South Jersey

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

South Jersey is a colloquial term, with no consensus definition, covering the southern portions of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean.

New Jersey is sandwiched between two large cities: New York City in the northeast and Philadelphia in the southwest; Benjamin Franklin called her "a barrel tapped at both ends". South Jersey is the area within the Philadelphia sphere of influence, whereas North Jersey is the area within New York City's influence.

The shoreline areas, in particular Atlantic City, have a distinct economy centered around tourism.

Burlington and Camden counties have several older streetcar towns, and many residents commute to Philadelphia.

Contents

[edit] South Jersey counties

South Jersey comprises eight counties. [1]

Until it was split in 1999, the original area covered by Area code 609 was one of the definitions of South Jersey.[2]

[edit] Ocean County enigma

Recently, a 7-county definition has prevailed for South Jersey, leaving Ocean County out.[3]. This is due to the fact that unlike the other 7 counties, Ocean County is considered to be part of the New York Metropolitan Area[4] and is the only county of the 8 to get news coverage from New York City on basic cable. However, Ocean County also receives news coverage from Philadelphia on basic cable.

Historically, Ocean County has also had different voting patterns from the other 7 counties. In 1980, Ocean was the only southern county (of 6 that had the question on ballots) to defeat the 1980 non-binding referendum for South Jersey to secede from the North.[5] Additionally, Ocean County was the only county, of the southern 8, to vote for Frank Lautenberg over Rob Andrews in the 2008 Democractic Primary for US Senate.[6],

These differences can possibly be linked to the fact that Ocean County, like most of the other northern New Jersey counties, was part of East Jersey, while the other 7 southern counties were part of West Jersey.

[edit] Economics and Demographics

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, Marlton, Cherry Hill, and Voorhees) could have just as easily been given the distinction. New Jersey's population density, as well as the geographic limitations of such a populous state, make disparities between adjoining or neighboring towns readily evident. For example, Maple Shade, which abuts Moorestown, is a township of working class and middle income families.

By contrast, nearby Camden has excessive poverty and crime. Lindenwold, Clementon, Mt. Holly, Gloucester City, and Pemberton and Atlantic City contain large segments of working class citizens.

[edit] Commercial centers and resorts

South Jersey's regional commercial centers include: Cherry Hill, Camden, and Atlantic City with its resort casinos, boardwalk, shopping, and beaches.

Other South Jersey beach resorts include:

[edit] Notable South Jerseyans

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Culture

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

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Definition of South Jersey on Page 2, Southern New Jersey Development Council. Accessed January 12, 2008.
  2. ^ Demasters, Karen. "The New Phone Math: 609 Divided by 2", The New York Times, February 7, 1999. Accessed August 6, 2008.
  3. ^ http://www.usairwaysmag.com/2009_01/Profile_Souths_NJ/01_sjersey_intro.pdf McKnight, Whitney "Garden State South" US Airways Magazine , January, 2009
  4. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_metropolitan_area
  5. ^ http://walter.multiply.com/journal/item/114/Across_The_Great_Divide Coyne, Kevin "Across the Great Divide" New Jersey Monthly Magazine
  6. ^ http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8064 "Dunkin' Donuts Decides the Senate Race" Blue Jersey
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