The first permanent European settlement in New Jersey was Elizabeth, which was founded in 1664 by a group of English Puritans from Connecticut. Other early settlements included Newark (1666), Middletown (1665), and Woodbridge (1669).
In 1702, New Jersey was divided into two colonies: East Jersey and West Jersey. East Jersey was mostly settled by English Puritans, while West Jersey was settled by a more diverse group of people, including Dutch, French, Germans, and Scots.
In 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the United States Constitution.