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Northeast: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

tral New Jersey. Its northern limit runs diagonally across the state, from Raritan Bay in the east to Trenton in the west. The easternmost part of New Jersey’s coastal plain includes salt marshes, barrier islands , and sand beaches. Beaches—whether on barrier islands or the mainland—are the pri-

by the Atlantic Ocean. New Jersey has about 130 miles (209 km) of coastline. New Jersey is the fourth smallest state by area. It covers slightly more than 8,720 square miles (22,592 sq km). Nearly 60 percent of New Jersey’s land consists of coastal plain . This low-lying, level or gently rolling terrain covers all of southern and part of cen-

Words to Understand in This Chapter

barrier island— a long, usually narrow sandy island that runs parallel to the mainland and that was built up through the action of currents and waves. charter— a grant or guarantee of rights and privileges issued by a ruler or government. coastal plain— an area of flat, mostly low-lying land that extends inland from a seacoast. Hessian— a German professional soldier hired by the British to fight in the Revolutionary War. lords proprietors— persons granted a royal charter to establish and govern a colony in the 1600s. monopoly— control of a product, resource, or entire market by a single company or individual. pharmaceutical— a medicinal drug. piedmont— a gentle slope leading from the base of mountains to a region of flat land. redistricting— the process of redrawing legislative districts to accommodate changes in population. seaboard— a region bordering an ocean or sea.