Some People Don’t Know That These 8 Things Came From New Jersey

Most people probably know that Edison was the Wizard of Menlo Park, inventing phonographs and motion pictures left and right. Many of us are already familiar with his genius but New Jersey has churned out an impressive amount of inventions developed by other brilliant minds. What would the world be without these significant developments?

1. Salt Water Taffy

Salt Water Taffy is possibly the most important invention to come out of New Jersey. Okay, okay, maybe not as important as these next few.

2. Air Conditioning

Invented by Haviland Carrier and patented in 1921, the air conditioner is an invaluable asset that has even helped to save lives.

3. Bubble Wrap

Originally intended to be a wallpaper, the inventors discovered the profitable packaging purpose of their product and created the Sealed Air Corporation in Elmwood Park to produce and distribute the protective wrap.

4. Band-Aids

If Earle Dickson's wife hadn't been so clumsy, the Johnson & Johnson employee may never have invented Band-Aids.

5. Bar Codes

These little lines make life so much easier. They may never have existed if not for Atlantic City resident N. Joseph Woodland.

6. Chlorinated Water

Water borne illnesses claimed the lives of tens of thousands in the US until Belleville resident Charles Frederick Wallace invented a chlorinating device in the early 1900's.

7. TV Dinners

After television was invented, it was only a matter of time before we wanted to eat in front of them. In 1944, William Maxon made that much more convenient.

8. Les Paul Guitars

Les Paul of Mahwah invented the first solid body electric guitar in 1940.

Without the great state of New Jersey and its creative residents we may have waited years for clean water and microwave meals. We may have been sweating all summer for a few more decades and checkout lines would certainly be a lot longer without bar codes. The world can thank us all for the joys of Bubble Wrap and we have Band-Aid bragging rights. Not too bad for such a small state.