New Jersey: Geography and Location in the Northeast US

New Jersey is a Mid-Atlantic / Northeastern state on the Atlantic seaboard of the United States.

Borders

• North/Northeast: New York (Hudson River, land border).
• West: Pennsylvania (Delaware River).
• Southwest: Delaware (Delaware Bay).
• East/Southeast: Atlantic Ocean (130 mi coastline).

Size & Scale

• Area: 8,722 sq mi (22,591 km²) — 4th smallest state.
• Dimensions: 170 mi long (N-S), 70 mi wide (max).
• Density: 1,263/sq mi — #1 most dense state (2023).

Physiographic Regions

1. Ridge & Valley (NW): Kittatinny Mountain, Delaware Water Gap, Appalachian Trail.
2. Highlands: Rugged, forested, reservoirs (water supply for millions).
3. Piedmont: Rolling hills, suburbs, Newark, Trenton, Princeton.
4. Coastal Plain (South/East): Flat, sandy, Pine Barrens (1.1M acres), Shore towns (Atlantic City, Cape May, Asbury Park).

Key Facts

• Capital: Trenton.
• Largest City: Newark.
• Population: ~9.3M (2023) — 11th largest.
• Nickname: "Garden State" (agricultural history; now <1% farmland).
• Transport Nexus: NE Corridor rail, NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Port of NY/NJ, Newark Airport.