"Country" Jersey? (Toms River, Vineland: sex offender, house, camping)

[Badfish740]

Originally Posted by jy_2007

So - you had your first taste of south jersey???
Yes, south jersey is a VERY different place than north jersey - even the rural parts of north jersey. you really would think you're in the deep south

I've been to that part of New Jersey and further south before. As I said, I've been to Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown many times, and I get why the cowboys dress like cowboys-because they are cowboys. Cowtown is a real live rodeo. I guess I was just trying to get at this association between "rural" and "the South." Why do the rural areas of New Jersey have to be associated with the South? There are scores of rural areas from wilderness to farm country quite a ways north of the Mason-Dixon line in the country-heck, just look at some of the places north of the Canadian border!

Maybe a better question would be "Does rural Jersey or country Jersey have its own identity, or is it stuck associating itself with the South?" It also makes me wonder, do you see Confederate flags deep in the woods of Maine or in the hills of Vermont? Why is it that we rural New Jersey Yankees seem to cling to the culture of the South for our identity? Why don't we consider ourselves "Swamp Yankees?"

Swamp Yankee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by john_starks

i agree w/DITC. when i was in college, i had a job with DYFS where i would travel all over central and southern jersey. when i ventured south of gloucester county, and into cumberland, salem and atlantic counties.......wow, just wow

the parts surrounding atlantic city like egg harbor and whatnot are pretty rural. same with areas surrounding vineland, millville, bridgton....i swear i was in kentucky.

I felt like that around Millville and Vineland, but not so much Atlantic County. When I considered taking a position in Hinesville Georgia about 8 years ago, upon my arrival, my first impression was "Wow, I feel like I am in Vineland". There is a distinction to be drawn to Cumberland County, versus extreme Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex Counties. The latter counties are all what I would describe as yuppified rural. Kind of like L.L. Bean. Cumberland County is a whole nother situation. This is by far the most impoverished county in NJ, by per capita income. I always associated Cumberland County to be as rural (and poor) as Southern Delaware, or St. Mary's County MD, which are comparables, given the terrain and landscape. As I traveled more of the country, I began to realize that Cumberland County is the rule when it comes to rural America, and Northern NJ counties to be more the exception, that is to say, affluently rural. The same pattern repeats itself: in upstate NY, central PA, West Virginia, etc. I thought I saw it all.

Then I moved to New Mexico.

[JoeSo]

Originally Posted by Badfish740

Why do the rural areas of New Jersey have to be associated with the South?
Maybe a better question would be "Does rural Jersey or country Jersey have its own identity, or is it stuck associating itself with the South?" It also makes me wonder, do you see Confederate flags deep in the woods of Maine or in the hills of Vermont? Why is it that we rural New Jersey Yankees seem to cling to the culture of the South for our identity?

Same reason most people probably do - they make fun of the south yet move there and act like them anyway. I think most people instinctively like to be around friendly,laid-back folks as much as they try to fight it

[jy_2007]

Originally Posted by mike0421

I felt like that around Millville and Vineland, but not so much Atlantic County. When I considered taking a position in Hinesville Georgia about 8 years ago, upon my arrival, my first impression was "Wow, I feel like I am in Vineland". There is a distinction to be drawn to Cumberland County, versus extreme Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex Counties. The latter counties are all what I would describe as yuppified rural. Kind of like L.L. Bean. Cumberland County is a whole nother situation. This is by far the most impoverished county in NJ, by per capita income. I always associated Cumberland County to be as rural (and poor) as Southern Delaware, or St. Mary's County MD, which are comparables, given the terrain and landscape. As I traveled more of the country, I began to realize that Cumberland County is the rule when it comes to rural America, and Northern NJ counties to be more the exception, that is to say, affluently rural. The same pattern repeats itself: in upstate NY, central PA, West Virginia, etc. I thought I saw it all.

Then I moved to New Mexico.

I've always thought of cumberland county as bizarre. Geographically, economically - there's just no reason to go there. You never are 'passing through' cumberland county. I have friends that live in the area, so I've been there. It's just, 'different'. Most of south jersey is.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by jy_2007

I've always thought of cumberland county as bizarre. Geographically, economically - there's just no reason to go there. You never are 'passing through' cumberland county. I have friends that live in the area, so I've been there. It's just, 'different'. Most of south jersey is.

Even Salem County doesn't fit into the same classification, because it is located on the I-95 corridor. Unless you go into the county seat, Salem. That's a rough looking town. But I enjoy the majority of Salem County. Cumberland County, not nearly as much.

[wileynj]

I would consider my area "NJ Country"... working class - mostly self employed contractors mixed in with huge farms and farmer's kids who are now self employed contractors. Old fashioned hard working country folk! Not Hillibillies : )

[Calico696]

Come to Oxford, enough said

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Calico696

Come to Oxford, enough said

I thought this was about "Country" not "Redneck Country"...do you really get a set of white sheets with every home purchase in Oxford...and a pair of sissors to cut out the eye holes..lol

[Calico696]

Originally Posted by wileynj

I thought this was about "Country" not "Redneck Country"...do you really get a set of white sheets with every home purchase in Oxford...and a pair of sissors to cut out the eye holes..lol

Only if they think you won't speak of it....shhhhhh! It's a secret society ya know

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Calico696

Only if they think you won't speak of it....shhhhhh! It's a secret society ya know

Oh shoot! Sorry!!! Please don't come to my place..again with that burning cross!! I swear, mums the word!