First inhabited by Native Americans, the Europeans arrived in New Jersey territory in the 17th century. Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first explorer to arrive in New Jersey in 1524. However, colonization didn't begin until the arrival of Henry Hudson in 1609. The Dutch established the first European settlement in 1660. The English took over the reins of New Jersey in 1664. 

New Jersey was a major player during the Revolutionary War. Due to its proximity to the 13 colonies, over 100 battles were fought on its territory. This earned it the nickname "Crossroads of the American Revolution." On December 26 1776, Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River and caught a garrison of German Mercenaries off guard in Trenton, capturing the city. This victory catalyzed the battle to be won. New Jersey ratified the United States Constitution on December 18, 1787, becoming the third state to do so. 

Nicknamed the Garden State, New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic Northeastern region of the U.S. A land area of 7,354 square miles puts it as the fifth-smallest state based on size and 11th most densely populated state in America. The capital of New Jersey is Trenton, while the most populous city is Newark, with a population of 311,549. 

New Jersey's population of 9,288,994 sees it ranked as the 11th most populous state in America. The racial composition of its population is made up of 71.9% White, 15.1% Black or African American, 10.0% Asian, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and 2.3% of other races. 

If access to the best schools is at the top reasons to seek relocation, there is no better state to live in than New Jersey. The states currently hold the number one spot in early childhood education and have the country's number one public school system. A significant 90% of its high school seniors in the state proceed to receive their diplomas. Princeton University, located in New Jersey, has also been named number one in America for a consecutive decade. Other higher institutions in the state include Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology. 

According to the U.S. News & World Report's 2019-2020 Best Hospitals rankings, 5 of New Jersey's hospitals are nationally ranked, while 15 meet the national high-performance standards. Residents of New Jersey enjoy access to efficient and quality healthcare from some of the best doctors and surgeons in the country.

This article takes a look at real estate for sale in New Jersey, its cities and major attractions. The state of New Jersey is the perfect place to invest in real estate as it is home to beautiful cities and affordable real estate options. Let's look at New Jersey and why it is a good place to buy land or a house.