1. On January 7, 1745, John Stevens, a prominent inventor and engineer, was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. Stevens is known for developing the first steamboat to successfully navigate American waters and for founding the Stevens Institute of Technology, a private research university in Hoboken.

2. The infamous "Pine Barrens" of New Jersey were first designated as a wilderness area on January 7, 1978. This unique region is characterized by its sandy soil, dense forests, and diverse wildlife, and has been the subject of numerous legends and myths over the years.

3. On January 7, 1789, the New Jersey Legislature ratified the United States Constitution, becoming the third state to do so after Delaware and Pennsylvania. This paved the way for New Jersey to become an official member of the Union later that year.

4. One of the most tragic events in New Jersey history occurred on January 7, 1982, when an Air Florida flight crashed into the Potomac River shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport. The crash, which killed 78 people including 5 New Jersey residents, is remembered as one of the worst aviation disasters in American history.

5. On January 7, 1930, Thomas Edison received his last patent for an invention known as the "Improvement in Electrical Distribution Systems." This patent represented the final contribution of a man who had revolutionized the world of technology and played a vital role in the development of modern-day New Jersey.