Founded in 1665, New Jersey was one of the original 13 colonies that fought the American Revolution, was the site of several critical engagements during that struggle (eg. Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth), the third state to join the union under the new Constitution in 1787, and was the first state to sign the Bill of Rights in 1789.  During the colonial era, the state was commonly called "West Jersey" and "East Jersey," a division that lives on still in "North Jersey" and "South Jersey."  In the industrial age, New Jersey was a manufacturing giant with easy access to major ports, with far-reaching consequences including population density (still the highest in the US) and diversity, as well as the state's role in the labor movement.  Another consequence was pollution; NJ has the most Superfund cleanup sites in the nation.  The southern half of the state is still more rural than the north, a traditional farming area whose eastern shoreline is a smattering of small towns that are the beach destination of choice for many in the northeast who are in search of warm ocean water and broad beaches.  In 1916, a famous series of shark attacks (including several up a tidal creek) fascinated the nation and, sixty years later, inspired the novel and film "Jaws."   In the center of those towns is Atlantic City, where the 1976 legalization of casino gambling resulted in a partial resurrection of what had been, in the early 20th century, a bustling vacation resort by the sea. The northwest corner of the state, called the Skylands, also retains rural characteristics including farming, small villages and townships, and many outdoor recreational opportunities.