This is alist of official symbols of theU.S. state ofNew Jersey. Official symbols ofNew Jersey are codified in the laws of New Jersey.
A decade-long campaign by aHaddon Township teacher led to the selection ofHadrosaurus foulkii as the official state fossil in June 1991. This example of the dinosaur was excavated in 1858 from a marl pit nearHaddonfield as one of the most complete dinosaur skeletons to be reconstructed. It remains on display at theNew Jersey State Museum, where it has been on display since 1931.[12]
In whatThe New York Times described as a "food fight", AssemblymemberClare Farragher argued in 2003 that the tomato has a strong historical association with the Garden State and that "the Jersey tomato does have a unique taste" that derives from the characteristics of the soil on the Atlantic coast.[13] Legislation ultimately passed in 2003 establishing the blueberry as New Jersey'sofficial state fruit.[14]
In online balloting, "New Jersey: Come See For Yourself" was selected by the 11,000 participants in 2006 as the winner, from a slogan originally submitted by a resident ofPassaic, New Jersey.[2] TheGovernor of New Jersey announced the new slogan in January 2006, after having previously rejected the slogan "We'll Win You Over", which had been developed by an advertising agency at the cost of $250,000 and was deemed to be "too negative and prone to ridicule". "Come See For Yourself" edged out second-place finisher "New Jersey: The Best Kept Secret" by approximately 100 votes.[15]
On May 10, 2019, New Jersey became the second state in the United States to have an Official State Microbe, the bacteriumStreptomyces griseus.[11]
On January 21, 2020, New Jersey GovernorPhil Murphy signed legislation that officially designates the Seeing Eye dog as the state dog of New Jersey.[16]
On August 7, 2023, Senate PresidentNicholas Scutari, in his capacity asacting governor, signed a bill designatingcranberry juice as New Jersey's state juice. The legislation was enacted after a successful proposal fromCinnaminson Township fourth grade students.[8]
The Garden State has a new state reptile. In fact, it's the state's first, and it speaks to the heart of New Jersey. It's the bog turtle.
