New Jersey Dissected

Typical things said by New Jerseyans:

In South Jersey: "Where did you go to college?"
Me: "Rutgers - New Brunswick."
Them: "Oh, wow, all the way up in North Jersey, huh?"

In North Jersey: "I want to go to go to Six Flags, but it's all the way in South Jersey."

etc...

I am now 34 years old. I lived in North Jersey for the first 18 years of my life, in Central Jersey for the next 10 or 11, and South Jersey for the last 5 or so. People who have not lived in different parts of our great state, specifically in North and South Jersey, could generally use some clarification about the different regions of the state. So, I attempt to do so here. My ideas are open to suggestions and modifications.

I have divided the state into three regions which I will define: North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey. Then, I have further subdivided each region into 3 sections, for a total of 9 sections of New Jersey. Each has characteristics which I will attempt to describe as I define each region below.


North Jersey

Region 1: Northeast New Jersey

Includes:  Bergen County, most of Passaic County through Paterson and Paterson's western suburbs.

Characteristics:  Closely identifies with New York City and being New York suburbs. Most of area upper-middle class. Most ghetto area is Paterson but that isn't as bad as other ghetto areas of New Jersey. People tend to be suburban dwellers, liberal, and while being somewhat multi-cultural, most of the people with money are white.  People are fairly ambitious and having your kids get into a good college is a necessity.


Region 2: Northwest New Jersey

Includes:  certain portions of Western and Northern Passaic counties, Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties. Certain portions of Northern Hunterdon County.

Characteristics: Area still pretty rural. Some suburban sprawl has sprouted up in various regions along Route 80 as people who work in New York City want more for their money, but still primarily small townie. Mainly working class, white, and more conservative than Region 1. De facto capital of Region 2: Morristown.  Politically more conservative than Region 1.


Region 3: Urban Northeast New Jersey

Includes: Primarily Hudson, Union, and Essex Counties: cities like Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City, and working class towns like West New York, Garfield, and Belleville.

Characteristics: Generally ranges from ghetto to working class. Area somewhat urban and faux urban like all the towns along Bergenline Avenue. Racially very mixed.  Politically - liberal.



Central Jersey

Region 4: The Hub of New Jersey

Includes:  Most of Middlesex County and Somerset County, small parts of Northern Mercer County. New Brunswick, and large suburban towns like Edison, Piscataway, North / South / East Brunswick are all included.

Characteristics:  Large suburban towns (Edison is much larger than any town in Bergen County, for example). The Rutgers Campus New Brunswick is almost like the hub of New Jersey, geographically. People here lean more towards New York City over Philadelphia in terms of sports teams.  People also ambitious and into getting into good colleges, etc..., but not as "Type-A" as Bergen County.  A bit more of a mix of liberal and conservative people than Region #1.  A surprising amount of local industry in the Somerset County area creates a middle-class environment.


Region 5: Trenton Area

Includes: Princeton, Trenton, most of Mercer and most of Hunterdon Counties.

Characteristics:  Ranges from nice, less developed areas in Hunterdon County (surprisingly expensive to live there), to the historic area of Princeton, and the developed area of Trenton.  People here don't identify with North Jersey or South Jersey - in that regard, this is truly Central New Jersey.  Mixed between conservative and liberal people.  Surprisingly a large amount of local industry, like Region 4.


Region 6: The Jersey Shore, North

Includes:  Northern Jersey towns near shore like Sayreville, Marlboro, Freehold, shore towns like Asbury Park, Long Branch, etc... down to LBI. Toms River area. Primarily Monmouth and Ocean Counties.  Six Flags (Jackson) also included here.  Belmar, Sleazeside... you get the idea.

Characteristics:  More blue collar than region 4.  Many people are working class and don't go to college. While some towns are not on the shore per se, people identify with the shore area, bars that Bruce Springsteen sings about, etc...


South Jersey

Region 7: Philly Suburbs

Includes: Burlington and Camden Counties, Northern Gloucester County.

Characteristics: Your typical South Jersey people. Loyal, salt-of-the-earth people, mostly working class with some rich exceptions. Love their Philly teams ferociously.  Some newer suburban areas, some old towns near Philadelphia.  Not as type-A as Region 1, despite its proximity to a big city.


Region 8: Rural South Jersey

Includes: Southern Gloucester County, Salem, Cumberland, and Western Atlantic County, small parts of Cape May county.

Characteristics:  One of the poorer regions of the state.  Biggest towns are Hammonton and Vineland.  Lots of working farms, lots of small towns that look like they are in Deliverance.


Region 9: The Jersey Shore, South

Includes: Southern Ocean County, Eastern Atlantic County, most of Cape May County.

Characteristics:  Includes Ocean City, Atlantic City, and Wildwood.  Had to be separated from Region 6 as the shore cultures are distinctive.  Ocean City boardwalk has exclusively Philadelphia gear, for example.  Also included here are shore towns like Hamilton Township, Egg Harbor, etc... Casinos a source of income, but most people are working class and small-townie.