New Jersey State Nickname: The Garden State
Fact-checked • Updated December 10, 2025
"The Garden State"
Also Known As:
About the Nickname The Garden State
Abraham Browning referred to New Jersey as the Garden State during a speech at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. In 1954, the state legislature voted to place the phrase on New Jersey license plates over Governor Robert Meyner’s veto. Today, the Garden State remains New Jersey’s most widely recognized and established state nickname, supported by long-standing public and governmental use.
Meaning of 'The Garden State'
Abraham Browning spoke on New Jersey Day at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition on August 24, 1876. He compared New Jersey to an immense barrel filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians drawing from one side and New Yorkers from the other. Similar barrel imagery appeared earlier in the writings of Benjamin Franklin, leading historians to debate whether Browning originated the phrase or helped popularize it.
Long before Browning’s speech, farmland advertisements promoted New Jersey’s fertile soil and agricultural output. Communities in the Pine Barrens, including Hammonton and Vineland, marketed themselves as part of the Garden State of the East during the mid-1800s. Other states briefly used similar garden-related descriptions, but by the 1860s New Jersey had become most closely associated with the name.
Use of the Garden State became standardized in practice when the legislature voted in 1954 to place the phrase on license plates. Governor Robert Meyner vetoed the measure after questioning its historical basis, but lawmakers overrode his veto. New Jersey license plates began displaying Garden State in 1959, marking the nickname’s permanent place in the state’s public identity.
Other Nicknames
The Crossroads of the Revolution
New Jersey earned this nickname because of its central role in the American Revolutionary War. More than 100 battles and skirmishes occurred within the state as British and American forces fought for control between New York and Philadelphia. George Washington’s victories at Trenton and Princeton in late 1776 and early 1777 proved especially important. The concentration of military activity led historians to describe New Jersey as the Crossroads of the Revolution.
The Clam State
New Jersey’s Atlantic coastline and Delaware Bay supported extensive clam harvesting for generations. Hard clams, soft-shell clams, and surf clams contributed to coastal economies, particularly in southern parts of the state. Although the nickname never became widespread, it reflects the importance of seafood industries. In 1995, New Jersey designated the knobbed whelk as its official shell, further highlighting the state’s maritime resources.
The Switzerland of America
Travel writers in the 1800s compared the hills and lakes of northwestern New Jersey to the scenery of Switzerland. Resorts developed around places such as Lake Hopatcong to attract visitors seeking mountain landscapes near major cities. Guidebooks and newspapers promoted the comparison to emphasize natural beauty. Modern use of Switzerland of America is rare and appears mainly in historical descriptions.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 6
New Jersey’s state motto is Liberty and Prosperity, adopted in 1777 and displayed on the state seal.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Official State of New Jersey explanation of the Garden State nickname, including Abraham Browning’s 1876 speech and the 1954 license plate decision
Official information on New Jersey state symbols, agriculture, and the Liberty and Prosperity motto
General reference covering New Jersey history, agriculture, and the development of the Garden State nickname