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July7–13

Be Nice to New Jersey Week – July 7-13, 2024

For those of you who don’t know, the first full week of July is Be Nice to New Jersey Week. This year, it falls from July 7 to 13. The state has been the subject of ridicule as far back as the 1600s. Identity crisis jokes about the state splitting into two soon escalated to witty jokes and remarks. The “Lone Star Publications of Humor’s” editor, Lauren Barnett, founded the holiday in 1985 to discourage the heckling. Despite not entirely stopping the jokes she did manage to reduce the chatter for this week. So, stash your joke books, and let niceties lead the way.

History of Be Nice to New Jersey Week

The celebration was initiated in 1985 by “Lone Star Publications” in San Antonio, Texas. The editor, Lauren Barnett, established the week to correct the Garden State’s unfavorable image. She wanted to encourage Americans to put a stop to their New Jersey jokes and to say something positive about the Garden State.

New Jersey has been under Swedish, Dutch, and English control. In 1787 this was the third state to take up the U.S. Constitution. The cities of New Jersey led the nation into the industrial revolution, and their railway improved the economy of the state a great deal. Although it is the fourth-smallest state in the U.S., it has the densest population of all states. In April 2021 9.2 million people were living there.

The climate is subtropical in southern New Jersey and the northern regions have a continental climate. The average rainfall is between 40 and 51 inches of rain a year. Snow is common between November and April in the areas away from the coast. There are 9000 advanced manufacturing plants in the state, and 250 000 people are employed in this sector. The state’s economy is boosted by agriculture, farming, and fishing. The economy is boosted by tourist activities such as theme parks, skiing, camping, waterfalls, and the Jersey shore with its beach attractions.

New Jersey is the birthplace of college football, and that alone should make it popular. The first baseball game was also played in New Jersey, in Hoboken. The Atlantic City Boardwalk, which opened in 1870, makes all sorts of entertainment available — restaurants, casinos, live entertainment, and ice creams are all within walking distance.

Buddy Valastro (Carlo’s Bakery), Bruce Springsteen, and Bruce Willis come from New Jersey, as do Frank Sinatra, Danny DeVito, Anne Hathaway, and Whitney Houston.

Be Nice to New Jersey Week timeline

1660
Bergen is the First Established Settlement

Bergen, now Jersey City, becomes New Jersey's first permanent town.

1664
British Control

The Dutch relinquish possession of New Jersey to the British.

1776
The First Newspaper Issue

“The New Jersey Gazette,” New Jersey's first newspaper, publishes its inaugural edition.

1776
First State Constitution

The state of New Jersey adopts its first constitution.

2020
Variety and diversity

The census shows that New Jersey is a combination of urban and rural areas, the poor and wealthy, and progressives and conservatives.

Be Nice to New Jersey Week FAQs

What is New Jersey well-known for?

With over 50 seaside resort towns, including Atlantic City and Cape May. Asbury Park, the state’s long and gorgeous coastline, has long made it a popular vacation destination. New Jersey also has an exceptional musical tradition, with Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Frank Sinatra all hailing from the state.

Is New Jersey a nice place to live?

According to WalletHub’s annual report, New Jersey is now officially among the best states in America to live in.

Is New Jersey a subset of New York?

New Jersey is among the 50 official states of the U.S.A., located in the northeast. It shares borders with New York in the north and northeast, Delaware in the south and southwest, and Pennsylvania in the west across the Delaware River.

How to Observe Be Nice to New Jersey Week

  1. Take a vacation

    Enjoy Be Nice to New Jersey Week in person this year. New Jersey has diverse activities from skiing to strolling to swimming available. You could benefit from a week there.

  2. Sincerely apologize to a New Jersey resident

    Follow the advice of this week's acclaimed founder, and apologize to friends and relatives in New Jersey. If you don't have any, she proposes writing to the local government in New Jersey. This is your chance to put your Jersey grudge aside and start being nice.

  3. Spread the word

    Find a pleasant thing to say about New Jersey and spread the word on social media. Talk to family and friends. Put a poster in your car window and start chatting with the guy next to you at the red light!

5 Facts About New Jersey

  1. Densely populated

    The state of New Jersey has the highest population density of any other state in the United States.

  2. Dining out

    New Jersey has the most diners per capita of any state.

  3. Historic beachfront walk

    Cape May, New Jersey, is the country's oldest coastal resort.

  4. The state doesn't have an official song

    While many people believe it is ‘I'm From New Jersey,’ it was never designated as the state song.

  5. Motto of New Jersey

    “Liberty and Prosperity” is the official motto.

Why Be Nice to New Jersey Week is Important

  1. We get to mock other states

    Jersey would get all the heat during any other week of the year. But have you ever considered how much Texans adore their home state? Or how small Rhode Island is? There are numerous states to mock, and this week is the ideal time to do so.

  2. It pushes comedians to experiment

    Sure, New Jersey jokes are amusing, but this week serves as a reminder to comedians across the country not to become complacent. Every once in a while, everyone needs a little push to create!

  3. We can admire Jersey's virtues without passing judgment

    We appreciate that this is a divisive viewpoint, but we like New Jersey. There are many excellent qualities of New Jersey that get buried in a sea of negative comments, from its stunning brick edifices to its proximity to New York. And now is the day we may use them freely without fear of being judged by our peers.

Be Nice to New Jersey Week dates

YearDateDay
2022July 3Sunday
2023July 2Sunday
2024July 7Sunday
2025July 6Sunday
2026July 5Sunday

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