| 1664 - |
First English speaking community in New Jersey |
| 1665 - |
First capital of New Jersey |
| 1665 - |
Home of first Governor of New Jersey (Phillip Carteret) |
| 1667 - |
First English speaking school |
| 1668 - |
First assembly meeting |
| 1668 - |
February 15. First whale industry in New Jersey (John Ogden and partners) |
| 1746 - |
First charter in New Jersey granted to a college (now Princeton University) led by Reverend Jonathan Dickenson |
| 1776 - |
Home of first Governor of State after Declaration of Independence (William Livingston) |
| 1776 - |
July 4. First British ship sunk by Americans after official date of Declaration of Independence (Captain David Neils artillery) at foot of Elizabeth Avenue |
| 1776 - |
Abraham Clark of Elizabethtown, signer of Declaration of Independence |
| 1782 - |
First ice cream soda - Phillip Mohr (Fulton and First Streets) |
| 1783 - |
Home of President of Congress receiving Treaty of Peace with British (Elias Boudinot) |
| 1794 - |
First anatomy lessons in medicine (Dr. Paul Micheu) |
| 1819 - |
First steam driven ship to cross Atlantic. Boiler made by Daniel Dodd. Foundry was located at present site of Jefferson House of Elizabeth High School |
| 1842 - |
First Mayor of Jewish faith of any major community in the United States (David Naar) |
| 1873 - |
First major sewing machine company - Singer Sewing Machine |
| 1906 - |
First submarine to be accepted by US Navy built at Moores Shipyards at Port Elizabeth |
| 1920 - |
First assembly line automobile production in the state (Durant Corporation) |