Editing New Jersey (section)

===General===
New Jersey has continued to play a prominent role as a U.S. cultural nexus. Like every state, New Jersey has its own [[Cuisine of New Jersey|cuisine]], religious communities, [[List of museums in New Jersey|museums]], and [[:Category:Halls of fame in New Jersey|halls of fame]].

New Jersey is the birthplace of many modern inventions, including [[FM radio]], the motion picture camera, the [[lithium battery]], the [[light bulb]], [[transistor]]s, and the electric train. Other New Jersey creations include: the drive-in movie, the cultivated [[blueberry]], [[cranberry sauce]], the [[boardwalk]], the [[zipper]], the [[phonograph]], [[saltwater taffy]], the [[dirigible]], the [[watermelon|seedless watermelon]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.njinvent.njit.edu/1992/pioneer_inductees_1992/andrews.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901073622/http://www.njinvent.njit.edu/1992/pioneer_inductees_1992/andrews.html |archive-date=September 1, 2006 |title=New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame |publisher=Njinvent.njit.edu |access-date=July 25, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[David Bushnell (inventor)|first use]] of a [[submarine]] in warfare, and the [[ice cream cone]].<ref>{{cite news|title=His Cones 'Original'|volume=20|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1798&dat=19711019&id=EPgeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6103,3154999|access-date=June 11, 2014|issue=130|work=Sarasota Journal|date=November 19, 1971|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101085836/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1798&dat=19711019&id=EPgeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HY0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6103,3154999|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Diner]]s are iconic to New Jersey. The state is home to many diner manufacturers and has over 600 diners, more than any other place in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.50states.com/facts/newjerse.htm|title=New Jersey Facts and Trivia|publisher=50states.com|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130164102/http://www.50states.com/facts/newjerse.htm|archive-date=November 30, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

New Jersey is the only state to have never had a [[List of U.S. state songs|state song]];<ref>Walker, Tamara. [https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2023/04/03/here-are-some-of-njs-weirdest-official-state-symbols/70046650007/ "State microbe? Here are some of NJ's most bizarre official state symbols"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715014108/https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2023/04/03/here-are-some-of-njs-weirdest-official-state-symbols/70046650007/ |date=July 15, 2023 }}, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023. "There are more symbols but one New Jersey lacks is more surprising. New Jersey is the only state without a state song."</ref> as of 2021, it is one of only two states (the other being [[Maryland]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wjla.com/news/local/on-bill-signing-day-hogan-officially-legalizes-sports-betting-repeals-state-song |title=On bill-signing day, Hogan officially legalizes sports betting, repeals state song |date=May 18, 2021 |publisher=[[WJLA-TV]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=September 24, 2023 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127184036/https://wjla.com/news/local/on-bill-signing-day-hogan-officially-legalizes-sports-betting-repeals-state-song |url-status=live }}</ref>) that are currently without a state song. "I'm From New Jersey" is incorrectly listed on many websites as being the New Jersey state song, but it was not even a contender when the New Jersey Arts Council submitted state song suggestions to the [[New Jersey Legislature]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutnewjersey.com/editorials/stateSong_3_15_04.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811193314/http://www.aboutnewjersey.com/editorials/stateSong_3_15_04.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2007|title=The History of the New Jersey State Song?|publisher=Aboutnewjersey.com|access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref>

New Jersey is frequently the target of jokes in American culture,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-does-new-jersey-get-no-respect/|title=Why does New Jersey get no respect?|author=<!--Staff-->|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=January 16, 2011|access-date=April 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417151930/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-does-new-jersey-get-no-respect/|archive-date=April 17, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> especially from New York City-based television shows, such as ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref name="Rockland">{{cite book |last1=Rockland |first1=Michael Aaron |author1-link=Michael Aaron Rockland |editor1-last=Lurie |editor1-first=Maxine N. |editor2-last=Mappen |editor2-first=Marc |title=Encyclopedia of New Jersey |publisher=Rutgers University Press |location=New Brunswick |isbn=9780813533254 |pages=401–402 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_r9Ni6_u0JEC&pg=PA402 |chapter=Image |year=2004 |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405185916/https://books.google.com/books?id=_r9Ni6_u0JEC&pg=PA402 |url-status=live }}</ref> Academic [[Michael Aaron Rockland]] attributes this to New Yorkers' view that New Jersey is the beginning of [[Middle America (United States)|Middle America]]. The [[New Jersey Turnpike]], which runs between two major East Coast cities, New York City and Philadelphia, is also cited as a reason, as people who traverse through the state may only see its industrial zones.<ref name=sjt>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/washington-township-times/index.ssf/2014/07/the_jersey_joke_rutgers_profes.html|title=The Jersey Joke: Rutgers professor recounts long history of New Jersey as a punchline|last=Caffrey|first=Michelle|work=[[South Jersey Times]]|date=July 8, 2014|access-date=April 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424205702/http://www.nj.com/washington-township-times/index.ssf/2014/07/the_jersey_joke_rutgers_profes.html|archive-date=April 24, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Reality television shows like ''[[Jersey Shore (TV series)|Jersey Shore]]'' and ''[[The Real Housewives of New Jersey]]'' have reinforced stereotypical views of New Jersey culture,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2010-07-27/news/24969876_1_real-housewives-new-jersey-turnpike-new-jerseyans|title='Jersey Doesn't Stink' website defends state|last=Whelan|first=Aubrey|website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=July 27, 2010|access-date=April 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422174238/http://articles.philly.com/2010-07-27/news/24969876_1_real-housewives-new-jersey-turnpike-new-jerseyans|archive-date=April 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> but Rockland cited ''[[The Sopranos]]'' and the music of [[Bruce Springsteen]] as exporting a more positive image.<ref name=sjt/>

The "New" in "New Jersey" is often omitted in casual conversation.<ref>{{cite news|first=William|last=Safire|author-link=William Safire|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/30/magazine/on-language-jersey-s-vanishing-new.html|title=ON LANGUAGE; Jersey's Vanishing 'New'|work=[[The New York Times Magazine]]|date=July 30, 1995|access-date=June 8, 2024}}</ref>