1. In 1790, the first census of the United States was completed, including New Jersey. The state had a population of 184,139, making it the third-most populous state at the time.

2. In 1879, Thomas Edison successfully tested his first electric light bulb in Menlo Park, New Jersey. This invention revolutionized the world, bringing light to homes and businesses without the need for dangerous gas-powered lamps.

3. In 1916, a shark attacked five people along the Jersey Shore, including four deaths. This incident was the inspiration for the book and subsequent movie Jaws.

4. In 1949, the first baseball game was televised in color from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, featuring the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves. This game was broadcast to viewers in New Jersey and across the country, sparking the popularity of color television.

5. In 1962, the first public concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford was held, featuring performances by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie. The stadium went on to host numerous iconic musicians and events over the next several decades.