North Jersey

Northern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey

This article is about a region in the U.S. state of New Jersey. For the northern part the island of Jersey, see Geography of Jersey.

Place in New Jersey, United States

North Jersey

Country| United States
State| New Jersey
Largest city| Newark
Counties|

List

* Bergen
* Essex
* Hudson
* Morris
* Passaic
* Sussex
* Union
* Warren

Elevation

| 1,803 ft (550 m)
Population

(2020 Census)

• Total

| 3,787,937
Time zone| UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
The George Washington Bridge, the world's busiest vehicle bridge, connects Fort Lee in North Jersey with Upper Manhattan in New York City.

North Jersey, also known as Northern New Jersey, comprises the northern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the upper Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. As a distinct toponym, North Jersey is a colloquial one rather than an administrative one, reflecting geographical and perceived cultural and other differences between it and the southern part of the state.[1][2]

North Jersey is characterized by its position, both geographically and culturally, within the greater New York City metropolitan area, as well as its high economic output, including its regional economic engines of Paramus in Bergen County, which had $6 billion in annual retail sales as of 2018[3] and Jersey City, whose financial district has been nicknamed "Wall Street West",[4] Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, and Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal.

Bergen County is the most populous county in both North Jersey and the state and serves as the western terminus for the George Washington Bridge, the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge, which connects Fort Lee, New Jersey to Upper Manhattan in New York City.[5] Newark, located in Essex County, is New Jersey's most populous city. Jersey City, Paterson, and Elizabeth, located in Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties in North Jersey are the second, third, and fourth most populous cities in the state after Newark.

The exact definition of which counties constitute North Jersey is a subject of debate. Definitions of the North Jersey region of the state most consistently include Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties, though definitions of North Jersey frequently vary and may include other New Jersey counties in the New York metropolitan area that are sometimes differentiated as or considered Central Jersey, including Middlesex County, Union County, Monmouth County, Somerset County, Hunterdon County, Mercer County, and even the northern portion of Ocean County.

## Geography

[edit]

A definition of North Jersey includes Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties. The beach at Sea Bright in Monmouth County The Hudson River seen below an overlook on the Palisades in Alpine Delaware Water Gap at the border of Warren County and the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania

Geologically, North Jersey is largely in the Piedmont Province, the Highlands Province, and the Ridge and Valley Province. Depending on definitions, some are counted as being in the Atlantic coastal plain.

North Jersey has a Humid Continental Climate (Dfb) by Köppen.

### Definitions

[edit]

One particular definition of North Jersey includes all points in New Jersey north of I-295 in the western part of the state and all points north of I-195 in the eastern part of the state. Another definition uses the old 1956-era 201 telephone area code, not the modern 201 area code, and all its additions, as this area code loosely included all of New Jersey north of Trenton. Some residents of the northern tier of counties use a narrower definition, counting only that area north of the mouth of the Raritan River. Conversely, people in South Jersey and within the Philadelphia metropolitan area, when using a two-portion approach that excludes Central Jersey as a separate category, may define North Jersey as consisting of Ocean County and every county north of it, essentially placing all New Jersey counties that are within the New York metropolitan area under the definition of North Jersey. The state is also sometimes described as having North Jersey and South Jersey separated from each other by Central Jersey.[6]

### Further subdivision

[edit]

In 2008, the New Jersey State Department of Tourism divided the state into six tourist regions with the Gateway and Skylands regions included in North Jersey.[7]

### Counties most consistently defined as North Jersey counties

[edit]

See also: § Demographics

The following counties are most consistently considered North Jersey:

* Bergen County
* Essex County
* Hudson County
* Morris County
* Passaic County
* Sussex County
* Warren County
* Union County is sometimes considered as a transitional county between North Jersey and Central Jersey

## History

[edit]

North Jersey was the site of some of the earliest European settlements in what would become the United States of America. Its colonial history started after Henry Hudson sailed through Newark Bay in 1609. Although Hudson was British, he worked for the Netherlands, so he claimed the land for the Dutch as part of the provincial colony of New Netherland,[8] with original settlements centered in Bergen in today's Hudson County. In 1664, the region became part of the Province of New Jersey.

During the American Revolutionary War, New Jersey was a strategic location between New York City, and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Important materials necessary to the war effort were sometimes produced in North Jersey, and the Continental Army made its home in North Jersey for part of the war. George Washington, commanding general of the Continental Army, maintained his headquarters at Ford Mansion in Morristown for part of the Revolutionary War, from December 1779 to June 1780. In the northwestern part of the state, iron mines and foundries supplied raw material for the Continental Army's guns and ammunition.

The American Industrial Revolution started by the founding of the North Jersey town of Paterson. Today, the United States and the world enjoy the fruit born of seeds planted in North Jersey during the Industrial Revolution. Alexander Hamilton, Secretary for the Treasury and President of the Bank of New York during the end of the eighteenth century, selected the Great Falls area, also known as the Passaic Falls, for an ambitious experiment. He promoted the natural power of the Great Falls as an excellent location for textile mills and other manufacturers.

Paterson attracted skilled craftsmen and engineers from Europe to run the mills and produced a large concentration of creative and able people. During the mid-nineteenth century, many of the engines and materials that would be used to colonize a continent were made here. Thomas Edison installed one of the first hydroelectric power plants in the world, which still provides electricity today, using the Great Falls as an energy source.

In West Orange, Edison created the first technical research and development facility with his invention factory. Electric light, improved motion pictures, and sound recording, were among the hundreds of inventions produced here.[9]

## Demographics

[edit]

The seven counties that are most commonly included in North Jersey have an estimated total population of 3,787,937 as of 2022; this rises to 4,357,752 with the inclusion of Union County.[10] As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the demographics of all the seven main counties combined are 66.8% White, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% African American, 6.6% Asian, 0.2% Native American, and 0.1% Pacific Islander.

## Population

[edit]

Municipalities with over 30,000 population  2017 Rank  | Municipality  | County  | Population in

2017

| Population in

2010

| Municipal

Type

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Newark | Essex | 285,154  | 277,140  | City
2  | Jersey City | Hudson | 270,753  | 247,597  | City
3  | Paterson | Passaic | 148,678  | 146,199  | City
4  | Clifton | Passaic  | 86,607  | 84,136  | City
5  | Passaic | Passaic  | 71,247  | 69,781  | City
6  | Union City | Hudson  | 70,387  | 66,455  | City
7  | Bayonne | Hudson  | 67,186  | 63,024  | City
8  | East Orange | Essex  | 65,378  | 64,270  | City
9  | North Bergen | Hudson  | 63,659  | 60,773  | Township
10  | Union | Union  | 58,659  | 50,773  | Township
11  | Hoboken | Hudson  | 55,131  | 50,005  | City
12  | Wayne | Passaic  | 55,072  | 54,717  | Township
13  | Irvington | Essex  | 54,865  | 53,926  | Township
14  | West New York | Hudson  | 54,227  | 49,708  | Town
15  | Parsippany-Troy Hills | Morris | 53,201  | 53,238  | Township
16  | Bloomfield | Essex  | 50,970  | 47,315  | Township
17  | West Orange | Essex  | 48,425  | 46,207  | Township
18  | Hackensack | Bergen | 45,248  | 43,010  | City
19  | Kearny | Hudson  | 42,670  | 40,648  | Town
20  | Teaneck | Bergen  | 41,311  | 39,776  | Township
21  | Montclair | Essex  | 39,227  | 37,669  | Township
22  | Fort Lee | Bergen  | 37,907  | 35,345  | Borough
23  | Belleville | Essex  | 36,498  | 35,926  | Township
24  | Fair Lawn | Bergen  | 33,710  | 32,457  | Borough
25  | Garfield | Bergen  | 32,393  | 30,487  | City
26  | City of Orange | Essex  | 30,813  | 30,134  | Township
27  | Livingston | Essex  | 30,142  | 29,366  | Township
County population  Rank  | County  | Population in 2022  | County seat  | Area

|
|
|
|

1  | Bergen | 952,997  | Hackensack | 234 sq mi

(606 km2)

2  | Essex | 849,477  | Newark | 126 sq mi

(326 km2)

3  | Hudson | 703,366  | Jersey City | 47 sq mi

(122 km2)

4  | Passaic | 513,936  | Paterson | 185 sq mi

(479 km2)

5  | Morris | 511,151  | Morristown | 469 sq mi

(1,215 km2)

6  | Sussex | 146,084  | Newton | 521 sq mi

(1,349 km2)

7  | Warren | 110,926  | Belvidere | 358 sq mi

(927 km2)

## Professional sports fans

[edit]

Sports allegiances are often divided between the northern and southern portions of the state.[2] The 2009 World Series divided the people of New Jersey, because South Jersey residents generally root for the Philadelphia Phillies, while North Jersey residents usually root for the New York Yankees or the New York Mets. A similar trend exists for most other major sports, with North Jersey residents supporting the Brooklyn Nets or the New York Knicks in basketball, the New Jersey Devils, or the New York Rangers in hockey, the New York Red Bulls or New York City FC in soccer, and the New York Giants or the New York Jets in football.

## Dialect

[edit]

Main article: New Jersey English dialects

## Notable North Jerseyans

[edit]

* People from Bergen County
* People from Essex County
* People from Hudson County
* People from Morris County
* People from Passaic County
* People from Sussex County
* People from Warren County

## See also

[edit]

* Central Jersey
* South Jersey

## References and footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ "Drawing the line: Talking with the blogger behind "Where is the Line Between North & South Jersey?"". nj.com. 28 March 2008.
2. ^ a b Mikle, Jean (March 31, 2008). "An invisible boundary divides N.J." Home News Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2010.("Of course, part of the problem with understanding New Jersey's enduring regional tension is that few residents can agree on where the northern half of the state end and the southern half begins.")
3. ^ Allison Pries (March 10, 2019). "Inside the N.J. town where retail spending beats Hollywood and tourism rivals Disney". New Jersey On-Line LLC. Retrieved May 5, 2019. "The former farming community already sees more retail sales than any other zip code in the country...More than $6 billion in retail sales happen in Paramus each year."
4. ^ A Vision for Smart Transit in Jersey City Archived 2016-12-26 at the Wayback Machine, United States Department of Transportation, February 4, 2016. Accessed May 5, 2019. "Development along the Hudson River waterfront led to the development of the 'Wall Street West' financial district, one of the largest centers of banking and finance in the nation."
5. ^ "Bridges & Tunnels Home". www.panynj.gov. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
6. ^ Stirling, Stephen (April 24, 2015). "Here are the North, Central and South Jersey borders as determined by you (INTERACTIVE)". NJ.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015. "For one, NJ.com readers overwhelmingly agreed that Central Jersey does, in fact, exist. More than 50,000 of the votes received went toward categorizing Central Jersey towns, far outweighing those received for North and South Jersey."
7. ^ "New Jersey Travel Destinations (map)". 2008. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
8. ^ "A short history of New Jersey".
9. ^ "History of Northern New Jersey - rt23.com". www.rt23.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
10. ^ Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 19, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* "Where is North and South Jersey?, a blog article

* v
* t
* e

State of New Jersey

Trenton (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
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Society|

* Abortion
* Crime
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* Gambling
* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* Atlantic Coastal Plain
* Central Jersey
* Delaware River Region
* Delaware Valley
* Gateway Region
* Hudson Waterfront
* Highlands
* Jersey Shore
* Meadowlands
* New Jersey Pine Barrens
* New York metro area
* North Hudson
* North Jersey
* Pascack Valley
* Piedmont
* Raritan Bayshore
* Raritan Valley
* Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians
* Skylands Region
* Somerset Hills
* Southern Shore Region
* South Jersey
* Tri‑State Region
* West Essex
* West Hudson

Counties|

* Atlantic
* Bergen
* Burlington
* Camden
* Cape May
* Cumberland
* Essex
* Gloucester
* Hudson
* Hunterdon
* Mercer
* Middlesex
* Monmouth
* Morris
* Ocean
* Passaic
* Salem
* Somerset
* Sussex
* Union
* Warren

Major cities and towns|

* Atlantic City
* Bayonne
* Brick Township
* Camden
* Cherry Hill
* Clifton
* East Orange
* Edison
* Elizabeth
* Franklin Township (Somerset)
* Hackensack
* Hamilton Township (Mercer)
* Hoboken
* Jersey City
* Lakewood Township
* Newark
* New Brunswick
* Ocean City
* Paterson
* Perth Amboy
* Toms River
* Trenton
* Union City
* Vineland
* Woodbridge Township

New Jersey portal

* v
* t
* e

New York metropolitan area

Counties|

* Bergen
* Bronx
* Dutchess
* Essex
* Fairfield
* Hudson
* Hunterdon
* Kings
* Litchfield
* Mercer
* Middlesex
* Monmouth
* Monroe
* Morris
* Nassau
* New Haven
* New York
* Ocean
* Orange
* Passaic
* Pike
* Putnam
* Queens
* Richmond
* Rockland
* Somerset
* Suffolk
* Sussex
* Ulster
* Union
* Westchester

Major cities|

* New York City
* The Bronx
* Brooklyn
* Manhattan
* Queens
* Staten Island

Cities and towns
over 100,000|

* Babylon
* Bridgeport
* Brookhaven
* Edison
* Elizabeth
* Hempstead
* Huntington
* Islip
* Jersey City
* Lakewood
* New Haven
* Newark
* North Hempstead
* Oyster Bay
* Paterson
* Smithtown
* Stamford
* Waterbury
* Woodbridge
* Yonkers

Cities and towns
over 25,000|

* Bayonne
* Bergenfield
* Bernards
* Branford
* Brick
* Bridgewater
* Carmel
* Cheshire
* Clifton
* Cortlandt
* Danbury
* Eastchester
* East Brunswick
* East Haven
* East Orange
* East Windsor
* Englewood
* Ewing
* Fairfield
* Fair Lawn
* Fort Lee
* Franklin Township
* Freehold Township
* Great Neck
* Garden City
* Garfield
* Greenburgh
* Greenwich
* Hackensack
* Hamden
* Hamilton
* Hillsborough
* Hoboken
* Howell
* Jackson
* Kearny
* Lawrence
* Livingston
* Long Beach
* Long Branch
* Mahwah
* Mamaroneck
* Manalapan
* Maplewood
* Marlboro
* Meriden
* Middletown, NJ
* Middletown, NY
* Milford
* Monroe
* Montclair
* Mount Olive
* Mount Vernon
* Naugatuck
* New Brunswick
* New Milford
* New Rochelle
* Newburgh
* Newtown
* North Brunswick
* Norwalk
* Old Bridge
* Orange, NJ
* Ossining
* Palm Tree
* Paramus
* Parsippany–Troy Hills
* Passaic
* Perth Amboy
* Piscataway
* Plainfield
* Poughkeepsie
* Princeton
* Rahway
* Randolph
* Riverhead
* Rockaway Township
* Rye (town)
* Shelton
* South Brunswick
* Stratford
* Teaneck
* Toms River
* Torrington
* Trenton
* Trumbull
* Union City
* Union Township
* Wall Township
* Wallingford
* Wayne
* West Haven
* West Orange
* West Windsor
* Westfield
* Westport
* White Plains
* Yorktown

Regions|

* Catskills
* Central Jersey
* Coastal Connecticut
* Greater Danbury
* Greater Newark
* Greater New Haven
* Greater Torrington
* Greater Waterbury
* Housatonic Valley
* Hudson Valley
* Hudson River
* Jersey Shore
* Litchfield Hills
* Long Island
* North Jersey
* Poconos
* Raritan Valley
* Skylands Region
* Somerset Hills
* Watchung Mountains
* Western Connecticut

See also|

* Northeast megalopolis

* v
* t
* e

New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association conferences

North Jersey|

* Big North Conference
* Hudson County Interscholastic League
* North Jersey Interscholastic Conference
* Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
* Super Essex Conference
* Union County Conference

Central Jersey|

* Colonial Valley Conference
* Greater Middlesex Conference
* Shore Conference
* Skyland Conference

South Jersey|

* Burlington County Scholastic League
* Cape-Atlantic League
* Colonial Conference
* Olympic Conference
* Tri-County Conference

Football
superconferences|

* Big Central Football Conference
* North Jersey Super Football Conference
* West Jersey Football League

Defunct|

* Bergen County Scholastic League
* Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League
* Colonial Hills Conference
* Iron Hills Conference
* Mountain Valley Conference
* North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League
* North Jersey Tri-County Conference
* Northern Hills Conference
* Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League
* Sussex County Interscholastic League
* Watchung Conference

40°47′29″N 74°15′45″W﻿ / ﻿40.7915°N 74.2624°W﻿ / 40.7915; -74.2624
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