UNIT 11
CITIES OF NEW JERSEY
Grade 4: SOCIAL STUDIES:
STUDY GUIDES
1. New Jersey's "City Line" begins at the
George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee and ends at
Walt Whitman Bridge in Camden. (Pages 190-191)
2. What two important neighbors caused the growth of New Jersey's City
Line? (Pages 190-191)
New York City to the east and Philadelphia to the west.
3. What is a "corridor"? (Pages 190-191)
A corridor is a long passageway.
4. New Jersey is described as an urban state because
most of our population lives in or near city regions . (Pages
192-193)
5. New Jersey's oldest cities are nicknamed the Big Six
. Name them. (Pages 192-193)
Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton, Camden
6. Explain and describe the different features which make up a city.
(Pages 192-193)
Most of all cities are made up of people. They also include:
| buildings | streets |
| transportation | parks |
| entertainment | museums |
| businesses | restaurants |
| industry | schools |
| colleges | libraries |
7. List three changes that have taken place in New Jersey's "Big
Six" since 1960. (Pages 194-195)
1. Workers from outside began driving automobiles rather than riding trains.
2. Industries began to leave the cities.
3. Crowded streets, slum sections, traffic jams, and too little money.
8. What features make Newark a transportation center of worldwide importance?
(Page 196)
Newark has New Jersey's finest airport as well as Port Newark, an international
seaport. Also, the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike are located
nearby.
9. People come from all over the state to visit Newark every day. What
are three possible reasons for traveling to the city? (Page 196)
Newark has many factories. It is a great business center, especially for
insurance. Newark is a college center and it has a famed museum, noteworthy
library, historical society, and Symphony Hall. Newark is also a transportation
center for New Jersey.
10. Elizabeth's seaport is famous worldwide. Why? (Page 197)
Elizabeth's port handles more container shipments than any other port in
the world.
11. Elizabeth's people are proud of their history. Tell two reasons why.
(Page 197)
Elizabeth was the first New Jersey town founded by English speaking people
and Elizabeth was New Jersey's first capital.
12. Who were New Jersey's first settlers? Where did they come from? What
did they call their town? (Page 198)
New Jersey was first settled by the Dutch people who moved across the river
from New Amsterdam (New York). They founded Bergen in 1660, the first village
in New Jersey, it would later be changed to Jersey City.
13. Jersey City's people are proud of recent changes in their city. Tell
about two. (Page 198)
Much of the waterfront has become Liberty State Park and many old houses
and businesses have been fixed up.
14. Why was Paterson chosen to become America's first planned industrial
city? (Page 199)
The water from the Great Falls of the Passaic was used to drive the water
wheels of mills. Alexander Hamilton sought to encourage American cities to make
their own machines, clothing, and other products.
15. Name three products that Paterson's factories were once famous for.
(Page 199)
Over the years, Paterson mills have made cotton, factory machines, silk,
and airplane engines.
16. The gold-domed State House is a symbol of Trenton. Who works in this
building? (Page 200)
The Governor, State Assembly and State Senate work in the State Capital building.
17. Why is December 26, 1776 an important day in Trenton's history? (Page
200)
General George Washington defeated the enemy Hessians in the Battle of Trenton.
18. Philadelphia is an important neighbor of Camden.
The Delaware River separates the two cities. (Page 201)
19. Name the two bridges that link these cities together. (Page 201)
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge
The Walt Whitman Bridge
20. Of New Jersey's "Big Ten" name 3 that are new cities. (Pages 202-203)
Woodbridge (5th), Hamilton (7th), Clifton (10th)
21. Where do most new cities develop? Why do new cities form? How are
they different from older traditional cities? (Pages 202-203)
New Cities happen because of big, new highways. People move out along these
roads to escape the crowded conditions of the city. Eventually, many "new"
cities become crowded also. Often new cities do not have downtown areas, usually
they just grow around a business district or residential area.
22. Define and explain the term "population density." (Pages
202-203)
"Population density" is the number of people living within an area.
New Jersey's population density is 986.2 per square mile.
23. How do cities and streets get their names? Describe several different
ways. (Pages 204-205)
Many city and street names are based in history (events, etc.). Others are
named after people, other cities and foreign countries, Indian names and words,
and trees, and numbers.
Other Resources:
The Official City of Newark Web Site
Virtual Trenton: the City of Trenton Web Site
Jersey City: The Official Web Site
Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce
Elizabeth: The Official Web Site
Camden, New Jersey's Official Web Site
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
New Jersey Turnpike Authority Home Page