers two different flight school for training on single-engine and multi-engine airplanes along with helicopters.
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