1. Creation of the State: January 1, 1776, marked the date when New Jersey officially became an independent state of the United States of America. Prior to this date, the region was known as the Province of New Jersey, and was a part of the British colonies.

2. Emancipation Day: January 1st is celebrated as Emancipation Day in New Jersey, commemorating the state's early role in the abolition of slavery. On this day in 1804, New Jersey passed the Gradual Abolition Act, which abolished slavery in the state in stages. The state's constitution also mandated the abolition of slavery by 1844.

3. Revolutionary War: The Battle of Trenton, a turning point in the American Revolutionary War, took place on December 26, 1776. However, it was on January 1, 1777, that the Continental Army under General George Washington defeated the British forces in the Second Battle of Trenton, securing a vital victory for the revolutionaries.

4. Ellis Island: January 1, 1892, marked the opening of Ellis Island, the famous immigration station in New York Harbor that processed millions of immigrants arriving in America. While technically in New York, Ellis Island was a major gateway for immigrants to New Jersey and other parts of the United States.

5. Sports Legacy: January 1, 1947, saw the first college football game played at the newly-built Rutgers Stadium in New Brunswick. Rutgers, New Jersey's state university, faced off against the University of Virginia in the first of many games played at the iconic stadium, which has since been renamed High Point Solutions Stadium. Today, the stadium is home to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team.