The population of New Jersey in 1910, according to the United States
Census, was 2,537,168; and the density of population, or the number of
people per square mile, was 337.7. In 1920, according to the United
States Census, the population was 3,155,900, an increase of 24.4 per
cent., giving a density of 420. Compared with other states. New Jersey
was tenth in population, and third in density of population, Rhode
Island being first and Massachusetts second. The area of greatest
density of population is the northeastern section, including Bergen,
Hudson, Passaic, Essex, Union, and Middlesex counties, which with an
area of 1018 square miles had a population of 2,112,933, or more than
sixty-five per cent, of the total population of the state. In this
section there were more than 2000 persons per square mile. Hudson
County, the smallest in the state, had the largest population, which
was 629,124 or 14,630 per square mile. In Hoboken, with an area of
less than two square miles, the population was more than 68,000 or
more than 34,000 to the square mile. Other thickly populated sections
are those of which Trenton and Camden are centers. Cape May County had
the smallest and Ocean County the most scattered population, which was
22,155 or 35 per square mile.
The urban population, that is, the number residing in towns of more
than 2500 people, was 2,486,378 in 1920, or 79 per cent, of the total
population. This still leaves a rural population of 669,522, or about
90 per square mile, who are largely engaged in cultivation of the soil
or the raising of stock.
The chief occupations of the people of the state are agriculture,
fishing, manufacturing, and commerce. Many thousands of people of New
Jersey are engaged in commercial and industrial enterprises and other
business pursuits, in the large cities of the neighboring states. Many
opportunities for comfortable residence with all conveniences and
advantages and unsurpassed facilities for rapidly traveling back and
forth attract many to this state who are employed in the cities of New
York and Philadelphia.
[Illustration: Population of New Jersey]
According to the United States Census of 1920 the population of the
New York City Metropolitan District was 7,750,237. Included in this
district are the cities and towns in Hudson County and in parts
of Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union, and Middlesex counties, with a
population of 1,795,590. In the Metropolitan District of Philadelphia,
with a population of over 2,000,000, are parts of Burlington, Camden,
and Gloucester counties with a population of 239,740. It is clear,
therefore, that the occupations of two thirds of our people, at least,
are subject to the direct influence of the commercial and industrial
activities of these cities. (The United States Census Bureau defines a
Metropolitan District as that which embraces the central city and all
cities or parts of cities which lie within ten miles of its boundaries.)
[Illustration: Broad and Market Streets, Newark]