1. On May 11, 1864, the Battle of Spotswood took place in Middlesex County during the American Civil War. Confederate soldiers attacked a Union cavalry outpost, resulting in casualties on both sides.
2. The New Jersey Senate voted to approve legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on May 11, 2009. The bill was later vetoed by Governor Chris Christie.
3. In 1933, the first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey on May 11. The concept quickly became popular across the United States.
4. May 11, 1985 marked the opening of the Montclair Connection, a rail junction connecting two major train lines in the town of Montclair. The project took several years and millions of dollars to complete.
5. The renowned author and poet Walt Whitman was born in West Hills, New York on May 31, 1819. Although not directly related to New Jersey's history on May 11, Whitman lived much of his life in the state and wrote several famous works inspired by his experiences here.