Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
That's the problem though, people don't realize that there are places in NJ 1.5 hours away from Trenton, that are not at the Shore.
It's such a small state you'd think people up north would know more about south jersey and vice-versa. But as we see with our 500+ school districts, NJ is VERY provincial in its thinking. Before I moved to central Jersey I only knew south Jersey as the Shore and a place to drive through on the Turnpike to get to the mid-atlantic states. You'll find that I'm probably the norm.
To the OP, I am North-Jersey born and raised but absolutely love SF & LA. I like SF for it's Victorian revival architecture (I live in a historic NJ district, go figure!). I can't stand the modern look of many homes in SoCal - even in LA. But I'm in love with Miracle Mile in LA - that neighborhood's got loads of character and who doesn't love LA's weather?
That being said, this is really weird - I've travelled abroad quite a lot, have even been all over America and up and down many states but I have literally never in my life visited the "true South Jersey" (never been passed the shore points). I've only ever been down I-95, as EBWick mentions, to get to DC, etc. I have never been to Wildwood/Cape May...
It's such a small state you'd think people up north would know more about south jersey and vice-versa. But as we see with our 500+ school districts, NJ is VERY provincial in its thinking. Before I moved to central Jersey I only knew south Jersey as the Shore and a place to drive through on the Turnpike to get to the mid-atlantic states. You'll find that I'm probably the norm.
I know, I dorm at college in North Jersey (Newark), live in South Jersey (Vineland, and have traveled the state extensively. I read the newspaper and have found the provincialism to be very, very noticeable. I've found that people in South Jersey know slightly more about North Jersey than people in North Jersey know about people in South Jersey. I think this is mainly do to the fact that more goes on in North Jersey, so it's more likely to be mentioned in things like school and such. Plus, in most depictions of New Jersey, it's of North Jersey. Very rarely is South Jersey, especially areas that aren't the beach, depicted.
I always tell people I'm from South Jersey when they ask me. And yeah, I don't think I've ever been to anywhere in North Jersey besides when my parents used to drag me to Edison as a kid or when I party up in New Brunswick (both of which apparently are Central Jersey). I'm really good with geography and yet didn't know New Jersey had cities besides Camden, Trenton, and AC until I was maybe 12 or 13. There's definitely a disconnect between the two parts of the state. I faintly remember a NJ social studies class in maybe the 4th grade, maybe they should address it then so both sides don't grow up not knowing about the other.
I like South Jersey. I probably like it more than North Jersey, and yes, that even includes the parts west of 287.
There is less focus on materialism and I think the income gap is not as wide (less super super rich people).
I think the people are nicer in South Jersey. Not that there aren't nice people in North Jersey obviously, but overall, I'd say South Jersey is generally nicer.
Like Ebony & Ivory..."people are the same wherever you go. there's good and bad...in everyone"
My sister moved to one of those wonderful, nice, "real America" Midwestern states and being a loud & gregarious New Jerseyan, was never really accepted by the people there. At least in Jersey people will generally tell you what's on your mind. Not so in other parts of the country.
I was driving to visit a friend in Ventnor City a few years ago, when I heard on the radio that there was an accident and the Parkway was backed up. I decided to take an exit and head south on whatever southbound road I could find. It was really a pleasant ride through all these little South Jersey towns I never knew existed. I remember seeing a sign pointing to "Juliustown" and thinking that I've lived in this state all of my life and I'd never even heard of some of these towns.
I was driving to visit a friend in Ventnor City a few years ago, when I heard on the radio that there was an accident and the Parkway was backed up. I decided to take an exit and head south on whatever southbound road I could find. It was really a pleasant ride through all these little South Jersey towns I never knew existed. I remember seeing a sign pointing to "Juliustown" and thinking that I've lived in this state all of my life and I'd never even heard of some of these towns.
You'd be surprised how many times those of us from "West Jersey" (Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties near Philadelphia) feel the same way when driving through other areas of South Jersey.
You'd be surprised how many times those of us from "West Jersey" (Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties near Philadelphia) feel the same way when driving through other areas of South Jersey.
This thread gives me an idea. I've lived in Bergen and Passaic counties most of my life, but in the past year and a half moved down to Monmouth. I'm getting to know my new area, but with a kid in college, I can't afford a real vacation, so maybe I'll spend some time getting to know the other parts of my home state I've never visited before! I love history, and NJ history in particular, and this state has a lot. I keep finding out new things.
Maybe I'll even start a thread about it...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
