Although often viewed as an extension of neighboring Philadelphia and New York, New Jersey has come into its own over the past two decades, gaining national recognition as a state with its own demographics, political trends and economic realities. The state with the highest population density, New Jersey ranks as the ninth-largest state with 8.4 million people, according to the 2000 census.

Aging shopping centers and urban decay are giving way to new office complexes and bright new developments in its central cities like Newark, Camden and Jersey City. The state also boasts new performing arts centers, professional sports teams and the world's longest stretch of boardwalks along the Jersey Shore.

One of the only 20th century New Jersey politicians to rise to national prominence was former Gov. Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, who became President of the United States in 1913. He was responsible for many key social reforms in the state, including workmen's compensation, restrictions on the employment of women and children, and many antitrust laws.

In recent years, Democrats and Republicans have fought for the state's top job. Following the term of Republican Tom Kean, Democrat Jim Florio came into the office. Facing daunting budget challenges, Florio forced through a series of wildly unpopular tax increases. Florio's move, while helping stabilize the state books, angered voters and hurt Democrats at the polls. So even as Bill Clinton was cruising in the state's presidential vote, New Jersey residents were backing Republican Christie Todd Whitman by large margins. After Whitman joined President Bush's cabinet in 2001, Democrat Jim McGreevey captured the state's top office.

Democrats have had no problems keeping hold of the state's two U.S. Senate seats, having held both since 1972. But for with this year's contest so close and perhaps control of the chamber hanging in the balance, the race in New Jersey is attracting lots of attention and fundraising by both national parties. And those funds will be needed to reach out to voters in the Garden State. Because it has no commercial statewide media, candidates seeking attention in New Jersey can only count on expensive advertising airtime from the New York and Philadelphia markets to get their message out to potential supporters.

Bill Clinton has helped raise money for Torricelli, and both President Bush and Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) have recently campaigned in the state.

The latest political jockeying is a long way from its earliest development, though. New Jersey's first inhabitants were the Lenni Lenape Indians who occupied the land for over 10,000 years before the first European, Giovanni de Verrazano, anchored off Sandy Hook in 1524.

Control of the territory passed from Dutch to British to Quaker and even to the New York governor's rule until Lewis Morris became governor of New Jersey in 1738. More than 100 battles were fought in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War and residents so strongly supported the idea of a independence that New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and the first to ratify the Bill of Rights in 1789.

The industrial revolution helped build the infrastructure and economy of New Jersey - new roads, canals and railways allowed people and goods to move between industrial centers, most of which were concentrated in the state's northern half.

The promise of good jobs brought workers from the south and thousands of European immigrants. The late 19th century saw prosperity across the state due in part to a booming research and development corridor that continues to present day.

The Garden State's fortunes have greatly improved since the 1970s. A series of state government initiatives brought the Meadowlands sports complex, legalized gambling, education reforms, lower crime and lower car insurance rates.

As roads and other transportation systems improved, New Jersey became a key port and one of the most important industrial states in the country.

Pharmaceuticals are still the top industry in the state, followed by telecommunications, biotechnology, and tourism. Its chief manufactured goods are chemicals, electronic equipment, and food, including cranberries, tomatoes, peaches, blueberries, soybeans, and other plants.

--By Samara Aberman, Online NewsHour