1. In 1777, the Continental Army under General George Washington camped at Middlebrook in Somerset County, New Jersey. This was a strategic location for the Continental Army to regroup and rest after the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Middlebrook would eventually serve as the winter encampment for the Continental Army in both 1778 and 1779.

2. In 1804, the first steam locomotive successfully demonstrated in the United States ran on a circular track in Hoboken, New Jersey. The steam locomotive, called the "Best Friend of Charleston," was built by the West Point Foundry in New York and exported to Charleston, South Carolina. The successful demonstration in Hoboken paved the way for the development of railroads as a dominant mode of transportation in the United States.

3. In 1927, the Holland Tunnel, connecting New Jersey and New York City under the Hudson River, opened to traffic. The tunnel was named for the chief engineer, Clifford M. Holland, who died before the completion of the project. The Holland Tunnel was the first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel, and it revolutionized transportation by allowing cars to travel uninterrupted from New Jersey to Manhattan.

4. In 1951, basketball legend and Camden native Michael "The Doc" Jordan was born. Jordan would go on to play collegiate basketball at the University of North Carolina before entering the NBA in 1984. Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history, with five MVP awards and six NBA championships to his name.

5. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated many coastal communities in New Jersey, causing billions of dollars in damage and dozens of fatalities. The storm's impact was felt throughout the state, with many communities losing power and suffering significant property damage. The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy led to major infrastructure improvements and disaster preparedness initiatives throughout New Jersey.