About the Author

MAXINE N. LURIE is a professor of history at Seton Hall University. She is the author of a number of articles and book chapters primarily on early American and New Jersey history, the editor of A New Jersey Anthology, and the coeditor of the Encyclopedia of New Jersey (both Rutgers University Press).

PETER O. WACKER, professor emeritus of geography at Rutgers University, is the author of The Musconetcong Valley of New Jersey: A Historical Geography; Land and People: A Cultural Geography of Preindustrial New Jersey Origins and Settlement Patterns; and the coauthor of Land Use in Early New Jersey: A Historical Geography (Rutgers University Press).

MICHAEL SIEGEL is the staff cartographer and teacher in the Rutgers University geography department.

Reviews

"Mapping New Jersey is not just a book filled with pretty maps. It's a comprehensive, interpretive atlas of the state, tracing changes in environment, land-use patterns, demography, transportation, economy and politics over the course of many centuries. This is a terrific book for any map lover, any reader interested in our state and collectors of odd bits of information. Mapping New Jersey is a perfect gift."-- "The Beachcomber" (7/16/2010 12:00:00 AM)

"Mapping New Jersey is packed with information. This book brings it all together in one place, making sense of a remarkably complicated place and its history. Five stars: Excellent in scholarship, writing style, and graphic/typography.
"-- "Garden State Legacy" (3/1/2010 12:00:00 AM)

"Mapping New Jersey is wonderful, exquisite, spectacular ... far beyond my high expectations!"--David A. Robinson "Chairman, department of geography, Rutgers University" (1/1/2099 12:00:00 AM)

"Maxine Lurie, Peter O. Wacker, and Michael Siegel have created what is for all intents and purposes the 'Atlas of New Jersey.' Thirty-three contributing authors provide the authoritative commentary for more than 75 contemporary historical maps, 120 thematic maps, satellite images, graphs, and illustrations in full color divided into six chapters: 'Environment, ' 'Land Use, ' 'Demography, ' 'Transportation, ' 'The Economy, ' and 'History and Politics.' This is truly a treasure trove of information about our most densely populated state, encompassing the 400 years from Colonial times to the present. This unique publication, beautifully crafted yet moderately priced, is an essential purchase for New Jersey residents, former residents, U.S. history buffs, and all reference collections in
and outside of the state."-- "Library Journal" (11/15/2009 12:00:00 AM)

"Move over, 'Jersey Shore.' The real New Jersey comes in the form of an atlas called Mapping New Jersey. Sure, books don't come with the instant gratification mastered by MTV, but Mapping New Jersey'sheds light on fascinating facts you probably didn't know about the small but complex Garden State."-- "The Record" (1/11/2010 12:00:00 AM)

"This large-format interpretive atlas documents cartographically and graphically New Jersey's transformation from Garden State to industrial powerhouse to densely populated suburban refuge. The atlas, comprehensive in coverage, takes a topical approach to the organization of space across the state, beginning with the physical environment and land use and including demographic characteristics, economic geography, and political division and subdivision. The section on transportation is especially well done. Cartography ranges from reproduction of maps from the period of European discovery and early land ownership maps through sophisticated digital maps produced specifically for this atlas.
Consistent with the topical approach, one can constructively juxtapose, for instance, geological maps with highway maps, maps of agriculture, or maps of hazardous waste sites; maps of race and ethnicity with maps of electoral behavior or tourism; or transportation maps with maps of mining and industry or suburban development. All may lead readers to develop new hypotheses of spatial interrelationships in New Jersey's continuously evolving human geography. Overall, the editors have compiled and produced a beautiful collection that readers at all levels should find interesting and useful. Highly recommended."-- "Choice" (7/1/2010 12:00:00 AM)