Focus on  New Jersey

There may well be a million things to do recreationally in New Jersey - most clothed but some not.  You can watch any or all of five major professional sports teams, or root on major college teams including Princeton, see numerous national parks, do water sports, visit major museums, have access to world-class theater or, for the more bold of you, visit a nude beach or two.  Gambling, of course, offers a whole other playground with its various games and live entertainment.  The state has recently been named by Zagat’s as one of the most excellent states to visit.

With it being a smaller state geographically, it allows easy access to any recreation one might want.  For some, that makes for an attractive lifestyle.  Northeastern New Jersey, often referred to as the Gateway region, offers a suburban lifestyle with a close commute to New York City.  Northwestern New Jersey offers a similar suburban atmosphere but is more wooded, mountainous and rural in nature.  The “Shore” along the coast in the southeast has its own ocean-based lifestyle.  The Southwest part of the state is close to Philadelphia and is covered with pine and oak trees.  The interior part of the state is more forest-like. 

The summers are typically hot and humid.  Winters are cold, particularly in the northwest regions.  Spring and fall can fluctuate widely, but are usually mild with low humidity.  During winter and early spring, “nor-easters” can cause blizzards or flooding.  Hurricanes, tropical storms and earthquakes are rare.

The area that is now New Jersey was originally inhabited by Native Americans.  The First European settlers were Swedish and Dutch in the early 1600s.  The English later seized control of the region and named it the Province of New Jersey.  That name was taken from the largest of the English Channel Islands named “Jersey”.  Later, during the American Revolution, the state was an important site and several decisive battles were fought there.  They were the third state to sign the U.S. Constitution. 

After that war, people who worked in factories in the larger cities helped to shape the Industrial Revolution.  The state’s location at the center between Boston, New York, Philadelphia and D.C. helped fuel its rapid growth which has led to it having the highest population density in the U.S. and its median income is second highest.

For many of the above reasons, since its inception, the state has been characterized by ethnic and religious diversity.  New England Congregationalists settled alongside Scottish Presbyterians and Dutch Reformed migrants.  The area’s fertile lands and tolerant religious policies drew many other groups of settlers.  Today the state has the second highest Jewish population, the second largest Muslim population, third highest Asians, third highest Italian-Americans and third highest Indian American populations.  It also has high population percentages of Black, Hispanics, Arabs, Korean and Chinese-American.  The five largest ancestry groups are Italian (18%), Irish (16%), African (14%), German (13%) and Polish (7%). 

Largely due to that diverse mix, the state is considered to be one of the most liberal in the U.S.  Two-thirds of the populace report they are pro-choice.  A majority supports same-sex marriages and, in fact, the state has a domestic partnership law.  The state also has some of the most stringent gun-control laws in the nation.  It is no surprise, then, that the governor of New Jersey is Democratic and that in national elections, the state leans heavily Democratic

Throughout the colonial era the state was agrarian and rural.  Some townships also emerged as important ports for shipping to New York and Philadelphia.  Through both World Wars, the state was a center for war production, especially naval construction.  Today the economy is centered on the pharmaceutical industry, chemical development, telecommunications, printing and publishing, and tourism.  Its agricultural outputs are nursery stock, horses, vegetables, seafood, and dairy products.  The state also has a strong scientific economy.  With its major higher education institutions, the state has a large and well-educated labor pool.

New Jersey faces a deficit that could be as large as 3 billion for this fiscal year.  Due to that and prior years struggles, the state has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation at third.  The state’s personal income tax consists of six brackets with a top rate of 8.97%, which kicks in at an annual income of $500,000.  Their corporate income tax is a flat 9%., which is sixth nationally.  The state levies a 7% general sales tax.  They also collect state and local property taxes.   

New Jersey is, indeed, a great playground.  If you go, though, be aware of the creature known as the “Jersey Devil” who is said to be evil.  If you drive down Cooper Road in Middletown, watch out for strange, ghostly people who are said to jump out from behind trees at cars traveling down the lonely, unpaved part of the road.  They apparently have caused numerous car crashes.  But as long as you heed those warnings, enjoy your stay and visit any of the numerous and beautiful active adult communities that exist there.  You can find them on our website at activeadultliving.com and be sure to scroll down this page to see the featured community of Legacy Oaks at Evesham in Marlston, NJ.

Watch next time for an article on “green” communities.  We welcome your comments and suggestions.

Dee Chandler, Editor
Dee@ActiveAdultLiving.com
 

Our New Jersey Active Adult Realtor Specialists

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