South Jersey

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This is about a region in the United States. For the island of Jersey, see Jersey.

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.[1].

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".[2] South Jersey may be defined geographically as the area below Interstate 195, in particular the "lower eight counties of New Jersey",[3] 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.[4]

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. Long-time residents of the city of Cape May know that anything north of the Cape May Canal is considered North Jersey.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Geography

[edit] Topography

South Jersey is a peninsula, 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 marshes, and is underlain by poorly consolidated sedimentary 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.[5] 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, swamplands, and barrier islands 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.

[edit] Climate

South Jersey has a humid subtropical climate. 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.

[edit] Counties

The following seven counties are completely included in South Jersey:[6][7][8][9]

Many definitions of South Jersey include the southern portion of Ocean County, up to Long Beach Island.[10][11]

[edit] Cities

Aerial view of Atlantic City, a seaside resort famous for its boardwalk and casino gambling.

[edit] Principal cities

Camden, 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,[12] and Camden's high crime rate has resulted in it being ranked by Morgan Quitno Corporation as the most dangerous city in 2009.[13] 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.

[edit] Metropolitan areas

Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties are part of the Camden metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 1,250,569 in 2008.[4] The Camden metropolitan area is part of the larger Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the fifth largest MSA in the United States.[4]

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.[4] Cape May County is part of the Ocean City metropolitan area, with an estimated 2008 population of 95,838.[4] Ocean County, with a 2008 population of 565,493,[4] is considered to be part of the New York-North Jersey-Long Island Metropolitan Statistical Area,[4] 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.

[edit] Selected municipalities

The following cities and towns in South Jersey have a 2010 Census population of over 20,000 inhabitants:[14]

[edit] History

[edit] Native Americans

Present-day South Jersey was first inhabited by the Lenape. 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.

[edit] 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 Sweden 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.[15] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 Barrens 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.[16] 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"[17] for his role in helping slaves escape to freedom.

[edit] 20th Century

New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in 1919

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.[18] This allowed Campbell to ship and sell its product at one-third the cost.[18] Campbell had national distribution by 1911 when its products were first marketed in California.[18] 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.[19] The Victor Talking Machine Company, founded in 1901, became the leading American producer of phonographs 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.[20][21] In 1961, the township ws renamed Cherry Hill. In contrast, nearby Camden declined from 125,000 residents in 1950 to 85,000 in 1980.[20][22] While the South Jersey suburbs remain general middle-class, the inner cities continue to face issues with crime, poverty, and unemployment.

[edit] Temporary statehood movement

Albert Freeman, a Mount Holly newspaper publisher and editor,[23] 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.[24] The statehood movement was an attempt to gain the attention of state lawmakers, centering on issues such as the construction of the Meadowlands Complex in the north while the State refused to support the Garden State Park Racetrack in the south.[25] 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.[26]

[edit] Economics and demographics

Unbalanced scales.svg
 The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (June 2010)

In 2005, Money magazine 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).

[edit] Professional sports fans

The 2009 World Series 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.[27]

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.

[edit] Commercial centers and resorts

South Jersey's regional commercial centers include: Cherry Hill, Camden, Jackson Township with Six Flags Great Adventure, Toms River, and Atlantic City with its resort casinos, boardwalk, shopping, and beaches.

Other South Jersey beach resorts include:

[edit] Notable South Jerseyans

[edit] Culture

A list of unique and notable South Jersey cultural and business institutions includes, but is not limited, to:

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ http://blog.nj.com/jerseyblogs/2008/03/where_does_north_jersey_end.html
  2. ^ Fairall, Herbert (1885). The World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, New Orleans, 1884-1885. p. 225. Google Book Search. Retrieved on December 4, 2009. "Dr. Benjamin Franklin once perpetrated the witticism 'that New Jersey was like a beer barrel tapped at both ends, with all the live beer running into Philadelphia and New York.'"
  3. ^ Di Ionno, Mark. Backroads, New Jersey (p. 49) , 2002. "Some say it's New Jersey's bottom eight counties-Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem."
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007" (CSV). 2007 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2008-03-27. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/2007/CSA-EST2007-alldata.csv. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
  5. ^ Atlantic Coastal Plain, U.S. Geological Survey. Updated July 22, 2003.
  6. ^ South Jersey's Views on Sprawl, development, and regional Identity, Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, Rutgers University-Camden. "The report on Sprawl, Development and Regional Identity presented below is based primarily on a Spring 2001 survey of South Jerseyans, conducted with respect to their views on suburban sprawl, development/land use policies and regional identity. That survey included responses from 900 residents of the seven southernmost counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem)."
  7. ^ South Jersey Freight Transportation and Economic Development Assessment, Delaware Valley Goods Movement Task Force, July 15, 2009. The map of the South Jersey Region includes the seven counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem.
  8. ^ NJDOT Regional Boundaries, The State of New Jersey. The boundaries for the South Jersey NJDOT division cover the seven counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem.
  9. ^ Profile-South Jersey, US Airways Magazine. "The seven-county region known as South Jersey claims a cultural and lifestyle identity all its own."
  10. ^ Jersey Shore Beach Guide, philadelphia.about.com.
  11. ^ Goertzel, Ted and Leonardis, Jason. Public Opinion on Sprawl and Smart Growth in Southern New Jersey, Rutgers University-Camden Sociology Department.
  12. ^ Camden poorest city in U.S., The Courier-Post, August 30, 2006.
  13. ^ "Last prisoners leave Riverfront State Prison", philly.com, June 19, 2009.
  14. ^ Census 2010: New Jersey - USATODAY.com
  15. ^ Koedel, R. Craig. South Jersey Heritage: A Social, Economic and Cultural History
  16. ^ Wright, Giles R. Appendix 3 of Afro-Americans in New Jersey: a short history Trenton, NJ, New Jersey Historical Commission, 1989. Accessed from westjersey.org.
  17. ^ Wagner, Tricia. It Happened on the Underground Railroad, 2007, p. xiii.
  18. ^ a b c Campbell Soup Company, fundinguniverse.com.
  19. ^ New York Ship Building, GlobalSecurity.org.
  20. ^ a b 1950 United States Census
  21. ^ 1970 United States Census
  22. ^ 1980 United States Census
  23. ^ Stansfield, Charles. New Jersey, a geography, 1983.
  24. ^ Erwin, James. Declarations of independence: encyclopedia of American autonomous and secessionist movements, 2007, p. 174.
  25. ^ The Jersey Libertarian, Volume 8 Number 7. September 1980 edition.
  26. ^ The Strongest Link: North vs. South — Jersey
  27. ^ "The Turnpike Series: Phillies & Yankees divide N.J. - Part I", blog: Where is the line between North & South Jersey?, Oct. 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-05. "The Yankees-Phillies divide in New Jersey", blog: Where is the line between North & South Jersey?, Oct. 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-05. See World Series#Other cross-state and inter-provincial rivalries.

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