On Dec. 18, 1787, New Jersey became the third American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Known as “The Crossroads of the American Revolution” for its more than 100 battles and nearly 300 troop clashes with Great Britain, New Jersey was the site of many of the war’s most pivotal moments, including George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night and subsequent victories at Trenton and Princeton that turned the tide of the war.

The significance of Washington’s campaign is still reflected today in the state’s decision to locate its capital in Trenton, just nine miles from where the Continental Army crossed the icy waters and launched what historians consider one of the most important military offensives in American history.

“Growing up in New Jersey and visiting all these places like the Washington Crossing State Park and other battle sites that helped found our country was awe inspiring for me as a kid,” said Brett Conrads, chief of staff at the New Jersey Assembly and a 2025 CSG Henry Toll Fellow. “When you go on tours of our state Capitol, the guides often say that it stands on grounds that helped win the American Revolution. I just think it’s really fascinating that lawmakers — many of whom I now work with today — debate policy just steps away from where those revolutionary soldiers once slept.”

The moxie shown by Washington and his troops 250 years ago continues to influence the New Jersey ethos to this day, Conrads added.

“People from New Jersey, I’d say one of our hallmarks is that we’re very confident, resilient and direct, which I think a lot of people appreciate,” Conrads said. “Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we’re located between two major media markets in New York City and Philadelphia, so we’ve had to have confidence in our role to not be overlooked. But those characteristics, they obviously make for some fun conversations when it comes to politics.”

New Jersey is often associated with its urban character. Despite being the fourth-smallest state in the nation, it is home to more than 9.5 million residents as of 2025, making it the most densely populated in the country, with roughly 1,298 people per square mile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Those figures, however, tend to belie the reality of the state’s geological diversity, Conrads added. New Jersey, in fact, has a “thriving rural landscape,” comprising sandy ocean beaches, a pair of ski mountains, a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, and a flourishing agricultural sector, home to some of the nation’s leading growers of blueberries and cranberries (thanks to their relationship with the Ocean Spray brand).

New Jersey likewise stakes its claim to some of the best food in the nation. Its pizza and bagels, Conrads said, are “unmatched.” And many a Jersey household stands divided over a longtime statewide dispute: whether to call the state’s beloved pork-based breakfast meat Taylor Ham or pork roll.

“I grew up in northern New Jersey, so I’m a firm believer it’s called Taylor Ham,” Conrads said.

And all that good food translates to another cultural phenomenon for New Jersey: it’s known as the “diner capital of the world.”

“Our diners are a big deal and such a big part of our cultural identity,” Conrads said. “And because of that, they tend to be a space where political candidates will frequent in New Jersey because that’s where you can meet a lot of people. I mean where else can you go and get your favorite breakfast at any time of the day? And by favorite breakfast, I do mean a New Jersey bagel sandwich with cheese and, of course, Taylor Ham.”