South Jersey
Encyclopedia
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey
between the lower Delaware River
and the Atlantic Ocean
. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official definition..
New Jersey is sandwiched between two large cities: New York City
in the northeast and Philadelphia in the southwest; Benjamin Franklin
called the state "a barrel tapped at both ends". South Jersey may be defined geographically as the area below Interstate 195
, in particular the "lower eight counties of New Jersey", whereas North Jersey
is the area above "Central Jersey
". Culturally, South Jersey is defined as the area in New Jersey within the influence of the Philadelphia metropolitan area
(also known as the Delaware Valley
), in contrast to the rest of New Jersey, located within the New York metropolitan area
. Central Jersey is sometimes put in the Delaware Valley.
Burlington
, Camden
and Gloucester
counties have several older streetcar towns, and many residents commute to Philadelphia. The Courier-Post daily newspaper, which refers to itself as "South Jersey's Newspaper" is based in Camden County
. It covers all of South Jersey, but focuses primarily on these three counties. The Gloucester County Times
based in the city of Woodbury
, however, is the principal newspaper for that county. Salem County
and to lesser extents lower Gloucester County and upper Cumberland County
serve as residential communities for the industries (mainly petro-chemical) in New Castle County, Delaware
. The Atlantic shore areas, in particular Atlantic City
in Atlantic County, New Jersey
and Cape May
have a distinct economy centered around tourism. Cape May has the distinction of being geographically as far south as Washington, DC, thus giving another sense to the name South Jersey.
, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean
to the southeast, the Delaware Bay
to the southwest, and the Delaware River
to the northwest. All of South Jersey is part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain
, a flat landform extending southward from the New York Bight
to Florida
. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is covered by pine forests and salt marsh
es, and is underlain by poorly consolidated sediment
ary formations from the Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Quaternary age that dip seaward. The Atlantic Coastal Plain can be subdivided into three sub-regions: the Inner Lowlands, Outer Lowlands, and Central Uplands. The Inner Lowlands encompasses the low valley along the Delaware River, and the Outer Lowlands encompasses the area near the Atlantic Ocean. The Inner and Outer Lowlands lie at elevations from sea level to around 50 feet. The Inner Lowlands are fertile due to the deposition of sediment in the region, which contributes significantly to New Jersey's agriculture. The Outer Lowlands is dominated by coastal estuaries
, swamp
lands, and barrier island
s near the Atlantic Ocean. The Central Uplands varies slightly from the Lowlands in altitude, and is covered by the Pine Barrens
. The Uplands has rolling hills at an elevation over 50 feet, rarely exceeding over 200 feet in elevation, along with sandy, acidic soil, making it unsuitable for agriculture. In the Pine Barrens, blueberries
and cranberries
are cultivated in lowland bogs that have accumulated depths of organic matter.
. Compared to northern parts of New Jersey, South Jersey has slightly higher temperatures and receives less annual precipitation. Along the Jersey Shore
, temperatures are moderated by sea breezes
and land breezes.
Many definitions of South Jersey include the southern portion of Ocean County
, up to Long Beach Island
.
, located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, has historically been considered the economic hub of South Jersey. Much of Camden's growth resulted from its location near Philadelphia, and its role as a transportation hub for the region. After World War II, Camden suffered a long decline due to a loss of its manufacturing base, and the outflow of middle-class residents to the suburbs. Based on 2006 data, Camden ranks as America's poorest city, and Camden's high crime rate has resulted in it being ranked by Morgan Quitno Corporation
as the most dangerous city in 2009. Camden is home to the Campbell's Soup
headquarters and the new corporate headquarters of Susquehanna Bank
. Rutgers-Camden
and Cooper University Hospital
operate in Camden, and the Camden waterfront is one of the city's main attractions. Nearby Cherry Hill, the second largest municipality in South Jersey and the tenth largest in New Jersey by population, is an affluential edge city
that functions as South Jersey's new economic center. Pureland Industrial Complex
, the nation's largest industrial park
, is located 12 miles from the port of Camden in Logan Township
.
Atlantic City
is a major tourist destination, and is famous for its boardwalk and casino gambling. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island
, along with Ventnor City
, Margate City
, and Longport
. Atlantic City became a resort town in 1854, the year train service to the city allowed tourists from Philadelphia to vacation in the city. The first boardwalk was built in 1870, and large hotels were built in the early 20th century to accommodate visitors. In the mid-20th century, Atlantic City declined as a tourist destination due to competition from other resorts, which were now accessible by automobile and aircraft. After New Jersey voters approved casino gambling in Atlantic City in a 1976 referendum, it became the first casino gambling destination on the United States east coast. Recent growth in Atlantic City has been fueled by the casino industry, and Atlantic City is the second-largest casino gambling market in the United States behind Las Vegas
.
, Camden
, and Gloucester
counties are part of the Camden metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 1,250,569 in 2008. The Camden metropolitan area is part of the larger Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington
Metropolitan Statistical Area
, the fifth largest MSA in the United States.
Atlantic City
and its surrounding region in Atlantic County
are part of the Atlantic City metropolitan area, which had an estimated 2008 population of 270,681. Cape May County
is part of the Ocean City
metropolitan area, with an estimated 2008 population of 95,838. Ocean County
, with a 2008 population of 565,493, is considered to be part of the New York-North Jersey-Long Island Metropolitan Statistical Area
, which encompasses all of Northern New Jersey and Central Jersey
with the exception of Warren County
. However, much of Ocean County lies in both New York City and Philadelphia media markets.
. The tribe spoke dialects of the Unami language
, part of the Algonquian
language family. Because the Lenape were concentrated around the Delaware River and its tributaries, the Europeans later named them the "Delaware." After the arrival of the Europeans, the Lenape population dwindled quickly due to disease and conflict. Those who were left migrated north or west, or became integrated into their local communities.
was established along the Delaware River. The Swedes established two permanent settlements in present-day South Jersey: Swedesboro
and Bridgeport
(formerly named New Stockholm). New Sweden was captured by the Dutch in 1655, and remained part of New Netherland until its cession to the British in 1667.
During the British colonial period, much of South Jersey was part of the Province of West Jersey
, existing between 1674 and 1702 as a Quaker
commonwealth. Burlington
, the capital of West Jersey, was established in 1677, and Camden was established in 1681. Since the Delaware River was not easily navigable north of Trenton, the population was concentrated along the southern Delaware River. By 1700, nearly 70% of the population of West Jersey were Quakers of English or Irish origin. The Quakers, who believed in peace, equality, and integrity, influenced early New Jersey. In contrast, East Jersey had high proportions of Scottish settlers and Dutch settlers. In 1702, East Jersey and West Jersey were reunited under the reign of Queen Anne
.
and marshland, remained unpopulated because its acidic, nutrient-poor soil was unsuited for farming. Most of the cities were concentrated along the Delaware River valley, except for a few settlements and seaside resorts along the Jersey Shore. Slavery was less extensive in South Jersey than it was in other parts of New Jersey because of the Quakers' religious opposition to slavery, and a lower demand for labor. By 1810, the population of slaves dwindled to 328 total, compared to 10,532 total slaves in the rest of New Jersey. Although discriminatory policies still targeted blacks, South Jersey became a haven for ex-slaves. William Still
, a notable African-American abolitionist, was born in Burlington County, and is nicknamed the "father of the Underground Railroad" for his role in helping slaves escape to freedom.
Beginning in the 20th century, the towns bordering the Delaware River saw increased manufacturing due to improved transportation and technology. By 1899, John Dorrance, a chemist for the Campbell Soup Company
, perfected his method of canning condensed soup. This allowed Campbell to ship and sell its product at one-third the cost. Campbell had national distribution by 1911 when its products were first marketed in California. The New York Shipbuilding Company opened its first shipyard in 1900, located in Camden
. The company produced a variety of ships, ranging from aircraft carriers and battleships to luxury liners and barges. By 1917, NYSB was the largest shipyard in the world. The Victor Talking Machine Company
, founded in 1901, became the leading American producer of phonograph
s and phonograph records
.
Like many other American cities after World War II, the manufacturing cities of South Jersey declined as factories closed and residents moved away. Suburbanization of the region was fueled by the construction of new highways and bridges, and increased automobile ownership. The New Jersey Turnpike
opened in 1951, permitting fast travel by car between New York
and Delaware
. In 1955, William Levitt
built present-day Willingboro
based on his Levittown
model, which came to be used for other suburban developments. The population of Delaware Township in Camden County rose explosively after World War II, growing from about 10,000 residents in 1950 to almost 65,000 by 1970. In 1961, the township ws renamed Cherry Hill
. In contrast, nearby Camden declined from 125,000 residents in 1950 to 85,000 in 1980. While the South Jersey suburbs remain general middle-class, the inner cities continue to face issues with crime, poverty, and unemployment.
in the north while the State refused to support the Garden State Park Racetrack in the south. A non-binding referendum was presented to six counties on Election Day in 1980 (with the exclusion of Camden and Gloucester counties). 51 percent of voters declared that they wanted to secede and establish a new state; Ocean was the only southern county (of 6 that had the question on ballots) to defeat the referendum.
named Moorestown
the "best place to live" in the United States, although they stated that a number of adjacent municipalities (particularly Mount Laurel
, Haddonfield
, Medford
) could have just as easily been given the distinction.
Conversely, nearby Camden has been rated most dangerous city in the United States within the same decade; the two even share a central highway (537).
divided the people of New Jersey
, because South Jersey residents generally root for the Philadelphia Phillies
, while North Jersey
and Central Jersey
residents usually root for the New York Yankees
or the New York Mets
.
In addition to the Phillies, residents of South Jersey generally support the Philadelphia Eagles
of the NFL, the Philadelphia Flyers
of the NHL, the Philadelphia 76ers
of the NBA, and the Philadelphia Union of MLS
.
, Jackson Township
with Six Flags Great Adventure
, Toms River, and Atlantic City
with its resort casino
s, boardwalk, shopping, and beaches.
Other South Jersey beach resorts include:
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...
between the lower Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official definition..
New Jersey is sandwiched between two large cities: 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...
in the northeast and Philadelphia in the southwest; Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
called the state "a barrel tapped at both ends". South Jersey may be defined geographically as the area below Interstate 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 particular the "lower eight counties of New Jersey", whereas North Jersey
North Jersey
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.- Two-portion approaches :...
is the area above "Central Jersey
Central 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"...
". Culturally, South Jersey is defined as the area in New Jersey within the influence of the Philadelphia metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
(also known as the Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
), in contrast to the rest of New Jersey, located within the 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...
. Central Jersey is sometimes put in the Delaware Valley.
Burlington
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, Camden
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
and Gloucester
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
counties have several older streetcar towns, and many residents commute to Philadelphia. The Courier-Post daily newspaper, which refers to itself as "South Jersey's Newspaper" is based in Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
. It covers all of South Jersey, but focuses primarily on these three counties. The Gloucester County Times
Gloucester County Times
The Gloucester County Times is a daily newspaper in Woodbury, New Jersey, United States. Its main competitors are The Philadelphia Inquirer across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, and the Courier-Post in South Jersey...
based in the city of Woodbury
Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, 10,307 residents were counted. Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County....
, however, is the principal newspaper for that county. Salem County
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
and to lesser extents lower Gloucester County and upper Cumberland County
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
serve as residential communities for the industries (mainly petro-chemical) in New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
. The Atlantic shore areas, in particular Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
in Atlantic County, New Jersey
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
and Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
have a distinct economy centered around tourism. Cape May has the distinction of being geographically as far south as Washington, DC, thus giving another sense to the name South Jersey.
Topography
South Jersey is a peninsulaPeninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to the southeast, the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
to the southwest, and the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
to the northwest. All of South Jersey is part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain
Atlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...
, a flat landform extending southward from the New York Bight
New York Bight
The New York Bight is a slight indentation along the Atlantic coast of the United States, extending northeasterly from Cape May Inlet in New Jersey to Montauk Point on the eastern tip of Long Island...
to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is covered by pine forests and salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
es, and is underlain by poorly consolidated sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
ary formations from the Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Quaternary age that dip seaward. The Atlantic Coastal Plain can be subdivided into three sub-regions: the Inner Lowlands, Outer Lowlands, and Central Uplands. The Inner Lowlands encompasses the low valley along the Delaware River, and the Outer Lowlands encompasses the area near the Atlantic Ocean. The Inner and Outer Lowlands lie at elevations from sea level to around 50 feet. The Inner Lowlands are fertile due to the deposition of sediment in the region, which contributes significantly to New Jersey's agriculture. The Outer Lowlands is dominated by coastal estuaries
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
lands, and barrier island
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
s near the Atlantic Ocean. The Central Uplands varies slightly from the Lowlands in altitude, and is covered by the Pine Barrens
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
. The Uplands has rolling hills at an elevation over 50 feet, rarely exceeding over 200 feet in elevation, along with sandy, acidic soil, making it unsuitable for agriculture. In the Pine Barrens, blueberries
Blueberry
Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
and cranberries
Cranberry
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. In some methods of classification, Oxycoccus is regarded as a genus in its own right...
are cultivated in lowland bogs that have accumulated depths of organic matter.
Climate
South Jersey has a humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
. Compared to northern parts of New Jersey, South Jersey has slightly higher temperatures and receives less annual precipitation. Along the Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
, temperatures are moderated by sea breezes
Sea breeze
A sea-breeze is a wind from the sea that develops over land near coasts. It is formed by increasing temperature differences between the land and water; these create a pressure minimum over the land due to its relative warmth, and forces higher pressure, cooler air from the sea to move inland...
and land breezes.
Counties
The following seven counties are completely included in South Jersey:- Atlantic CountyAtlantic County, New Jersey-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
- Burlington CountyBurlington County, New JerseyThere were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
- Camden CountyCamden County, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
- Cape May CountyCape May County, New Jersey-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
- Cumberland CountyCumberland County, New JerseyCumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
- Gloucester CountyGloucester County, New JerseyGloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
- Salem CountySalem County, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
Many definitions of South Jersey include the southern portion of Ocean County
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, up to Long Beach Island
Long Beach Island
Long Beach Island is a barrier island and summer colony along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States...
.
Cities
Principal cities
CamdenCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, has historically been considered the economic hub of South Jersey. Much of Camden's growth resulted from its location near Philadelphia, and its role as a transportation hub for the region. After World War II, Camden suffered a long decline due to a loss of its manufacturing base, and the outflow of middle-class residents to the suburbs. Based on 2006 data, Camden ranks as America's poorest city, and Camden's high crime rate has resulted in it being ranked by Morgan Quitno Corporation
Morgan Quitno
Morgan Quitno Press is a research and publishing company based in Lawrence, Kansas, which compiles books with statistics of crime rates, health care, education, and other categories, ranking cities and states in the United States...
as the most dangerous city in 2009. Camden is home to the Campbell's Soup
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
headquarters and the new corporate headquarters of Susquehanna Bank
Susquehanna Bank
Susquehanna Bank is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania based bank operating over 230 branches in four states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Susquehanna Bank's parent company is Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc...
. Rutgers-Camden
Rutgers-Camden
Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey, USA , is a state-funded, coeducational, public, research university. Founded in the 1920s, Rutgers–Camden began as an amalgam of the South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey. It is the southernmost of the three regional campuses of Rutgers,...
and Cooper University Hospital
Cooper University Hospital
Cooper University Hospital is a provider of health services, medical education, and clinical research in southern New Jersey and the Delaware Valley, in the United States...
operate in Camden, and the Camden waterfront is one of the city's main attractions. Nearby Cherry Hill, the second largest municipality in South Jersey and the tenth largest in New Jersey by population, is an affluential edge city
Edge city
"Edge city" is an American term for a concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional urban area in what had recently been a residential suburb or semi-rural community...
that functions as South Jersey's new economic center. Pureland Industrial Complex
Pureland Industrial Complex
Pureland Industrial Complex is a industrial park located in Logan Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. It borders the Delaware River and Raccoon Creek, and is located south of the ports of Camden and Philadelphia. Interstate 295, U.S. Route 322 and U.S. Route 130 run through...
, the nation's largest industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
, is located 12 miles from the port of Camden in Logan Township
Logan Township, New Jersey
Logan Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 6,032....
.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
is a major tourist destination, and is famous for its boardwalk and casino gambling. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island
Absecon Island
Absecon Island is a barrier island located on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic County, New Jersey, USA. On the island are the resort communities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport...
, along with Ventnor City
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Ventnor City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 10,650....
, Margate City
Margate City, New Jersey
Margate City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 6,354.Margate City was originally incorporated as the borough of South Atlantic City by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 7, 1885, from portions of Egg Harbor...
, and Longport
Longport, New Jersey
Longport is a borough in Atlantic County, New Jersey on the Atlantic Ocean shore of Absecon Island. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 895....
. Atlantic City became a resort town in 1854, the year train service to the city allowed tourists from Philadelphia to vacation in the city. The first boardwalk was built in 1870, and large hotels were built in the early 20th century to accommodate visitors. In the mid-20th century, Atlantic City declined as a tourist destination due to competition from other resorts, which were now accessible by automobile and aircraft. After New Jersey voters approved casino gambling in Atlantic City in a 1976 referendum, it became the first casino gambling destination on the United States east coast. Recent growth in Atlantic City has been fueled by the casino industry, and Atlantic City is the second-largest casino gambling market in the United States behind Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
.
Metropolitan areas
BurlingtonBurlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, Camden
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
, and Gloucester
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
counties are part of the Camden metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 1,250,569 in 2008. The Camden metropolitan area is part of the larger Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
United States metropolitan area
In the United States a metropolitan statistical area is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like...
, the fifth largest MSA in the United States.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
and its surrounding region in Atlantic County
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
are part of the Atlantic City metropolitan area, which had an estimated 2008 population of 270,681. Cape May County
Cape May County, New Jersey
-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
is part of the Ocean City
Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
metropolitan area, with an estimated 2008 population of 95,838. Ocean County
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, with a 2008 population of 565,493, is considered to be part of the New York-North Jersey-Long Island Metropolitan Statistical 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...
, which encompasses all of Northern New Jersey and Central Jersey
Central 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"...
with the exception of Warren County
Warren County, New Jersey
Warren 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...
. However, much of Ocean County lies in both New York City and Philadelphia media markets.
Selected municipalities
The following cities and towns in South Jersey have a 2010 Census population of over 20,000 inhabitants:- CamdenCamden, New JerseyThe city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
(pop. 77,344) - Cherry HillCherry Hill, New JerseyCherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
(pop. 71,045) - Gloucester TownshipGloucester Township, New JerseyGloucester Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 64,634...
(pop. 64,634) - VinelandVineland, New JerseyVineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
(pop. 60,724) - Washington TownshipWashington Township, Gloucester County, New JerseyWashington Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. In the 2010 United States Census, Washington Township's population was 48,559, having grown from 47,114 in the 2000 Census....
(pop. 48,559) - Evesham (pop. 45,538)
- Egg Harbor TownshipEgg Harbor Township, New JerseyEgg Harbor Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 43,323, a growth of more than 40% since the previous enumeration....
(pop. 43,323) - Mount LaurelMount Laurel Township, New JerseyMount Laurel Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, and is an edge city "suburb" of Philadelphia. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 40,221...
(pop. 41,864) - Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
(pop. 39,558) - WinslowWinslow Township, New JerseyAs of the census of 2010, there were 39,599 people, 13,567 households, and 9,662 families residing in the township. The population density was 599.9 people per square mile . There were 12,413 housing units at an average density of 215.1 per square mile...
(pop. 39,499) - GallowayGalloway Township, New JerseyGalloway Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 37,349...
(pop. 37,349) - MonroeMonroe Township, Gloucester County, New JerseyMonroe Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 28,967....
(pop. 36,129) - Pennsauken (pop. 35,885)
- Willingboro (pop. 31,629)
- DeptfordDeptford Township, New JerseyDeptford Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 30,561....
(pop. 30,561) - VoorheesVoorhees Township, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households, and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,424.0 people per square mile . There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of 955.2 per square mile...
(pop. 29,131) - MillvilleMillville, New JerseyMillville is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 26,847. Millville, Bridgeton and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
(pop. 28,400) - Pemberton TownshipPemberton Township, New JerseyPemberton Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 28,691....
(pop. 27,912) - Lacey TownshipLacey Township, New JerseyLacey Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey and is considered part of the Jersey Shore region. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 27,644...
(pop. 27,644) - HamiltonHamilton Township, Atlantic County, New JerseyHamilton Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 26,503...
(pop. 26,503) - BridgetonBridgeton, New JerseyBridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
(pop. 25,349) - Medford (pop. 23,033)
- Lower TownshipLower Township, New JerseyLower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
(pop. 22,866) - Burlington TownshipBurlington Township, New Jersey- Local government :Burlington Township is governed under the Faulkner Act Plan E form of municipal government and consists of a mayor and a seven-member Township Council. The council is elected at-large in partisan elections to four-year terms in office on a staggered basis., the Mayor of...
(pop. 22,594) - West DeptfordWest Deptford Township, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,368 people, 7,719 households, and 5,125 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,218.4 people per square mile . There were 7,999 housing units at an average density of 503.2 per square mile...
(pop. 21,677) - MoorestownMoorestown Township, New Jersey-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 19,017 people, 6,971 households, and 5,270 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,287.3 per square mile . There were 7,211 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
(pop. 20,726) - PleasantvillePleasantville, New Jersey-Local government:Pleasantville operates under the City form of New Jersey municipal government, led by a Mayor and a seven-member City Council. The City Council consists of two members elected from wards to three-year terms, and five members elected at-large to four-year terms in office, all of...
(pop. 20,249) - Little Egg HarborLittle Egg Harbor Township, New JerseyLittle Egg Harbor Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 20,065....
(pop. 20,065)
Native Americans
Present-day South Jersey was first inhabited by the LenapeLenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
. The tribe spoke dialects of the Unami language
Unami language
Unami is an extinct Algonquian language formerly spoken by Lenape people in what is now the lower Hudson Valley area and New York Harbor area, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, but later in Ontario and Oklahoma. It is one of the two Delaware languages, the other being Munsee...
, part of the Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
language family. Because the Lenape were concentrated around the Delaware River and its tributaries, the Europeans later named them the "Delaware." After the arrival of the Europeans, the Lenape population dwindled quickly due to disease and conflict. Those who were left migrated north or west, or became integrated into their local communities.
Colonial period
Although the present-day territory of South Jersey was claimed by the Dutch in 1609, Dutch settlement remained nonexistent except for trading purposes. In 1638, New SwedenNew Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
was established along the Delaware River. The Swedes established two permanent settlements in present-day South Jersey: Swedesboro
Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055....
and Bridgeport
Bridgeport, New Jersey
Bridgeport is an unincorporated area within Logan Township, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08014....
(formerly named New Stockholm). New Sweden was captured by the Dutch in 1655, and remained part of New Netherland until its cession to the British in 1667.
During the British colonial period, much of South Jersey was part of the Province of West Jersey
West Jersey
West Jersey and East Jersey were two distinct parts of the Province of New Jersey. The political division existed for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702...
, existing between 1674 and 1702 as a Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
commonwealth. Burlington
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
, the capital of West Jersey, was established in 1677, and Camden was established in 1681. Since the Delaware River was not easily navigable north of Trenton, the population was concentrated along the southern Delaware River. By 1700, nearly 70% of the population of West Jersey were Quakers of English or Irish origin. The Quakers, who believed in peace, equality, and integrity, influenced early New Jersey. In contrast, East Jersey had high proportions of Scottish settlers and Dutch settlers. In 1702, East Jersey and West Jersey were reunited under the reign of Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
.
American Revolution
Resistance to the British was widespread during the American Revolution among South Jersey Presbyterians, who aided the colonists during the Revolution. Several of their preachers, including John Brainerd, accepted military positions and urged Presbyterians to enlist in the army. The Delaware River was strategic for its commercial importance, and its role in defending Philadelphia. General Howe captured Philadelphia in September 1777, occupying the city for 10 months. The Quakers as a whole were opposed to the Revolution because of their principles of nonviolence. Members of the Religious Society of Friends were forbidden to support the local militias, or faced disownment by the Quakers.19th Century
South Jersey remained an agricultural society, and farming still makes up a large portion of the region's economy. South Jersey's interior, consisting of the Pine BarrensPine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
and marshland, remained unpopulated because its acidic, nutrient-poor soil was unsuited for farming. Most of the cities were concentrated along the Delaware River valley, except for a few settlements and seaside resorts along the Jersey Shore. Slavery was less extensive in South Jersey than it was in other parts of New Jersey because of the Quakers' religious opposition to slavery, and a lower demand for labor. By 1810, the population of slaves dwindled to 328 total, compared to 10,532 total slaves in the rest of New Jersey. Although discriminatory policies still targeted blacks, South Jersey became a haven for ex-slaves. William Still
William Still
William Still was an African-American abolitionist, conductor on the Underground Railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist....
, a notable African-American abolitionist, was born in Burlington County, and is nicknamed the "father of the Underground Railroad" for his role in helping slaves escape to freedom.
20th Century
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
, perfected his method of canning condensed soup. This allowed Campbell to ship and sell its product at one-third the cost. Campbell had national distribution by 1911 when its products were first marketed in California. The New York Shipbuilding Company opened its first shipyard in 1900, located in Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
. The company produced a variety of ships, ranging from aircraft carriers and battleships to luxury liners and barges. By 1917, NYSB was the largest shipyard in the world. The Victor Talking Machine Company
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
, founded in 1901, became the leading American producer of phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
s and phonograph records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
.
Like many other American cities after World War II, the manufacturing cities of South Jersey declined as factories closed and residents moved away. Suburbanization of the region was fueled by the construction of new highways and bridges, and increased automobile ownership. The New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
opened in 1951, permitting fast travel by car between New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. In 1955, William Levitt
William Levitt
William Jaird Levitt was an American real-estate developer widely credited as the father of modern American suburbia. He came to symbolize the new suburban growth with his use of mass-production techniques to construct large developments of houses selling for under $10,000...
built present-day Willingboro
Willingboro Township, New Jersey
Willingboro is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 31,629....
based on his Levittown
Levittown, New York
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island in Nassau County, New York. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881....
model, which came to be used for other suburban developments. The population of Delaware Township in Camden County rose explosively after World War II, growing from about 10,000 residents in 1950 to almost 65,000 by 1970. In 1961, the township ws renamed Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
. In contrast, nearby Camden declined from 125,000 residents in 1950 to 85,000 in 1980. While the South Jersey suburbs remain general middle-class, the inner cities continue to face issues with crime, poverty, and unemployment.
Temporary statehood movement
Albert Freeman, a Mount Holly newspaper publisher and editor, wrote an editorial calling for secession. Freeman had originally meant the proposal as a joke, but the idea gained momentum. On April 23, 1980, the town council of Egg Harbor voted to support the creation of a new state of South Jersey. The statehood movement was an attempt to gain the attention of state lawmakers, centering on issues such as the construction of the Meadowlands ComplexNew Jersey Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands, also known as the Hackensack Meadowlands after the primary river flowing through it, is a general name for the large ecosystem of wetlands in northeast New Jersey in the United States. The Meadowlands are known for being the site of large landfills and decades of...
in the north while the State refused to support the Garden State Park Racetrack in the south. A non-binding referendum was presented to six counties on Election Day in 1980 (with the exclusion of Camden and Gloucester counties). 51 percent of voters declared that they wanted to secede and establish a new state; Ocean was the only southern county (of 6 that had the question on ballots) to defeat the referendum.
Economics and demographics
In 2005, Money magazineMoney (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
named Moorestown
Moorestown Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 19,017 people, 6,971 households, and 5,270 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,287.3 per square mile . There were 7,211 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
the "best place to live" in the United States, although they stated that a number of adjacent municipalities (particularly Mount Laurel
Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey
Mount Laurel Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, and is an edge city "suburb" of Philadelphia. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 40,221...
, Haddonfield
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Haddonfield is a borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a total population of 11,593....
, Medford
Medford Township, New Jersey
Medford is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,253....
) could have just as easily been given the distinction.
Conversely, nearby Camden has been rated most dangerous city in the United States within the same decade; the two even share a central highway (537).
Professional sports fans
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
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...
, 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
North Jersey
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.- Two-portion approaches :...
and Central Jersey
Central 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"...
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...
.
In addition to the Phillies, residents of South Jersey generally 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...
of the NFL, the Philadelphia 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...
of the NHL, the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
of the NBA, and the Philadelphia Union of MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Commercial centers and resorts
South Jersey's regional commercial centers include: Cherry Hill, CamdenCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, Jackson Township
Jackson Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,816 people, 14,176 households, and 11,269 families residing in the township. The population density was 427.9 people per square mile . There were 14,640 housing units at an average density of 146.3 per square mile...
with Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
, Toms River, and Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
with its resort casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s, boardwalk, shopping, and beaches.
Other South Jersey beach resorts include:
- AvalonAvalon, New JerseyAs of April 2009, the average home sales price in Avalon was $1,567,662 .As of the census of 2000, there were 2,143 people, 1,045 households, and 668 families residing in the borough. The population density was 508.4 people per square mile...
- Barnegat
- BrigantineBrigantine, New JerseyBrigantine is an island city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,450....
- Cape MayCape May, New JerseyCape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
- LaceyLacey Township, New JerseyLacey Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey and is considered part of the Jersey Shore region. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 27,644...
- Long Beach IslandLong Beach IslandLong Beach Island is a barrier island and summer colony along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States...
- LongportLongport, New JerseyLongport is a borough in Atlantic County, New Jersey on the Atlantic Ocean shore of Absecon Island. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 895....
- ManahawkinManahawkin, New JerseyManahawkin is a census-designated place and unincorporated area contained within Stafford Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. Manahawkin translates to 'land of good corn' although this has been disputed by recent scholars claiming that it translate to “fertile land sloping into...
- Margate
- North WildwoodNorth Wildwood, New JerseyNorth Wildwood is a city located on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. 4,935 residents were counted during the United States 2000 Census...
- Ocean CityOcean City, New JerseyOcean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
- Sea Isle CitySea Isle City, New JerseySea Isle City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 2,114. Visitors raise the population to as much as 40,000 during the peak summer season from Memorial Day...
- Stone HarborStone Harbor, New JerseyStone Harbor is a borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. It shares the barrier island Seven Mile Island with its northern neighbor Avalon...
- WildwoodWildwood, New JerseyWildwood is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a popular summer resort destination. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's year-round population was 5,325...
- Wildwood CrestWildwood Crest, New JerseyWildwood Crest is a borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 3,980....
- Ventnor
Notable South Jerseyans
- People from Atlantic County
- People from Burlington County
- People from Camden County
- People from Cape May County
- People from Cumberland County
- People from Gloucester County
- People from Ocean County (some consider this Central Jersey)
- People from Salem County
Culture
A list of unique and notable South Jersey cultural and business institutions includes, but is not limited, to:- Absecon LightAbsecon LightThe Absecon Light is a coastal lighthouse located in the north end of Atlantic City, New Jersey overlooking Absecon Inlet. It is the tallest lighthouse in the state of New Jersey and is the third tallest masonry lighthouse in the United States. Construction began in 1854, with the light first lit...
- Adventure AquariumAdventure AquariumThe Adventure Aquarium, formerly the New Jersey State Aquarium, is a for-profit educational entertainment attraction operated in Camden, New Jersey on the Delaware River waterfront by the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation...
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force
- Barnegat LightBarnegat LighthouseBarnegat Lighthouse or Barnegat Light, colloquially known as "Old Barney", is a historic lighthouse located in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, in the borough of Barnegat Light, New Jersey, on the south side of Barnegat Inlet.-19th century:The development of...
- Batsto VillageBatsto Village, New JerseyBatsto Village is a New Jersey Historic site located in Wharton State Forest in the south central Pine Barrens, and a part of the Pinelands National Reserve. It is listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, and is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental...
- BlueberryBlueberryBlueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
farmFarmA farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s in HammontonHammonton, New JerseyHammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 14,791. It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad currently used by New Jersey... - Cape May Light
- CasinoCasinoIn modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s in Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast... - Clementon Amusement ParkClementon Amusement ParkClementon Park and Splash World is a small amusement park located in Clementon, New Jersey in Camden County, New Jersey, United States right on Clementon Lake and close to the Pine Valley Golf Club. Also known as Clementon Lake Park, it is one of the world's oldest operating amusement parks...
- Commerce BankCommerce BancorpTD Bank, N.A., is a national banking institution in the United States which offers banking, insurance, brokerage, and investment banking services in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,...
- Garden State ParkGarden State ParkGarden State Park was a harness and thoroughbred race track in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey. It is now the site of a high-end, mixed-use "town center" development of stores, restaurants, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums...
- Hereford Inlet Light
- Jersey DevilJersey DevilThe Jersey Devil is a legendary creature or cryptid said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, United States. The creature is often described as a flying biped with hooves, but there are many variations...
- Lucy the ElephantLucy the ElephantElephant hotel redirects here. For the National Historic Landmark located in Somers, New York, see Elephant Hotel.Lucy the Elephant is a six-story elephant-shaped example of novelty architecture, constructed of wood and tin sheeting in 1882 by James V...
- "On the Way to Cape MayOn The Way To Cape May"On The Way To Cape May" is a song that has become a Jersey Shore sound summertime anthem for the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley and South Jersey Shore area. It was written by Maurice "Buddy" Nugent according to BMI and the The Philadelphia Inquirer...
" - PATCO High Speed Line
- Pine BarrensPine Barrens (New Jersey)The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
- Shore CultureJersey ShoreThe Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
- Six Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
- Traffic circleTraffic circleA traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
s - Jughandles
- Tuckerton Seaport
- Washington Street MallWashington Street (Cape May)Washington Street is the name of a major east-west street in downtown Cape May, New Jersey. It begins at Lafayette Street and ends at Ocean Street. Unofficially, there is a famous walkway, named the Washington Street Mall, between Ocean Street and Perry Street...
- Wawa Food MarketsWawa Food MarketsWawa Inc. is a chain of convenience store/gas stations located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It operates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. The company's corporate headquarters is located in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania, near the community...
- Wheaton VillageWheaton VillageWheaton Arts and Cultural Center is a 501non-profit arts education organization, with a focus on the medium of glass...
- USS New JerseyUSS New Jersey (BB-62)USS New Jersey , is an , and was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of New Jersey. New Jersey earned more battle stars for combat actions than the other three completed Iowa-class battleships, and is the only U.S...
See also
- New Jersey: The Movie
- Southern Shore RegionSouthern Shore RegionThe Southern Shore Region is located in the southeastern part of State of New Jersey in the United States of America. 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, the Delaware River Region,...
- Delaware River RegionDelaware River RegionThe Delaware River Region refers to an area in western New Jersey along the Delaware River border with Pennsylvania. It encompasses Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, and Salem County. The area is primarily part of Greater Philadelphia with the exception of Mercer...
- Delaware ValleyDelaware ValleyThe Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
External links
- South Jersey Historic Photos from Courier-Post
- Burlington County Historic Photos, Part I (Bass River, NJ to Medford Lakes, NJ)
- Burlington County Historic Photos, Part II (Medford Lakes, NJ to Wrightstown, NJ)
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part I (Audubon, NJ to Camden, NJ)
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part II (Cherry Hill, NJ to Haddon Township, NJ)
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part III (Haddonfield, NJ to Pennsauken, NJ)
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part IV (Pine Hill, NJ to Woodlynne, NJ)
- Gloucester County Historic Photos, Part I (Clayton, NJ to Harrison Township, NJ)
- Gloucester County Historic Photos, Part II (Logan, NJ to South Harrison, NJ)
- Gloucester County Historic Photos, Part III (Swedesboro, NJ to Woolwich, NJ)