1. On January 12, 1895, the first game of basketball in New Jersey was played in Trenton. The Trenton YMCA defeated Camden YMCA 15-4, marking the beginning of basketball's popularity in the state.
2. In 1915, a massive fire destroyed much of the city of Perth Amboy. Fueled by high winds and a lack of firefighting equipment, the blaze destroyed over one thousand homes and left thousands homeless.
3. On January 12, 1892, the New Jersey State Board of Education met for the first time, establishing a statewide education system that remains in place today.
4. The first paved road in New Jersey was completed on January 12, 1912. Known as the Lincoln Highway, the road ran from Jersey City to New Brunswick and was a major milestone in the development of modern transportation infrastructure in the state.
5. On January 12, 2009, a US Airways commuter plane crashed into the Hudson River after hitting a flock of geese. All passengers and crew members survived the incident, thanks to the heroism of the plane's captain, Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who successfully landed the aircraft on the water.