North Jersey
Encyclopedia
North Jersey is a colloquial term, with no precise consensus definition, for the northern portion of the U.S. state
of New Jersey
. A straightforward, noncolloquial term for the region is northern New Jersey.
in the western part of the state and all points north of I-195
in the eastern part of the state. Others define it using the two original telephone area codes- 201 and all its additions for north and 609 (today plus 856) for south.
Others, primarily those who live in the northern tier of counties, count only that area north of the mouth of the Raritan River
.
.
In this approach, the state is divided into three different sections, North Jersey being north of Route 22, Central Jersey being south of the Route 22 but north of Interstate 195, and South Jersey being anything south of Interstate 195.
, 15.4% African American
, 0.2% Native American
, 6.6% Asian
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
and 18.5% Hispanic
or Latino
.
, and later as part of the Province of New Jersey
. During the American Revolutionary War
, New Jersey was a strategic location between the capital of the fledgling United States, New York City
, and the Continental Congress
in Philadelphia. Important materials necessary to the war effort were produced in northern New Jersey.
The Continental Army
made its home here during the war, and history from this period can be found in nearly every village and town in northern New Jersey. Battle fields, camps, skirmish sites and headquarters can be found near Morristown
and north in the Preakness Valley. In the northwestern part of the state, iron mines and foundries supplied raw material for guns and ammunition.
The Industrial Revolution
in America started by the founding of the northern New Jersey town of Paterson
. Today, the United States and the world enjoy the fruit born of seeds planted in northern New Jersey during the Industrial Revolution. Alexander Hamilton
, Secretary for the Treasury and President of the Bank of New York during the end of the eighteenth century, selected the Great Falls
area (also known as the Passaic Falls) for an ambitious experiment. He promoted the natural power of the Great Falls as an excellent location for textile mills and other manufacture.
Paterson attracted skilled craftsmen and engineers from Europe to run the mills and produced a large concentration of creative and able people. During the mid nineteenth century, the engines and materials to tame a continent were made here. Thomas Edison
installed one of the first hydroelectric power plants in the world using the Great Falls as an energy source. This power plant still provides electricity today.
In West Orange
, Edison created the first technical research and development facility with his "invention factory"
. Electric light, improved motion pictures, and sound recording, were among the hundreds of inventions produced here.
divided the people of New Jersey, because South Jersey residents generally root for the Philadelphia Phillies
, while North Jersey residents usually root for the New York Yankees
or the New York Mets
. A similar trend exists for most other major sports, with North Jersey residents supporting the New Jersey Nets
or the New York Knicks
in basketball, the New Jersey Devils
or the New York Rangers
in hockey, the New York Red Bulls in soccer, and the New York Giants
or the New York Jets
in football.
It is important to note that while fans for all of these teams exist in North Jersey, there are trends. Such as the Giants being noticeably more popular than the Jets. These trends are due to relatively simple factors; for example in this case, the Giants have played in New Jersey longer, been more successful over the past 3 decades, and were located closer to New Jersey prior to moving to New Jersey (the Giants playing in Yankee Stadium
in the Bronx, while the Jets played in Shea Stadium
in Queens
). The reverse of this trend is present in Queens and Long Island
, where the Jets are noticeably more popular, as the Jets played in Queens (which is located on the very western tip of Long Island) until 1984. Similar trends affect the fanship of North Jersey residents for the other sports franchises as well.
Additionally, contrary to popular belief, sports fans of a given team will not necessarily, and almost always do not, support another team for the same sport even, when the two teams are not in the same division like the Jets and Giants, or the Mets and Yankees. This was perhaps best highlighted during the 2009 World Series with Joe Benigno
and Evan Roberts
, who host the mid-morning show on 660 WFAN
New York Sports talk radio and who are both passionate Met fans. Both Joe and Evan were torn as to who they would rather see win the World Series
, the Yankees or their bitter division rivals, the Phillies, a sentiment shared by many of their callers who were Met fans. While there are fans of the New York Islanders
in North Jersey, they are a significantly smaller portion of the population compared to the other two New York Metropolitan Area
NHL franchises (Devils and Rangers), due to the fact they play, and have always existed, on Long Island. Conversely, South Jersey residents do typically support the Philadelphia Eagles
, 76ers, Union
, and Flyers
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. A straightforward, noncolloquial term for the region is northern New Jersey.
Two-portion approaches
Some define North Jersey as all points in New Jersey north of I-295Interstate 295 (Delaware-New Jersey)
Interstate 295 in New Jersey and Delaware is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, designated as a bypass around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The route begins at a junction with Interstate 95 south of Wilmington, Delaware, and runs to another junction with I-95 north of Trenton, New Jersey...
in the western part of the state and all points north of I-195
Interstate 195 (New Jersey)
Interstate 195 is an auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its western end is at I-295 and Route 29 just south of Trenton, New Jersey in Hamilton Township, Mercer County while its eastern end is at the Garden State Parkway, Route 34 and Route...
in the eastern part of the state. Others define it using the two original telephone area codes- 201 and all its additions for north and 609 (today plus 856) for south.
Others, primarily those who live in the northern tier of counties, count only that area north of the mouth of the Raritan River
Raritan River
The Raritan River is a major river of central New Jersey in the United States. Its watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.-Description:...
.
Three-portion approaches
The state is also sometimes described as having North Jersey and South Jersey separated from each other by Central JerseyCentral Jersey
Central Jersey is a common designation for a region of the state of New Jersey in the United States of America. Trenton is considered the boundary between designated "North Jersey" and "South Jersey"...
.
In this approach, the state is divided into three different sections, North Jersey being north of Route 22, Central Jersey being south of the Route 22 but north of Interstate 195, and South Jersey being anything south of Interstate 195.
Further subdivision
New Jersey State Department of Tourism defines two distinct areas of North Jersey which address their quality and character:- The Gateway RegionGateway RegionThe Gateway Region is located in the northeastern part of State of New Jersey in the United States of America. The area encompasses Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union and Middlesex counties...
, which is more urban industrial - The Skylands RegionSkylands RegionThe Skylands Region is a marketing area of the State of New Jersey located in the Northern and Central part of the state. It is one of six tourism regions established by the New Jersey State Department of Tourism, the others being the Gateway Region, Greater Atlantic City Region, the Southern...
, which is exurban or rural
North Jersey counties
The following counties are often considered part of North Jersey.- Bergen CountyBergen County, New JerseyBergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
- Essex CountyEssex County, New JerseyEssex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
- Hudson CountyHudson County, New JerseyHudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
- Hunterdon CountyHunterdon County, New JerseyHunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
(anything north of Readington TownshipReadington Township, New JerseyReadington Township is a Township located in the easternmost portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,126...
) - Morris CountyMorris County, New JerseyMorris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
- Passaic CountyPassaic County, New JerseyPassaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
- Somerset CountySomerset County, New JerseySomerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
(anything north of WatchungWatchung, New JerseyWatchung is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,801.Watchung was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 23, 1826, from portions of North Plainfield Township based on the results...
) - Sussex CountySussex County, New JerseyThe County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
- Union CountyUnion County, New JerseyUnion County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
(anything north of WestfieldWestfield, New JerseyWestfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
) - Warren CountyWarren County, New JerseyWarren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 108,692. Its county seat is Belvidere...
Demographics
The seven counties that are included in North New Jersey have a total population of 3,492,590 as of the 2000 U.S. Census. The demographics of all of the counties are 66.8% WhiteWhite
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
, 15.4% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.2% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 6.6% Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
and 18.5% Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
.
History
Northern New Jersey was the site of some of the earliest European settlements in what would become the United States of America, first as part of the provincial colony of New NetherlandNew Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
, and later as part of the Province of New Jersey
Province of New Jersey
The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...
. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, New Jersey was a strategic location between the capital of the fledgling United States, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in Philadelphia. Important materials necessary to the war effort were produced in northern New Jersey.
The Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
made its home here during the war, and history from this period can be found in nearly every village and town in northern New Jersey. Battle fields, camps, skirmish sites and headquarters can be found near Morristown
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
and north in the Preakness Valley. In the northwestern part of the state, iron mines and foundries supplied raw material for guns and ammunition.
The Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
in America started by the founding of the northern New Jersey town of Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
. Today, the United States and the world enjoy the fruit born of seeds planted in northern New Jersey during the Industrial Revolution. Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
, Secretary for the Treasury and President of the Bank of New York during the end of the eighteenth century, selected the Great Falls
Great Falls (Passaic River)
The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County in northern New Jersey in the United States. The Congress authorized its establishment as a National Historical Park in 2009...
area (also known as the Passaic Falls) for an ambitious experiment. He promoted the natural power of the Great Falls as an excellent location for textile mills and other manufacture.
Paterson attracted skilled craftsmen and engineers from Europe to run the mills and produced a large concentration of creative and able people. During the mid nineteenth century, the engines and materials to tame a continent were made here. Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
installed one of the first hydroelectric power plants in the world using the Great Falls as an energy source. This power plant still provides electricity today.
In West Orange
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
, Edison created the first technical research and development facility with his "invention factory"
Llewellyn Park
Llewellyn Park is a gated residential community of 175 homes within West Orange, New Jersey. Llewellyn Park does not have its own municipal government, but operates as part of the Township of West Orange. It is located just west of New York City....
. Electric light, improved motion pictures, and sound recording, were among the hundreds of inventions produced here.
Professional-sports fans
Sports allegiances are often divided between the northern and southern portions of the state. The 2009 World Series2009 World Series
The 2009 World Series was the 105th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League and defending World Series champions, and the New York Yankees, champions of the American League...
divided the people of New Jersey, because South Jersey residents generally root for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, while North Jersey residents usually root for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
or the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. A similar trend exists for most other major sports, with North Jersey residents supporting the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
or the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in basketball, the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
or the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in hockey, the New York Red Bulls in soccer, and the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
or the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in football.
It is important to note that while fans for all of these teams exist in North Jersey, there are trends. Such as the Giants being noticeably more popular than the Jets. These trends are due to relatively simple factors; for example in this case, the Giants have played in New Jersey longer, been more successful over the past 3 decades, and were located closer to New Jersey prior to moving to New Jersey (the Giants playing in Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
in the Bronx, while the Jets played in Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
). The reverse of this trend is present in Queens and Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, where the Jets are noticeably more popular, as the Jets played in Queens (which is located on the very western tip of Long Island) until 1984. Similar trends affect the fanship of North Jersey residents for the other sports franchises as well.
Additionally, contrary to popular belief, sports fans of a given team will not necessarily, and almost always do not, support another team for the same sport even, when the two teams are not in the same division like the Jets and Giants, or the Mets and Yankees. This was perhaps best highlighted during the 2009 World Series with Joe Benigno
Joe Benigno
Joseph S. Benigno is an American sports radio personality. He co-hosts the 10am-1pm weekday show on WFAN in New York City.-Early Years:...
and Evan Roberts
Evan Roberts (radio personality)
Evan Roberts is an American sports radio personality. He currently hosts the midday show with Joe Benigno on WFAN in New York City.Roberts grew up in Cedarhurst, New York and graduated from Lawrence High School in 2001....
, who host the mid-morning show on 660 WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
New York Sports talk radio and who are both passionate Met fans. Both Joe and Evan were torn as to who they would rather see win the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, the Yankees or their bitter division rivals, the Phillies, a sentiment shared by many of their callers who were Met fans. While there are fans of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in North Jersey, they are a significantly smaller portion of the population compared to the other two New York Metropolitan Area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
NHL franchises (Devils and Rangers), due to the fact they play, and have always existed, on Long Island. Conversely, South Jersey residents do typically support the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 76ers, Union
Union
Union may refer to:* Trade union or labor union, an organization of workers that have banded together, often for the purpose of getting better working conditions or pay...
, and Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Notable North Jerseyans
- People from Bergen County
- People from Essex County
- People from Hudson County
- People from Morris County
- People from Passaic County
- People from Somerset County (parts in Central Jersey)
- People from Sussex County
- People from Union County (parts in Central Jersey)
- People from Warren County
See also
- Bergen, New NetherlandBergen, New NetherlandBergen was a part of the 17th century province of New Netherland, in the area in northeastern New Jersey along the Hudson and Hackensack Rivers that would become contemporary Hudson and Bergen Counties...
- Cuisine of New JerseyCuisine of New JerseyThe Cuisine of New Jersey is representative of the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. The state of New Jersey is known for its commercial food and industrial production, with the state once boasting that "Trenton makes, the world takes", a phrase popularized by its placement on the Trenton...
- New Jersey: The Movie
- New York metropolitan areaNew York metropolitan areaThe New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
- Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
- Port Authority of New York and New JerseyPort Authority of New York and New JerseyThe Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...