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87-545: The Great Egg Harbor River is a 55.0-mile-long (88.5 km) river in South Jersey . It is one of the major rivers that traverse the largely pristine Pinelands , draining 308 square miles (800 km) of wetlands into the Atlantic Ocean at Great Egg Harbor , from which it takes its name. Great Egg Harbor (and thus the river) got its name from Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen May . In 1614, Mey came upon

174-597: A Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary. Much of the system is part of the South Jersey/Philadelphia Shared Assets Area . The Glassboro–Camden Line , a light rail system, is currently under construction. Beginning in the early 20th century, the towns bordering the Delaware River saw increased manufacturing due to improved transportation and technology. A year before the turn of the century, in 1899, John Thompson Dorrance ,

261-603: A humid subtropical climate . Compared to northern parts of New Jersey, South Jersey has slightly higher temperatures and receives less annual precipitation. Along the Jersey Shore , temperatures are moderated by sea breezes . The following seven counties are completely included in South Jersey: Some definitions of South Jersey include the southern portion of Ocean County . In April 2015, an NJ.com poll with 90,000 respondents asked readers to identify

348-672: A 1976 referendum, it became the first legalized casino gambling destination in the Eastern United States . 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 behind Las Vegas . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , Burlington , Camden , and Gloucester Counties are part of the Camden metropolitan division with an estimated population of 1,250,569 as of 2008. Salem County

435-588: A chemist for Campbell Soup Company , perfected his method of canning condensed soup. This allowed Campbell to ship and sell its product at one-third the cost. Campbell had national distribution by 1911 when its products were first marketed in California. The New York Shipbuilding Corporation opened its first shipyard in 1900 in Camden . The company produced a variety of ships, ranging from aircraft carriers and battleships to luxury liners and barges. By 1917, NYSB

522-449: A fire. The prevalence of forest fire allows the pitch pines to dominate over oaks, which by comparison are usually killed outright by a moderate or intense fire. High air temperatures and dry plant undergrowth contribute to the intensity of the fire. While uncommon, severe fires at fairly frequent intervals can eliminate species that do not bear seed at an early age. Efforts to battle forest fire attract debate over how to best preserve

609-775: 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 in Mays Landing and Camden County Community College in Blackwood . Rutgers also has

696-645: 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. 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 the Underground Railroad " for his role in helping slaves escape to freedom. Railroads came into operation in South Jersey by

783-584: A microclimate that allows for a shorter frost-free season, and colder nighttime temperatures compared to most of New Jersey. Because of sandy soil and very little development, clear and calm nights can get much colder in the Pine Barrens than in the surrounding areas. On an average night, a 6 to 8 °F (3.3 to 4.4 °C) difference is commonly seen, but the change can be as much as 10 °F (5.6 °C). The Pine Barrens receives annual snowfall, varying from 15 to 21 inches (380 to 530 mm) throughout

870-955: A number of minor league teams. The Jersey Shore BlueClaws play in Lakewood and are an affiliate of the Phillies . Minor league soccer is also played in South Jersey, as the Ocean City Nor'easters of the Premier Development League are based in Ocean City . The Nor'easters play their home games at Carey Stadium . In 2007, the WNBA was considering expansion in Atlantic City . The Atlantic City ownership group competed with other groups from Philadelphia , Atlanta , Kansas City , Albuquerque , Colorado , and

957-443: 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 and Camden had a median household income of $ 18,007 in 2006, making it the poorest U.S. city with over 65,000 residents. Moorestown and Camden share a central highway, NJ County Road 537 . The average income for

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1044-669: A number of research field stations located in South Jersey, including the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension in Chatsworth and the Rutgers University Marine Field Station in Tuckerton . Many South Jerseyans root for Philadelphia professional sports teams including the Phillies , Eagles , Flyers , 76ers , and Union . In southern Ocean County , there

1131-457: A permanent agriculture population (whose main interest would have been to establish permanent boundaries and clear the forests for fields). The area's sparse population encouraged a long-lasting attitude that forest fires should be set for local benefit—even on the lands of others. For instance, it was profitable for charcoal burners to set fires deliberately, in order to make the trees useless for any purpose other than charcoal making, then purchase

1218-547: A resort town in 1854, when train service to the city allowed beachgoers from Philadelphia to vacation in the city. The first boardwalk in the world opened in the city in 1870, and large hotels were built in the early 20th century to accommodate visitors. 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

1305-544: 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 at Stockton University in Galloway Township . In 2016, the 76ers opened a practice facility on the Camden waterfront. The Flyers practice in Voorhees at the local Skate Zone. South Jersey has been home to

1392-675: Is not limited, to: New Jersey Pine Barrens The New Jersey Pine Barrens , also known as the Pinelands or simply the Pines , is the largest remaining example of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecosystem, stretching across more than seven counties of New Jersey . Two other large, contiguous examples of this ecosystem remain in the northeastern United States : the Long Island Central Pine Barrens and

1479-686: Is owned and administered by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife as the Great Egg Harbor River Wildlife Management Area. South Jersey South Jersey comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey . It is located between Pennsylvania and the lower Delaware River to its west, the Atlantic Ocean to its east, Delaware to its south, and Central Jersey or North Jersey to its north, depending on

1566-1112: Is part of the Philadelphia television and radio market. Newspapers in the region include the Courier-Post , which refers to itself as "South Jersey's Newspaper" and is based in Camden County . It covers all of South Jersey but focuses primarily on these three counties. The South Jersey Times , based in Mullica Hill , also covers South Jersey but spotlights Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem counties. Some nationally known South Jerseyans include Bruce 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 , and Carli Lloyd . See also: A list of unique and notable South Jersey cultural and business institutions includes, but

1653-580: Is part of the Wilmington metropolitan division. The Camden and Wilmington metropolitan divisions are part of the larger Philadelphia –Camden– Wilmington metropolitan statistical area , the eighth largest MSA in the U.S. Cumberland County is part of the Vineland – Millville – Bridgeton Metropolitan Statistical Area. Atlantic City and its surrounding region in Atlantic County are part of

1740-563: Is underlain by poorly consolidated sedimentary formations from the Cretaceous , Tertiary , and Quaternary ages that dip seaward. The Atlantic Coastal Plain can be divided into three physiographic subprovinces: the Inner Lowlands, Outer Lowlands, and Central Uplands. The Inner Lowlands region encompasses the low valley along the Delaware River , with an elevation ranging from 50 feet (15 m) to 100 feet (30 m), and

1827-639: The 12th largest in New Jersey by population, is an edge city that also serves as a regional economic center. Pureland Industrial Complex , the nation's largest industrial park , is located 12 miles from the port of Camden in Logan Township . Atlantic City is a major tourist destination that is famous for its beaches, boardwalk, and casino gambling. Atlantic City is located in the Jersey Shore region on Absecon Island , along with Ventnor City , Margate City , and Longport . Atlantic City became

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1914-642: The Algonquian language family. Because the Lenape were concentrated around the Delaware River and its tributaries, Europeans later named them the Delaware Indians. 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

2001-784: The British was widespread during the American Revolution among South Jersey Presbyterians , who aided the colonists during the Revolutionary War . Several Presbyterian preachers, including John Brainerd, accepted military positions and urged Presbyterians to enlist in the army . 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

2088-414: The Delaware River from Philadelphia , 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 following World 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

2175-576: The Keith 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 the Burlington - Monmouth and Burlington- Ocean County lines and the municipal boundaries within Ocean County. In contemporary culture, the border signifies a functional boundary between

2262-526: The Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens . The name pine barrens refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil. Although European settlers could not cultivate their familiar crops there, the unique ecology of the Pine Barrens supports a diverse spectrum of plant life, including orchids and carnivorous plants . The area is also notable for its populations of rare pygmy pitch pines and other plant species that depend on

2349-593: The Maurice and the Great Egg Harbor . John McPhee 's 1967 book The Pine Barrens focuses on the history and ecology of the region. Between 170–200 million years ago, the Atlantic coastal plain began to form. The Barrens formed in the southernmost and newest land area in New Jersey 1.8 to 65 million years ago, during the Tertiary era. Over millions of years, the rising and falling of

2436-544: The New 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 the Jersey Shore . Slavery was less extensive in South Jersey than it was in other parts of the state because of the Quakers ' religious opposition to it, and

2523-604: The Northeastern megalopolis . The South Jersey Pine Barrens are the largest remaining example of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecosystem. Benjamin Franklin is said to have called New Jersey "a barrel tapped at both ends", referencing the Philadelphia influence on South Jersey and the New York City influence on North Jersey. South Jersey may be defined geographically as the area below I-195 that includes

2610-896: The Pinelands National Reserve (the nation's first National Reserve) to preserve its ecology. A decade later, it was designated by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve . Development in the Pinelands National Reserve is strictly controlled by an independent state/federal agency, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission . The Pinelands Reserve contains the Wharton , Brendan T. Byrne (formerly Lebanon), Penn , and Bass River state forests. The reserve also includes two National Wild and Scenic Rivers :

2697-721: The San Francisco Bay Area . In the end, the expansion franchise was awarded to Atlanta . South Jersey was home to the now-defunct independent league baseball teams the Atlantic City Surf and Camden Riversharks . Outside of baseball, South Jersey was also home to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies , a minor league ice hockey team affiliated with the East Coast Hockey League . The Jersey Knights of

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2784-753: The World Hockey Association played at the Cherry Hill Arena in Cherry Hill from 1973 to 1974. Previously, the minor league Jersey Devils of the Eastern Hockey League played at Cherry Hill Arena from 1964 to 1973. South Jersey's regional commercial centers include: Cherry Hill , Camden , and Atlantic City with its resort casinos , boardwalk, shopping, and beaches. Other South Jersey Seaside resorts and commercial centers include: South Jersey

2871-501: The cedar , oak , and pitch trees, as well as local tar and turpentine. The first sawmills and gristmills opened around 1700, leading to the first European settlements in the Pinelands. During the colonial era, the Pine Barrens was the location of various industries. In 1740, charcoal operations began in the Pine Barrens, and the first iron furnace opened in 1765. Bog iron was mined from bogs, streams, and waterways, and

2958-709: The northern part of the state . South Jersey is a peninsula bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to its southeast, the Delaware Bay to its southwest, and the Delaware River to its northwest. All of South Jersey is part of the Atlantic Plain , a landform of broad plains and gently sloping hills that extends southward from the New York Bight to Florida . Much of the Atlantic Plain is covered by pine and oak-pine forests and salt marshes and

3045-775: The Americas was founded Brotherton in 1758, in what is now Indian Mills in Shamong Township . On October 6, 1778 during the American Revolutionary War , 400 British troops under Patrick Ferguson fought an American force under Casimir Pulaski at the Battle of Chestnut Neck before burning several local buildings. In 1799, the first glassworks opened in Port Elizabeth, and by that time, whaling operations had stopped. The first cotton mill in

3132-722: The Atlantic City metropolitan area, which had an estimated 2008 population of 270,681. Cape May County is part of the Ocean City metropolitan area with an estimated 2008 population of 95,838. Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties are all part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland combined statistical area . Ocean County , with a 2020 population of 637,229, is considered part of the New York–North Jersey–Long Island Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of North Jersey and Central Jersey with

3219-605: The British in 1667. During the British colonial period , nearly all of South Jersey was part of the Province of West Jersey between 1674 and 1702 as a Quaker commonwealth. Burlington , the capital of West Jersey, was established in 1677, and Camden was established in 1681. Since the Delaware River was not easily navigable north of Trenton , the population was concentrated along the southern Delaware River . The borders between West Jersey and East Jersey , first surveyed using

3306-586: The Lowlands in altitude and is covered by the New 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. In the Pine Barrens, cranberries and blueberries are cultivated in lowland bogs that have accumulated depths of organic matter. South Jersey has

3393-521: The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, including the rare eastern timber rattlesnakes ( Crotalus horridus ) and bald eagles . A threatened species of frog, the Pine Barrens tree frog , has a disjunct population there. American black bears are finding their way back into the Pine Barrens after a history of hunting and trapping had driven them out. Believed to have been extirpated from

3480-430: The New York City and Philadelphia spheres of influence. By 1700, nearly 70% of the population of West Jersey were Quakers of English or Irish origin. The Quakers, who believed in peace, equality, and integrity, influenced early New Jersey. In contrast, East Jersey had high proportions of Scottish and Dutch settlers. In 1702, East Jersey and West Jersey were reunited under the reign of Queen Anne . Resistance to

3567-436: The Outer Lowlands encompasses the area near the Atlantic Ocean with an elevation that rarely exceeds 50 feet (15 m). 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 coastal estuaries , swamplands , and barrier islands near the Atlantic Ocean and is generally infertile. The Central Uplands varies slightly from

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3654-441: The Pine Barrens and its aquifer by urban sprawl . State authorities in the region discussed plans to construct a jetport and associated city in the Pine Barrens to alleviate congestion at other major regional airports of the Mid-Atlantic. The low cost of land and lower incidence of fog in the area made the plan appealing. Congress created the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve , the country's first National Reserve, to protect

3741-413: The Pine Barrens are primarily related to agriculture and tourism. New Jersey produces the third-highest number of cranberries in the country, mostly cultivated in the areas around Chatsworth, including Whitesbog. The first cultivated blueberries were developed in the Pine Barrens in 1916 through the work of Elizabeth White of Whitesbog, and blueberry farms are nearly as common as cranberry bogs in

3828-399: The Pine Barrens opened in 1810 at Retreat . Cultivated cranberry bogs begin in the 1830s, and in 1832, the first paper mill opened in the region. In 1854, the first railroad across the Pinelands opened, connecting Camden and the newly-established Atlantic City . Railroads soon connected the various small towns that existed across the Pine Barrens. In 1869, the bog iron industry ended in

3915-449: The Pine Barrens' industrial past. Ghost towns —remnants of villages built around these former industries—can still be found at various locations. Batsto Village has been restored to its mid-19th century state as a state historic site. The Pine Barrens were home to many rural, backwoods families. For years, residents of the rural area were called " Pineys " by outsiders, as a derogatory term. Today many Pinelands residents are proud of both

4002-416: The Pine Barrens, after the discovery that iron ore could be mined more cheaply in Pennsylvania . Other industries such as paper mills, sawmills, and gristmills rose and fell throughout the years, catering chiefly to local markets. Smaller industries such as charcoal-making and glassmaking also were developed, meeting with varying degrees of success. Over time, however, the forest reclaimed almost all traces of

4089-439: The Pine Barrens. The region hosts more than 20 species of wild berries, including wild raisin , red chokeberry , highbush blueberry , huckleberry , bearberry , and cranberry. The forest communities are strongly influenced by fire, varying from dwarf pine forests less than 4 feet (120 cm) tall where fires are frequent, to pine forests, to oak forests where fires are rare. Dark swamps of Atlantic white cedar grow along

4176-594: The Pine Barrens. While fires constitute a danger to property and inhabitants, preservationists argue that eliminating forest fires would cause the Pine Barrens to become dominated by oak trees. A few areas which had previously consisted of scrub and pitch pine have become dominated by oak trees because of intervention after settlement to reduce the frequency of forest fires. The Pine Barrens is home to at least 39 species of mammals , over 300 species of birds, 59 reptile and amphibian species, and 91 fish species. At least 43 species are considered threatened and endangered by

4263-429: The Pine Plains for many centuries, or millennia." Around 10,000 years ago, the ancestors of the Lenape people first inhabited the Pine Barrens. The fire regime before European settlement is poorly understood. Scholars know that the Lenape tribes burned the woods in the spring and fall to reduce underbrush, and improve plant yields and hunting conditions. The Pine Barrens, with its sandy soil, did not attract

4350-408: The Pinelands (the northern pinelands receive the most snowfall, on average). Summers are typically hot and humid, and winters are typically cold, and fall/spring are milder transition seasons. Frost can be seen in fall, spring, and winter. In the Pine Barrens, frost occurs earlier in the fall and later in the spring than the surrounding areas due to the sandy soil. The average annual precipitation in

4437-419: The Pinelands is from 42 to 46 inches (1,100 to 1,200 mm), but year-to-year precipitation varies greatly. Thunderstorms are frequent in the warmer months, along with strong winds and heavy rains from these storms. The Pine Barrens is home to at least 850 species of plants, of which 92 are considered threatened and endangered. Several species of orchidss , including the pink lady's slipper , are native to

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4524-451: The act are Atlantic , Burlington , Camden , Cape May , Cumberland , Gloucester and Ocean . The Pine Barrens comprise a major part of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion . Although natural fires have occurred, evidence shows that most fires in the region are of human origin. The Pine Barrens of New Jersey are in the transition zone between humid subtropical and humid continental climates . The Pine Barrens, however, have

4611-455: The aid of GPS transmitters in order to determine habitat ranges and preferences. A scent-post survey in 1995 proved bobcat presence in four northern counties. There have been reliable sightings of the bobcat in nine additional (mostly southern) counties, including those encompassing large swathes of the Pine Barrens and others skirting it, namely: Atlantic , Burlington , Cape May , Cumberland , Ocean , and Salem counties. Industries in

4698-450: The area under the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978. The surviving Medford office of Dr. James Still , the 19th century "Black Doctor of the Pines", was purchased for preservation by the State of New Jersey in 2006. Today it is the Dr. James Still Historic Office Site and Education Center. The reserve contains Wharton State Forest , Brendan T. Byrne State Forest , Bass River State Forest , and Penn State Forest . The Pinelands

4785-409: 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, including Alloway in Salem County ,

4872-403: The coastline deposited minerals underground, culminating with the end of the last ice age about 12,000 years ago, when plants and trees began growing in what is now New Jersey . Forest fires have been a common occurrence since before habitation by humans. Fire has played a major ecological role in the Pinelands, and the ecotypes "suggest that short fire intervals may have been typical in

4959-454: The communities in North , Central , and South Jersey. Barnegat , Eagleswood , Lacey Township , Little Egg Harbor , Long Beach Island , Ocean Township , Stafford Township , and Tuckerton 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. Camden , located across

5046-479: The construction of blast furnaces , as well as glass and brick factories, until the middle of the 19th century. In 1992, the United States Congress designated 129 miles (208 km) of the river and its tributaries as the Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River , as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System . It is the longest canoeing river within the Pinelands. It can be paddled for 47 miles (76 km) from New Brooklyn, near Route 536 , all

5133-480: The definition of North Jersey. South Jersey is part of the Delaware Valley , the seventh-largest metropolitan region in the nation with 6.288 million residents in the core metropolitan statistical area and 7.366 million residents in the combined statistical area of Camden , Philadelphia and Wilmington , as of 2020. South Jersey is known for containing the unique ecoregion known as the Pine Barrens , which remains largely undisturbed despite its location within

5220-407: The eastern and southern Pine Barrens, respectively. The Pine Barrens territory helps recharge the 17-trillion-US-gallon (64-billion-cubic-metre) Kirkwood–Cohansey aquifer , containing some of the purest water in the United States. As a result of all these factors, in 1978, Congress passed legislation to designate 1.1 million acres (4,500 km ; 1,700 sq mi) of the Pine Barrens as

5307-429: The exception of Warren County . However, much of Ocean County lies in both New York City and Philadelphia media markets. 2020 2010 Type (575 km ) (2,085 km ) (842 km ) (1,453 km ) (1,267 km ) (660 km 2 ) (875 km ) Present-day South Jersey was first inhabited by the Lenape and was the site of the first Indian reservation . The tribe spoke Unami dialects, part of

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5394-497: The frequent fires of the Pine Barrens to reproduce. The sand that composes much of the area's soil is referred to by the locals as sugar sand . The Pine Barrens remains mostly rural and undisturbed despite its proximity to the sprawling metropolitan cities of Philadelphia and New York City , in the center of the very densely populated Boston-Washington Corridor on the Eastern Seaboard . The heavily traveled Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway traverse sections of

5481-440: The ghost of the "Black Doctor", the ghost of Captain Kidd , the " Black Dog ", and various other ghosts, as well as folklore associated with the Blue Hole and other so-called "blue holes" in the Pine Barrens. The New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve contains approximately 1.1 million acres (4,500 km ) of land, and occupies 22% of New Jersey's land area, including territory of much of seven counties. Counties affected by

5568-416: 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

5655-542: The inlet to the Great Egg Harbor River. The meadows were so covered with shorebird and waterfowl eggs that he called it "Eyren Haven" (Egg Harbor). Today, the National Park Service considers it one of the top 10 places in North America for birding . The Great Egg Harbor River rises in the suburbs southeast of Camden near Berlin and flows generally southeast, to the south of the Atlantic City Expressway , entering Great Egg Harbor approximately 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Atlantic City . The lower 10 miles (16 km) of

5742-466: The mid-19th century. The advent of the railroad was one of the reasons Charles 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 the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad (WJ&S). By 1925, it operated 379 miles of road on 717 miles of track. In 1933, it became part of Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines ,

5829-466: The name and the land on which they live. In the early 20th century, a family identified in a case study by the pseudonym, the Kallikaks , were presented as an example of genetic inferiority by eugenicists . Today, scholars understand that the facts in the Kallikaks study were misrepresented, including photographs altered to make the family members appear more backward. On July 12, 1928, the Mexican aviator and national hero Emilio Carranza crashed and

5916-458: The nation's sixth-most populous city , which is located immediately west of South Jersey across the Delaware River , accessible by the Benjamin Franklin Bridge , Betsy Ross Bridge , Tacony Palmyra Bridge and Walt Whitman Bridge . The designation of South Jersey with a distinct toponym is a colloquialism rather than an administrative definition and reflects geographical and perceived cultural and other differences between South Jersey and

6003-414: The proposal as a joke, but the idea gained momentum. On April 23, 1980, the town council of Egg Harbor voted to support the creation of a new state of South Jersey. The statehood movement was an attempt to gain the attention of state lawmakers, centering on issues such as the construction of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in the north while the state refused to support the Garden State Park Racetrack in

6090-421: The river provide a navigable estuary as far as Mays Landing . The Tuckahoe River enters Great Egg Harbor just to the south of the mouth of the river. Before the arrival of Europeans to the area in the 18th century, it was inhabited by Lenape . During the American Revolutionary War , its estuary sheltered privateers . The presence of " bog iron " along the river provided material for cannonballs and led to

6177-437: The south. 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. In 2005, Money magazine declared Moorestown as the "best place to live" in the United States, although they stated that

6264-412: The state by 1970 due to destruction of its territory and human encroachment, the bobcat gained legal protection in 1972. It is classified as a game species with a closed season; in 1991 it was added to the list of endangered species in New Jersey. Between 1978 and 1982, the state introduced 24 bobcats from Maine into the northern portion of the state. Since 1996, they have been monitored by biologists with

6351-488: The state's lower seven counties: Atlantic , Burlington , Camden , Cape May , Cumberland , Gloucester , and Salem , and occasionally an eighth, Ocean . South Jersey and the wider Philadelphia metropolitan area are situated near the center of the Northeast megalopolis and have become a U.S. East Coast epicenter for logistics and warehouse construction; Salem County, the lower portion of Gloucester County, and

6438-505: The suburbs. Campbell's Soup headquarters and the new corporate headquarters of Susquehanna Bank . Rutgers University–Camden , Rutgers Law School , Cooper Medical School of Rowan University , Cooper University Hospital , and the Camden campus of Camden County College operate in Camden, and the Camden Waterfront is one of the city's main attractions. Nearby, Cherry Hill , the second largest municipality in South Jersey and

6525-403: The township was renamed Cherry Hill . In contrast, nearby Camden declined from 125,000 residents in 1950 to 85,000 in 1980. While the South Jersey suburbs remain general middle-class, the inner cities continue to face issues with crime, poverty, and unemployment. Albert Freeman, a Mount Holly newspaper publisher and editor, wrote an editorial calling for secession. Freeman originally meant

6612-591: The trees for a discount. During the 17th century, the area that is now New Jersey was explored and settled by the Swedish and Dutch , who developed whaling and fishing settlements mainly along the Delaware River. The English claimed the area as of 1606 under their London Company , and the Dutch abandoned their claim to the English in 1664. The first shipbuilding operations began in the Pine Barrens in 1688, utilizing

6699-525: The upper portion of Cumberland County additionally serve as residential communities for the petrochemical industry of New Castle County, Delaware . South Jersey shore communities, including Atlantic 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,

6786-555: The waterways. Forest fires play an important role in regulating the growth of plants in the Pine Barrens. Frequent light fires tend to reduce the amount of undergrowth and promote the growth of mature trees. Forest fires have contributed to the dominance of pitch pine in the Pine Barrens. They can resist and recover quickly from fire by resprouting directly through their bark (something very unusual for pines) and frequent killing fires keep an area covered with small sprouts. Their serotinous pine cones open only after having been heated by

6873-474: The way to Beesley's Point . The river is noted for its tea -colored "cedar water", the product of the iron and tannin content of the fallen cedar leaves along much of its length. It provides abundant habitat for waterfowl in the region. The fish populations include striped bass and alewife herring . As of July 2015, 5,635.77 acres (22.8072 km) of land along the river in Atlantic County

6960-454: Was claimed by the Dutch in 1609, the Dutch used the region primarily for trading purposes. In 1638, New Sweden was established along the Delaware River . The Swedes established two permanent settlements in present-day South Jersey: Swedesboro and Bridgeport , formerly named New Stockholm. New Sweden was captured by the Dutch in 1655, and remained part of New Netherland until its cession to

7047-648: Was designated a U.S. Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1983 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1988. Howard P. Boyd was instrumental in working to preserve the Pine Barrens and educate visitors. He died in December 2011, within the Protection Area of the Pinelands National Reserve . The Pine Barrens gave rise to the legend of the Jersey Devil, said to have been born in 1735 to a local woman named Mrs. Leeds in an area known as Leeds Point . It

7134-471: 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, including Millville , Vineland Bridgeton , Hammonton , and Glassboro where they established new companies. Recent research has uncovered evidence that, in addition to

7221-542: Was killed in Tabernacle, New Jersey , while returning from a historic goodwill flight from Mexico City to the United States. Flying back from Long Island, he encountered a thunderstorm and crashed in Burlington County . A 12 ft (3.6 m) monument identifies the location of the crash. Despite rapid urbanization of surrounding areas, the Pine Barrens remained largely untouched because its sandy soil

7308-546: Was said that he was her 13th child and, because of the unlucky number, he was cursed. Another story says that the mother gave birth to a hideous monster that attacked her and her nurses, before flying up and out of the chimney and disappearing into the Barrens. The Devil is said to roam the Pine Barrens, with many sharing stories of encounters with the Devil during dark nights in the Pinelands. Pine Barrens folklore also includes

7395-959: Was the world's largest shipyard. The Victor Talking Machine Company , founded in 1901, became the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records . Like many American cities after World 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. The New Jersey Turnpike opened in 1951, permitting fast travel by car between New York and Delaware . In 1955, William Levitt built present-day Willingboro based on his Levittown 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. In 1961,

7482-410: Was unsuitable for growing most crops. Its iron and charcoal deposits did not compete with more readily accessible deposits elsewhere. In 1969, the Pine Barrens averaged a density of 15 inhabitants per square mile (5.8/km ), compared with 1,000 inhabitants per square mile (390/km ) in the lands bordering it. With rising environmental concerns at the time, people became alerted to the possible destruction of

7569-877: Was worked in about 35 furnaces including Batsto , Lake Atsion , Hampton Furnace in Shamong , Hanover Furnace in Pemberton , Ferrago in Lacey , and several other locations. Iron from these early furnaces was instrumental in supplying the American military with weapons and camp tools during the American Revolution , the War of 1812 , and the Second Barbary War . For example, Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr. sailed to Algiers armed with 24-pound cannons that had been cast at Hanover in 1814. The first Indian reservation in

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