1. In 1895, the first-ever intercollegiate football game in New Jersey was played on October 4 between Rutgers College and Stevens Institute of Technology. The game resulted in a 0-0 tie and marked the beginning of a long-standing football rivalry between the two schools.

2. On October 4, 1927, Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The legendary home run, which broke his own previous record, was witnessed by fans from New Jersey who had traveled to the city to see the game.

3. In 1955, a devastating flood struck the Passaic River basin in northern New Jersey, causing widespread damage and displacement. The flood, which occurred on October 4, was one of the worst in the state's history, and resulted in the deaths of 11 people and the displacement of thousands more.

4. On October 4, 1982, New Jersey became the third state in the United States to adopt a law that required motorists to wear seat belts while driving. The law, which aimed to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and injuries, has since been expanded to include all passengers in a vehicle.

5. In 2003, New Jersey celebrated its 225th anniversary of statehood on October 4, with events and ceremonies held throughout the state. The anniversary marked the day that New Jersey ratified the U.S. Constitution and officially became the third state to join the Union in 1787.