New Jersey was one of the original 13 states of the former United States of America. Nestled between the two biggest cities of 18th century America, the state saw much of the fighting of the American War for Independence. With this location, the state would play a prominent part in much of history of the nation. However, being wedged between New York City and Philadelphia, both of which were hit by Soviet missiles, the state's most densely populated areas suffered the fallout from the explosions and much of the state's infrastructure in these areas was ruined.