South Jersey | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of South Jersey | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| Largest city | Cherry Hill |
| Counties | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
South Jersey, also known asSouthern New Jersey, comprises the southern portion of theU.S. state ofNew Jersey. It is located betweenPennsylvania and the lowerDelaware River to its west, theAtlantic Ocean to its east,Delaware to its south, andCentral Jersey orNorth Jersey to its north, depending on the definition of North Jersey.
South Jersey is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, orDelaware Valley, the seventh-largest metropolitan region in the nation with 6.288 million residents in the coremetropolitan statistical area and 7.366 million residents in thecombined statistical area ofCamden,Philadelphia andWilmington, as of 2020.[2] South Jersey is known for containing the uniqueecoregion known as thePine Barrens, which remains largely undisturbed despite its location within theNortheastern megalopolis. The South Jersey Pine Barrens are the largest remaining example of theAtlantic coastal pine barrens ecosystem.
Benjamin Franklin is said to have called New Jersey "a barrel tapped at both ends", referencing thePhiladelphia influence on South Jersey and theNew York City influence on North Jersey.[3][4] South Jersey is defined geographically as the area belowI-195 that includes the state's lower seven counties:Atlantic,Burlington,Camden,Cape May,Cumberland,Gloucester, andSalem, and occasionally an eighth,Ocean.[5]
South Jersey and the wider Philadelphia metropolitan area are situated near the center of theNortheast megalopolis and have become aU.S. East Coast epicenter forlogistics andwarehouse construction;[6] Salem County, the lower portion of Gloucester County, and the upper portion of Cumberland County additionally serve as residential communities for thepetrochemical industry ofNew Castle County, Delaware.South Jersey shore communities, includingAtlantic City and others in Atlantic and Cape May counties, have a distinct economy centered around the tourism industry. Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties have several older streetcar towns, and many residents from these three counties commute to Philadelphia, the nation'ssixth-most populous city, which is located immediately west of South Jersey across theDelaware River, accessible by theBenjamin Franklin Bridge,Betsy Ross Bridge,Tacony Palmyra Bridge andWalt Whitman Bridge.
The designation of South Jersey with a distincttoponym is acolloquialism rather than anadministrative definition and reflects geographical and perceived cultural and other differences between South Jersey and thenorthern part of the state.[7]
South Jersey is apeninsula bordered by theAtlantic Ocean to its southeast, theDelaware Bay to its southwest, and theDelaware River to its northwest. All of South Jersey is part of theAtlantic Plain,[8] a landform of broad plains and gently sloping hills that extends southward from theNew York Bight toFlorida.[9] Much of the Atlantic Plain is covered bypine and oak-pine forests andsalt marshes and is underlain by poorly consolidatedsedimentary formations from theCretaceous,Tertiary, andQuaternary ages that dip seaward.[10] The Atlantic Coastal Plain can be divided into three physiographic subprovinces: the Inner Lowlands, Outer Lowlands, and Central Uplands.[10][11]
The Inner Lowlands region encompasses the low valley along theDelaware River, with an elevation ranging from 50 feet (15 m) to 100 feet (30 m),[10] and the Outer Lowlands encompasses the area near the Atlantic Ocean with an elevation that rarely exceeds 50 feet (15 m).[10] The Inner Lowlands are fertile due to the deposition of sediment in the region, which makes it an ideal region for agriculture. The Outer Lowlands is dominated by coastalestuaries,swamplands, andbarrier islands near the Atlantic Ocean and is generally infertile. The Central Uplands varies slightly from the Lowlands in altitude and is covered by theNew Jersey Pine Barrens. The Uplands has rolling hills at an elevation over 50 feet, rarely exceeding 200 feet in elevation, along with sandy, acidic soil that is unsuitable for agriculture. Commercial farming in the Pine Barrens is limited to plants that thrive in its nutrient-poor soil, generally restricted to acidic fruits.[12] In the Pine Barrens,cranberries andblueberries are cultivated in lowland bogs that have accumulated depths of organic matter.[13]
South Jersey has ahumid subtropical climate. Compared to northern parts of New Jersey, South Jersey has slightly higher temperatures and receives less annual precipitation. Along theJersey Shore, temperatures are moderated bysea breezes.
The following seven counties are completely included in South Jersey:[14][15][16][17]
Some definitions of South Jersey include the southern portion ofOcean County.[18][19]
In April 2015, anNJ.com poll with 90,000 respondents asked readers to identify the communities inNorth,Central, and South Jersey.Barnegat,Eagleswood,Lacey Township,Little Egg Harbor,Long Beach Island,Ocean Township,Stafford Township, andTuckerton were all voted as part of South Jersey. The Ocean County communities north of Lacey Township were considered to be part of Central Jersey. The northernmost communities of Burlington County was also voted part of Central Jersey.[20]
Camden, located across theDelaware River fromPhiladelphia, 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 regional transportation hub. For decades followingWorld War II, Camden suffered a prolonged economic decline and high crime rate due to the loss of its manufacturing base and the outflow of middle-class residents to the suburbs.Campbell's Soup headquarters and the new corporate headquarters ofSusquehanna Bank.Rutgers University–Camden,Rutgers Law School,Cooper Medical School of Rowan University,Cooper University Hospital, and the Camden campus ofCamden County College operate in Camden, and theCamden Waterfront is one of the city's main attractions. Nearby,Cherry Hill, the second largest municipality in South Jersey and the12th largest in New Jersey by population, is anedge city that also serves as a regional economic center.Pureland Industrial Complex, the nation's largestindustrial park, is located 12 miles from the port of Camden inLogan Township.
Atlantic City is a major tourist destination that is famous for its beaches, boardwalk, and casino gambling. Atlantic City is located in theJersey Shore region onAbsecon Island, along withVentnor City,Margate City, andLongport. Atlantic City became a resort town in 1854, when train service to the city allowed beachgoers from Philadelphia to vacation in the city.[21] The firstboardwalk in the world opened in the city in 1870,[22] and large hotels were built in the early 20th century to accommodate visitors.[23] In the mid-20th century, Atlantic City declined as a tourist destination due to competition from other resorts made accessible by automobile and aircraft. After New Jersey voters approved casino gambling in Atlantic City in a 1976 referendum, it became the first legalized casino gambling destination in theEastern United States.[24] Recent growth in the city has been fueled by the casino industry, and Atlantic City is the second-largest casino gaming market in the United States behindLas Vegas.[24]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau,Burlington,Camden, andGloucester Counties are part of the Camden metropolitan division with an estimated population of 1,250,569 as of 2008.[2][needs update]Salem County is part of theWilmington metropolitan division. The Camden and Wilmington metropolitan divisions are part of the largerPhiladelphia–Camden–Wilmingtonmetropolitan statistical area, the eighth largest MSA in the U.S.[2]Cumberland County is part of theVineland–Millville–Bridgeton Metropolitan Statistical Area.Atlantic City and its surrounding region inAtlantic County are part of the Atlantic City metropolitan area, which had an estimated 2008 population of 270,681.[2]Cape May County is part of theOcean City metropolitan area with an estimated 2008 population of 95,838.[2] Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties are all part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Vinelandcombined statistical area.
Ocean County, with a 2020 population of 637,229,[2] is considered part of theNew York–North Jersey–Long Island Metropolitan Statistical Area,[2] which encompasses all ofNorth Jersey andCentral Jersey with the exception ofWarren County. However, much of Ocean County lies in both New York City and Philadelphia media markets.
| 2020 Rank | Municipality | County | Population in 2020 | Population in 2010 | Municipal Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cherry Hill | Camden | 74,553 | 71,045 | Township |
| 2 | Camden | Camden | 71,791 | 77,344 | City |
| 3 | Gloucester Township | Camden | 66,034 | 64,634 | Township |
| 4 | Vineland | Cumberland | 60,780 | 60,724 | City |
| 5 | Washington Township | Gloucester | 48,677 | 48,559 | Township |
| 6 | Egg Harbor Township | Atlantic | 47,842 | 43,323 | Township |
| 7 | Evesham Township | Burlington | 46,826 | 45,538 | Township |
| 8 | Mount Laurel | Burlington | 44,633 | 41,864 | Township |
| 9 | Winslow Township | Camden | 39,907 | 39,499 | Township |
| 10 | Atlantic City | Atlantic | 38,497 | 39,558 | City |
| 11 | Galloway Township | Atlantic | 37,813 | 37,349 | Township |
| 12 | Monroe Township | Gloucester | 37,117 | 36,129 | Township |
| 13 | Pennsauken Township | Camden | 37,074 | 35,885 | Township |
| 14 | Deptford | Gloucester | 31,997 | 30,561 | Township |
| 15 | Willingboro Township | Burlington | 31,889 | 31,629 | Township |
| 16 | Voorhees | Camden | 31,069 | 29,131 | Township |
| 17 | Millville | Cumberland | 27,491 | 28,370 | City |
| 18 | Hamilton Township | Atlantic | 27,484 | 26,342 | Township |
| 19 | Bridgeton | Cumberland | 27,263 | 24,958 | City |
| 20 | Pemberton Township | Burlington | 26,903 | 27,644 | Township |
| 21 | Medford | Burlington | 24,497 | 22,999 | Township |
| 22 | Burlington Township | Burlington | 23,983 | 22,306 | Township |
| 23 | Glassboro | Gloucester | 23,149 | 18,533 | Borough |
| 24 | West Deptford | Gloucester | 22,197 | 21,528 | Township |
| 25 | Lower Township | Cape May | 22,057 | 22,844 | Township |
| 26 | Lindenwold | Camden | 21,641 | 17,479 | Borough |
| 27 | Moorestown | Burlington | 21,355 | 20,554 | Township |
| 28 | Pleasantville | Atlantic | 20,629 | 20,149 | City |
| 29 | Middle Township | Cape May | 20,380 | 18,791 | Township |
| Rank | County | Population | County Seat | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camden | 523,485 | Camden | 222 sq mi (575 km2) |
| 2 | Burlington | 461,860 | Mount Holly | 805 sq mi (2,085 km2) |
| 3 | Gloucester | 302,294 | Woodbury | 325 sq mi (842 km2) |
| 4 | Atlantic | 274,534 | Mays Landing | 561 sq mi (1,453 km2) |
| 5 | Cumberland | 154,152 | Bridgeton | 489 sq mi (1,267 km2) |
| 6 | Cape May | 95,263 | Cape May Court House | 255 sq mi (660 km2) |
| 7 | Salem | 64,837 | Salem | 338 sq mi (875 km2) |
Present-day South Jersey was first inhabited by theLenape and was the site of the firstIndian reservation. The tribe spokeUnami dialects, part of theAlgonquian language family.[27] Because the Lenape were concentrated around theDelaware River and its tributaries, Europeans later named them the Delaware Indians.[27] 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 local settler communities.
Although present-day South Jersey was claimed by theDutch in 1609, the Dutch used the region primarily for trading purposes. In 1638,New Sweden was established along theDelaware River. TheSwedes established two permanent settlements in present-day South Jersey:Swedesboro andBridgeport, 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 theBritish colonial period, nearly all of South Jersey was part of theProvince of West Jersey between 1674 and 1702 as aQuaker commonwealth.Burlington, the capital of West Jersey, was established in 1677, andCamden was established in 1681. Since the Delaware River was not easily navigable north ofTrenton, the population was concentrated along the southernDelaware River. The borders between West Jersey andEast Jersey, first surveyed using theKeith line, ran diagonally across the middle part of the state. The borders remained important in determining ownership and political boundaries until 1745. Remnants of that division are seen today, notably as theBurlington-Monmouth and Burlington-Ocean County lines and the municipal boundaries within Ocean County.[28] In contemporary culture, the border signifies a functional boundary between the New York City and Philadelphia spheres of influence.[29]
By 1700, nearly 70% of the population of West Jersey were Quakers ofEnglish orIrish origin.[30] The Quakers, who believed in peace, equality, and integrity, influenced early New Jersey. In contrast, East Jersey had high proportions ofScottish andDutch settlers. In 1702, East Jersey and West Jersey were reunited under the reign ofQueen Anne.
Resistance to theBritish was widespread during theAmerican Revolution among South JerseyPresbyterians, who aided the colonists during theRevolutionary War. Several Presbyterian preachers, including John Brainerd, accepted military positions and urged Presbyterians to enlist in thearmy. During the war, 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 on their principles of nonviolence. Members of the Religious Society of Friends were forbidden to support the local militias, or faced disownment by the Quakers.
For many years, South Jersey has been mistakenly perceived solely as an agricultural society. In the 18th century, South Jersey, includingAlloway inSalem County, was home to Wistarburg, the first successful glass factory in the colonies, operating for close to 50 years prior to the Revolutionary War. When that factory closed, the workers spread throughout the region to South Jersey towns, includingMillville,VinelandBridgeton,Hammonton, andGlassboro where they established new companies. Recent research has uncovered evidence that, in addition to the glassmaking industry, South Jersey was also a major contributor to the iron, coal making, ship building and, later, textile industries. Other businesses that later operated in the region included shoe manufacturers, button makers, barrel makers, and rug companies. While most industries eventually declined, farming still made up the larger portion of the region's economy. South Jersey's interior, consisting of theNew Jersey Pine Barrens and marshland, remained unpopulated because its acidic, nutrient-poor soil that was unsuited for farming. Most of the cities were concentrated along the Delaware River except for a few settlements and seaside resorts along theJersey Shore.
Slavery was less extensive in South Jersey than it was in other parts of the state because of theQuakers' religious opposition to it, and a lower demand for labor in the region. By 1810, the population of slaves dwindled to 328 total, compared to 10,532 total slaves in the rest of New Jersey.[31] 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 theUnderground Railroad"[32] for his role in helping slaves escape to freedom.
Railroads came into operation in South Jersey by the mid-19th century. The advent of the railroad was one of the reasonsCharles K. Landis was inspired to found Vineland in 1861. The rail system expanded dramatically during that period, helping a number of towns to grow and thrive. Many of the railroads were later consolidated into theWest Jersey and Seashore Railroad (WJ&S). By 1925, it operated 379 miles of road on 717 miles of track. In 1933, it became part ofPennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines, aPennsylvania Railroad subsidiary. Much of the system is part of theSouth Jersey/Philadelphia Shared Assets Area. TheGlassboro–Camden Line, a light rail system, is currently under construction.
Beginning in the early 20th century, the towns bordering theDelaware River saw increased manufacturing due to improved transportation and technology. A year before the turn of the century, in 1899,John Thompson Dorrance, a chemist forCampbell Soup Company, perfected his method of canning condensed soup.[33] This allowed Campbell to ship and sell its product at one-third the cost.[33] Campbell had national distribution by 1911 when its products were first marketed in California.[33] TheNew York Shipbuilding Corporation opened its first shipyard in 1900 inCamden. The company produced a variety of ships, ranging from aircraft carriers and battleships to luxury liners and barges. By 1917, NYSB was the world's largest shipyard.[34] TheVictor Talking Machine Company, founded in 1901, became the leading American producer ofphonographs andphonograph records.
Like many American cities afterWorld War II, South Jersey cities where heavy manufacturing was a predominant industry 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. TheNew Jersey Turnpike opened in 1951, permitting fast travel by car betweenNew York andDelaware. In 1955,William Levitt built present-dayWillingboro based on hisLevittown 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.[35][36] In 1961, the township was renamedCherry Hill. In contrast, nearby Camden declined from 125,000 residents in 1950 to 85,000 in 1980.[35][37] While the South Jersey suburbs remain general middle-class, theinner cities continue to face issues with crime, poverty, and unemployment.
Albert Freeman, aMount Holly newspaper publisher and editor,[38] wrote an editorial calling for secession. Freeman originally meant the proposal as a joke, but the idea gained momentum. On April 23, 1980, the town council ofEgg Harbor voted to support the creation of a new state of South Jersey.[39] The statehood movement was an attempt to gain the attention of state lawmakers, centering on issues such as the construction of theMeadowlands Sports Complex in the north while the state refused to support theGarden State Park Racetrack in the south.[40] A non-binding referendum was presented to six counties in 1980 (with the exclusion of Camden and Gloucester counties), and 51 percent of voters declared that they wanted to secede and establish a new state;Ocean County was the only southern county of six that voted to defeat the referendum.[41]
In 2005,Money magazine declaredMoorestown as the "best place to live" in the United States,[42] although they stated that a number of nearby municipalities could have just as easily been given the distinction.
Conversely,Morgan Quitno has rated nearby Camden the "most dangerous city" in the United States three times within the same decade[43][44][45][46] and Camden had a median household income of $18,007 in 2006, making it the poorest U.S. city with over 65,000 residents.[47] Moorestown and Camden share a central highway,NJ County Road 537.
The average income for a household in South Jersey was $63,834.54, and the population was 65.3% non-Hispanic White, 15.9% non-Hispanic Black, 11.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 4.2% non-Hispanic Asian, and 3.0% non-Hispanic other or mixed race. South Jersey had a total population of 1,854,453 in 2010 (up from 693,402 in 1940) if the counties of Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland are included.
Additionally,Rutgers University has academic satellites at Atlantic Cape Community College inMays Landing and Camden County Community College inBlackwood. Rutgers also has a number of research field stations located in South Jersey, including the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension inChatsworth and the Rutgers University Marine Field Station inTuckerton.
Many South Jerseyans root forPhiladelphia professional sports teams including thePhillies,Eagles,Flyers,76ers, andUnion. In southernOcean County, there is a strong mix of Philadelphia and New York sports fans since the county's media markets overlap. While there are no major league teams in South Jersey, in recent seasons the 76ers have held training camp atStockton University inGalloway Township.[48] In 2016, the 76ers opened a practice facility on theCamden waterfront. The Flyers practice inVoorhees at the local Skate Zone.
South Jersey has been home to a number of minor league teams. TheJersey Shore BlueClaws play inLakewood and are an affiliate of thePhillies. Minor league soccer is also played in South Jersey, as theOcean City Nor'easters of thePremier Development League are based inOcean City. The Nor'easters play their home games atCarey Stadium.
In 2007, theWNBA was considering expansion inAtlantic City. The Atlantic City ownership group competed with other groups fromPhiladelphia,Atlanta,Kansas City,Albuquerque,Colorado, and theSan Francisco Bay Area. In the end, the expansion franchise was awarded toAtlanta.[49]
South Jersey was home to the now-defunct independent league baseball teams theAtlantic City Surf andCamden Riversharks. Outside of baseball, South Jersey was also home to theAtlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, a minor leagueice hockey team affiliated with theEast Coast Hockey League. TheJersey Knights of theWorld Hockey Association played at theCherry Hill Arena inCherry Hill from 1973 to 1974. Previously, the minor leagueJersey Devils of theEastern Hockey League played at the same location from 1964 to 1973.
South Jersey's regional commercial centers include:Cherry Hill,Camden, andAtlantic City with its resortcasinos, boardwalk, shopping, and beaches.
Other South JerseySeaside resorts and commercial centers include:
|
South Jersey is part of thePhiladelphia television and radio market. Newspapers in the region include theCourier-Post, which refers to itself as "South Jersey's Newspaper" and is based inCamden County. It covers all of South Jersey but focuses primarily on these three counties. TheSouth Jersey Times, based inMullica Hill, also covers South Jersey but spotlights Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem counties.
Some nationally known South Jerseyans includeBruce Willis,Mike Trout,Roscoe Lee Browne,John Forsythe,Ali Larter,Kelly Ripa,Tara Lipinski,Michael Landon,Linda Fiorentino,Joe Flacco,Carl Lewis,Grace Helbig,Martin Truex Jr.,Steve Kaplan,Carli Lloyd andHope Sawyer Buyukmihci. See also:
A list of unique and notable South Jersey cultural and business institutions includes, but is not limited, to:
South Jersey is within thePhiladelphia dialect region. One recognizable feature of this is the pronunciation of/oʊ/ (the vowel ingo) as[əʊ], and this can also be found elsewhere in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware.
Visitors to South Jersey will notice the following usages standard in theDelaware Valley:
In South Jersey, the area has become the "epicenter" of warehouse construction in the greater Philadelphia region..'Activity in the Southern New Jersey industrial market continues to amaze,' the report said.
