1. In 1837, the New Jersey legislature approved a bill creating the Camden and Amboy Railroad, the first major railroad in the state. The railway was intended to offer faster and more efficient transportation between Philadelphia and New York City, and it helped to transform New Jersey's economy and transportation infrastructure.

2. On March 2, 1861, New Jersey's delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a constitutional amendment that would have protected slavery in the United States. The amendment was ultimately defeated, and this vote reflected New Jersey's growing opposition to the institution of slavery.

3. In 1875, the New Jersey legislature passed the Municipalities Act, which established a system of home rule for municipalities in the state. This law gave local governments more power to govern themselves and helped to decentralize political power in New Jersey.

4. On March 2, 1942, the first telecast of a college basketball game was broadcast from Madison Square Garden to television viewers in New York and New Jersey. The game featured a matchup between Fordham University and the College of the Holy Cross, and it marked an important milestone in the development of televised sports.

5. In 1972, New Jersey became the first state to institute a comprehensive energy conservation program, with the passage of the New Jersey Energy Conservation Act. This law called for a variety of measures to reduce energy consumption in homes and businesses, and it helped to spur the development of alternative energy sources in the state.