How New Jersey built suburbia

How New Jersey built suburbia

From Garden State Roots by RevNJ

March 9, 2026 · 57 min · Season 1 · Episode 3

About this episode

The episode explores how New Jersey contributed to the development of America's suburbs.

Host Justin Williams is joined by Gabrielle Esperdy, a New Jersey Institute of Technology dean, Trinity Norwood - citizen of the Nanticoke Lenape nations and indigenous community advocate, and Walter Greason DeWitt Wallace endowed chair of history at Macalester college and author of 'Suburban Erasure' - to explore how New Jersey helped to create the blueprint of America's suburbs. Check out all of the extra stories and NJRevolution history in the 'Garden State Roots' show notes: https://www.revnj.org/s/Ep-3-How-New-Jersey-Built-Suburbia-Show-Notes.pdf 'Garden State Roots' is the podcast that wants to put an end to New Jersey being the butt of the joke for evermore. After 250 years of revolutionary history, it's time to give props to NJ's contribution to the modern culture of America, if not the world. From music to film, sports to tech, and food to politics, host Justin Williams and guests explore the unique historical moments and inspirational people that has made the Garden State so fertile to change down the years.

People in this episode

Host: Justin Williams

Guests: Gabrielle Esperdy, Trinity Norwood, Walter Greason

Topics covered

  • suburbia
  • New Jersey history
  • indigenous advocacy

Keywords

  • blueprint
  • Nanticoke Lenape
  • Suburban Erasure

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Suburban Erasure, Garden State Roots

Places: New Jersey, Nanticoke Lenape, America, NJ, the Garden State

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