​
  • NewJerseyAlmanac.com: Gateway to New Jersey Information
    • Government-Overview
    • Law firms
    • About
    • History >
      • Native Americans
      • Employers >
        • Royal Governance
      • Exploration and Settlement
      • British Colonial Period
      • Path to Revolution
      • Revolutionary War
      • 19th Century Industrial Development
      • Civil War
      • Post-War Economy & Reform
      • Election of Woodrow Wilson
      • World War I and 1920s
      • Great Depression and 1930s
      • 1930s; Prelude to War, Lindbergh, Hindenburgh & War of the Worlds
      • World War II
      • Post-War Suburbanization
      • 1970s & 1980s--Income tax, Brendan Byrne and Thomas Kean
      • 1960s and Richard Hughes
      • 1990s--Florio & Whitman
      • 9/11 & McGreevey Administration
      • Codey & Corzine >
        • Transportation-History Air >
          • Transportation-History World War II-2000s >
            • News
          • Fast Facts >
            • Contact
            • New Jersey Product Store
          • E-books
      • Chris Christie
      • Phil Murphy
  • Environment
    • New Jersey Hospitals: Essex-Middlesex Counties
    • Environment--Solid Waste >
      • Health-Status and Comparisons >
        • Health--New Jersey Hospitals: Atlantic-Gloucester
        • Marijuana
        • Links-Hospitals
        • Health-Insurance/HMOs
        • Law Schools
        • Health--Hospitals >
          • Higher Education-Directory >
            • New Jersey Hospitals: Salem-Warren Counties
        • Health--Medical and Nursing Schools
        • Education
        • Health-Consumer information >
          • Media >
            • Biographies >
              • Biographies S-Z
              • Biographies N-R
              • Biographies E-G
              • Biographies H-M
          • Health--Economic Impact
      • Environment--Waste Disposal History
      • Environment-Air
    • Wildlife
    • Environment-Water >
      • Labor Unions: Overview >
        • Labor Movement History
    • Gallery-Labor & Industry >
      • Health-New Jersey Hospitals Monmouth-Passaic
    • Climate
  • Links
    • Gallery
    • Gallery-Videos: History
    • Gallery-Health
    • Gallery--Wildlife
    • Gallery- Battles/Military
    • Gallery-Settlement-1799 >
      • Gallery-Labor & Industry
      • Gallery-Politics
      • Gallery-Hudson County >
        • Gallery 1800-1899 >
          • Gallery 1900-
          • Gallery-Videos: Places >
            • Best Golf Courses in New Jersey
            • Advertising & Sponsorships
          • DataBank-Population
      • Gallery-Newark
      • Gallery-Trenton
      • Gallery-Jersey Shore
      • New Jersey Book Store >
        • Population
        • Timeline >
          • New Jersey Anthology
        • New Jersey Timeline - Prehistoric-1699
        • New Jersey Timeline 1950-1999 >
          • New Jersey Timeline 1850-1899
        • New Jersey Timeline 1700-1749
        • New Jersey Timeline 1850-1899
        • New Jersey Timeline 1800-1849 >
          • Geology
        • New Jersey Timeline 1900-1949
        • New Jersey Timeline 2000- >
          • New Jersey Timeline 1750-1799
        • Labor Union Profiles
      • Gallery-Princeton
  • Hotels/Lodging
  • Restaurants
  • Recreation
  • Insurance
  • New Jersey Government--Governor & Executive
  • Government--Legislature
  • Congressional Delegation
  • Historic Villages & Towns
  • New Jersey Sports Stadiums & Teams
  • New Jersey Theaters
    • Theaters--South Jersey
  • Museums-Art
  • Museums-History
  • Zoos/Aquariums
  • Amusement Parks
    • Amusement Parks-Profiles
  • Jersey Shore Guide & 2024 Beach Fees
    • Jersey Shore Guide & 2024 Beach Fees - M-Z
  • Waterparks
  • Swiming holes, lakes & natural pools
  • Arboretums/Gardens
  • Symbols
  • State Parks
    • Equestrian Centers/Riding-South Jersey
  • National Parks
  • Equestrian Centers/Riding
  • Equestrian Centers/Riding-Central NJ
  • NJ Government Services
    • Government--Lobbyists
    • Transportation-Rail and Bus Transit >
      • Economy: Overview
    • Real Estate >
      • Transportation-Air
    • Population-Current Overview
  • Transportation-Overview
    • New Jersey Municipalities >
      • Taxes
      • Transportation-Roads
      • Transportation-Links
      • New Jersey Courts
      • Legal practice-Overview
      • Links-Law
    • Growth Companies
    • Population-Overview >
      • Population-Historical overview
    • Transportation-History
    • New Jersey Counties
    • Political History
    • Venture Capital
    • Elections and Politics
  • Equestrian Centers-Equine Rescue
    • Equestrian Centers-Resources/Links
  • Equestrian Centers-Therapeutic/Special Needs
  • Equestrian Centers-Racing
  • Associations-Business
    • Associations-Legal
    • Associations-Real Estate
    • Associations-Environment/Natural Resources
    • Associations-Social Welfare
    • Associations-Public Safety
    • Associations-Health
  • New Jersey Presidential Quiz
  • Kean University
  • College of New Jersey
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • Montclair State University
  • Rutgers University
  • New Jersey City University
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey
  • Rowan University
  • Ramapo College of New Jersey
  • Thomas Edison State University of New Jersey
  • Stockton University
  • Opinion
  • Opinion-An Appreciation of Brendan Byrne
  • Links
  • New Jersey Social Media Links
  • Media/Opinion/Blogs
  • Adult Education
  • Shopping Outlets
  • Foundations
  • Shopping Malls
  • Best NJ Shops
  • Best NJ Food Shops
  • New Jersey History Timeline - January
  • New Jersey History Timeline - February
  • New Jersey History Timeline - March
  • New Jersey History Timeline - April
  • New Jersey History Timeline - May
    • New Jersey History Timeline - June
    • New Jersey History Timeline - June
  • New Jersey History Timeline - July
  • New Jersey History Timeline - August
  • New Jersey History Timeline - July
    • New Jersey History Timeline - September
    • New Jersey History Timeline-October
  • New Jersey History Timeline-October
  • New Jersey History Timeline - November
  • New Jersey History Timeline - December
    • New Jersey History Timeline - December
  • Opinion-On the Passing of Brendan Byrne
  • Casino-Hotels
  • NJ Online Casinos
  • Sports Gambling
  • Lottery
  • Clifford Goldman Dies
  • NJ Sexual Abuse Resources
  • Movies, TV set in NJ
  • Princeton University
  • Bloomfield College
  • Caldwell University
  • Centenary University
  • College of Saint Elizabeth
  • Drew University
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • Felician University
  • Georgian Court University
  • Monmouth University
  • Rider University
  • Saint Peters University
  • Seton Hall University
  • Stevens Institute of Technology
  • Princeton University History Timeline
  • New Jersey Day Trips
  • New Jersey Day Trips - Liberty Park
  • New Jersey Day Trips - Camden
  • New Jersey Day Trips - Asbury Park
  • Day Trip - Ocean Grove
  • Opinion-Remembering Jerry O'Connor
  • Real Estate as a Side Hustle
  • Most Picturesque Places in New Jersey
  • starting a business
  • Operating a Business
  • New Jersey Geology
  • Financing a Business
  • Mental Health Resources in New Jersey
  • New Jersey Disasters
  • Pillar College
  • Charities- Overview
    • Leading Companies
    • Charities- Cardiac/Cancer/Diabetes
    • Charities-Addiction
  • Finding a New Jersey Job
  • Filing a Complaint
  • Hiring a Lawyer in New Jersey
  • Buying a Home
  • Doing Good
  • State Government Departments & Ages
  • Casino Gambling in Atlantic City
  • Cannabis in New Jersey
  • Where Will the Next New Jersey Sports Championships Come From?
  • Meeting People
  • Movies & Television
  • Novels Set in New Jersey
  • Senior Citizen Resources in New Jersey
  • Year-on-Year New Jersey Gambling Figures Increasing
  • Deaths: Probating a Will in New Jersey
  • Religion in New Jersey
  • Judaism in New Jersey
  • Christianity in New Jersey
NewJerseyAlmanac.com

  -- Population - Historical overview

Population
*  Overview  * 
History  ​*  Databank
*  Home
*  History
*  Population
*  Government
*  Politics
*  Lobbyists 
*
  Taxes
*  State Symbols
*  Biographies
*  Economy
*  Employers
*
  Real Estate
*  Education
*  Recreation
*  Restaurants 
*  Hotels  
*  Health 
*  Environment​

*  Stadiums/Teams
*  Theaters 
*  Historic Villages

*  Historic homes 
*  Battlefields/Military 
*  Lighthouses 
*  Art Museums 
*  History Museums 
*  Wildlife 
​*  Climate  
*  Zoos/Aquariums
*  Beaches 
*  National Parks 
*  State Parks 
*  Amusement Parks
 
*  Waterparks 
*  Swimming holes 
*  Arboretums  

More...
*  
Gallery of images and videos
*  
Fast Facts on key topics
*  Timeline of dates and events
*
   Anthology of quotes, comments and jokes
*  
Links
to other resources
Film of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island shot in 1903 by Thomas Edison, Inc. Video: Library of Congress 

-- Colonial settlement      
      
       Historically, New Jersey's first settlements were located along waterways, particularly the Hudson River waterfront, Newark Bay, the Raritan and Passaic rivers and the Delaware River and Bay. Despite the efforts of Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret to attract settlers to the lands granted to them in 1664 by the Duke of York, New Jersey's population grew relatively slowly, as its neighbors benefited from their advantage in serving as ports for both overseas and domestic trade.  In 1702, New Jersey's population was estimated at about 10,000, Pennsylvania's at 15,000, and New York's at 20,000. In a 1737 census, the population was recorded as 43,588 whites and 2,951 slaves.

       New Jersey's own population primarily clustered in towns across the rivers from Manhattan and Philadelphia, leading to what would become cities like Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark, Elizabeth and Camden. Inland waterways and rivers would provide sites for such towns as New Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Paterson.

Picture
1737 census of the colony. Image: New Jersey State Archives

-- The evolving state

       In the first census taken in 1790 which reported a total state population of 184,139, of the 13 counties in which the state was then composed, Hunterdon had the largest population with 20,153, followed closely by Sussex at 19,500 residents. Cape May had the smallest population with just 2,571 residents.


-- 19th century
       
      
Commencing in the 1830s, population growth increased rapidly, fueled by New Jersey's gateway location for immigrant labor and its position on the central railroad corridor which supported industrial development. In the decade from 1850 to 1860, the state population grew by 37.3% and from 1850 to 1900 New Jersey's average population gain over ten years in each census would average 31%.  Most of the growth occurred in the cities, as Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Camden evolved as major manufacturing centers, attracting workers who typically resided in densely populated neighborhoods near their workplaces.

       Following the end of the Civil War, newly-freed slaves also came to the state, expanding the African American population of previously freed slaves and those who had remained in the state after escaping the South and traveling on the Underground Railroad, where they often found refuge in New Jersey. 

       Foreign immigration coupled with the prosperity of the 1920s led to another surge in growth; from 1920 to 1930, the state's 28% gain in population nearly doubled that of the nation's. After European immigrants completed their processing and medical examinations at Ellis Island, they would typically board a ferry to the Central Rail Road of New Jersey Terminal in Jersey City, in which they would gather in the Immigrant/Emigrant Waiting Room to wait for their trains, thus segregated from contact with daily commuters using the terminal to and from New York City.

        The Great Depression of the 1930s, however, led to a sharp reduction in immigration, with only a 2.9% growth rate from 1930 to 1940, partly due to a decline in birth rates and federal curbs on foreign immigration to reduce competition for scarce jobs. In the 1940 census, New Jersey's rate of population growth would lag the national average for the first time since 1850.  

       The post-World War II "baby boom" brought a renewal of growth. In the 1950s and 1960s, population increased in each decade by over one million persons, with much of that gain focused in rapidly developing suburban towns made more accessible to employment centers by new highways and expanded commuter rail services.

       But by the 1970s, the state's long-term manufacturing decline, along with net losses of population in the wake of riots and civil disorders in larger cities, slowed growth to only 2.7% from 1970 to 1980, the lowest rate in the state's history. The state increasingly found some of its population  drawn to faster-growing "sunbelt" states offering lower costs for businesses, workers and retirees. Over the more recent decades, New Jersey has depended on foreign immigration to avoid a net decline in population.
  

       In 2017, The Migration Policy Institute estimated that 2,055,062 New Jersey residents were foreign-born, comprising 22.8% of the state's total population, a 39.2% increase from the number in 2000. Over the more recent decades, New Jersey has depended on foreign immigration to avoid a net decline in population. It is estimated that there were about 475,000 illegal immigrants making up about 5.2% of the population as of 2016, which is the fourth highest percentage of any state. 

*  State Immigration Data Profiles, New Jersey, Migration Policy Institute
*  US unauthorized population estimates by state 2016, Pew Center
* Growth of County Population 1790 to 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development      

Picture
Map of Newark circa 1911 created for health study. Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com