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Joel Katz

New Jersey Residents Landed Top 10 on the List of the Most State Pride

Author Joel Katz
A general view shows foliage and houses from a viewpoint at the High Mountain Park Preserve in New Jersey on November 1, 2021.

My feeling is that most of us are proud of where we’re from, and we show our state pride for New Jersey. I would also assume that we would all be proud of the place that we choose to live. However, that’s not always the case. Some people don’t have much of a choice. They may be living in New Jersey because of their family or their job. All things being equal, these same folks would move elsewhere if they felt they could.

A recent survey of 1,150 American residents was conducted by Playstar. They spoke to 50 people from each state to discover which U.S. states are the proudest and why.

New Jersey Ranking

According to their research, New Jersey residents fall into the top 20% at number 7 nationwide regarding the proudness of the Garden State. It was learned that 68% of people from New Jersey responded that they were proud of where they live and work. We either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘‘I Am Proud Of Where I Live.” New York was right behind New Jersey at number 8, and Connecticut followed next in the 9th spot.

What Makes Us Proud

The main reason most Americans are proud of their state, according to nearly half of respondents, is their state’s green spaces or natural beauty.

There are a couple of main reasons that people from New Jersey have state pride.

One very good reason is the food. We’re the “Diner Capital of the World.” With all the great restaurants and eateries we could eat at a different place every night of the year and love every meal.

Another reason is the beautiful places to visit. There’s the world-famous Jersey Shore, and our legendary landmarks and iconic attractions. We love our historical sites, beautiful parks, lakes, and mountains.

What Doesn’t Make Us Proud

The survey also revealed some interesting observations from people who are not proud of their states, and what they would change about their state if they could.

The first thing I think of is the property taxes. In New Jersey, affordable living was the number one response when asked about negative effects on our state pride.

Additionally, we’re dissatisfied with the lack of job opportunities. Many folks would prefer working within the state rather than trekking to New York daily. We’re also having to navigate the substandard public transportation. Cleanliness is another top complaint that the survey uncovered.

There is something else worth noting for those who feel there’s been a mass exodus from our state in recent years. Newsweek’s October 2023 article, “The Five States Americans Are Leaving,” does not include or even mention New Jersey.

2 New Jersey Destinations Among The Best For Solo Travel

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

By The Numbers

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let’s take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

  • Princeton

    Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. “Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777.” The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

    Carnegie lake in Princeton, New Jersey featuring old bridge on the background

    Getty Images

  • Cape May

    “Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park,” Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It’s very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery’s, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.

    Cape May branded Lifeboat on the beach with the ocean in the back

    Getty Images

 

Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.

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