New Jersey
NJ will commemorate these anniversaries in 2025. Here are some fun facts about our history
1-minute read
New Jersey will mark some significant anniversaries in 2025, as you might expect from one of the original 13 colonies in advance of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
While the anniversaries listed below are centuries old, there are certainly many other days worthy of commemoration in New Jersey in 2025.
The bullet points are a quick and easy way to learn some fun facts about New Jersey’s history.
Enjoy!
- 1775: First Provincial Congress of New Jersey — The First Provincial Congress of New Jersey convened in Trenton in 1775 to establish Colonial governance amid revolutionary unrest. Delegates replaced the royal governor, authorized the issuance of paper currency to support militia efforts and enforced fines on those refusing military service shortly after the American Revolution kicked off. This assembly marked New Jersey’s initial steps toward independence, shaping its role in the war and laying the groundwork for state governance.
- 1825: Queen’s College renamed Rutgers College — Rutgers was one of the nation’s first higher-education institutions. Founded in 1766, when the Colonies were on better terms with England, it was originally named for Great Britain’s queen. Now the state university of New Jersey, the school was given a new name in 1825 to honor Revolutionary War hero and benefactor Col. Henry Rutgers. The colonel donated a college bell and $5,000, saving the institution from financial hardship and setting it on a course to become a major public research university.
- 1875: Prudential Friendly Society founded — In 1875, John Fairfield Dryden founded the Prudential Friendly Society in Newark, pioneering life insurance accessibility for the working class. Dryden’s was the first U.S. company to offer industrial life insurance, which provided small policies with affordable premiums to the working class. The company’s “insurance for the people” philosophy became a cornerstone of its success. Prudential later evolved into a major global financial services provider, but its Newark roots and famed headquarters remain central to its legacy.
- 1875: State constitution amended — Also in 1875, New Jersey amended its 1844 constitution to reflect post-Civil War changes. The change was made to align with the federal 14th and 15th amendments and ensure equal protection and voting rights. The amendment, however, also mandated the establishment of a “thorough and efficient” system of free public schools, cementing the state’s commitment to universal education, yet leaving much up to interpretation. The adjectives nonetheless stuck when the state constitution was rewritten in 1947.
- 1925: Mary Teresa Norton takes office — Mary Teresa Norton in March 1925 became the first woman to represent New Jersey or any state in the Northeast in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representing North Jersey’s 13th District, she was a trailblazer in labor rights, social welfare and women’s issues. Norton, who served until 1951, chaired key committees, including the House Labor Committee. She also played a vital role in shaping the Fair Labor Standards Act. Her historic tenure set a precedent for women’s leadership in American politics.
More about 2025 in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey school district announces 2-hour delay for morning after Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX appearance
After the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, students in one New Jersey school district will have a couple extra hours to sleep in.
Officials in the Gloucester City, New Jersey school district announced a two-hour delayed opening for Feb. 10, 2025 — the Monday morning after the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl LIX starts at 6:30 p.m. With both the game and the Super Bowl halftime show — headlined this year by Kendrick Lamar, with SZA as a guest — it’s very likely things won’t wrap until after 10 p.m.
“It is a rare and special time for families to watch our local professional football team compete in the Super Bowl. We feel that it’s important to give students and staff the opportunity to enjoy the game with their families and still attend school & work the next day safely and well-rested,” Gloucester City High School wrote on its Facebook page.
The post concluded with “have a nice evening. Go Birds.”
Gloucester City is just across the river from South Philadelphia.
Philadelphia area schools had delayed openings for past Super Bowl appearance
The Gloucester City School District also had a delay the morning after Super Bowl LVII in 2023, when the Eagles also faced the Chiefs. That year, the School District of Philadelphia, Archdiocese of Philadelphia and many other districts also announced delayed openings to allow students and parents to sleep in.
Eagles fans had a long night as the city of Philadelphia toasted the Birds’ NFC title game victory over the Washington Commanders with a massive party along Broad Street on Sunday. There was dancing, singing, Eagles chants and of course, a few people climbed some poles.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said Philadelphia police and emergency responders handled the crowds well, but she warned residents not to fire guns in any celebration. In a video widely shared on social media, a man could be seen firing a gun into the air multiple times as a large crowd of fans gathered at Frankford and Cottman avenues after the NFC title game win.
Should the day after the Super Bowl be a holiday?
Some groggy NFL fans have lobbied for the league to add another game to the regular season schedule, lengthening the season by one more week. Teams would then play 18 games over 19 weeks, with one week for a bye.
That extra week would make Super Bowl Sunday the day before Presidents’ Day, when schools, banks and government offices are closed — a natural day off for many parents and students.
The next chance for that schedule change to happen would be when the NFL’s current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2030, CBS News Boston reported.
New Jersey
Environmental regulators call for overhaul of Trenton Water Works
The reports outline a number of alternative structures, including operating it as a public utility independent of any municipal government, or as a public-private partnership.
A regional approach to operating the system is also on the table — currently, Trenton Water Works provides water for more than 200,000 people across Trenton, Ewing and parts of Hamilton, Lawrence and Hopewell. LaTourette stressed that privatizing the municipal-owned system is completely out of the question.
“We believe that the system can be restructured successfully, and in doing so, still maintain its publicly owned identity, serve the interests of the city of Trenton, invest in its future and give the service-area communities a seat at the table,” LaTourette said. “Most importantly, that the system can and should be fully modernized and professionalized to ensure the delivery of reliably safe clean drinking water at affordable rates.”
The mayors elected in the towns serviced by Trenton Water Works issued a joint statement in support of an overhaul.
“We, the Mayors of TWW-serviced towns, agree that the status quo is not sustainable, and we believe that creating a new public utility, with governance that allows for greater operational independence and collaboration across municipalities, is a necessary step forward,” said the statement released by Jeff Martin of Hamilton Township, Bert Steinmann of Ewing Township, Patricia Hendricks Farmer of Lawrence Township, Courtney Peters-Manning of Hopewell Township, and W. Reed Gusciora of Trenton.
New Jersey
New Jersey lottery player wins $4 million on a scratch-off ticket. Here’s where
A trip to the convenience store turned into a $4 million payday for one lucky Bergen County lottery player.
“We have a NEW MILLIONAIRE in town! A lucky player won a TOP PRIZE of $4,000,000 on a $30 200X Cash Blitz Scratch-Offs!” the New Jersey Lottery posted on Instagram Monday morning.
The winning ticket was purchased at the Krauszer’s on West Main Street in Ramsey.
While claiming the prize, the winner told the New Jersey Lottery: ““My hands are still shaking.”
The winner opted for the cash value of $2,409,200, rather than annuity payments.
“My lifestyle won’t change,” said the lottery player, adding the win does add security to their life.
The 200X Cash Blitz scratch-off game began at the beginning of the August and costs $30 to play. The game offers players a chance at prizes from $50 to $50,000 with three grand prizes of $4 million.
One top prize still remains. The other $4 million ticket was purchased at a Sunoco Foodmart on Chestnut Street in Elmer (Salem County).
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